My Story #105 -- Records And Albums

 

My Story #105

Records And Albums

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

After the Bluegrass Boys Trio had been traveling for a while, it was determined that we should make a record of some of our songs.

We recorded first at Sun-Ray Records where some very prominent recording artists have recorded. The owner was Jimmy Price. His studio was in his garage.

We remember well having to put handkerchiefs over our microphones to keep the recording from popping every time a word that started with a P was sung.

In one recording session we told Jimmy Price the name of the next song to be recorded, but he did not hear it, so he asked what the next song was, and Dema Brubacher opened the door to the small enclosed area where we were singing and shouted "Sorry, I Never Knew You." Then he closed the door. Jimmy Price first looked at us with surprise, but then he realized that was the name of our next song.

We took donations for the records as we traveled around to different churches and gave the money to Lexington Baptist College as we did the donations from churches where we went to sing.

Later we made some long-play albums, and God blessed. We realized that we had "arrived" when people said they bought our albums at a yard sale.

Those were joyful and yet stressful and tiring days, but we were determined to do this for the Lord and for LBC. We loved the Lord most, and we loved LBC.

Bob Jones drove us around in a Volks Wagon Bug, and we wore out two of them. Those were the days, as they say. May God receive honor and glory for our efforts.

We saw many trust the Lord as Savior and some young men submit to God's call to preach the word of God.

-->To be continued<--

My Story #104 -- Dr. Rosco Brong

 

My Story #104

Dr. Rosco Brong

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

As I sit here and think of what to write this week, I cannot help but think of another of one of my teachers at Lexington Baptist College (LBC).

Dr. Rosco Brong was a unique and sometimes mysterious man. I had the privilege of sitting in classes with him as my teacher. There are so many stories that I could tell about class experiences.

For example:

Once in class Bro. Brong was teaching, I believe, on Redemption. He made a point and for some reason (I cannot remember why), he fell backward in his chair and fell onto the floor. All of US students bit our tongues to try not to laugh, out of our respect for him. When he got up and sat back down in his chair, he said, "Well, you might as well go ahead and laugh." Then, we all burst out laughing. He never even had a smile through that whole episode.

Another time, he was teaching a class on Speech. He was having each student to give a short speech, and we all had to critique each speech and tell what we thought was right or wrong with each speech. He had brought a tape recorder to record our speeches. While he was talking, I, being in the front row, reached up and turned the recorded on and recorded his talk. When he was changing subjects, I said, "Bro. Brong, listen to this." To his surprise, he heard himself speaking, and he said, "I don't know how you stand it!" We had another healthy laugh out of that.

I also had the privilege with working with Bro. Brong at LBC. His office was at the front of the school building, Bro. Larry Robbins' office was next in line, then my office was next. The three of us would have discussions about theology and Bible things. Once a subject came up of which I had never heard. I said, "I've never heard of that before." Bro. Brong walked away from us into the library and returned with a book in his hand turned to a particular page opened and said, "Here; read this." In just an instant he knew exactly where to find an article on that subject.

One other time I was working in my office, and it was lunch time. We both were leaving to go downstairs where lunches were prepared for the students and teachers. As we left the office, Bro. Brong said, "Leave the door ajar." Well, my being a country boy, I had never heard the word ajar before in my entire life, so I did not know what to do; so I just closed the door, which locked. He said, "Don't you know what the word ajar means?" I said, "No, sir, I do not." He did not tell me the meaning but simply went back and put the door in the "ajar" position. I will never forget that word.

One more mention of Bro. Brong in my experience. We were in Chapel one morning, and the student who was to speak that day was absent; so Bro. Brong said (as was his wont), "Does anyone want to start anything?" I raised my hand, and he recognized me. I read a passage of Scripture and said, "Bro. Brong, what does that mean?" Bro. Brong cleared his throat (also a wont) and said, "Bro. Wolfe, it means what it says." Then he told us for the next 20 minutes what that verse meant. Don't ask me what the verse was, because I was too startled to remember.

I do not know as much as some about Bro. Brong, but I do appreciate the sacrifices he made in order to preach and teach us at LBC. We all loved Bro. Brong.

-->To be continued<--

My Story #103 -- A Teacher And Friend

 

My Story #103

A Teacher And Friend
Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

This week I would like to turn our attention to a pastor and teacher in Lexington, Kentucky. He was a teacher at Lexington Baptist College and had an influence on many students who took classes under him, and others. His name is Johnny Thompson. All the preachers will remember. He was quite a unique fellow.

