InTheShadow
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Monday, November 10th, 2025
We all struggle with disappointment from time to time. We try out for a sports team and when the final cut is made we find we have not made the team. We long for a new or different job so we interview and feel like we did a bang up job. When the day comes we find out they have hired someone else (and maybe not given you even the courtesy of a phone call). You are sure you “Aced” the test. You studied hard because you knew it would go a long way toward advancing your goal in a particular field. You did okay on the test, but not as good as you needed. Or maybe you strive hard to complete a course of study because you wanted a particular job, but after you got that job in just a short amount of time it isn’t what you thought, nor what you want. You long to be married and thought you had found prince/princess charming, but the novelty wears off and your prince/princess finds someone else.
Recently Jo and I suffered a big disappointment. For some it may not seem like much, but to us it took the wind out of our sails for a moment. In September my best friend, Dave, passed away after an 18 month battle with a glioblastoma. We visited in February of ’24 and one week later I got a call that was nothing but gibberish. After a number of phone calls trying to figure out what was happening, Dave was able to communicate about his brain tumor. 18 months later Dave lost his battle. He wanted no memorial or big production. Susan said, “This is one time I will not do what he asks.” This coming weekend has been on the calendar for almost 2 months for his celebration. Tickets were purchased to fly out Thursday and return Sunday. We were so looking forward to it. But I “little” thing called “a government shutdown” has changed all that. This past week, after making a call to the airline and being told one of the early morning non-stop flights from Indy to Phoenix would be cancelled (but they didn’t know which one), I made the tough decision to change our tickets to February of ’26. While I feel it is the tough/right decision to make, that does make it any easier to cope with the disappointment.
However, what helps cope is knowing that God saw this and there is a reason for me changing our dates. I believe nothing happens that is not in God’s purview. I will trust that He has something better planned. I can already tell you that Jo is much more comfortable with it. The Open House Susan had planned already had 120+ people responding that they were coming to her house. Yikes! In February it will just be the three of us with a small gathering one evening with the family.
Don’t see disappointments as final. See them as God has something better.
Posted in InTheShadow | 4 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, Disappointments, God, God's Plan, God's purpose, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story
Thursday, November 6th, 2025
Contrary to what many may think the Christian life is a life of love.
Not judgment. Not hatred. Not rules and regulations. Not getting even. Not a “hellish future awaits you.”
Love. In I John 4, John wrote, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God, for God is love. God showed how much He loves us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love-not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (I John 4:7-10 NLT)
A few verses later (v. 20) John writes that if anyone says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar. Put simply: hate is the antithesis of love. Left to myself, I am an impatient, judgmental, and irritation-driven man. But when God’s love enters the picture, I am transformed into a patient, understanding, and more peaceful man. Does that mean I never exhibit those ugly qualities? Aaah no. I’m still human (in spite of my best superhero impersonation). But in the big picture God’s love is transforming me into a new creation.
How can that be seen? Take John’s words: a sure sign of being transformed is living a life of love. Just think what that thought would have done to the mind of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Just think what it does to the minds of the self-righteous Pharisees of today. What shows transformation is not my spiritual intellect (Bible knowledge, prayer life or church-going), or my ministry experience. God’s transformation within my heart is seen by how much I love and who I love. While not compromising the truth of the Gospel, I am to love even those who hate me, those whose lifestyle is abhorrent and adverse to the Bible, and those who curl my insides with hateful and hate-filled rhetoric.
The apostle John finished chapter 4 with some pretty strong words: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believers, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God whom we cannot see?” (v.20 NLT)
Good words. Strong words. Essential words. Don’t you agree?
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Christian Living, God's Word, Kindness, Lifestyle, Love, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Scripture look
Wednesday, November 5th, 2025
I have a favor to ask. A little over a month ago (although it seems like eons ago) I was called to a suicide as the chaplain of the Owen County Sheriff’s Department. It was a first for me-not being called out, but being called to a suicide. Fortunately, the sheriff’s deputies and other first responders were there and I was not privy to the scene. But his best friend was. In fact, when the weird phone calls came to the mother (who was in Bloomington) and brother (who was in Florida), his best friend was on the way back from Louisville and reached the scene first. While I was there I talked to this friend quite a bit and offered to listen if he ever needed someone. Monday I got a call that he would like to take me up on my offer to talk. I am meeting him this afternoon in another town. It will be a first for me on several different fronts. If you are a praying person, may I ask you to do so? Pray for wisdom and clarity for me. Pray for me to listen well and not pretend as though I know or have the answers. I am not a professional counselor. I do know this young man needs a friend.
I had planned on writing on something else this morning, but feel compelled to chat a bit on this subject. Many times when people need to talk to us, we often give off airs of having it all together and being a know-it-all with the answers. First, we all know (or should) that we don’t have all the answers, and second, we don’t always have it together. In life in general there are many unanswered questions. In a suicide that seems to amp up a bit. The biggest? WHY? There are a lot of factors that play into a suicide. Health (physical): Long term sickness, like cancer or MS or some other seemingly incurable or hopeless disease. Mental health: loneliness, abuse, abandonment, bi-polar. The list can go on and on. Life situations like poverty, or job loss, or helplessness. And yes, some of it is cowardice (someone who goes on a spree, for example, and then shoots themselves rather than be taken captive).
