This week, God willing, I'll celebrate my 60th year visiting this planet. As I do, I'm reflecting on how good God is and all the adversity that's been overcome. My parents were good people, but they had a lot of baggage. Further, their shortcomings incited each other's wrath, rather than compassion.
Consequently, the prevailing behaviors in our home were yelling, violence, criticism, negativity, and finding comfort in addictions. My brother, sister, and I each found our own ways to deal with that kind of dysfunction. For me, it was an obsessive interest in music and other media. It was also, eventually, understanding that it's possible to learn a good lesson from a bad example.
So, as I reflect on sixty years, here's my memories of each decade:
1960s
1. Song – “Nowhere Man” – Beatles
2. Band – The Monkees
3. TV – “Batman”
4. Books – Winnie the Pooh books by A.A. Milne
5. Comic Books - Archie
6. Toy/etc. – Bonkey the Monkey stuffed animal
7. Toy/etc. – record player
8. Event – Getting Mr. Mac as my school teacher and being liked when I was unlikeable.
9. Event – Spending precious time with my grandparents, Nana and Papaw.
10. Key verse – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will NOT perish, but will have eternal life.” John 3:16.
1970s
11. Song – “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?” – Larry Norman
12. Band - Yes
13. TV – “The Mod Squad”
14. Books – Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon
15. Comic Books – Spider-Man
16. Toy/etc. - Bicycle
17. Event – Parents’ divorce
18. Event - Giving my heart to Jesus at Vacation Bible School.
19. Event – Dreams that I’d one day have a worldwide radio program like Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40.”
20. Key verse – “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
1980s
21. Song – “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis
22. Band - Alabama
23. TV – “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
24. Book – “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”
25. Movie – “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
26. Toy/etc. – Stereo record/CD/cassette system
27. Event - Moving to West Texas to manage a radio station.
28. Event – Meeting and marrying Caryl!
29. Event – Caryl and I making up our minds we were going to do whatever it took to have a great marriage. Divorce wasn’t an option.
30. Key verse – “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.“ Psalm 37:23
1990s
31. Song – “Jesus Freak” by DC Talk
32. Band – Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band
33. TV – “Star Trek: Next Generation”
34. Books – Chicken Soup for the Soul series
35. Movies – “Braveheart”
36. Toy/etc. – First personal computer, bought from Home Shopping Network
37. Event – Birth of Sarah
38. Event – Being named Texas Teacher of the Year.
39. Event – Beginning to speak on a regular basis in front of church and school groups.
40. Event – Being invited to speak in South America and Japan.
41. Verse – “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs 13:20
2000s
42. Music – “Ain’t No Grave (Gonna Hold This Body Down),” by Russ Taff
43. Band – Gaither Vocal Band
44. TV – “24”
45. Books – “The Purpose-Driven Life,” by Rick Warren
46. Movie – “Walk the Line: The Johnny Cash Story”
47. Toy/etc. – CD burner
48. Event – Publishing of first book.
49. Event – Gary Dyer inviting me to preach at First Baptist Church Midland.
50. Key verse – “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:40
2010s
51. Music – “Old Church Choir,” by Zach Williams
52. Band – Gaither Vocal Band
53. TV – “Downton Abbey”
54. Books – “If My Heart Could Talk,” by Dodie Osteen (Don’t judge; just read it.)
55. Movies – “Avengers Endgame”
56. Toy/etc. – Record player
57. Event – Birth of grandkids
58. Event – Moving to Lubbock to work on the book, “Death Knocking, Life Calling,” about the life of Randy Gallaway. Seeing that book featured on NBC News and translated into Chinese.
59. Event - Launching “The Bear Mills Podcast” worldwide through Liberated Syndication Media.
60. Key verse – “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2nd Corinthians 5:20
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