Category: Reflections (2018-present)

This weekend, the family of Sonny Ebert will gather to pay tribute to him and to the love that they shared with him through the years, then honor his wish for his cremains to join those of his daughter, Mickie. Sonny passed away on March 12. I’m diminished when I lose someone who has meant Read more . . .

Vivian Louise Otting was born 120 years ago today, March 16, 1906, to Gus and Lola Otting in Miami, Indian Territory, the year before it became the state of Oklahoma. On January 30, 1938, she married A. Jase Jones in Austin, Texas, becoming Vivian Jones. Their first child, my sister Patsy (Patricia Jean), was born Read more . . .

As I sat in Sunday School and worship at Wilshire last Sunday, March 8, I found myself thinking about all of the ways in which my 75-year journey has intersected, either directly or indirectly, with Wilshire’s. I was born on March 14, 1951, in Harris Hospital in Fort Worth. Wilshire was born 3 months to Read more . . .

It’s been 5 long years since the love of my life went to be with Jesus in the wee hours (1:16 a.m., according to the doctor attending Joanna in the hospital) of February 14, 2021. In those 5 years, I’ve written thousands upon thousands of words about Joanna and what she meant to me, which Read more . . .

“The devil sure got ahold of you!” – Steve Troxel, November 1970 In the fall of 1969, I had come to OBU, as many freshmen do, assured that – when it came to God, salvation, the hereafter, and so forth – I had all the answers. After all, I had been in Southern Baptist churches Read more . . .

Forty-nine years ago last night, I went to bed a single man in the apartment of my best friend, Bob Morris. Forty-nine years ago tonight, I went to bed next to my new bride, Joanna, in OUR new home. I’ve written so much about Joanna since she passed away in February 2021 that one might Read more . . .

Frank Sinatra, in 1965, recorded a beautiful song titled The September of My Years, which lent its name to the cover of an album he released that year. In an emotionally rich song, Frank wistfully reflects back on his life, “smiling gently as I near September, the golden warm September of my years.” Late that Read more . . .

One year ago today – July 27, 2024 – almost 3½ years after Joanna’s passing, our family gathered with friends, at our house, to share memories of this woman who truly had touched all of our lives in profound ways – as well as many, many more who were unable to attend. I bought a Read more . . .

On April 4, 2021 – Easter Sunday – we inurned Joanna’s cremains in the Columbarium at our beloved Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Mine will join hers there after the Lord calls me home. A few days earlier, our then-pastor, George Mason, and I talked on the phone. My dear friend George gave me encouragement Read more . . .

Click for AUDIO; Click for PART 1: Introduction Links in this post: 1, 6/25/2016: photo of Joanna & me with Nancy & Ken Sehested; 2, 8/6/2018: Bill Jones article in Baptist Standard; 3, 8/1/2018: Ross Shelton article in Baptist Standard; 4, 7/27/2018: Jackie Baugh Moore article in Ethics Daily; 5, 2/15/2020: Bill Jones, Closing Logsdon Read more . . .