In class he was very unorganized but taught us plenty from his vast knowledge of the Old Testament and of Bible places studied from the Old Testament. He drew maps on the blackboard and gave illustrations from his personal life that brought his classes to life. Once, when illustrating the Old Testament of killing by stabbing under "the fifth rib," he picked up my crutch and used it as a sword and had his enemy to stop and be still while he counted to the fifth rib before he slew him with the sword--that one I shall never forget.

Bro. Thompson loved planes and was a pilot. Some of the male students would try many times to get him on the subject of airplanes so he would forget that we were supposed to have a test that day. By the time he finished with his plane illustration, it was too late to give the test; it had to wait for the next class session.

Bro. Thompson taught in a two-room school, and I found that out from a lady who was once a member of our church here. I asked her how she knew Bro. Thompson, and she said that they both taught in the same two-room school in Irvine, Kentucky--small world.

Bro. Thompson became pastor of Devondale Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and he pastored there for several years. At one time I was a member of Devondale while he was pastor.

Eventually, this man, who was so knowledgeable on the holy land and so good at teaching, contacted Alzheimer's. When I heard of it, he was in a nursing home in Kentucky. I decided I wanted to visit him there, so I took my grandson, Eric, and we traveled to the nursing home to visit him.

When we arrived, I asked him if he remembered me, and he said he did, although he never mentioned my name. He said, "Who is this you have with you today?" I said, "This is my grandson, Eric." We visited for a while, and he kept asking me over and over who this boy was whom I brought with me today. I kept telling him it was my grandson.

While we were there, Bro. Thompson's wife came in. She told me that she visited him yesterday, and he was in his room with his Bible open to the first chapter of Genesis. She asked him what he was doing, and he answered "I am trying to figure out what this says."

Bro. Thompson is gone to heaven now, but many of us will long remember his fun-loving attitude and his helpful teaching. We are so thankful for the teachers we had at LBC.

-->To be continued<--

My Story #102 -- On Our Way

 

My Story #102

On Our Way
Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Now it is time for the quartet to begin their travels to sing and preach at different churches and represent Lexington Baptist College (LBC). Bob Jones was the "speaker" for the quartet, and the others in the quartet just sang what he told us to sing. We had practiced quite a few songs, so we were pretty much ready to sing a few songs before a message was preached. We always enjoyed meeting new people and fellowshiping with people we had known for a while.

We got on our way in a Volks Wagon Bug squeezed in like sardines. The boys involved in this first quartet were Bob Jones, Deman Brubacker, Bob Carpenter, and Ronnie Wolfe. We followed a previous quartet who sang for one year including Larry Robbins, Ed Kittle, Bob Jones, and Warren Hartman. They could really sing well, but three graduated from LBC and broke up as a quartet.

One of the first churches that we visited was Winton Place Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Kelly Campbell was pastor. Bro. Campbell was a good pastor and preacher. We had good friendship with him for several years before his death. Cincinnati and surrounding areas became places of often visits by our quartet, then called The Bluegrass Boys Quartet.

Addyston Baptist Church is another church near Cincinnati that we visited many times, first while Bro. Melvin Gecks was pastor and then while Bro. Rex Hensley was pastor, then while Bro. Greg McDaniel was pastor and now Bro. David Pitman is pastor. Our visits there began yearly for a number of years, and we always received a blessing by visiting there.

This group of men who made up The Bluegrass Boys traveled together for approximately five years; then Demas Brubacher and Bob Carpenter graduated from college at LBC and went on for further education.

Now, what shall we do? What is the next step for The Bluegrass Boys? We shall see in the next installment. 

 -->To be continued<--

My Story #101 -- Playing Piano In Lexington

 

My Story #101

Playing Piano In Lexington

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

The Ashland Avenue Baptist Church building doors were never locked. Anyone could go in and out at will. Several days in the week I would walk to the church building and go inside. I would practice piano on the piano in the main auditorium. This was enjoyable and, I thought, a great privilege.

