Editor, Times-Union: Preacher converted by his own preaching? Well, not quite, but close. It really happened like this: The Rev. Robert Boggs attended the Billy Sunday Festival Friday at Winona Lake dressed as Billy Sunday, complete with his hair parted in the middle. Part of the program was for these B. Sunday "look-alikes" to do brief dramatic sermons at the Billy Sunday pulpit as Billy might have preached it long ago.
Despite intermittent rain, small crowds gathered around to listen to the "amateur" actors do their thing. At the urging of Sue Cox, retired pastor Boggs finally consented to dress up, middle-part his hair and give it a whirl. Showers hindered, but one visiting group asked Boggs to get on their bus to finish the sermon to them, cheering afterwards.
Speeches were only five minutes or less, but the response of the small crowds to the brief messages sent Bob Boggs home with some strange and pretty deep feelings inside. He now wonders if he and other preachers have made the "gospel message" seem far too complicated (and often preached too l-o-n-g and tedious). I know. I too had four years of college and three years in a school of theology. I'm serious, fellow preachers! Maybe the gospel, sincerely presented in smaller, more potent doses, would get our job done a lot better and much more effectively! No harm to give it some prayerful thought.
The law of averages will finally catch up with me, but at 81 I'm still going full speed ahead with my expanded ministry through Boggs Books. Deep inside me I've resolved that my remaining speeches will be a bit shorter, clearer, louder maybe - and utterly sincere! Billy Sunday, I believe you have reconverted me!
Robert Boggs Winona Lake
Red Light Running
Editor, Times-Union: Semis (actually the drivers) run red lights. They are traveling too fast. They cannot stop. Tickets, visible police cars, even tragic, deadly accidents do not change this fact. A ticket, an accident may alter the life of one driver. But thousands of truckers will continue to disregard safety and common sense. They say, "I could not stop" "I did not know" and other excuses. How about this. Place a flashing light, say 50 yards prior to the upcoming traffic light. When the "warning" light flashes red, that is the signal to slow down. Drivers are forewarned there is a red light ahead. No matter how fast you go, you cannot beat the red light. Disregarding this warning is major! In the meantime, back to the basics of defensive driving. A green light means go. It means it is your turn to go. But it does not always mean you are "good to go." Look both ways. Always, always, anticipate a semi truck driver running a red light. All of the above applies to drivers of any vehicle. I single out the truckers because they are big, they cannot stop soon enough and, as a group, are notorious for running red lights.
Marg Knouff Warsaw via e-mail
Leadership Seminar
Editor, Times-Union: One June 5-8, I traveled to Butler University for a HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth) Leadership Seminar. I had gotten picked out of my class of sophomores to represent my school of Tippecanoe Valley. I really wasn't sure why I had been chosen. I am pretty shy in school, so I wasn't too excited about going, but I went anyway. When I walked in, I had no idea what to expect. I was blown away with the first day, and by the end of the first day, everyone had fit in and was comfortable with everyone else. What went on those four days had an influence on everybody's life, including mine. The HOBY Seminar taught me to be myself, to not worry what other people think and to help others and around your community. The HOBY Seminar was a great experience for me! I hope everyone who wants to has a chance to become a part of HOBY or just gets involved in their communities. If you want to learn more about HOBY, log onto google.com and type in "Indiana HOBY Seminars" (there will be many to look at). Hopefully you will make an effort to become a part of HOBY and maybe see you next year!
Holli Jackson 2003 HOBY Ambassador Tippecanoe Valley High School
