YOU CAN FIND OUT ANYTHING WITH A COMPUTER ON LINE. FOR EXAMPLE, I LEARNED THAT THERE ARE 383, 879 PERSONS IN THE UNITED STATES NAMED “BILLY.” AND 98.4% OF THEM ARE MALES. AND THERE ARE 94,446 PERSONS WITH THE LAST NAME “THORNTON.” AND 119 WITH THE NAME “BILLY THORNTON.” AND HAVEN’T I TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING CALLED TO JURY DUTY AND AFTER WE 12 WERE SEATED, THE JUDGE AND A LAWYER GOT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AND FOUND THERE WERE TWO “BILLY THORNTONS” IN THAT DOZEN. AND THAT’S HOW I GOT OUT OF JURY DUTY.

SO IS THAT THE MOST POPULAR NAME IN THE U.S.? NOT BY A LONG SHOT. THE NAME “THORNTON” IS 344TH DOWN THE LIST. SOME DAY WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE CROSSWORD PUZZLES TO WORK, MAYBE I’LL FIND OUT WHO’S NAME IS NUMBER ONE.

AND NOW THAT I KNOW ALL THAT ABOUT MY NAME, I REMEMBER THAT CHRIST KNEW THAT, EVEN BEFORE COMPUTERS CAME ALONG. IN FACT, HE CALLS THE STARS BY NAME. AND HE KNOWS HOW MANY HAIRS ARE ON MY HEAD, BEFORE AND AFTER A SHOWER.

REMINDS ME OF THE MEAN OLD CODGER WHO SAID, “YOU MEAN GOD LOVES ME WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING ME? AND THE WISE MAN SAID, “GOD KNEW YOU EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW YOU.” AND HE LOVES YOU, TOO. ACCEPT IT.