Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Praying God's love and comfort for Ethel, Paul and family. My wife and I have known Jim and Ethel for twelve years as courageous and loving servants of Jesus. Jim may have left the fire service out West but he remained a brave soul who jumped into the spiritual fires of people's lives without hesitation. He loved people indiscriminately and passionately, no prejudice or prejudgment, but offering only a caring heart and the love of Jesus. No one was ever "too far gone" for Jim. He believed that "every saint has a past and every sinner a future hope." As others noted, Jim would often say, "Come on, brother, let's pray." Jim embodied the hope that God could and would answer the prayer of anyone. His worship both in public and private expressed the joy he felt in his heart. He encouraged everyone including his fellow ministers around the New England region.
He would drive for hours to talk, listen, and laugh with his spiritual comrades. Jim allowed people to see Jesus in him every day even when health challenges made this difficult--faith, hope, joy, and most of all love. Thank you, God, for sharing Jim with us for these few years. Thank you, Father, that his influence will be strongly felt here for decades and in heaven for eternity.