May 22, 1965 was the most important day of my life.
It was the end of my Sophomore year at Ohio State University. The night before Gordon Walker (Director of Campus Crusade for Christ at Ohio State) and some students had told how knowing Jesus had given them a love they had never known. I made an appointment with Gordon to see him the next day.
After classes were over I went to Gordon's home. As we sat in his living room he shared with me the Four Spiritual Laws (see http://www.godlovestheworld.com/). After he was finished sharing I admitted that I was sinful (selfish) and asked Christ to come into my life as my personal Savior and Lord.
I didn't feel anything different at first, but soon realized something had changed in my life. As I was going to class the next day, I crossed the mall and saw the thousands of students that passed around me (there were 60,000 students on campus then). Instead of thinking of them as “brainless jellyfish floating by”, as I had before, I really loved them, and wanted them to know Jesus.
Later other changes occurred in my life. I really enjoyed reading and studying the Bible. Also, I loved and wanted to share with others. I loved going to a church where the Bible was taught.
No decision I had made before or since comes close to the one I made when I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior and Lord. There have been many ups and downs in my life but Jesus continues to be my closest Companion and Friend.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Willie Kate
The mother of my Dad (Pa) was Willie Kate Wells and was married to WT McConnell.
She was short (4'-11”), energetic, quiet, and a strong Christian. Pa was her darling baby boy but she graciously shared him with Lady. She was loved by all and Lady considered her the Mom she never had. Lady said that the only thing she learned in getting a degree in Home Economics was “to serve the hot things hot and the cold things cold”. She really learned to cook at the side of Willie Kate (Granny).
Willie Kate was unique in that she had one blue eye and one brown eye. Granny loved her wood burning stove, and could work wonders on it. Our Aunt Mildred Stemler bought her an electric stove but, Granny liked her wood burning stove better. Even though the cake she baked was heavy and the icing went to sugar, Lady loved it. Most people didn't like her coffee, but Lady enjoyed it.
Willie Kate also had a good sense of humor. Once Pa and his brother Theodore let a possum into the kitchen and it chased their cat round and round the table, and finally out the window. After a few days the cat came back, but the possum never did. Willie Kate enjoyed the boys' adventuresome spirit.
Another time Pa was up in the hayloft and Willie Kate asked him to give her some eggs so she would have something for the huckster who was coming. Pa threw them down, one by one, breaking each of them. After the huckster was gone Willie Kate said, “Will Junior” (the name on Pa's birth certificate) come down, I have something for you. Pa came down thinking that she had bought him something from the huckster. What he got was the switching of his life.
Life was never boring around Willie Kate and she never complained. Even though WT was an imposing figure, she was never intimidated by him. She lived a long and full life and died in 1950 and was buried in Mt. Olivet, KY.
The best words to describe Willie Kate are “Little, but tough”.
She was short (4'-11”), energetic, quiet, and a strong Christian. Pa was her darling baby boy but she graciously shared him with Lady. She was loved by all and Lady considered her the Mom she never had. Lady said that the only thing she learned in getting a degree in Home Economics was “to serve the hot things hot and the cold things cold”. She really learned to cook at the side of Willie Kate (Granny).
Willie Kate was unique in that she had one blue eye and one brown eye. Granny loved her wood burning stove, and could work wonders on it. Our Aunt Mildred Stemler bought her an electric stove but, Granny liked her wood burning stove better. Even though the cake she baked was heavy and the icing went to sugar, Lady loved it. Most people didn't like her coffee, but Lady enjoyed it.
Willie Kate also had a good sense of humor. Once Pa and his brother Theodore let a possum into the kitchen and it chased their cat round and round the table, and finally out the window. After a few days the cat came back, but the possum never did. Willie Kate enjoyed the boys' adventuresome spirit.
Another time Pa was up in the hayloft and Willie Kate asked him to give her some eggs so she would have something for the huckster who was coming. Pa threw them down, one by one, breaking each of them. After the huckster was gone Willie Kate said, “Will Junior” (the name on Pa's birth certificate) come down, I have something for you. Pa came down thinking that she had bought him something from the huckster. What he got was the switching of his life.
