OUR CHANGING WORLD

 

     Nell Ketcherside, 81, beloved wife of Carl Ketcherside, died at her home in St. Louis on August 13. While she had suffered a stroke sometime ago, she had recovered and her health had been good in recent months. When I saw her in May in Hartford, Illinois, she looked like her old self, buoyant and joyful. Her sudden and unexpected passing was due to heart problems. She and Carl celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June. While a trip to Australia was planned, it was postponed because of Carl's health, not Nell's. Carl was with her when she died. He will remain in St. Louis and carry on with the inner-city ministry to which he and Nell gave so much of themselves in recent years. Ouida and I think of Nell's 37-year ministry in putting Mission Messenger in the mail each month. We know something of what a laborious task that is, but to her it was always a labor of love. What a blessing that ministry was to tens of thousands! While she almost never travelled with Carl, she did join him when he came to our Denton congregation in 1979. They were guests in our home, and Nell became ill during that series. Ouida remembers that she was as gracious and dignified when ill as when well. Grace and dignity, that was Nell Ketcherside. While we have lost a sweet and dear friend, we rejoice with her in her glorious homegoing.

     Another old and dear friend, Lee Keesling, 71, of Arlington, Va., passed away Aug.24. It was Lee and his wife Rosemary that received and comforted Ouida when she went to Washington, D.C. to be with our dying son, Philip, two years ago. Lee was an ardent reader of this journal and we spent much time with each other on the phone. We had a lot in common, not the least of which we were both rebels for a cause. When Rosemary called to tell us, she said that Lee had gone to he with Jesus. Lee will like that; he will he awed.

About the time you receive this issue, or not long after, I will he on one of my longest journeys ever, the Lord wilting. I will he in the Philippines the last week of September, teaching at Cebu Seminary and visiting missionaries. I will go on to India for most of October, teaching two weeks at Kulpahar Christian School in Hamirpur District, and then to Kanpur where I will he the speaker for the All-India Christian Convention. From there I intend to proceed to Auckland, New Zealand for the World Convention of Churches of Christ, Nov. 2-6, where I will serve as a resource person in celebrating the 200th anniversary of Alexander Campbell's birth. Ouida thought of joining me in New Zealand, but she feels obligated to stay with her aged mother (Another reason: she is chicken about flying over oceans!). Since I gain a day on the return trip I should he home in time to vote on Election Day, Nov.8. I am trying to write ahead so there will he no delay in your receiving Restoration Review, but the November issue may he laden with travel notes.

The Church of Christ in Calico Rock, Ark., located in the beautiful Ozarks, is looking for a man or a couple to retire in their community and help in the work of the church. He or they would need to have part of their support. Contact Dr. Robert Lane, Calico Rock, Ark. 72519. I know of a similar situation in Kansas. If you are interested, write to me and I will put you in touch.

The bulletin of the Richardson East Church of Christ in Dallas had a note on what Garrison Keillor thinks of preaching. Among other things Keillor said: "We don't go to church to hear lectures on ethical behavior, we go to look at the mysteries. The important thing is that the minister have something in his heart, look out at the people, and try to find away to say what is in his heart right then and there." He said if the preacher doesn't do this he should not take 20 minutes of the people's time, for he is interrupting what they came to church for. I was pleased to find this kind of outside" judgment in one of our church's bulletins.

In his prayer at the Democratic Convention Billy Graham referred to the speech that President Kennedy was to give on that fateful day in 1963 but did not live to give. Graham put it this way: "We remember the words of President Kennedy in his speech on that fateful day in Dallas — he was going to quote Jesus Christ, who said: 'For what shall it profit a man — or a nation — if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.'"