You might be scratching your head right now, especially if you’ve been following us very long. Â We’ve been online since April 7th, 2014–more than two years now. Â So what is this one year anniversary gift thing?
It was one year ago this month that the Jimmie Beller Memorial eLibrary was launched.  And to celebrate this moment, we are going to be doing something very special.
But before I get to that, please read this short story about Jimmie Beller. Â Back in 1968, Jimmie’s draft number was called, and the US Army claimed him. Â Jimmie knew it was coming, and he shared his main concern with his father before it did. Â It wasn’t getting killed. Â It wasn’t contracting some horrible disease. Â It was this: “Dad, I don’t know if I can kill someone.” Â His dad, Roy Beller (who is a great Christian man, and one of our closest friends), a veteran himself, said, “That’s a decision you’ll have to make for yourself.”
Jimmie went to boot camp and excelled, catching the attention of his commanding officers. Â One day, his father and mother came down to the base to see him, but he was still in the middle of exercises. Â The top officer, however, found out that Jimmie’s dad was there, and asked to meet with him. Â So, Roy went to his office and sat down. Â The officer told him that Jimmie was top of the recruits in everything. Â Well, everything except for one thing. Â When it came time for them to practice stabbing a dummy with the bayonet at the end of their gun, Jimmie always hesitated. Â And, as the officer stated, when you hesitate, you die.
Roy told the officer about the conversation they had prior to Jimmie’s drafting, and the officer asked him, “So, is he a conscientious objector to the war?” Â Roy shook his head, “No, he wants to serve his country, but he doesn’t like the idea of killing people.” Â The officer was unsure what to do. Â But then Jimmie came, and they talked, and Jimmie made it known that he was ready to go to Vietnam, but that he wasn’t going to shoot anyone–he wanted to go in as a medic, to help people.
He served in Vietnam, narrowly escaping being shot on at least one occasion, but he never shot at anyone. Â He always made sure he worshiped God on the Lord’s Day, and made sure as many of the other soldiers as he could convince did as well.
Jimmie died from cancer last year–cancer that most likely was brought on by exposure to Agent Orange while he was in Vietnam. Â But he had no regrets about serving his country and serving his Lord at the same time. Â We still miss him very much. Â And it’s because of him that the Jimmie Beller Memorial eLibrary is so important to us.
Now, for the special announcement…
We are going to do our absolute best to post 20 new books this month–starting tomorrow–as a celebration of our one-year anniversary. Â That averages out to one each weekday for the whole month!
Please tell others about the Jimmie Beller Memorial eLibrary!
-Bradley S. Cobb