Life was never boring around Willie Kate and she never complained. Even though WT was an imposing figure, she was never intimidated by him. She lived a long and full life and died in 1950 and was buried in Mt. Olivet, KY.
The best words to describe Willie Kate are “Little, but tough”.
No-Hitter and AC
In the Summer of 1957 I was 12 years old (out of the sixth grade) and pitched the first game of our Little League season. We played “Pryor's” ball club and I had a great game: I threw a no-hitter and struck out 17 out of 18 batters. I was wild however, and hit several batters (including one that was out for several minutes). That was when I first thought I might play major league baseball.
In September of 1957 I entered the seventh grade at Eastern High School (Middletown, KY), outside of Louisville, KY. The first day of classes a boy came up to me in homeroom and said, “You're Bob McConnell, aren't you”. He introduced himself as AC Pryor, the boy I had knocked out in my no-hitter the Summer before. We became friends and have been best friends ever since.
In September of 1957 I entered the seventh grade at Eastern High School (Middletown, KY), outside of Louisville, KY. The first day of classes a boy came up to me in homeroom and said, “You're Bob McConnell, aren't you”. He introduced himself as AC Pryor, the boy I had knocked out in my no-hitter the Summer before. We became friends and have been best friends ever since.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Bo
My namesake Robert Redding McConnell, Jr. (Bo) was born July 22, 1970 and died April 18, 1973.
He was a delightful little guy his whole life. Two weeks before he died his Mom was laying on the couch with a bad headache. He kneeled down beside her a prayed a beautiful prayer. When asked about it, he said that he had asked Jesus into his heart. From that day on we saw a real change in his life: he was more obedient and cheerful.
The night before he died he marked (scribbled beside) these verses in his Mom's Bible:
“I shall wash my hands in innocence, and I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.
O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.”
(Psalm 26:6-8)
Those verses were a great comfort to us after he died.
The best word to describe Bo is “Joyful”.
He was a delightful little guy his whole life. Two weeks before he died his Mom was laying on the couch with a bad headache. He kneeled down beside her a prayed a beautiful prayer. When asked about it, he said that he had asked Jesus into his heart. From that day on we saw a real change in his life: he was more obedient and cheerful.
The night before he died he marked (scribbled beside) these verses in his Mom's Bible:
“I shall wash my hands in innocence, and I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.
O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells.”
(Psalm 26:6-8)
Those verses were a great comfort to us after he died.
The best word to describe Bo is “Joyful”.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Big Daddy
The father of my Mom (Lady) was Benny Walker Redding (“Big Daddy”).
I never met Big Daddy. He owned a furniture store and was the funeral director in Owenton (in Owen County) KY. Big Daddy and his wife Lucy “Lute” Thompson Sherfy had nine children. One of the children (David) fell down a well and drowned when he was two. Lute died in the Flu Epidemic of 1918, when Lady was two. Big Daddy kept the five older children home with him but had to send his younger three children to live with relatives, while he worked to support them.
Lady went to live with some cousins: “Pa Henry” and “Mother Mae” in Georgetown, KY. They were a difficult couple to live with (always fighting), but she looked forward to her visits with Big Daddy. He lavished gifts on all his children, dressed them well, and made sure all of them got a good college education. even the girls (which was rare in those days).
As you can guess, Big Daddy was a VERY successful businessman. He was also huge (over 300 lbs), and died in 1935 (a year before Pa and Lady were married, and Pa only met him once). I have a portrait photo of him over my computer, and I've been told his eyes were brown (Lady was the only person in her family to have blue eyes). He definitely looks distinguished. I visualize him as having an outgoing and inclusive personality. He is the grandfather I really wish I could have met. The best word to describe Big Daddy is “Loving”.