The sad part is the fallout for those who are left behind. This is a case in point. No one knows why this young man took his life. One guess is that he has been sick lately. He was a highly functional autistic young man. He lost two fathers from cancer at different times in his young life. The family and friends may never know. What I do know is that I am meeting someone today who is hurting. I could say a lot more, but it is unnecessary. I will say this though: if you are in that much despair, PLEASE get help!!
Meanwhile, don’t judge the person. Don’t condemn him. Love those who are left behind. And please pray for me.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Death, Friendship, Grace, Leadership, Listening, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Suicide
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
Love and Hate.
Two words that seem to be at odds with each other. And I guess it reality they are. We are real good at saying the two don’t coincide. Take our current culture, for example, in regards to sharing truth. People see them as incapable of cohabiting with each other. In some minds, if you tell the truth then you must do it with sternness, without an ounce of empathy or sympathy. On the other hand, there are those who eschew any talk of truth because, after all, “my truth is the only truth that matters.” Both are wrong approaches.
To share the truth of the Gospel is not bias or hatred; it is actually love. Why would we not want to share the greatest truth in all the world-“God love you and gave His Son for you”? However, and here is the rub, that truth must still be given in love. How appealing is it to tell someone they are loved by a gracious God while having a stern or judgmental attitude? Answer: not.
On the other side of the coin is the one who refuses to tell the truth about sin because either they are afraid of offending someone, or “all sin is equal so what gives me the right to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong?”
Go back to my original 3 words. Love and Hate. They don’t coexist. They can’t coexist. Unless you hate sin so much and love someone even more to have a dialogue with them. What we often fail to remember is love compels us to speak up. When my girls were growing up, Jo and I had “rules” in the house. Break the rules and face the consequences. We didn’t allow screaming and yelling or name-calling or disobedience. There were consequences to that type of action. We did it, not because we were vengeful, but because we loved. Our goal as parents was to raise young girls to become responsible and godly young woman. Were we successful? They can tell you. 🙂
Truth must be shared…but in love. Not hate. Not with belligerence. Even the woman caught in adultery was forgiven by Jesus, but also told, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus did not excuse her sin as though it didn’t exist. Forgiven but live differently.
Sounds like good advice for me and the world we live in.
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: belligerence, Christian Living, Humility, Kindness, Leadership, Love, Love and Hate, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Sin, Speech, Truth Telling
Monday, November 3rd, 2025
It was a busy week. No make that a busy two weeks. Okay…a busy year.
This week and next promise to be more of the same.
I was supposed to have gained an extra hour of sleep this past weekend with Daylight Savings Time, but I didn’t even notice.
It seems like busyness is part and parcel of our daily lives. I used to have conversations with people and when I would ask them how they were doing they would say, “Busy.” My response? “Well, that is better than being bored.” To be perfectly honest I hate being bored so there is some truth to that statement. But there comes a time when being bored (my synonym for relaxing) sounds awful good. Like now. I’m 73 and I am supposed to be slowing down and enjoying life. Well…I do enjoy life, but as for slowing down? That is a little tough to come by. And I know it is my fault. I have chosen to work out/ride my bike during my lunch hour. I have chosen to get up at 3:30 to have unbroken time at the office to prepare my sermons, read, and get done what needs done. I have chosen to read to the Kindergarten classes (5 total in two different schools) and now have taken on reading to a 3rd class Jon Gordon’s The Energy Bus for Kids once a week for 5 weeks. I have also chosen to take on reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to multiple 3rd grade classes in 2 different schools. (In one I designed it to be part of a rotation with the teacher and principal). And I have chosen to brainstorm with 14 other adults and teens about starting a Special Needs Ministry here at OVCF. Combine all of that with my regular visitation to the hospital and rehab centers, doctor visits, and other management stuff and it makes for a very busy schedule.
You know what is bad? I know I have done it to myself and actually like being busy. But there comes a point where I have to find a medium, a middle of the road spot. I can’t keep up this pace without it affecting my spirit, my health, my relationships, and my physical exercise time. The latter has been my “sanity” over the years, my go-to to keep me sharp and energetic. But my busy schedule is threatening to even push that out. I need to slow down on my own before God or my body or some life situation says, “You won’t slow down? Okay then, you won’t have any choice now.”