 One time while practicing in “Judge Adam’s Room” Bro. Bob Jones entered the room and heard me playing. He asked me if I would play for a new group he was getting together, and I told him that I did not play that kind of music. He asked if I would at least practice with them; and I said I would. We practiced every week for about an hour, and eventually we felt we were practiced enough to begin singing in church. This is the beginning of my playing for the Bluegrass Boys. At that time the group was called the Lexington Baptist College Trio, because I did not sing with them. We were called that name, because we eventually began to travel to promote Lexington Baptist College.

 I remember that room where I practiced and that old, upright white piano. Once, I believe in 1967, a photographer came and took our picture standing around that piano. That memory is still fresh in my mind, and I will always be grateful and thankful for the Lord’s leadership in my life, giving me the opportunity to represent the school and serve the Lord traveling with this singing group.

-->To be continued<--

My Story #100 -- A Game And A Bible Lesson

 

My Story #100

A Game And A Bible Lesson

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

While attending school at Fugazzi Business College, I kept meeting with my young friends which I met along the way.

These young people would meet in the summertime at a place called Bell Court. They would meet there in the late afternoon after having come to my house and demanding that I go with them. When it got dark, they would play Flashlight Tag, which was new to me. Of course, I could not play, but they just wanted me to be there. We would laugh and tell jokes and talk about anything that entered into our minds. There was no cursing or bad language, perhaps because I was there.

One evening, as we were all there and they were playing Flashlight Tag, a policeman drove up to the big house where we were sitting on the front steps. He said that one of the neighbor ladies had called the police because we were so loud. I apologized, but we both knew that you cannot have a bunch of young people together in that kind of situation without having some noise. The policeman understood and said, "Just try, if you can, to be a little quieter. We get calls from this lady many times for this or that." I am sure glad we did not have to go to jail.

After a while, all of this hanging around the kids and being with them to play games, etc., was ended; and I moved from Forest Avenue into a house with an old preacher who was renting out rooms. I did not know the old man, but I liked him once I had met him and talked with him. Some of my readers may remember him or at least his name. His name was C. D. Stevens, and he was quite the Bible scholar.

One night, coming in from a long trip with the quartet about 2:00 AM or so, I entered the house, and Bro. Stevens was sitting, as usual, in his recliner chair, the chair in which he sat most of the day and slept at night. He opened his eyes and said to me, "Bro. Wolfe, sit down on the step there, and I will tell you what I am going to preach on this Wednesday night at First Baptist Church of Lexington. 

Bro. Stevens slowly lifted up his Bible and turned to the 85th Psalm and read verse:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. He preached to me (just me) a message that I will never forget. When he was finished expressing the truths of this verse in detail, with tears running down my face, I fell in love with Jesus more than ever before. 

How could mercy and truth meet together? How could righteousness and peace kiss each other? This could happen only in Jesus Christ through his work on the cross interceding for me to his Father in heaven, saving my soul for his glory only. 

I went to my room and finally fell asleep while thinking on the things I had heard. Never will I ever be thankful enough for what Jesus did for me on the cross. Thank you, God, for this old man who touched my heart through your word and divine truth!

-->To be continued<--

My Story #99 -- New School In Lexington

 

My Story #99

New School In Lexington

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Once I was settled in Lexington and on a school schedule, I traveled home every weekend by taking a Greyhound bus to either Williamstown or Falmouth. There my parents would pick me up, and I would stay home on the weekend and travel back to Lexington on the bus and get there in the late afternoon but early enough that I could go to church in the evening service at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. My mother gave me four dollars every week to buy a round-trip ticket home and back to Lexington. Once I remember that one of the boys that I met in Lexington wanted me to go with him to a restaurant to get a Coke. He said he had the money. The only money that I had was the four dollars my mother gave me for a bus ticket. We went to the restaurant, sat down, and ordered a Coke for each one of us. When we were finished drinking, the boy went to the counter and told the waitress that he had no money. I could not spend my money, so I told her I did not have any money, either. I was so angry with that boy that I told him I would never go to a restaurant with him again—and I didn’t.

One Sunday evening, I think it was, I was listening in church when Bro. Walker, our pastor, began to speak about a preachers school. He explained all about it and said that for people who had regular jobs there was a night class that met on Monday night at seven o’clock. That interested me, so I looked into signing up for that class. This was the good news I told you about last time. I signed up for the class and met for the first time my teacher, Bro. James Hamilton. The class was Bible Survey, and that is a class that every Christian should take. This was the starting point for my work for the rest of my life.

