Welcome to “As We Serve with Significance”! I try to serve with significance in my community every day, a community which varies from day to day. Yesterday I took food to a friend recovering from surgery. Today I met with my prayer group. Tomorrow I plan to call four friends to wish them Thanksgiving blessings. And so my life goes, as I serve with significance.
One of the significant things no one can escape from is the history of their surroundings. Johnson City, Tennessee, my hometown, is preparing to celebrate our Sesquicentennial, or 150th birthday, on Sunday, December 1.
On December 1, 1869, Johnson City “received its first charter from the state of Tennessee under the name of Johnson City.” (Source: Greater Johnson City A Pictorial History.) Certainly much significant and lengthy work went into that event, well before the advent of devices that would ease the process today.
This is a picture of Henry Johnson, the founder of Johnson City. Thank you to http://www.stateoffranklin.net/ for providing it. And http://www.stateoffranklin.net/ is a treasure trove of great information!
The December 1, 1887 issue of The Comet, the first Johnson City newspaper, reported that “Boston society has promised to read the Bible this winter. Boston fashionables are always looking for something new.” While it’s not a new practice, I’ve tried to read the Bible through every year for many years. And most years, I’ve accomplished that. Certainly the Bible is significant!
In the December 2, 1915, issue of The Comet, the Frank Taylor Store advertised “big reductions on all our Suits and Coats for the next few days”. The store was located at 212 Main Street.
What’s significant to you?
Copyright, November 21, 2019 by Rebecca Henderson
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Day Trips!
Around Christmas, 2019, I was in Robinson Animal Hospital with one of my critters. I no longer remember who was being seen, but I believe we were seeing Josh Hinkle, DVM. Dr. Hinkle is Chief of Staff at the clinic; since the untimely and unfortunate death of James Robinson, DVM, we generally have seen Dr.… Read more
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Vera is Now a Memory……
This is one of my favorite pictures of Vera, my Newfoundland, taken in May of 2019, with her PCV, Josh Hinkle, DVM. Dr. Hinkle is the Chief of Staff at Robinson Animal Hospital. Vera had just had a haircut and a bath, and had overnighted for some nice spa (really laser) treatments. Over the past… Read more
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When the Year Really Starts
Ever since I was a little girl, it’s seemed to me that the New Year really started when school started in the late summer. The notebooks, calendar, and almanacs provide a visual reminder for me. When I was growing up, I don’t remember ever going back to school earlier than the Monday before Labor Day,… Read more
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W. Andrew (Andy) Clark, PhD, RD, Guest Blogger
It’s my pleasure to introduce to you W. Andrew (Andy) Clark, PhD, RD. I can’t quite remember exactly how I met Andy, but it may very well have been at a class reunion. Andy’s wife, Linda McGillen Clark, and I have known each other since we were in Mrs. Martha Mongtomery’s second grade class at… Read more
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“What The People Don’t Know Will Hurt Them”
As a child, probably around 6 or 7, I remember going with my mother to the offices of what was then the Johnson City Press-Chronicle, and now the Johnson City Press. I don’t remember why we needed to visit the offices, but I suspect it was so Mama could pay the yearly invoice for the newspaper. My… Read more
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Earthquake!
Last Sunday morning, August 9, began much as my Sunday mornings have since the beginning of COVID-19. No longer able to attend church, I had just gotten back in bed with my cup of coffee, ready to do my devotions. I was just a bit chilly, so I thought I might as well turn the… Read more
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Alice Moore Bailey, A Life Well-Lived
My Aunt Alice, who was one of my mother’s sisters, died on August 12, 2017, at the age of 96 ½ (when you’re that old, you count the halves!). Although she was not the youngest, she outlived eight sisters, three brothers, and two beloved husbands. One of the sisters she outlived was my mother. This… Read more
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Steve Darden, Guest Blogger
Today it’s my great honor to re-introduce to you Steve Darden. I was honored when he accepted my invitation to be today’s guest blogger. Steve is my first repeat guest blogger, but I hope he won’t be my last one. Steve’s initial guest blog was in April. Thank you, Steve Darden, for being my guest… Read more
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Welcome to Nancy Williams, Guest Blogger!
I can’t remember exactly how I met Nancy Canestrari Williams, but I believe it was thru my good friend, Michele King. I was honored to be co-chair when Michele was chair of the Washington County Foundation, Ballad Health. Nancy and Michele are both delights and I wish I could spend more time with each of… Read more
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Rebecca Keefauver Alexander, Guest Blogger
Ten million thanks to Rebecca Keefauver Alexander for taking time from the campaign trail to pen a guest blog for me. Rebecca is running for the Seventh District in Tennessee’s State House of Representatives. Regardless if you live in the Seventh District – and most of you don’t – Rebecca’s thoughts are classic and timeless. … Read more
Congratulations on starting your blog! I think what’s significant to me about serving others is remembering that it should be rooted, watered, and covered with REAL LOVE. Just as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, we can give all kinds of efforts and sacrifices and words to others, but if our motive isn’t genuine love for our fellow man, it’s all just smoke and mirrors. Too much of the time we offer “service” that is based on manipulation, self-aggrandizement, or obligation (and I’m guilty as charged) instead of actually caring for other people. I pray that, as we follow your blog, God will use your words to let His love well up inside of us, so that we become His fountains of life-giving service!
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