Remembrance

 Celebrated the life of one of the most courageous men I know yesterday: James Callahan. Spent his entire adult life going toe-to-toe with physical suffering. I never heard him complain once. He had one of the sweetest, kindest dispositions ever. Years ago I watched a movie Dances with Wolves. One of the native American young men had been given---based upon his character--one of the loveliest names ever: Smiles A Lot. That was James--always a smile, always a word about the goodness of God, always a word of encouragement. He lived a life of simple faith reflected in a life of elegant faithfulness. He will leave an empty hole in the lives of those he loved and served. But it will be a hole filled with the sure hope that they will see him again.

As he would have wanted, the clear message of redemption and forgiveness was shared with all who attended. Now, the Holy Spirit can use that word to do His work. For some it will be an aroma of life; for some it will be an aroma of death. Believe and live.

And if there was a wife's Hall of Fame somewhere--Lisa, his wife, would be at its center. For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse--she was his loving, caring wife and the pillar he needed to be all that His Savior had called him to be.

A gifted musician--his life, too, was a symphony of praise to his Redeemer and Sustainer. Thank you James and Lisa for lives well-lived in service to each other, to your children, and to Him. We look forward to seeing you again--soon. Your going Home immersed Heaven with more of His joy as He welcomed a son to his room in the Father's eternal house.