I never met Big Daddy. He owned a furniture store and was the funeral director in Owenton (in Owen County) KY. Big Daddy and his wife Lucy “Lute” Thompson Sherfy had nine children. One of the children (David) fell down a well and drowned when he was two. Lute died in the Flu Epidemic of 1918, when Lady was two. Big Daddy kept the five older children home with him but had to send his younger three children to live with relatives, while he worked to support them.
Lady went to live with some cousins: “Pa Henry” and “Mother Mae” in Georgetown, KY. They were a difficult couple to live with (always fighting), but she looked forward to her visits with Big Daddy. He lavished gifts on all his children, dressed them well, and made sure all of them got a good college education. even the girls (which was rare in those days).
As you can guess, Big Daddy was a VERY successful businessman. He was also huge (over 300 lbs), and died in 1935 (a year before Pa and Lady were married, and Pa only met him once). I have a portrait photo of him over my computer, and I've been told his eyes were brown (Lady was the only person in her family to have blue eyes). He definitely looks distinguished. I visualize him as having an outgoing and inclusive personality. He is the grandfather I really wish I could have met. The best word to describe Big Daddy is “Loving”.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
WT
My Dad (Pa) had a father named William Thomas McConnell,Sr. (WT)
WT McConnell was married to Willie Kate Wells and lived on a farm outside of Mount Olivet (in Robertson Co) KY. This is in the foothills of the eastern Kentucky mountains. WT was the key Democrat in the county and held every elected position (but was most often Sheriff). He knew all the key Democrats in Kentucky. Pa used to tell us that when he went to Washington, DC to interview for a job with the IRS we took WT with us. WT was good friends with Alben Barkley (the Vice President under Harry Truman). When Pa went in to pick up WT, both men had their feet propped up on Barkley's desk, chewing tobacco (with a spittoon between them) swapping old stories.
Pa was the youngest of eight children, and for several years he was the only child in the home. Each morning WT would give Kate a “To Do List ” of chores he expected to have done by the time he got back that evening. Then he would go to downtown Mt. Olivet and talk politics with the town leaders. If the “To Do List” wasn't completed when he came home there was a price to pay.
As I remember, WT only visited us once (when we lived in Ten Broeck). This was after Kate had died. WT was tall (I thought about 6'-3”), medium build, with ramrod straight posture, and a stern face. He had cold blue eyes (similar to mine), and a long face with a square jaw. He looked important. He mainly talked to Pa, very little to Lady, and never to us kids. Lady had to prepare well in advance for his visit. She had to serve exactly what he wanted and when he wanted it. It was a stressful time when WT was around. The best word to describe WT was “Demanding”.
WT McConnell was married to Willie Kate Wells and lived on a farm outside of Mount Olivet (in Robertson Co) KY. This is in the foothills of the eastern Kentucky mountains. WT was the key Democrat in the county and held every elected position (but was most often Sheriff). He knew all the key Democrats in Kentucky. Pa used to tell us that when he went to Washington, DC to interview for a job with the IRS we took WT with us. WT was good friends with Alben Barkley (the Vice President under Harry Truman). When Pa went in to pick up WT, both men had their feet propped up on Barkley's desk, chewing tobacco (with a spittoon between them) swapping old stories.
Pa was the youngest of eight children, and for several years he was the only child in the home. Each morning WT would give Kate a “To Do List ” of chores he expected to have done by the time he got back that evening. Then he would go to downtown Mt. Olivet and talk politics with the town leaders. If the “To Do List” wasn't completed when he came home there was a price to pay.
As I remember, WT only visited us once (when we lived in Ten Broeck). This was after Kate had died. WT was tall (I thought about 6'-3”), medium build, with ramrod straight posture, and a stern face. He had cold blue eyes (similar to mine), and a long face with a square jaw. He looked important. He mainly talked to Pa, very little to Lady, and never to us kids. Lady had to prepare well in advance for his visit. She had to serve exactly what he wanted and when he wanted it. It was a stressful time when WT was around. The best word to describe WT was “Demanding”.
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