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October 28

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025

Last night as I laid in bed it dawned on me what today was: October 28th. You’re probably saying, “Duh Bill! That usually follows October 27th.”  But there is a significance to this day that none of you probably care one rip about. October 28th is my dad’s birthday. See, told you that it would have nothing to do with you! 🙂

I wish today held fond memories for me. But like many young men my age, whose father grew up during the years of WWII, something was missing. My dad served in the Navy after the war was over. The war started on September 1, 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland and ended on September 2, 1945 with Japan’s formal surrender. The war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945 (VE Day) with Germany’s formal surrender.  My father was born in 1927.  “Pancho Bill” as he had tattooed on his bicep (I was never told where that came from or why) was too young at the start and before it ended.

He married my mom in 1950 and had my brother who died a day after he was born (diagnosis: open spine) in 1951. I came along in 1952 and got his first name. I had three other brothers after me. I wish I could say I could speak highly of my dad. I can’t. I loved him because he was my dad, but my Christian life learning came largely from my grandfather and my mother. Dad grew up in an abusive home, often going without supper so his father could eat. His mother was a punching bag when she saved food for him to eat later. All that had a lot to do with the way he was.

My dad’s acceptance of me was based on my athletic ability, especially in baseball. When I chose to pursue basketball, it was a whole ‘nother ballgame. (Pun intended). I started playing in 9th grade and it wasn’t until my final two games as a junior in college that my dad saw me play. As life moved on and I married (he didn’t really approve of Jo), I grew closer and closer to her dad and when he died, I cried like a baby after doing the funeral. My dad spent the last years of his life in a nursing home. One visit I was his son. The next I was a family friend. The next he finally figured out who I was, but never did recognize Jo. Dementia and Alzheimer’s did its thing. He died one week after turning 90. The day of his funeral the military guard didn’t come due to the weather. so there was no service. So I was told. To this day, I do not know where he is buried.

Some of you can relate. But I also know, I have another Father who is totally different. A Father who doesn’t waffle in His affection and is never picky depending on how he feels. I’d like to close by including the song, “Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin but YouTube is being troublesome. So take a moment to listen to it on our own.

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October 27

Monday, October 27th, 2025

Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, the church I have had the privilege of pastoring since November of 2005, celebrated its 21st anniversary yesterday. It was a good day. A happy day. I day filled with joy, laughter, reminiscing, food, seeing old friends come back to visit for the day, and a walk through of the new addition. It was also a long day physically. I, for one, was ready to sit down after being on my feet for hours (except when I was eating).

But it was a day which almost didn’t happen for me. Let me take you back.

In a previous post I told how the church got started and that Jo and I came in September to preach and then started in November. Since November of 2000 I had been the pastor of a church which Jo grew up in. We were married in the old church building (it had no A/C and I can only begin to tell you how hot it was on June 16, 1973).  In July of 2000, we had moved to Castalia, OH to move in with Jo’s mom so Jo could take care of her. Meanwhile, I was without a job, but being paid. I eventually started delivering pizzas to make a little extra money and occupy my time. In September of 2000 the pastor of the church we were attending resigned and in November the church asked if I would consider becoming their pastor. I said yes and the vote was 100% in favor. (First time ever in their history). But all was not well. The first year we lost 28 people, due mostly to people moving out of town for jobs. The next year we lost about 10 for the same reason. I jokingly said, “Well we stopped the blood bath.”

Fast forward 2-3 years. The median age of the church was close to 60. I was loved and I loved the people, but I was getting antsy. At 52 I knew I wasn’t done yet and wanted something that was not status quo. Jo knew that and told me about “this church in Spencer that sounded just like me.” They were looking for a pastor and she said I should check it out. “Okay.” A few weeks went by and she asked me if I had checked it out yet and I said, “No.” “You should. It sounds like what you want.” “Okay, I will.” A week or so later she asked again. The conversation was a ditto to the previous one.  Another week or so went by and the conversation was the same. The result was different though. I looked into it. Long story short, I filled out a questionnaire, talked hours to Caleb, had a phone interview that lasted all of about 10 minutes, and the rest is history.

