Died: Dec 04, 13

From his best friend Allen Barnes

Here is a picture of one of the best friends I ever had in high school, Joe Warren. He suddenly and unexpectedly died last week. We were on the track team together and I spent many nights until the wee hours of the morning playing outdoor basketball with him and other friends at various places around Madison, riding up to Adams to try to find the "Bell Witch" cave and exploring old homes up there, hanging out at Old Hickory Beach, and lots of running in the spring to get ready for track season. He was a long distance runner, and I was a sprinter, so he had much more endurance than I. We certainly had many side-splitting laughs, as well. He went into the Marines shortly after graduation and had a distinguished career, being stationed at various places such as Italy and Washington, D.C. , and served in active combat. Anyone who took the time to get to know him loved him. I lost contact with him in later years, and never saw him after he was discharged from the military and settled down in Portland, TN. These pictures capture part of an ordinary day when we were probably seniors in high school, or the summer after graduation. Of course, neither one of us ever dreamed I would be writing this about him over 30 years into the future. And I can tell you that the years have flown by like sand slipping through my fingers. Shining a spot light on how quickly life goes, I have lost 3 high school classmates since August, and another classmate tragically lost his son. The one thing for which I am most grateful is knowing that Joe had placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ when he was a young man, so I know that I will see him again. But I do regret that I never took the time to sit down with him in his last years and enjoy his company. One of those things I meant to do, but never got around to it. Whether you are young or old - keep it in the back of your mind that your life is but a vapor, and do not waste whatever precious time God has given you. If someone has been on your mind, at least give them a call. And if you have never trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, don't wait one more moment to do that. The existence you are now experiencing is really only fleeting and temporary. You need to be prepared for an eternal existence that will be either heaven or hell, and there is nothing more important than settling that question before it is too late. Joe - it isn't goodbye - but until we meet again, old friend.

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