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Saturday, June 28, 2014

What He Did Best

By David A. Sargent

    Adam Kemp wrote: “Rodney Carroll always wore the right hat in the right situation.”
    Rodney lost his hair at an early age, so he was always wearing a hat.  He wore a Red Sox hat during baseball season, an “Indian Jones” style hat during Bible camp, and a flat cap for everyday wear.
    The expression – “he wore many hats” – also describes Rodney in that he not only served as the minister for Ninnekah Church of Christ in Chickasha, OK, but also as a counselor and patriarch for the Chickasha community.
    It was while he was wearing one of those “hats” that Rodney lost his life....
    He was returning from picking up his wife, Diana, at the Oklahoma City airport when the car in front of them lost traction on an icy road near Chickasha and struck a barrier.  Immediately, Rodney, age 61, put on his characteristic “helping others hat” and jumped out of his SUV to try to help the hurt couple in the car.  “That’s when a school bus behind them also lost control on the ice, striking Rod and killing him,” reports Kemp.
    The 26 church pews inside the small sheet metal building that houses the Ninnekah Church of Christ were filled to capacity on the day of Rodney’s funeral.  Memories were shared and appreciation was given concerning the life of their friend, mentor, and counselor.
    “We lost the best man we’ve ever known,” said his wife, Diana. “He left this world doing what he did best and that was helping others.”
    Rodney’s life and even the circumstances of his death reflect the life and death of the One concerning whom Rodney preached.
    You and I have wrecked OUR lives due to our sin....  But Jesus came to our rescue!  In order to save us, however, He had to give His life for us.  Only the precious blood of Jesus, God’s Perfect Son, could pay the price for our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Jesus, who lived His life seeking to help and to save others, willingly laid down His life (John 10:17-18) so that we might have forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).
    God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His word (1 John 1:7).
    Jesus lived and He died “doing what He did best"... and that was helping – and saving – others.”
    Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation on His terms?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water."  To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

* Information gleaned from “Chickasha minister wore many hats for his community” by Adam Kemp in The Oklahoman (3/9/14) and “Oklahoma minister — who died while helping others — remembered for reaching souls, changing lives” by Erik Tryggestad in The Christian Chronicle (3/10/14).  See www.christianchronicle.org


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