Years ago..and I mean many years ago…like in 1980 (yeah that long ago), the late Chuck Girard had an album called The Stand. (Chuck is the father of podcaster and former ZoeGirl singer, Alisa Childers. He passed away from cancer this year). One of the songs on the album was quirky, but pointed. Please give it a listen and see if applies to you or if I’m alone.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Busy Day, Busyness, Choices, Christian Living, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflection, Story
Thursday, October 30th, 2025
Names you may know:
- Alexander Graham Bell-telephone
- Thomas Edison- light bulb, phonograph, motion picture
- Wright Brothers-airplane
- Johannes Gutenberg- printing press
- Samuel Morse- telegraph
- Karl Benz- automobile
- Josephine Cochrane- dishwasher
- Isaac Newton-reflecting telescope
- Marie Curie- theory of radioactivity
Cleo McVicker. Say what? Say who? First, you may recognize the above names as inventors and their inventions. All of them have had some effect on us, even though we may not have a clue what the description is or how to use it (see last two). There are, of course, more. But who, pray tell, is that last one? Cleo McVicker. Here is his story:
In the early 1930s, Cleo McVicker came up with a product that could be used as wallpaper cleaner. Back then, most homes were heated by coal, and I don’t have to tell you what that was like. McVicker’s wallpaper cleaner never became popular, but decades later, a teacher used his product in her classes to create Christmas ornaments. From that was born a company-Rainbow Crafts-and the wallpaper cleaner was repurposed as a children’s toy. It was called “Play-Doh.” And now, as Paul Harvey used to say, “You know the rest of the story.” (Edited from story found in OurDailyBread devotional for October 30)
I think it is always interesting to read or hear stories like that. There is actually a site that has a list of accidental inventions: post-it-notes; x-ray; microwave ovens; coca-cola; pacemaker; superglue; potato chips; insulin; and a whole lot more.
In the case of Mcvicker’s invention, it was repurposed to become more popular and a child’s delight. God is in the repurposing business also. He takes our messy, broken lives and gives them meaning and purpose. The Bible is filled, as is history, with people whose lives were transformed by God and used for His purpose. D.L. Moody. Billy Sunday. Billy Graham. Blaise Pascal. Florence Nightingale. George Washington Carver. Samuel Morse. Many others. In the Bible, try Joseph on for size. Sold as a slave due to his brothers’ jealousy, accused of sexual harassment by Potiphar’s wife, forgotten in prison, elevated to 2nd in all of Egypt. A life repurposed by God.
Sin has written “failed” across all our foreheads. But God is in the transformation and repurposing business. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” So go out and make a difference!
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Choices, Christian Living, God's Plan, Inventors and inventions, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Salvation, Story
Wednesday, October 29th, 2025
I just started reading a book yesterday entitled Made to Tremble by Blair Linne. Looking at the title might get one to think it is on worship or something that has to do with awe of God. But that would be a wrong assumption. It is subtitled “How Anxiety Became The Best Thing That Ever Happened To My Faith.” I didn’t pick up the book to read because I have anxiety issues. Just the opposite. I KNOW people who struggle with this issue and have been at a loss to know what to say or how to help. I want to understand better. I know people who are anxiety-ridden and find their whole life dominated by anxiety and its tentacles. Blair has and still suffers from anxiety (not like she used to) and I’m looking forward to diving in deeper.
But she said a couple of things just in the Introduction that have caught my attention. I have noticed, as would any observer of culture and people, that one of the prevailing philosophies being taught is “you have the power within you to overcome anything. All you have to do is ‘will’ yourself powerful.” To put it more simply: meditate, do yoga, go outdoors, worship creation, etc. and you will conquer the waves of anxiety that invade your day. We are being taught “Here are 10 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety” or “Name and claim away anxiety” (that’s the faux religious one). It’s not that easy. We end up depending too much on ourselves and not enough on the ONE who calmed the waves and sea and brought healing to the blind, the lame, and others. When the disciples were anxious about feeding 5000+ people, Jesus put their fears to rest by multiplying the 5 loaves and 2 fish. If He can do that, He can do so much more! As Blair is so blunt to point out: “As it turns out, anxiety was not an obstacle that I needed to avoid; it was a portal to a person I needed to behold: Jesus Christ.” (p.2).
We often run away from fears and hangups we experience. Sometimes that is good (like leaving an addiction behind). But instead of running away, why not run to the One who is always there no matter what? Perhaps we need to see our fear or anxiety or weakness we experience as an opportunity to be more dependent and reliant on Jesus. We were never meant to live life alone. NEVER. And yet, so many try! “I don’t need anyone else. I’m the captain of my own ship.” That may be true in your own eyes, but it looks like your ship is taking on water and is sinking.
There is purpose in our pain. Let’s learn from it and use it to become dependent on Jesus and then ultimately to help someone else to find that same answer.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Anxiety, Choices, Christian Living, Humility, Inner Peace, Jesus, Lifestyle, Ministry, Opinion, Reflection, Story
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.
Posted in InTheShadow | 10 Responses »
Tags: Family, Father, God, Good good Father, Opinion, Reflection, Story
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.
Posted in InTheShadow | 6 Responses »
Tags: Anniversary, Church, God's Plan, Leadership, Ministry, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Reflection, Story
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.
Posted in InTheShadow | 8 Responses »
Tags: Church, God's faithfulness, God's Plan, His Story, Leadership, Miscellaneous, Opinion, OVCF history, Reflection, Story
