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Chapter 00 — Introduction to Spiritual Stories Library

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

These stories are the spiritual experiences that have occurred in my life.  When I began listing the topics, the number of experiences was much greater than I expected. I spent my working career as an engineering technician performing design and test work on large farm equipment.  I wrote many technical reports.   The format for that work was reporting information …

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Chapter 01– My Baptism

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: I was almost a year old and had not been baptized.  My father had ignored his mother’s plea for a baptism.  My grandmother was an assertive woman undertook an intervention.  This is the story that was told to me by my father’s sisters. My Baptism My baptism was not the traditional baptism where the family gathers in church a few …

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Chapter 02–Sunday School Attendance

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: Sometimes I may not have been in Sunday School for all the right reasons, but I was there.  I turned out ok.  This is my story.  Sunday School Attendance  My younger brother and I attended Sunday School like most kids in our area. We didn’t go every Sunday depending upon work on the farm or visits to aunts and …

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Chapter 03–My Catechism Class

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: We weren’t your normal catechism class of well behaved kids.  We often lived in that gray area.  This is our story as I remember it. My Catechism Class As our class formed in September, the minister and his wife announced their retirement at the end of the school year.  Our class, already known for less than perfect behavior, saw that …

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Chapter 04–Maxine Gets Me To Church

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: I was intensely focused on raising my grade point above a 3.0 during the last quarter of technical school at Iowa State University.  Our wedding would be a few days after graduation and Maxine wanted to start going to church on a regular basis.  Worship turned out to be a lot more than my physical presence in the pew. …

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Chapter 05–The Invitation

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: A simple invitation to attend church nurtured my family for more that 30 years.  This is that story. The Invitation  A simple invitation sustained our family for more than 30 years.  In 1974 we moved into our first house in Hudson, Iowa during a very hot 4th of July holiday.  The invitation came shortly after we arrived in Hudson, Iowa. …

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Chapter 06–The Holy Spirit Rediscovered

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: In the summer of 1975 I was sitting on the front porch when two friends came to talk to me about running for political office.  After they left, I sat there I pondered their request, and a recent chain of events, and the Holy Spirit was rediscovered that day. The Holy Spirit, Rediscovered  On an ordinary day, on the …

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Chapter 07–The Jaycee Creed And The Ring

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: In 1973 I joined the Hudson Jaycees.  The Jaycee Creed guided my life and the Jaycee ring symbolized two important characteristics of my life. The Jaycee Creed And The Ring  My years in the Hudson Jaycees were important years of learning for me.  I learned the civic and personal benefits of being in a community service organization. I learned about …

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Chapter 08–And Then There Were Two More

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: The infinite patience of a Norwegian persists until the indecisive stubborn Dane sees it her way and the family grows. And Then There Were Two More  The ‘70s were a time of change and transition for Gary and Maxine.  In the early ‘70s they were living in a rented farmhouse near New Hartford, Iowa.  The house was old, uninsulated, …

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Chapter 09–Where Was God in August 1987?

In Spiritual Stories by Gary

Preface: Tragedy struck twice in August 1987.  Where was God?  It ain’t supposed to be like this.  I’m mad at God.  Recovery begins in the Book of Romans. Where Was God in August 1987?  August 9,1987 was a beautiful Sunday morning.  The sky was clear and the sun was bright.  The temperature was comfortable and the breeze was gentle.  Gary and …