WHATCHU TALKIN BOUT WILLIS?

I grew up when Diff'rent Strokes was a popular television show. That's no big deal unless your last name is Willis. To this day I still hear those famous words popularized by Arnold: "Whatchu talkin bout Willis?" Usually they are uttered by someone looking at me as though I may have never heard it before. Yeah, right! Well this blog is what I (Willis) am talkin bout...my thoughts, observations & opinions. Enjoy...



Thursday, June 28, 2007

Bruce


It's been a few weeks since I've posted here. Frankly, I lost momentum. We had a big loss here at Olivet. One of our members, Bruce Horner, was killed in Iraq. Bruce was serving in the Army and was shot by a sniper. Bruce was such a good guy... He kept it simple: He loved God & loved people. He shared his face frquently and effectively. He was the guy who really cared about others. I was blessed to have known him. His loss really hit us hard. I saw Bruce frequently at the gym where he regularly introduced me to people he was trying to reach for Christ. He seemingly always had a song on his lips and a smile on his face. We'd sit around laughing and talking about music and the gym and the Lord. And Bruce could eat too. I used to tell him that he could find any desitnation in town if you told him what buffet was nearby. It was amazing how many people he touched in his 43 years. His memorial was a major event: TV crews, the newspaper, the Army, hundred of friends. Bruce was presented the Purple Heart & Bronze Star posthumously. It was simultaneously one of the most stressful and rewarding times in my ministry. It's odd I know but it still doesn't seem like he's really gone. I miss Bruce, but I look forward to seing him on the other side.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can understand that you would feel such a loss. He seems like someone who would have been blessing to anyone he met. Glad your back!

David H. Willis said...

Thanks bro.

Frank Weller said...

David, I am sorry for your loss. That is brutal tough. Do me a favor and introduce me to your friend when we get home.

David H. Willis said...

Frank,

Will do brother!