Somewhere along the way I heard about Lexington Baptist College. There was an institute for older preachers who were not interested in a Bachelor degree, and there was a college for those who wanted to pursue more education and receive a degree. The school also had a higher degree call ThB, or Bachelor of Theology.

After I finished my course at Fugazzi Business College, I got a job working for First National Bank and Trust Company, the largest bank in Lexington. I spent eight years working there (off and on). I got to know many people through my work there.

Eventually, I enrolled in Lexington Baptist College and in 1968 received my Bachelor degree from the school. Because of my training at Fugazzi, I also began to teach Typing and Shorthand and a couple other classes along the way. That was a great joy to me. Lexington Baptist College (LBC) became precious to me. In 1985 I received the ThB degree. Later I enrolled in Mountain State Baptist College where Bro. Carl Sadler was the president. There I received my Master of Christian Education degree I believe in 1991. Later I enrolled in Andersonville Theological Seminary and received my Doctor of Christian Education degree. Now it is time to stop going to school. I think I have learned by now how to learn on my own. Praise the Lord for these experiences!

My Story #98 -- School In Lexington

 

My Story #98

School In Lexington
Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Once I was settled in Lexington, Monday came. It was the first day of school at Fugazzi Business College. I slept in a room upstairs at the end of Forest Avenue in Lexington; I ate meals in another house on the same street just a few houses away from where I slept.  Then, I had to walk approximately ½ mile to the school where I was to take a course to train to be an Executive Assistant, which, I understand, is simply an exalted secretary, one who works for the president or vice-president of a company. Thankfully, I was pretty much prepared in high school to enter a course like this. I had great teachers in high school. I attended Pendleton County High School in Falmouth, Kentucky.

School days were pretty much normal from one visit to another. Once in the wintertime, as I arrived home from school one day, the neighbor next to the house where I slept stopped and asked me if I would be offended if she gave me a winter coat that belonged to her son, who was killed in an auto accident. I hardly knew how to answer, but I accepted. The coat was long and heavy, and it was fire-engine red.

The next morning the temperature was -14 degrees. I nearly froze to death. The coat kept me warm except for my feet. When I arrived at school, my feet were numb; and they did not feel normal for nearly four hours. I had a few days like that but not quite as severe as this one. I will remember that day for a long, long time.

I took classes such as these: Shorthand, Typing, Office Machines, Dictation-Transcription, Business English, Accounting, etc. I enjoyed the classes, because I seemed to be skilled in those classes that required skill of the hands. I remember that in one class I took Shorthand dictation at 240 words per minute, which is impressive. I don’t know that I have done that since. Shorthand is hardly used anymore, but I still use it from time to time. I attended Fugazzi for about one year and three months, the longest course that the school offered. Courses were accelerated in order to give the equivalent to an Associate Degree in another college.

While attending, I continued to attend Ashland Avenue Baptist Church where one Sunday I heard some wonderful news, which I will discuss in my next installment.

-->To be continued<--

My Story #97 -- Homesick In Lexington

My Story #97

Homesick In Lexington

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

After being left on the street in Lexington, Kentucky, knowing no one and very lonely, I met friends. Many of these friends were young people from the neighborhood, since I had no car and spent my free time walking around the neighborhood. I was 17 years old, so I connected with the young people very well and very quickly. Once one of the boys asked me my middle name. I told him that I was named after my father, and his name is Willard. After they heard that, they began to call me Willie. That was my name among the youth of Forest Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1962. Occasionally they would call me Willie Babe. I don’t know what that was all about.

I was a churchgoer; so, when Sunday came, I went to the only church I knew anything about as I was growing up at home. We listened as often as we could on the radio to Bro. Clarence Walker, who was the pastor of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington. As a result, that is the church that I attended.

After my first visit to the church, that very week two men came to my house to visit me. They were Edward Overbey and Carl Sadler. I later found out that they were both assistant pastors of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. I told them I would be back to the church. The very next week they came back to my house, and I was a little confused, because I told them I would be back, and I was back again and again and again. I went to every service and enjoyed the preaching of Bro. Walker, Bro. Overbey, and Bro. Sadler. Then on Wednesday evening I would enjoy the teaching of Bro. Rosco Brong. Those sermons and lessons were like Bible college to me. I cannot understand why people do not want to go to church. The local church is an instrument of teaching and exhortation. Every believe should be faithful his own local church, love it, work through it, and be faithful to it. God will bless all who do.