But it was a job that almost wasn’t. Thanks to Jo’s persistence, I have been at the most satisfying ministry of my 50+ years in the ministry. Next month I start my 21st year.

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October 23

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

This coming Sunday, October 26th, is Owen Valley Christian Fellowship’s (OVCF) 21st anniversary. OVCF is the church I have had the privilege of being the pastor of since November of 2005. If you do the math, you will figure out that the church was just over a year old when I came. Down through the years people have asked me if I started the church. My stock answer has been, “No, but I sure feel like I did.” Let me explain. 

In 2004 there were several people who were part of another church in town who were disgruntled with several things, things that were never going to change. One serious breech was when the old church decided to cut back on and withhold mission giving. Struggles with leadership structure loomed large.  Another struggle was with the old adage of “We never did it that way before.” While some wanted to move forward and try new things, the old guard was saying absolutely not. The transition from a much-loved and long time pastor to his successor was not going well. A new building was rejected by the old guard. One expressed it as “There are no stain glass windows. I’m not going there on Sunday morning.” (Another reason the church is not a building, but the people). There were more, but I will leave it at that. 

After butting heads for some time, a group met to discuss a new church fellowship. IMHO even though I am against church splits, sometimes it is necessary. This one was.  The meeting spawned OVCF. It had humble beginnings. They settled in at the sports complex, which had a distinct smell. Rented office space. And no pastor. They eventually asked the “succession pastor” from the old church to be their leader, but after about 3 months he said, “He wanted out. Not acrimoniously. He had lost his heart for preaching. He is back in the pulpit now. 🙂 

Long story short: after 9 months of itinerant people filling the pulpit, they asked me (and Jo) come to Spencer. How I heard about Spencer and ultimately applied here, is another story in itself. We came to meet the people in September and I preached for them on September 11, 2005. Just over 2 months later we moved here to begin what has been THE MOST EXCITING AND SATISFYING ministry I have ever had.  That first year was filled with meetings and dreaming and forming a Mission and Vision Statement. (It has been revised several times since then).  We bought the current building in 2010. Have remodeled it. Added a youth addition. And now stand on the cusp of opening our new addition which includes a worship area, new nursery and a meeting room. All done in cash as God has blessed. We have been saving for 7 years to finally get to this point. Besides God’s faithfulness, there has been one other constant. Diana, the church secretary, started the same time as me. 

I close with this: “To God be the glory great things He has done.” I hope you have enjoyed reading a little bit of our history. There is more. I’ll share it down the road. 

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October 22

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025
Name that tune! (or that flashback to the ’80s?)
“Take me away/I don’t mind/You better better promise me/I’ll be back in time/Gotta get back in time/Gotta get back in time/Get me back in time.”
In case you don’t know, they are part of the lyrics from Back in Time by Huey Lewis and the News. That was the end song to my favorite movie of all time: Back to the Future. I cannot tell you how many time I have watched that trilogy, read books about it, and I might even have some 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles of the movie and the DeLorean. T-shirts? Did someone say t-shirts? I might have a few of those as well.  I was not much of a theater goer so when it came out it didn’t make much of an impression. But then we were living in a little town and they offered a free weekend of HBO and that was one of the featured movies. So we taped it (remember VHS tapes?) while watching it and that was all she wrote. That whole weekend became a blur in my memory. I had a friend and his son visit and he got hooked as well. In fact, every time we got together after that we watched it at least once. We might have watched it twice but who’s counting? Doug became as big a fan as me. I missed seeing #2 until I watched it the night before #3 released in the theaters. By then, I had a daughter who liked it as well as I did so we watched them together.  
1985…1955…2015…1885 (the Old West). The Time Machine (the DeLorean) took Marty on scintillating adventures to another time and another place. Present. Future. Past. The trilogy of movies made a boatload of money. Put Huey Lewis’ song The Power of Love as the #1 song on the Billboards charts and was nominated by the Academy Awards for Best Original Song.  And thrilled a whole bunch of people with its adventure. 
While it was just a movie, it showed the consequences past actions had on future events. After events happened in 1955, the George McFly of 1985 and the Biff of 1985 were totally different. I, personally, could have done without some of the language, but it was depicting life in 1985 and 2015.
I’ve thought about why those movies struck a chord, at least in me, besides the sheer fun of them. I’ve decided it was because many of us wish we could go back and change things from the past. Actions. Words. Events. Things we took part in. Stupid things we have done. Changing them would make such a difference today. But we can’t. The only thing we can do is first, live with the consequences. But most importantly, give our past to Jesus and ask Him to redeem it. While I can’t change my past, I can allow Him to direct my present and future. 
{Note: Yesterday, October 21, was the 50th anniversary of the time machine screen shot}

