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.