I just finished reading a book entitled The Ministry of Small Things by Reuben Bredenhof. He wrote about what I consider is my approach to ministry: do the small things. I once pined to be the pastor of a big church and the prestige that came with it. May I say one thing? WHAT A FOOL I WAS! Along with all the headaches that came from being a small town church pastor, I realized those issues would just be magnified. That is why this book so resonated with me. I like doing the small things. I like sending personal notes. At the first of this month, I sent out 135 personal handwritten notes to the families and friends of OVCF to encourage them to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. One thing to say: NOT AGAIN! Besides the cost factor, there was the time factor and the hand factor (I think it cramped several times). That’s not the first time I did that..but I’m thinking it might be the last. But I digress. It was a small thing and I like to do small things to make people feel loved and wanted. 

But being the pastor of a small church also has its glitches. (Remember, Gail, I am NOT complaining!!) Far from it. Being the pastor of a small church in a small town affords many opportunities for shepherding and being involved in peoples’ lives and feeling their hurts. The following is just some of what has come across my desk JUST THIS WEEK. No names will be mentioned and I will be vague on purpose. 

My future son-in-law (yes he asked me, asked her, she said yes, and she got a ring) is struggling with the effects of chemo on his stage 4 pancreatic cancer. My heart aches. 

A young friend who has been fighting cancer for 7 1/2 years…7 1/2 years!!…is struggling and hospice has been called to help his mom. He is not on death’s door, but the struggle is real. His grandfather, one of my best friends, died after a 15 year cancer battle that started in his prostate, just a little over 2 years ago. 

I had a visitor to my office who shared some really hard news that still has me reeling. 

A personal health issue that will have ramifications in the future (and which I will share some day) has me wondering how I will do. 

But then God’s Word reminds me that God gives me what I need to make it through each day. That is what I’m counting on. Today. That’s all I need. Today. Not tomorrow, especially since tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Why borrow it, you know? Besides, I have no clue what tomorrow will bring. Today is what I need to remember. God gives me strength for today. 

And in spite of it all…I love what I do. I love being a shepherd to “my” people. (Please don’t make a big deal about the “my” I used. I know they are HIS and I am His shepherd. But He did give them to me to watch over).  I’ll keep you posted on God’s answer to my “today.”  And sorry for the long post. You know those preachers…

That’s good advice. Driver education teachers will tell their students to keep their eyes ahead. “Stare at something and your car will head that way.” 

Try cutting grass in a straight line while looking backwards, or even to one side. When riding my bike and trying to stay as close to the end line as possible, I have to keep looking ahead. Not to one side or another. Not at the scenery. 

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat found himself with three formidable enemy armies approaching him. He was terrified by the news, ordered prayer and fasting, then went to God and stated some now famous words: “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to You for help.” (v.12). The ESV says, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  Reading ahead you will see that his faith and trust was rewarded when God routed the armies without Jehoshaphat’s army lifting a finger. 

Colossians 3:1 tells us to “Set your mind on things above.” Keep looking straight ahead. Don’t get distracted by peripheral issues. Stay focused on Christ. 

At 73 I can look back and think about what was. I used to ride 20-30 miles a day and think nothing of it. If I did a 20-30 mile day now, it would take me several-maybe a week- to recover. I think back to my college years when I accumulated quite a bit of hardware from my basketball days. I never displayed them and about 20 years later they found themselves in a dumpster. I became the father of 2 beautiful young ladies who still pop buttons on my shirt. In 2007 I became the pastor of the fantastic church family I am still pastoring. Three years ago I celebrated the 50th year of being married to a fantastic woman. 

The other extreme is the person tied to the past-good or bad times- and longing for what was. Grief is often the result. Dismayed by what is missed or missing. 

In that vein, I read the following quote by Pastor John Piper that struck gold this morning:

Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have. (Watching for the Morning-Risner-p.217)

Some things are part of our past-good and bad. We can’t change it. Nor can we bring it back.  I sensed God saying this to me this morning: “Heed Pastor John’s word, Bill. Wash your face then move on. You have so much to live for these days! Celebrate them. Rejoice in them! Go with me. Be strong and courageous.” 

What is He telling you these days?