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October 21

Tuesday, October 21st, 2025

In my sermon this past Sunday, I read from Mark 8:34-37. Here it is that passage in its entirety:

(34) Then, calling the crowed to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. (35) If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. (36) And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (37) Is anything worth more than your soul?’ (NLT)

I realize the challenge that Jesus places before us in verses 34-35. He is, in a sense, laying down the gauntlet for us to decide yes or no. But it is the words in verses 36-37 that give me pause.  If you track these verses deeper, you can find the really hard truth Jesus is saying. Following Him isn’t just as easy as saying, “I accept you Jesus as my Savior.” I want to lay before you a simplistic but truthful statement: God is not interested in us just making Jesus our Savior; He is also wanting us to make Him our Lord.” I realize that is not a popular notion these days. It is fashionable for people to say, “I’m a Christian.” It is not so fashionable to say, “I am a Christ-follower.” I’m sure you see the truth of that statement. People from all stripes can say the former; only those who have committed their lives can say the latter. 

But it goes even deeper. Take a look at those two verses again. Analyze them. What are they saying? Here is what I see: If a person’s life is based on getting a pay check (no matter how substantial it might be) their life will be empty. But if their life has a purpose and they live for that purpose to be fulfilled, their life will be full. Jesus knew the emptiness of pursuing things that would not last or satisfy. He wanted us to see that reality also. 

It all comes down to the question asked in verse 37: Is anything worth more than your soul?” I’d give an unquestionable “NO.” What say you? 

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October 20

Monday, October 20th, 2025

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had attended a Chaplain/First Responder Training led by Dr. Barry Young last week. I also said it was like taking a drink of water from a fire hose. One section of the training was on Suicide. In fact, he talked about it last, not because it was unimportant, but because of its importance. 

In both First Responders and society at large, there is a general idea that if you need mental health assistance you are weak. I can’t speak for women, but I do know that men have a huge difficulty with this. It is almost ingrained in us from birth that men are strong and we don’t need anyone else, especially if it is dealing with what is seen as a weakness. Instead of being seen as weak, those who seek help should see themselves and others as brave. 

More law enforcement died last year due to suicide than were killed in the line of duty.  The headlines show us that suicide is definitely not limited to law enforcement personnel. It is hitting the rich and famous as much as the down and outers.  I’d like to make two observations about this scourge:

First, I REJECT any notion that taking one’s life immediately condemns that person to hell. I know that goes against the grain of many religious beliefs. I recently had some ask me that very question because he had been raised in a religious tradition that taught that. The reasons for someone doing something so drastic and final are many: they have no place to turn; they feel as though they have no help; no other answer; mental illness; they feel alone. Try dealing with life when stuff like that is hanging over one’s head! Yeah, without reaching out, it is impossible. And therein lies the rub. We are seen as weak if we do. There are too many factors involved to make blanket statements like “All suicidal people go to hell.” I refuse to play judge, jury and executioner. The only time I know someone is lost forever is if they reject Christ. Any atheist who died is now finding out the truth of eternity. Or is that the lie he spewed?

Second, one of my goals is to bring life to people. I want them to know they are loved and they have a purpose here on earth. Mr. Young said, “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Despair is real, but so is hope. Without sounding simplistic, so is the light at the end of the tunnel (and it is not an oncoming train). There is hope; there is light; there is purpose; there is an answer. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Contact a friend. Contact a suicide prevention hotline. GET HELP! You are not weak if you do. Just the opposite: I’d say you are strong. 

One more thing: if you know someone is struggling, be a friend. 

