At the age of 22, Nelson Bell became a surgeon at Love and Mercy Hospital in China. This was the only hospital in an area with more than two million people. Nelson performed surgeries there for 24 years and shared the gospel with thousands of people. Nelson became known as “The Bell Who Is Lover […]
Our oldest son lives in Charlotte, and he joined us in Sanford, North Carolina, this past Saturday to wish his grandmother a Happy 96th Birthday! When he left to return to Charlotte, the last thing we said to him was, “Call us when you get home.” Marc is 46 years old, but we still wait […]
When I was living in Portsmouth, one of the church members asked if I would like to fly out and land on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, have dinner and then fly back. I thought that was a great idea. The excitement grew as I was fitted for a flight suit, briefed on flight procedures […]
I get my hair cut in Dayton, Virginia. The lady who cuts my hair has a husband who is a painter. God has called this man to serve in the local jails and prisons. This man who works hard all week will gladly preach or teach anywhere he is asked. This lady tells me her […]
My mother died a few years ago from Alzheimer’s. She was a remarkable woman. She was a violinist and registered nurse. She served in the Army during WW II. She worked as a nurse most of her life. Alzheimer’s captured her brain at age 59. She spent a good amount of her remaining years in […]
When I was working as a chemist at Kelly Springfield Tire Company, my pastor told me one day that God wanted me to be a pastor. I thought this was the craziest thing I had ever heard. I asked God one night what He wanted me to do, and the answer was the same as […]
When I was in the 4-H Club, one of my projects was to raise potatoes. I got a 100-pound bag of seed potatoes, cut them so there was an eye present and planted the potatoes. I’d go by every day to see if the potatoes were coming up. To my dismay, day after day there […]
Many of us think Christmas is over after December 25. We take our trees down and undecorate our homes. Epiphany is one of the oldest festival days of the Christian Church. The other two are Easter and Christmas. Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans and yes, we United Methodists observe the feast on January 6. The festival […]
Today is the day after New Year’s Day. It’s the day at our house that we try to take Christmas decorations down. That means that what took weeks to set up, now goes into boxes until next year. It means that I’m looking for a warm day to take outside lights down, and all three […]
It’s the day after Christmas, and how are you feeling? Let me remind you of the hymn by Phillip Brooks, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” “No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.” Jesus came into our broken world […]