 

My Story #96 -- Beginning A New Life

 

My Story #96

Beginning A New Life

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

I was 17 years old, and I had just graduated from high school. I had already been approached about attending a business school in Lexington, Kentucky, but my mind was not on going to school but having a little vacation from school. I had gone to my uncle and aunt’s house to spend some time, when my mother called me and told me that, if I were going to go to school in Lexington, I had to be in Lexington the next day. So, I told her I would go (nervously). My parents came to get me, and the next day we traveled to Lexington to get acquainted with my school, my place to stay, and a place to eat meals.

When we got to Lexington, I might as well had been in New York City. Lexington was a giant city to this country boy. I was introduced to the place and people necessary, and then my parents drove off to go home and left me standing on the sidewalk in front of the house where I was to sleep. They said they could not see me for two weeks.

Can you imagine a boy of 17 being left in a big city alone, knowing almost no one, and already getting homesick for the country? Well, that’s what they did to me. I noticed a young boy about 12 years old across the street working on my bicycle. I walked across the street and introduced myself. His name was Jimmy. I asked him if he would let me help him fix his bike, and he said he would appreciate it. I had worked on bikes a few times, so I was a pretty good help. I got to know the family through Jimmy, and we became friends. This started the rest of my life after high school.

-->To be continued<--

 

My Story #95 -- Fun Meetings

 

My Story #95

Fun Meetings

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Friday afternoon was enjoyable, as I met with some of my grandchildren at my office. My great granddaughter is about 18 month old, but she would have very little to do with me; however, I did enjoy being together with them and seeing the granddaughter get used to space around her and walk around looking at everything.

Saturday mid-afternoon was spent with my son’s family as they had a celebration for my birthday on the 23^rd and for my grandson, who will be leaving soon to go as a soldier to Syria after some more training in Texas.

My Story #94 -- Ghost In Church Building?

 

My Story #94

Ghost In Church Building?

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

One evening late I was working in the recording room at church. I don’t remember what I was trying to accomplish, but I remember that I needed an empty cassette tape to do whatever it was.

I reached into the box of new tapes we had just bought; and, just to be sure, I put the tape into the tape player and turned it on PLAY. In a few seconds I heard the most confusing sound I ever heard. Remember, it is late at night, and I am in the building alone. The sound seemed to be someone speaking in another language, but it was even more confused than that.

I looked around to see if anyone else was in the building, thinking that someone may be playing a joke on me through a microphone. I turned off the tape, and the sound stopped. I turned it on again, and the sound came back. I had heard some weird stories about demons, so I wondered for a few seconds whether it could be a demon.

However, when I got my mind settled, I realized that I had heard the sound before. I heard it while listening to a tape that a man had in his study of demons. It was a tape that was played backward. Then I realized that the tape company had sent me some tapes that were already used. Perhaps they tried to erase them with a bulk erase and did not get all the sound off the tapes.  We did not purchase tapes from them anymore.

Now, I do not believe in ghosts, but I do believe in demons; but this was no demon. It was just a tape loaded backwards in a cassette—someone preaching backward.

That was some experience!

My Story #93 -- My Little Smart Doctor

 

My Little Smart Doctor

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

On Sunday my 11-year-old grandson and I usually go to some restaurant to eat; so Sunday we went to Skyline Chili to eat. We were sitting there talking about everything imaginable, and I mentioned something about a brain tumor.

He said to me, “Well, they are not really too bad if they do not metastasize. Then they can move around and attach themselves to bones and other things in the body. Then they are really difficult to treat.”

I didn’t say it, but I thought it: “You little smart aleck! Just shut your mouth.”

 

My Story #92 -- Learning To Play Piano

My Story #92

Learning To Play Piano

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

When I was seven years old, my family and I lived on a small farm on Highway 330 in Pendleton County, Kentucky.

Someone gave us an upright piano, one of those now old pianos that plays easily and sounds great--we don't hear them much anymore.

Someone in the neighborhood, I heard, was going to give piano lessons to my sister. However, that neighbor moved away, and there were no lessons given.

As the piano sat there all by itself, I wandered over to it and began to play around with it. Eventually I was able, by listening to the notes, to play out a melody from one of the songs that we sang at church one finger and one note at a time. 

As time went on, I learned to put other notes with the single notes; then someone came along and showed me what a chord is. When I put the chords with the melody notes, it sounded pretty good; but then I played all songs in the same key, since I had no knowledge of what a key is.

