Thoughts of a Contemplating Guy who Loves Jesus

On September 11 of this year, Jim went in for a stress test and passed out while enduring the test. Doctors monitoring him were unable to revive him.  He was a big, 66 year old guy.  While his death was shocking, his life was extraordinary.  And I say that from the two last years of his life, which were the only years I knew Jim.

Here is some history about Jim and some stories to let you see who Jim is.

Jim had married his wife Lucinda, who is equally a great woman whom I love very much, after they met/dated in college at Tennessee Tech.  Jim and Lucinda had a daughter of their own and also adopted a son.  Jim and his family led the lifestyle of a military family.  In the military you are often told "If you want to move up (in rank), you must move around (the country)."  So they moved all over the place and Jim moved up to the rank of Colonel.  The opportunity came to Jim to move one more time and in return, attain the rank of General. If you know anything about rank in the military, you know that this is a huge deal.  After talking it over with the family, Jim turned down the opportunity so that his children could experience some stability and finish high school at the current school.

When I moved out to the Quad Cities to lead the jr. high & high school student ministries at Bettendorf Christian Church, it didn't take long for me to meet Jim and Lucinda.  At this point in their lives, Jim was working as a civilian at the Rock Island Arsenal for the army. When I arrived, Jim and Lucinda were already active in the student ministry on-goings. Jim taught the high school class on Sunday mornings and they both were active in the weekly youth group program.  My first reaction, not vocal of course, was "what's this old dude doing hanging out with teenagers?"  I would soon find out.

When they first arrived at BCC, before I had graduated and moved out here, they randomly showed up to the high school class on Sunday morning. It wasn't random for them, but it was for everyone else.  Evidently they just came into the class and sat in the back and as class was getting ready to start, the guy teaching it saw them and told them "The class for the 'Young at Heart' is down the hall."  Which translates as "the class for the old geezers is not in here."  Jim responded by saying something along the lines of "Oh we know. We're in here on purpose."

Once I met Jim, we clicked instantly.  We got along great.  Our friendship means so much to me.  The time that he took to spend with me, to pray with me, to encourage me, and to mentor me will never be forgotten. 

That was the start of the Jim Jobe era at BCC.  A movement that many people and churches experience over his lifetime.

Jim's adopted purpose in life was to mentor young people and make sure he did what he could to show them Jesus. Jim would love on you like no other. He was constantly emailing, calling, texting, writing on Facebook walls, doing anything he could to encourage and be there for those who needed it.  You couldn't escape his hugs, nor did you want to because they were the best.  I can't wait till my next Jim Jobe hug.  It was obvious how much he mentored young guys throughout his life at his funeral.  Most people I talked to had stories of how Jim just came along side of them and was there for them through everything.

Jim went where a lot of people are afraid to go.  He was self sacrificing and would do anything for anyone who needed it.  Including driving 1,000 miles to be at someone's side who needed it. Or picking up a kid in the middle of the night because they couldn't stay under their own roof.  The stories are endless.  And Jim did it all because he loved Jesus with everything he had.

I talked to the minister who conducted the Jim's funeral.  He was an older minister (like late 50's or early 60's) at a large baptist church outside of Knoxville, TN who said he has done tons of funerals.  Currently he conducts around 20-30 funerals a year. He expressed how difficult it was to do funerals of people who didn't know Jesus and funerals of people whom he didn't know if they knew Jesus or not.  But it was a joy to be a part of Jim's because everyone who knew Jim knew how important his 'PR' (personal relationship) with Christ was.

Jim showed us how it was done.  Most people don't do in a lifetime what Jim Jobe did in a year.

It is without a doubt, that I know that Jim is in heaven.  He is walking on streets of gold.  He has seen the people that loved and followed Jesus across time. He has worshiped Jesus in the throne room.  And he has seen the face of God. 

Here's to you Jim!  I can't wait to see you again!  Love you man!