I’ve been reading some (okay…a lot) on anger, fear, anxiety, jealousy, mental health, suicide, and other related topics because of a sermon series I plan to preach starting in two weeks and going to the end of September. I have chosen to do a topical series instead of going through a book of the Bible. Relevant topics (as you can see). The sermon scheduled for August 2nd is from Psalm 34, especially verses 8-10:

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”  (NLT)

As I was reading I Peter 2 as part of my journey through the NT in 2026, I read the following verse: “If you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (v.3-CSB). And as I thought about verses 1-3, I saw a pattern or a path develop. It may just be me but I thought I would share it:

Verse 1- The sin that devastates so many of us. Evil behavior like deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 

Verse 2- The desire to change. The CSB (which I am using for my 2026 reading) says, “Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the Word, so that you may grow up into your salvation.” We cannot change on our own, nor so we change people. That is God’s business. Only He can do that. 

Verse 3- How that change happens. We desire God’s Word and in the process we taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) And as the old song said, “The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows.” 

Do you want to change? “Taste and see” is what both Peter and David say to do.  “God, please give me a hunger for Your presence and Your Word. Change me as I crave both.” 

Mother Teresa is credited with saying,

God did not call me to be successful. He called me to be faithful. (quoted in Watching for the Morning by Risner-p.199)

I have struggled in the past of feeling like a failure. Like I’ve not made or had an impact. Lofty dreams that never panned out. Expectations of me and by me that fell apart. Moving from several churches (3) after being asked to leave. Serving a store front church that no longer exists (and probably never should have. There were 25 people when I went there and 40 when I left 16 months later). Laboring in unknown places (2). And yet God has shown me my usefulness and value and impact in spite of those experiences and feelings of inadequacy. Arrogance often got in the way. I admit that. As did my sin. God has truly taken the mess of my life and redeemed it…in spite of me!

To finish the thought of MT’s quote (from the same book and devotion):

If you would pray to do great things for your God, then you must pray such prayers with regard for how they should be answered.” (McKelvey- quoted by Risner-p.199)

While my dreams and aspirations didn’t materialize how I wanted them to, they turned out EXACTLY as God would have them. I’ve accepted that and I’m okay with that. I just want to finish well.

1. Remember God’s faithfulness. Psalm 77
2. Follow my fear and see where it takes me. Psalm 46
3. Trust that God will give me the grace I need when I need it. Mt. 6:34; Phil. 4:19
4. Remember that nothing comes into my life that has not passed through God’s loving hands first. Rom. 8:28
5. Remember that God is with me. Dt. 3:22; Heb. 13:5b-6
6. Keep my mind and thoughts on the Lord. Is. 26:3; Phil. 4:8-9. I will add Col. 3:1-4
7. Pray. 2 Chron. 20:3; Phil. 4:6-7

My thoughts: no matter what happens God will go with me. I have nothing to fear. N.O.T.H.I.N.G.  (I made the points personal with “my” or “me” words).

My prayer: “God, be with me as I ride early this morning, as I study, as I interact, as I shepherd. Help me to pass along these thoughts to those who live in fear. Amen.” 

ANNOUNCEMENT: When Gail said, “You didn’t post today. Or yesterday. She actually missed me! I told her the following: I have been blogging since February 20, 2008. I have used my Quiet Time journaling to be the basis for my blogging. Lately, several factors have become apparent. 1) My audience for “Shadow” has dropped off dramatically. At the peak I would often have 15-20 comments on my blog but lately it has been 3-4, sometimes even less. 2) And here is the biggest issue: my journaling has been more about posting on “Shadow” and LinkedIn than recording lessons learned from my relationship to the Father. I have garnered over 500 viewers on LinkedIn, but I have had to ask myself if my journaling is for me and God or for me to share with others. I’ve noticed that my journaling has taken on more of a “social commentary” approach. That is NOT what I want my journaling to be about. 3) I have been spending way too much time reading LinkedIn and caring about my viewers. It is time to stop that nonsense. I am the pastor of a church, and desire not to be a slave to any social media. So, as of today, I am taking “Shadow” on hiatus. I thank all of you who read “Shadow” but don’t comment. I especially thank all of you who do. I may come back, but at this point, that is highly doubtful. If I do, I pray it is with the right heart and spirit. Thanks again for reading my thoughts (for what they are worth). And I do still plan to read other blogs and articles. 

There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level. It’s got to happen inside first.

Words from a revolutionary:

A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, and making God and His love triumph in the heart and life.

There is talk today of a revival taking place, especially among the younger generation. Nothing-NOTHING-would thrill me more! To see lives changed; marriages put back together; demonstrations to cease; hate turned to love; praying for instead of preying upon; grace instead of judgment; sinful lives and lifestyles transformed by the Good News; all the above and more would be worthy of a great big Hallelujah!