Later someone explained to me about the keys in which songs were written and sung. When I went to Lexington Baptist College, we were required to take a course in Music Fundamental. This was very helpful. I found out that I played "by ear." This class in music gave me enough knowledge of sheet music that I could write my own music. In fact, the teacher, Mrs. Hodges, proofread the song that I wrote and made one very small change to it.

While still very young, I listened to Liberace on the radio and later watched him on TV. I learned a lot from him as I listened and watched. 

So, I encourage all who would like to play piano (or keyboard now) to just sit down, play with the keys and listen, listen, listen. You may soon learn to play melodies and later the more complicate music. You must stay with your practice, though, or you will not progress.

My Story #91 -- Story Of A Small Boy

 

My Story #91

Story Of A Small Boy

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

Once upon a time there was a small boy, aged two years old. He was born to a good and an industrious family. God was in the home, and God loved them very much.

This boy had two brothers and a sister at that time, and his parents took in to raise a young boy about eight months older than this young boy. We considered him our brother. In fact, in school he bore our last name.

In a house next door to a small grocery store in Locust Grove, Kentucky, which my parents ran, this small boy awoke one morning and could not walk. After his parents took him to five doctors, the fifth doctor sent them to the hospital, and the doctors at the hospital concluded that this small boy had Infantile Paralysis. Now it is called Polio.

I am that boy, and the year was 1947, when the Polio epidemic had bloomed again after several previous outbreaks. 

God has been good to me, and people have been good to me. I am almost 78 years old, and I have done pretty much what most other people can do. God called me into the ministry when I was 18 years old, and I have been preaching now for 60 years. 40 of those years have been spent pasturing First Baptist Church in Harrison, Ohio.

I am not as fast or as capable as I once was, but I still serve the Lord with the strength I have, and God has seen fit to put people in this church who love me and take good care of me. My wife, Shirley (who passed away in 2003), and I had three boys, and they have given me 10 grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

I have many, many friends, and you, no doubt, are among those many friends. Thank you for being my friend, and may God bless you is my prayer.

 

My Story #90 -- Lose On Way To Zoo

 

My Story #90

"Lost On The Way To The Zoo"

Being on vacation, I had an opportunity to go to the Cincinnati Zoo with some friends, including a missionary and his wife and a few people from the church here. We took two vehicles. I took the missionary couple, and the others rode in another vehicle. 

On the way to the zoo, I was persuaded that I knew the way, because I had gone there many times in the past, but I had not gone this way that we determined to go on Monday. So, I began driving to the zoo and planning to go by way of Mitchell Avenue. I got to Mitchell Avenue with no problem, but I forgot that there was a Y in the road ahead. When I arrived at the Y, I could not make up my mind whether to go right or left (I had forgotten). I decided, then, to go to the left. I found quickly that this was the wrong way. I found out by driving quite a distance and realizing that the zoo is closer than this.

As I wiggled my way around streets, I began to lose my sense of direction, and I finally had to turn on Onstar for directions. The computer voice on Onstar told me that it was 2 miles away. I followed the directions until I got to the zoo, thankfully. Onstar is my friend, even though she speaks "computer."

We laughed as we joked about the car's not being able to sense the way to the zoo and that the car did not want to go to the zoo, and on and on. We had a great time. When returning home, I went a different way and arrived home safe and sound. We had a wonderful day. I am thankful for the couple who paid for everything for our trip. 

My Story #89 - Wonderful Celebration

 

My Story #89

Wonderful Celebration

Ronnie Wolfe

On August 6, 2022, First Baptist celebrated my pastoral anniversary of 40 years at the church.

We had several visitors who are former members, and many could not come for one reason or another. Part of my family had Covid. We had a wonderful time, and I received some really nice gifts. I am thankful to everyone who came and who worked so hard to make this possible.

I am not retiring but will be working to make my preaching better and trying to work harder for the Lord in witnessing his Gospel, asking for God's help on the way.

 

My Story #88 -- Wonderful Reunion

 

My Story #88

Wonderful Reunion

Ronnie Wolfe

The 1962 graduates of Pendleton County High School met together on 7-30-2022 for a celebration of our 60 years after graduation.

