Gaither's Corner

About the Book

When one asks me if I believe in angels, I always answer yes! I cannot prove there are any otherworldly/spiritual beings “out there”; the angels in which I believe are those who have graced my life—some for long periods of time, others for but moments. Whichever, at the time, each was crucial to my emotional survival.

Most of these I list in categories, as to name them individually would fill another book.

First, I list my parents, Herman and Bertha McCullough, and siblings (Lee, Al, Eileen, Paul, and Doyle) who, though at times mystified by my struggles for faith, have loved me no less.

Next, I mention the members of the church congregations I served (all United Methodists): Camp Creek Emmanuel and Manhattan College Avenue in Kansas and Rivera, Mission First, Oxford, and Helotes Hills in Texas.

Others who hold a special place in my soul, listed from my youth forward, are Bob and Marie Gaither, Bill Gaither, J. T. Truax, Uncle Floyd Goins, cousin Howard Goins, Leo Slagg, Walter and Naomi Larsen, A. Bond Woodruff, Elmore E. Vail, Dick Neiderhiser, Jim Mitchell, Wendy Parsons, Delbert Gish, Joe Grider, Cecil Findley, Larry Guillot, Clyde Miller, Bob Winkler, Byron Hollinger, Muriel Hunkins, John Lewis, Mel Witmer, Bryce Kramer, Martin Pike, Jay Brown, Patty Johnson, Don Carper, Jerry J. Smith, Homer Bain, and my canasta-playing friends, who have endured twelve years of listening to my angry complaints against what I consider to be the madness of the status quo.

My daughters, Kira and Dana, somehow survived despite my, at times, being adrift in near mental illness. Thus I am deeply indebted to their patience and love.

And finally, I make tribute to my wife, Jean, who, though not religious, is the most nurturing—and, thus, spiritual—person I have ever known.

- Xlibris Podcast Part 1: http://www.xlibrispodcasts.com/gaithers-corner-1/

- Xlibris Podcast Part 2: http://www.xlibrispodcasts.com/gaithers-corner-2/

- Xlibris Podcast Part 3: http://www.xlibrispodcasts.com/gaithers-corner-3/

- Xlibris Podcast Part 4: http://www.xlibrispodcasts.com/gaithers-corner-4/

- Xlibris Podcast Part 5: http://www.xlibrispodcasts.com/gaithers-corner-5/

About the Author

Chuck McCullough is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, now retired. Born in Central Indiana, he graduated from Alexandria, Indiana, high school in 1949. Chuck earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, in 1954. While there, he played basketball and was honored at the ONU homecoming in 2005, being elected to their athletic Hall of Fame. When he graduated, he was the all-time ONU leading career scorer in basketball. He graduated from the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1960 with a master of divinity degree in church history. While there he continued his basketball play for the seminary team. Ordained in the United Methodist Church in the Kansas East Conference in 1960, Chuck served the Camp Creek UMC near Atchison, Kansas, ’57–’63 and the College Avenue UMC in Manhattan, Kansas, ’63–’67. The following eighteen years were spent in campus ministries: ’67–’69 at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri; ’70–’78 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio; then at Texas A&M at Kingsville, Texas, from ’78 to ’85. While at Ohio University, Chuck earned a master of education degree in guidance and counseling. In 1985, Chuck returned to the local parish ministry as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Mission, Texas. Following nine years in Mission, he was appointed to the Oxford UMC in San Antonio and retired from the itinerant ministry in 1995. Chuck met his wife, Jean, while line dancing at a senior center in San Antonio. They were married in 1997. Jean has four children, nine grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren. Chuck has two children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.