Monday, July 26, 2021

My Story #43

 Dr. Ronnie W. Wolfe

Preachers have dreams, and many of the preachers tell me that they have this same dream or something like it. It is a dream in which the preacher is to speak to a large crowd. He is somewhere around but not yet in front of the crowd. The time is drawing nearer and nearer to the time when he is to speak, but the preacher has a problem (one of many). It could be that he cannot find his Bible or his notes. It could be that he is not yet at the church when it is already time for him to speak. But, whatever it is, there is something hindering him from his speech. I had a dream once that I was to preach in just a minute or two, and for some reason I could make my way to the pulpit. I was behind a large group of people with no way to reach the podium to preach. I awoke without ever making it to the pulpit to preach.

In real life preaching is one of the greatest activities that I enjoy. God called me at age 18 to preach his word, and God stimulated by conscience to so my best. Although I am not the finest preach in the world, I do want to be; and I work hard a using the gift that God has given me. That is all God requires, and I am satisfied to do that. It is not my preaching that honors God; it is God's word that honor's God.
 


Wednesday, July 21, 2021

My Story #42

Pastor Dr. Ronnie W. Wolfe

Today I am remembering those who down through the many years of my life have loved me, helped me, remembered me in prayer, written to me, called me, and associated with me in many different ways. I pray that I have been half the friend to them as they have to me. I have tried to be a witness of the Gospel to many people through the years, and the Lord has been gracious to save many of those people, whether it was through preaching from a pulpit or sitting down personally with a person to give the Gospel.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful unto salvation, the Apostle Paul said, and it is true. There is nothing like witnessing to someone and then see their countenance change, their heart changed, a new life arise in their soul, and a new attitude of love for God's people and a desire to serve the Lord.

Sadly, many to whom I have witnessed did not trust the Lord Jesus as Savior, and for that my heart is broken. I cannot force someone to trust the Lord; all I can do is give them the good news of the Gospel and pray that God will change their heart to believe in Jesus Christ and surrender to be the Lord's servant for the rest of their lives.
 

Thursday, July 15, 2021

No Hope In Heaven

 Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

It may seem strange that I would write the expression "No Hope In Heaven," but it is a biblical truth. Everyone on earth needs some kind of hope, or life would be a disaster.

Earthy, human hope is a passing thing. We hope for a better future. We hope for more money or that someone will be well from a serious illness. This is expected in this life, and we all have hopes like this. Some people even hope to get to heaven with this same kind of passing hope.

But for the Christian, our hope is not a passing hope but an eternal one. Hebrews 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

We know that this is truth from several Scriptures:

(1) Philippians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

(2) 2 Corinthians 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Notice another Scripture on HOPE:

Romans 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

If a thing is seen, then it is not hoped for, because hope has been fulfilled. At this present time, we have a sure and stedfast hope of heaven. That means that we have not seen it yet, but we shall see it at the time we are delivered from this world. Then it will not be hope but sight.

In heaven, then, our faith will be turned to sight, so there will be no faith in heaven. By the same token, hope will be turned to sight, so there will be no hope in heaven. When we are in heaven, faith and hope will both be fulfilled and turned into sight. The only thing left of the three things mentioned in Scripture (faith, hope, and charity [love]) is love. 

Sight is greater than hope and faith, so John says in 1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Isn't it nice that there is no hope in heaven but a sure and eternal confidence in Christ, who made it all possible by his death, burial, and resurrection.


Monday, July 12, 2021

Speeding

 

My Story #41
Ronnie W. Wolfe

I had purchased a beautiful fire-engine red Chevrolet Impala Super Sport hard-top convertible with bucket seats and an 8-track stereo and was driving down I-75 in those early days when there was not so much traffic on that highway.

I had a young man with me, and in my flesh I decided to see how fast that car would go. I looked around and noticed that the highway ahead of me was clear of any traffic for about three miles ahead, I mean, not one car on the entire road and the road was straight. So, I started driving faster and faster until the speedometer reached 101 miles per hour.

Then it hit me inside, that hurting feeling that I might kill this young man and/or myself by some tragedy. My heart and soul, I think by the Holy Spirit, convicted me; and I brought the car down to the normal 70 miles per hour, which was the legal speed limit.

I felt terrible afterward, and I apologized to the young man, who, I think, was enjoying every minute of it. Then I said to him, "I will never do this again as long as I live." I am almost 77 years old, and I have NEVER done this since, and I think I am too old and feeble to even try it now.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD GOT THE CAR OUT OF SECOND GEAR (I am only joking here, of course).
 

Monday, July 5, 2021

I Saw A Flag; I Dropped A Tear


Ronnie W. Wolfe – July 4, 2021

I saw a flag; I dropped a tear.
When I thought of all the hurt and fear
That came to those who gave the most
On Flander’s Field and the Barbary Coast.
 
How sad to see the poppies grow
On Flander’s Field so long ago;
To represent our fallen brave
Who in their hearts success they crave.
 
Francis Scott there wrote that song
For 1812 their soldiers strong,
Who through the night saw soldiers fall,
But the mighty flag flew free and tall.
 
Through the mighty World War One,
Ferdinand and his death so strong,
Drew the forces to the fray
To fight again another day.
 
In World War Two, the weapons rang,
The tanks drove on as the warplanes sang.
Patriotic hearts drew close
And all determined to do their most.
 
With courage needed, they volunteer.
Their strength goes forth from year to year.
But some hold back because of fear.
I saw a flag; I dropped a tear.

 My Story #40

Ronnie W. Wolfe

You have probably never done this, but I have. I actually went to the wrong conference.

I was scheduled to preach at a conference in Kentucky, but there was another conference going on in Kentucky at the same time.

I began to travel to Kentucky to preach in the conference when "second nature" took over, and my "second nature" led me to the conference in Kentucky to which I was not invited to preach. When I arrived, everyone was so glad to see me and told me they were glad I could join them that day.

All at a sudden, I looked around and came to my senses and said, "Oh, I am at the wrong conference." They, of course, were saddened that I could not stay there, but I had to get into my car and travel to the other conference to try to get there in time to preach.

I called the church where I was supposed to be and told them what happened. They had another man to preach in my appointed spot, and I eventually arrived and was able to preach with a little embarrassment. GOD IS GOOD!