'Doers of word' desperately needed

To the Editor:

“What has God ever done for me?,” my brother-in-law Karl asked of me. At the time of his question, I was not aware of a very appropriate Bible passage: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, with whom is no variation or shadow of change.” James 1:17 RSV.

Karl was a very talented man in both work and play. His ability and earning capacity as a machine shop die maker was equaled by only one other man in the city of Detroit. And as a bowler, his per average score hovered at about 200. Once, I witnessed him getting 11 strikes in a row.

On his deathbed in a suburban hospital in September 1995, his son’s father-in-law visited and lovingly led him to believe and confess Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

In April 2003, our sister Elaine and I drove to West Palm Beach, Fla., to visit our brother Wayne. It was an uneventful trip, except when she snapped “quit preaching to me!” To this day, I can’t remember what I said to agitate her. Perhaps she misread between the lines. I carefully refrained from any appearance for the duration.

Elaine was confirmed in a Lutheran church, but after that, she seldom entered any sanctuary. By the grace of God, an Apostolic Lutheran preacher visited her in the Copper Country nursing home where she lived. With utmost compassion, he convinced her that her eternal home would be in heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. With his leading, she wisely accepted the Lord as her husband Karl had done years before.

Scripture clearly states that God isn’t a respecter of persons. The good side of eternity chosen by Karl and Elaine can be the choice of multitudes.

That being the case, this writer, along with others, pray regularly that those who are about to breathe their last would be visited by true believers to tell of this choice. The layman and the preacher mentioned in this account felt the call. Doers of word are desperately needed. Would you be one? Amen.

Donald Kleimola

Ramsay