Author: billjones20

EDITOR’S NOTE: George Mason preached this sermon on July 4, 2004, the first time Joanna and I visited Wilshire Baptist Church (we soon became members). Our previous church had given itself over completely to nationalistic fervor on patriotic holidays – America first, Jesus . . . we’ll get back to you next week. George’s sermon Read more . . .

(Scroll to the end for links to my previous blog tributes to Joanna since her passing.) My mind has gone a thousand places in the 4 months since Joanna passed away on February 14. I cry every day, some days several times. Sometimes it happens when I start thinking of the places we went together, Read more . . .

I remember it well – pretty well, anyway. I was in 4th grade. As I arrived at Spring Valley Elementary School that morning (Dallas, TX, but in the Richardson School District), May 5, 1961, I joined the throng of students on the covered walkway just outside the school, huddled around a small black-and-white TV, watching Read more . . .

(Scroll to the end for links to my previous blog tributes to Joanna since her passing.) The love of my life, Joanna, passed away on Feb. 14 of complications following her kidney transplant surgery on Jan. 31. We were married 44-1/2 years, raised two wonderful children together, and celebrated the lives of four beautiful grandchildren Read more . . .

(Scroll to the end for links to my previous blog tributes to Joanna since her passing.) Joanna would often give me the look I knew so well when I would start telling one of my stories to someone – the look that said, “Here we go again. It may be the first time for them, Read more . . .

Let me begin this post with an apology. I know none of you expects brevity from me, but this post is going to be exceptionally lengthy – even for me! So please forgive me. I hope you can make it through it all in one sitting. If not, take a break, and come back for Read more . . .

On a Sunday morning in March 2003, on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq, I experienced the worst moment in my (then) 42 years as a professing Christian and 52 years spent in Baptist churches, from cradle roll to adult. My wife and I had been members of that particular church for over Read more . . .

“The devil sure got ahold of you!” – November 1970 “Bill, do you ever stop and pray for the president of our country or just complain about him? As Christians that’s our responsibility according to the Bible, or do you read it anymore? I can’t believe we grew up in the same church. ☹” – Read more . . .

As I watched the continuing Presidential Election 2020 saga Wednesday evening, I heard one network anchor declare that former Vice-President Joe Biden, with 253 electoral votes (at that point) awarded by some networks and 264 by others, was “standing on the doorstep of the White House.” At that moment, something occurred to me that I Read more . . .

When I woke up this morning, I had no plans to write a blog post today. Then I went to Sunday School (via Zoom) and heard one of our Wilshire pastoral residents, Ashley Robinson, share about the saints in her life on this All Saints Sunday. After Sunday School, Joanna and I went to worship Read more . . .