the rumors of my demise…
i think it was Mark Twain that said, “the rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.” (or was it Will Rogers?) any way…a very good gentleman passed away on January 31. his name was Jim Akins, Jim retired from the North American Mission Board, he served several local churches as an interim pastor, he was the Evangelism Director for the state Baptist Convention of California. since he moved to Atlanta, there have been several people who got our names confused. unfortunately for Jim, the elder, he came to an area in which i have lived for almost 60 years. i also worked for the denomination, so a lot of folks got our names confused…
and thus i got a call on Tuesday of this week…message said, “give me a call when you get an opportunity…” so i gave my friend a call…”it sure is good to hear your voice,” he said, “a mutual friend told me that she had heard that you had died.” he was very concerned. but on the other hand he said, “i kept seeing your new post on facebook and on your blog, i didn’t know whether you had someone else writing or not.” well i assured him that i was much alive and explained about the elder Jim that had also worked for the denomination and that he had passed recently.
Proverbs 22:1 says that a “good name is better than great riches.” the elder Jim Akins, was a great guy. i had the privilege of knowing him only over the last 10 years or so. the churches that he served, his family and friends will surely miss him. he is one that i know the second he walked in the gates was met by Jesus who said, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
thank you brother James for your concern and for confirming that i didn’t have any “ghost” writers. i think that the elder Jim would have appreciated that one.