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October 16

Thursday, October 16th, 2025

I commented yesterday that I would be attending a First Responder Training since I am the chaplain of the Owen County Sheriff’s Department.  I was asked to give a recap of my experience, not by the presenter, but by one of my readers. I’ll try to do that but first this comment:

It was like trying to take a drink of water from a fire hose! 

Dr. Barry Young is the founder of Serving Heroes, the individual and organization who gave the presentation. He has been involved as a chaplain/peer support for over 30 years and currently serves as a chaplain for a police department in Arkansas. He has others who are involved in this ministry with him-former law enforcement, military, fire, and others who are vital to the ongoing work of Serving Heroes. For 5 of the slotted 6 hours (one hour for lunch), we listened to engaging stories and information that will hopefully help me and the others who were there be better chaplains and peer support people for their departments. 

Here are just a few of the Anchor Points (as he called them) that were given. I’ll give them with no comment.

“Feeding your emotions won’t kill you, but ignoring them might.”

Hurting people hurt people; healing people heal people.” 

“Asking for help is a sign of wisdom not weakness.” 

“Stop rehearsing and start releasing.”  (In regards to the past)

“If you don’t get healed from what hurt you, you will bleed on people who didn’t cut you.” 

“You can’t complain your way to a breakthrough.” 

“We will never be healed until we stop blaming others.” 

“Intentions don’t change lives, decisions do.” 

“You can’t care for another until you first care for yourself.” 

There were more, but while I was there as a chaplain, it should be obvious it was far more to me than just that. Along the way, I also learned there were things I did right as a chaplain and some things I definitely need to improve upon. The most helpful for me (besides the whole training) were the last two: Stress Management and Suicide. I’ll possibly share more in future posts. There are multiple levels of training. I am hoping I can take in some more levels of training. 

{Note: These Anchor Points are all part of the Serving Heroes copyrighted material. DO NOT take these as your own ideas and share them as though they are! Give proper credit}

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October 15

Wednesday, October 15th, 2025

If leaders don’t continue growing forward they will grow stagnant. 

That is my way of saying, “Keep growing. No leader has ever arrived.” If a leader (or anyone for that matter) thinks they have nothing more to learn, the end will be stagnation. The ultimate end will be death. Not death as in physical, but death as in inspiration or challenging others (and themselves) or motivating to keep improving. I know for me as a pastor, I must continue to grow. That is why at the age of 73 I still try to read as much as I can and to seek improving. I’m certainly not perfect in that. There are still moments when I back off or find myself overwhelmed by the sheer challenge of pastoring a small church in a small community. 

Of making sure we are not irrelevant without bowing to culture.

Of making sure we are still reaching out to the community without giving in to the social justice mentality. 

Of making sure our eyes are firmly fixed on Jesus, even as we are expanding our facilities. 

Almost 4 years ago, Owen County elected a new sheriff. Ryan White, one of the members of the church I pastor, was elected sheriff. One of his first initiatives was to ask me to be the chaplain for the Owen County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD).  The previous sheriff fancied himself as that so none was needed. Not so with Ryan. I was given a badge (say what?) to wear when on “call.”  The only requirement to speak of was to be available 24/7 if needed. I agreed to do so. I’ve been called to McCormick’s Creek State Park when a tornado ripped through OC and two people were found dead in their camper from a fallen tree. I was called to a scene to be with family and friends when a car was found in a ravine with a young lady who had been missing. I was recently called to a home where a suicide took place. Sheriff White also started having “interventions” where the first responders, including his deputies, dispatch, and others could come and share their thoughts and get healing. 

Sheriff White asked me if I would be willing to go to a Chaplain’s Training program where I could further my ability to help first responders cope with their job. I said, “Yes” and today is the day. It is an all-day training from 9:00-3:00. I look forward to learning how to be a better chaplain. That also means that I will be unable to approve your comment early on. Please feel free to comment though and don’t think your comment wasn’t registered. I will post them at my earliest opportunity. 

Meanwhile, have a great day and keep learning! 

