Tim Bowyer’s Lone Eagle ceremony was Saturday morning, and I had the privilege of bringing his charge.
In 1970, when Sally Jo and I arrived in Murfreesboro, Martha Sue Carroll was a member of the Presbyterian Student Fellowship. We soon came to know her parents, Burns and Martha Carroll. Burns, an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church, often provided wise counsel to me personally, and as I worked with the leadership of the church. “Mother Martha”, as I called her, was of continual encouragement to both Sally Jo and me, often with a big, heartfelt laugh! Later I learned that both Burns and Martha had both come from solid Christian homes.
Martha Sue earned her Master’s in Christian Education and became the dean of women at the Christian College where Randy Bowyer was the Dean of Students. Randy’s parents and grandparents were also solid Christians, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
Martha Sue and Randy were married and they had a daughter and two sons. These sons, Tom and Tim, became campers and staff members.
As I stood before Tim, I reminded him of this Christian heritage, the solid foundation which had helped him to understand and choose Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, the Lord of his life. The members of the Lone Eagle Fellowship had observed Tim’s living out his chosen relationship with God.
I also reminded Tim that almost 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote to a young Timothy of his Christian heritage.
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 5-7
Whereas few of us have the name of Timothy, many of us come from a solid Christian heritage. We have the opportunity to build upon this heritage, a living demonstration of the reality of the living God.
Whether or not we come from a Christian heritage, we should continually remind ourselves that it is not God who gives a spirit of timidity, of fear. Rather, God gives to us the spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline – enabling us to accomplish what He directs us to do.
People in every generation since Jesus Christ came to earth have chosen to live In Partnership With God.
This privilege is our choice.
I was born in a “catholic” home, but my grandmother and great-grandmother on my mother's side became believers. My parents and many aunts, uncles and first, second, etc.- cousins are also in the family of God. My nephew and niece and many children from the extended family are now being raised in the faith. May the Lord be glorified and many more come to him from our families!