Twenty-one of our graduates met together with a lot of good fellowship, a grand catered meal, and a wonderful program. One of our teachers was also in attendance, Mrs. Jane Bentle, who taught business classes when we were there. It was great to see her again.

I had the great opportunity to speak to my classmates. I told about some funny things that happened while I was traveling with our quartet. Then I brought a short sermon from Romans 10:1 Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. I told them that I would like to see everyone saved.

 

 

My Story #87 Bad Word

 

My Story #87

Bad Word

Ronnie Wolfe

In my Sunday School class Sunday, we were studying through the book of Revelation when we came to Chapter 17. The first verse has in it what we normally accept as a "bad word."

It was my grandson's turn to read; and, as he read and came to that word, he simply said "that bad woman" instead of reading the actual word--not bad thinking!

Of course, most all young people know the word and what it means, but we should all be taught not to use it in everyday language. In reading the Bible, however, to read the word is not cursing.

The word helps to tell the story of how bad the world will eventually get--worse and worse. This includes the use of inappropriate language to manifest rebellion.

I am told that a few teenagers in our town are walking around the streets shouting curse words in the presence of women and children and other decent people.This shows the rebellion they have in their hearts.

 

My Story #86 - What Is A Man?

 

My Story #86

What Is A Man?

Ronnie Wolfe

This article is not up for debate. I know what a man is--I really do.

But I want here to tell a little story about a man and a woman that I think you will find interesting if not funny.

Once, while in the 9th grade at Morgan School, one of the teachers came up with the idea that one day would be set aside for a boy to carry the books for a girl all day long.

Because of my handicap, I could not carry books for any girl, so I did not know quite what to do. A girl by the name of Janice Brown was assigned to me, so we got together and discussed this dilemma. She said, "Why don't I just carry YOUR books tomorrow, so that is what we did.

I was still the man, and she was still the woman, and we made it through the day. The sad ending to this story is that Janice (Brown) Sponcil passed away last Thursday, July 21, 2022. She was a wonderful person, and many people will miss her terribly. May God bless the family!

 

My Story #85 America's Malady

 

My Story #85

America's Malady

      Dr. Ronnie Wolfe – July 2, 2022

God is in every crevice and corner of America; therefore, he knows the totality of her malady. He sees her ills from within and from without. He has and does diagnose the least and the greatest of America’s symptoms and her neglect in mollifying her cancers with ointment and to listening to her Doctor’s instructions in order to be healed.

She cannot live; her poison is too deep and her care of herself is too lazy and nonchalant. She cannot heal, for she neglects her healing practices and forgets to partake of her medication. She is drowning in her own blood and swelling from her own fluid.

Her only hope is in her Doctor’s care, but she will not call upon him for help, though he continually inquires of her condition and warns her of her destiny and her deadly prognosis. If only she would take her medicine and receive proper instruction from her Doctor, she may live. That is the desire of her doctor–that she may live!

There is miracle in her doctor, for he is divine. He can bring her out of the deepest valley where death lodges. He can place her on sound footing and send her forth on steady ground.

Yet she will not have this Doctor to rule over her affairs; she is arrogant and is famishing in her own beauty and her many advantages and riches. Her riches cannot save her, and her advantages are like a wilting rose. She must come to judgment, says her Doctor. She will famish and die if her Doctor does not take over the duties of healing her–which would take a miracle.

We now leave the room and leave her to her Doctor. He is kind and compassionate, and he will do the will of the people if thy will cleanse their ways, call out to their Doctor, and pray and beseech the Doctor to be her great Healer–He will.

Heal, oh country of mine! Heal from the inside and the outside. Make God your LORD and Jesus your Savior. The divine Spirit of God will teach you, discipline you, and guide you. This is our prayer.

 

My Story #84 - Wolfe Family Reunion

My Story #84

Wolfe Family Reunion

On Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2022, there was a wonderful Wolfe reunion at a park in Independence, Kentucky, to which I went, and it was enjoyed by everyone who came.

I also took our missionary family, Bro. and Sister Herman and Brenda Mills. They enjoyed the reunion as well, and the people there enjoyed meeting them.

A group picture was taken, and it is wonderful. You may see it below. There were about 70 in attendance. Some are not in the picture, because they went home before the picture was taken.

James Wolfe was mainly responsible for the gathering, and several others did much to help in the organization.

I appreciate the willingness of Bro. Todd Van Meter, who preached at First Baptist Church in the evening service while I was "familying."