When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my friends and I decided we all needed some candy from the corner store. It was 1954 and at that age there weren’t many ways for a kid to make money, especially a quarter (5 candy bars!) So, we decided we should spin a yarn about collecting money for the poor kids in China. What I didn’t know was that I was being set up. My buddies were hiding behind the…
The days have started to warm up, but it’s still a little colder than I like it in the evenings. Easter is coming, but there is still that edge on the weather that reminds me it’s not time yet. I have to bide my time and wait for the pullovers and shorts. It seems to have been a strange winter with real severity at times. I guess some of the aches from those days are still left in my bones….
I will never forget June 22nd, 1973. I can close my eyes and see the day, smell the air and feel the sweat trickling down my back at 6:00 AM. Major Herring had us check each other’s backpacks to insure they were full and secure. Our rifle and ammunition were fixed firmly into place. Our platoon was ready to face the 26 miles of rugged, unknown hilly terrain and 96 degree/85% humidity weather that lay ahead of us. There would…
I obtained my driver’s license in 1963 about the time an unusually catchy song, called “The Rhythm of the Rain” became popular. While the license gave me the freedom to start dating on my terms, I soon learned I had idealistic visions of how these dates should turn out. Maybe idealistic is not the right word. Maybe delusional is better. Most of the ladies I dated did not share the same concept of a “good time.” Within a few months…
I was about 28 years old when I began to notice blood in my urine and experiencing some discomfort. I didn’t think much about it until I told my wife and she insisted I see a specialist. Upon examination the doctor discovered cancer, removed the tumors, and treatment began. During my one year check-up, they discovered new tumors that also had to be removed. The treatment began again and God renewed His effort for getting my attention — and ultimately…
About the time I completed seminary, I took a position as a staff pastor in a mega-church. The attendance in the area I headed up was larger than 90% of the churches in most major American cities. While I was elated with the position and loved the ministry, I discovered over the next couple years that as soon as I identified myself as a pastor, walls shot up and hearts closed down. It was one of the biggest disappointments I…