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October 14

Tuesday, October 14th, 2025

You would think I would learn. Wake up in the middle of the night with a thought in my head of a possible post and write it down. But no-o-o-o-o. I tell myself, “I will remember that” so rather than get up and write it down, I just go back to sleep. Now I’m wracking my brain trying to remember that “unforgettable” thought.  I’ve been up for two hours and I’m still looking for it.  Why do I do that to myself?  Oh well…maybe I will wake up sometime in the middle of the night tonight and remember it. Someone once told me that a good practice is to have paper and pen next to my bedside to write down the random thoughts that come to mind. Maybe I ought to do that, but I really prefer sleeping the night through with no random thought in my head except, visions of sugar plums (whatever they are) dancing in my head. In all honesty, that sounds truly gross and sweet enough to put even a non-diabetic like me into a sugar coma. (I prefer ice cream myself. Chocolate. Death by chocolate. Moose tracks chocolate. Mint chocolate chip). That’s enough of that. I’m at the office and have no access to either ice cream or chocolate. 🙂

I’m rambling I know. I’m trying to randomly write hoping my mind will wake up and remember that middle-of-the-night idea. But I think I’m going to fail. 

Here is something else. Trying to understand God is more often than not impossible. He even says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8-9 NLT)  I struggle sometimes when I know stuff and wonder why God just doesn’t intervene and do what I think ought to be done. When little children are touched and molested by a supposed loving parent; when an incompetent judge disregards testimony of experts and allows unsupervised visitation and driving rights to the alcoholic father. 

Blows me away. I have been privy to situations over the years that will curl the insides of any normal person. Parents smoking joints and taking meth with their children in the room. Read the news of “tanked” parents driving with their babies in the car.  How about so-called parents selling their children for sex? Are you kidding me?

I can’t wrap my head around the evil in different scenarios. And honestly, I can’t wrap my head around it being allowed to go on. God says His thoughts are not mine. He is correct in that. He is also correct that I don’t understand His ways. But He is also correct that I must trust Him in all things. So I will. Even if it is hard. And BTW: I just realized that was my random thought. 🙂

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October 13

Monday, October 13th, 2025

I was reminded last night about the power or impact of anniversaries. 

No…not mine. Mine is…let me think…sometime in the Dark Ages. 🙂 Actually it is June 16, 1973. 

No…this one was Tami’s. Not a wedding. Not a job change. Not moving back to Indiana after teaching in Knoxville for 15 years. This anniversary is much more dubious. As she reminded me: “Dad, do you know what tomorrow is?” I said, “Yes, Monday, October 13th.” “Do you know what anniversary it is?” “Let’s see, tomorrow is Columbus Day.” “True, but no.” “I don’t remember anything happening that was earth-shattering in the church or country. Guess I’m going to have say, ‘I have no clue.'” 

“Four years ago I had my heart attack.” Ouch! Four years ago our 46 year old daughter had a heart attack. It is called a SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection). A SCAD is a tear in the wall of a coronary artery that can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack, often in people who are otherwise healthy and have no traditional heart disease risk factors like high cholesterol. It requires immediate medical attention. A spontaneous tear occurs in the inner layers of a coronary artery wall. It is sort of like an unraveling of the inner layers. It forms a hematoma that leads to symptoms like:

  • Chest pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness
  • Pain in the arms, shoulders, jaw, neck, back, or stomach
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Sweating

Tami was at school teaching Kindergarten students like always. (Stressful). That day was picture day. (Stressful). She had been dealing with post-COVID symptoms like food tasting and smelling weird. She was leaving for school in the dark and coming home in the dark. She was living by herself and had virtually no friends due to her schedule. She had her mom and me but, you know…we were her parents. 🙂 We got a call from her at school saying she needed to go to the hospital. The nurse told her she may be having a heart attack. She was spot on. 

I’ll not go into any more details except to say the next few days were spent in the hospital ER and then in a room waiting while she had tests done. The details of life since are not essential to tell except she was no longer allowed to climb the 25 steps to her apartment so she moved in with us. Due to a lack of (affordable) rentals here in town, she still lives with us. I don’t mind. Yes, I would like to make some changes but, she has been a joy to have there. As we age, her presence will be even more important. 

I thank God for sparing her life. I know mine would have been much poorer without her. 

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