But as the first quote says (you can see the source of that quote at the end), “It’s got to happen on the inside first.” No outward change revolutionized anything. Changing our looks, our clothes, our status, our abode-nothing-ever brought about significant and life-long change. Only a change on the inside matters. 

And only Jesus can do that. No amount of self-help, self-talk, GLP-1, or self-made “changes” will do the trick. 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; the new life has begun.” (NLT)

So take it from one revolutionary-THE ORIGINAL- “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

Remember: It starts on the inside and it’s yours for the taking. 

{Quote #1: Jim (“Light My Fire” and “People are Strange”) Morrison. Quote #2: Andrew Murray- (South African missionary/pastor 1828-1917). Source of quotes: Jesus Revolution by Laurie/Vaughn-p.13}  

Hebrews defines faith: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” (Heb. 11:1 NLT). That is the biblical definition of faith. I was taught years ago that “faith is belief in testimony of credible witnesses.” D.L. Moody defined it as “dependence on the veracity of another.”  (same thing different words). He goes on to say, “Faith says AMEN to everything God says. Faith takes God without any ‘Ifs.’ If God says it, Faith says, ‘I believe it.’ Faith says AMEN to it.”  (Moody quotes from Running to Win-Moody/Lutzer-p.183)

Reading that got me to thinking. (Uh-oh). A common phrase we still hear way too often is “God said it; I believe it; that settles it.” No! A thousand times No! The truth of what God says is not and does not depend on whether I believe it or not. My belief or disbelief does not change God, who He is, or what He says. God is true; God’s Word is true; God’s words are true; whether I affirm them or not. My/your belief or unbelief does not change His truth. That’s why it is not dependent on my acceptance of its truth. God is unchanging. God’s Word and truth is unchanging. It always has been and always will be, regardless of what I think or don’t think, what I believe or don’t believe. 

That saying should rightfully say, “God said it; that settles it; therefore, I believe it.”  

That is the approach many people take toward difficulties they face. It is after we are beyond our “trees” and look back that we often see a divine purpose. 

Those thoughts rattled around in my brain after yesterday’s events and what I read this morning. As chaplain of our local sheriff’s department, I take part in what are called Interventions. Debriefings if you prefer. Those involved in the incident-police, dispatch, EMT, etc-get together to talk, analyze, shed some tears at times, and come to grips with what happened. Recently one of our local LEOs was shot (he will be okay) while conducting his duty, but those involved met to talk through their response. As I spoke with someone after everyone was gone, lessons learned kept coming up. “If I had done this” or “If only…” 

This morning as I read during my devotional time, the subject of healing was brought up. The writer spoke about the multiple times she was approached about being healed. Each time was a failure. Of course, the huckster (or two) accused her of not having enough faith (their go-to accusation). She ended the devotion with a very insightful paragraph. After saying, “I know God does not promise us healing on this side of heaven” (p.142) she wrote the following, and it struck a chord with me:

I don’t understand why or when or through whom God chooses to heal, but I do know God has done a deeper healing in my life because of my disability. He has taught me to trust Him. He’s refined my character and given me joy in Him apart from my circumstances. And those gifts have become far more precious than any physical healing. (emphasis mine) (“Watching for the Morning” by Risner-p.143)

I’d say, “Lessons learned.” Case closed. 

I’ve been rereading Glad You’re Here by Walker Hayes and Craig Allen Cooper. I read it a couple of years ago and decided to reread it in prep for a sermon series planned for September/October. One of my “fears” is that when we get into the new addition we will lose sight of the closeness of a church family. The book is the unlikely friendship that developed between a pastor and his family (Cooper) and a country music, beer-loving, atheist (Hayes) and his family. God broke down the barriers that existed, especially in Walker’s heart and mind, until in the end they bought houses next to each other and tore down the fence between them. 

But there was some “deeper magic” (as Narnia speaks about) that was going on. To quote Craig: “But Christianity is not about what we must do, it’s about what God has done.” Later in the next paragraph he wrote this:

“Salvation is a gift of grace that comes though the perfect life and sacrificial death of Jesus. If we think we have to earn it, salvation will never be ours. But if we can for a moment stop all the arguing and justifying of ourselves in our own minds long enough to simply embrace the beauty and the glory and the wonder of the gift of God, we will see that God freely gave what we could never earn.” (Quotes from p. 75)

It was this free gift-offered in unconditional love-that eventually broke down the barrier surrounding Walker’s heart. 

Come to think of it, Walker is not alone. I’m included in that as well. And if you have accepted Jesus, so are you.