New Beginnings

This is a blog that I have been putting off for some time; because it is extremely difficult to write. On November 11, 2016 a friend, co-laborer in the gospel got her promotion. Drema Robertson went home to be with the Lord. The minister side of me is rejoicing, because she is not dealing with cancer, and the side effects of medication, she is in the presence of the Lord. The human side of me misses her encouragement and zeal. God puts people in our lives at various times to help guides us along. Sometimes they are there at different stages of our life. This was the case with Drema. I know she is missed by many. I met Drema in the summer of 1977, while during an internship at WWNR. I think back then she writing copy and working in the office, she later would work selling radio advertising.   I knew Derma’s sister Jami and Sharon went to school with Debbie, who I would meet later and work in ministry with. Drema was well dressed, sophisticated, and mature. I was young in many...

Families are important. It seems like the older you get the more family is important. I have just experience family love and reconnecting with Sharon’s surgery at Cleveland Clinic. It had been 35 year since I was in Cleveland. I was busy working and dealing with life in general. I knew we had family there, but Sharon was more connected to family than I was. I am used to keeping to myself, a very quiet private person/ When the opportunity came and I was asked by my dad to go with Sharon to Cleveland for her surgery,; I did what all of us oldest children do, we step in and do what is needed. It was refreshing to see the love and support we received from aunts and all of the cousins on both sides of the family. The Aunts When you come from a big family like my mom did, it is not unusual if you are one of the older siblings to have sisters and brothers the same age as your own children. That is the case with me and Pam. I was born in January and she was born in September. Now she...

Bullying What prompted me to write this was the death of a nine year old due to bullying. It breaks my heart to know that someone felt maybe they had to   try to cry for help and it took an ugly turn. There is a book by Sheryl Woods “ Catching Fireflies” , that tells the story of a teenaged girl who was a victim of bullying, because someone else’s boyfriend looked at her. In the book Misty Donavan was bullied. Fortunately, she had a teacher who suspected something was wrong and stepped in to help. I mention this, because of the way that the media has portrayed bullying. It is not, not being invited to someone’s birthday party, or being excluded from a group. Bullying makes you feel like you are not worth anything. It’s not just calling someone “four eyes: and other names. That is one form of it. The poem we were all taught in school “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt”. Words to hurt, they have a lasting impact on a person. What makes a person...

A Tribute to Brother Carlos Lewis I received a text message today, that Brother Carlos Lewis had gotten his promotion. Tears came to my eyes as many, many memories of Brother Carlos came to mind. I last saw Brother Carlos, the last part of 2015. Heart of God ministries goes to Hilltop Nursing Home once a month to minister. I received a call to minister at the nursing home that night. Sometimes I don’t have a lot of notice, once when I was there I was the “ram in the bush”, because the person who was scheduled to come forgot or something came up at the last minute. I am sooo glad that I obeyed the Lord on that evening. I don’t even remember what I spoke on. As we were getting ready to leave Andrea came up to me, I hadn’t seen Andrea in quite some time, so I didn’t recognize her and she explained to everyone that me and her dad had worked together for over 30 years at WJLS. I saw Brother Carlos and hugged him and the tears fell.   I was so glad to see him. Sharon said she had ...

A Strange Way to Save the World I'm sure he must have been surprised At where this road had taken him Cause never in a million lives Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem And standing at the manger He saw with his own eyes The message from the angel come to life And Joseph said Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade Why Him with all the rulers in the world Why here inside this stable filled with hay Why her, she's just an ordinary girl Now I'm not one to second guess What angels have to say But this is such a strange way to save the World To think of how it could have been If Jesus had come as He deserved There would have been no Bethlehem No lowly shepherds at His birth But Joseph knew the Reason love had to reach so far And as he held the Savior in his arms He must have thought Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade Why Him with all the rulers in the world Why here inside this stable filled with hay Why her, she's just...

     Last night was Halloween, and I spent the evening handing out candy at my mother in laws. There were at least several hundred kids on the street. My mind had several flashbacks, two years ago I was waiting on Home Health to show up to help me with taking care of Matt, I was in no mood to  be bothered with Halloween. Last night bought back many memories. The last time I went trick or treating I was 12 and I took Sharon out. I got lectured to by adults saying I was too old to go out. The next year my parents wouldn't let us go out anymore.  I saw teenagers last night trick or treating, I just gave them the candy, may have been up to something, and some just wanted to have fun. One year I took Rihanna to tailgate Halloween in downtown Beckley. I worked that event for many years as well.      I mentioned "The Heavenly Harvest" in the title because that's what I did every Halloween from 1987 - 1999. "The Heavenly Harvest" was conceived...