| Volume 30 |
JULY 2010
|
Number
12
|
|
Leaving Behind A Successful Life Brian R. Kenyon
In 1956, J. H. married Louise Welch, whom he met while at David Lipscomb College. To them were born three children, the oldest of which died in infancy. Louise passed away in 1992. J. H. married Lucy Salley in 2001. J. H. and Louise’s sons, Dan and Ben, have had successful careers in the United States military. Dan retired a few years ago and Ben continues to serve our country. Though they have been stationed all over the world, they remained faithful and active in the Lord’s church, which afforded J. H. opportunity to preach the Gospel while visiting them. Thus, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15) was literally fulfilled by J. H. J. H.’s connections with the Florida School of Preaching date back to its very beginning. When the school began, B. C. Carr and G. K. Wallace invited J. H. to serve on the teaching staff. Since September 15, 1969, J. H. has taught classes every semester at the school, with the exception of this last semester, when, due to Lucy’s health and his taking care of her, he requested to be relieved of his class for the Spring 2010 semester. Since 1969, J. H. has served the school in many capacities, four of which stand out. First, J. H. served as the only secretary of the board that the school had ever known until our last board meeting in May, a week before which J. H., realizing his health was a factor, requested to be replaced with vice-secretary, Tim Simmons. J. H. made clear, though, that he still wanted to serve on the board as his health would allow because the school was his life. The board gladly honored his request. Second, J. H. was the school’s “public relations” man in the early years. J. H. had a small, hand made display complete with pictures and brochures that he would take to lectureships, Gospel meetings, and student days, by which he would advertise and promote the school. This was used up to the mid-1990s, when the school was able to purchase a larger display. Third, J. H. was instrumental in the audio and video recordings of the school’s lectureship. His interest in this field was greatly cultivated during his college years, and he became a real “pro” by the time FSOP began its lectureship program in 1975. Fourth, J. H. was a vital part of the school’s booster banquet since its inception. This banquet is held every year to honor those who financially support the school. Initially, J. H. coordinated the location and/or catering of the meal. Then when the school began hosting the banquet at the South Florida Avenue church of Christ facilities, J. H., with the help of many, prepared and served the meal. J. H. was many things to many people, but the one thing that summarized his life to those of us who knew him well was preaching and teaching the Gospel and working with the Florida School of Preaching. What is Involved in a Successful Life? Reflecting upon the life of J. H. Blackman, Jr. reminds us that we too are in control of the success or failure of our own lives. While we are constantly bombarded with the world’s definition of success (wealth, fame, partying, etc.), we know that true success is found in seeking “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Mt. 6:33). A passage fitting for J. H. and the life he lived, which is also fitting for us, is found in First Timothy 6:11-16, where Paul writes, A Fight to Fight In contrast to a man of the world (i.e., “those who desire to be rich,” 1 Tim. 6:9, NKJ), Paul addresses Timothy as a “man of God” (1 Tim. 6:11). From the start we realize that living a successful life is serious and takes a person of conviction and determination. The “these things” Timothy is told to “flee” refer to the mind bent on being wealthy and the accompanying sins and consequences that result from them. Along with fleeing, Timothy is told to “follow after [pursue, NKJ]” three pairs of qualities that will always make us better servants of God (1 Tim. 6:11). The focus, however, for this point is that we have a fight to fight (and win) if we are to be successful in God’s sight. Paul refers to the fray as “the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). To be successful soldiers, we must “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” teach the next generation of the faithful what we learned from the previous generation of the faithful, “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” and refrain from becomingentangled “with the affairs of this life” (2 Tim. 2:1-4). Only by this regiment can we “lay hold on eternal life” and say, as Paul, when our end is near, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Are we “fighting the good fight of faith”? If not, let us muster the courage and find strength in the Lord (Eph. 6:10-20)! A Charge to Keep “I give...charge” translates a Greek word (parangello, παραγγέλλω) that means to command, or order (1 Cor. 7:10). The solemnity of this command is emphasized by its being mentioned before “God,” who gives life to all things, and “Christ Jesus” who testified a “good confession” before Pontius Pilate (1 Tim. 6:13). This “good confession” of Jesus is linked to the fact that Timothy also “professed a good profession before many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:12b), which connects to Timothy’s baptism (Rom. 10:9-10 cf. Acts 8:37). Thus, the commandment that Timothy is to keep “without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” refers to the commitment he made to Christ when he was A God To Meet All of us will be present at “the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Tim. 6:14), which is His second coming (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Tit. 2:13). The one who will judge us on that day is the “only Potentate [Sovereign, ESV], the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (cf. Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:3), and inherently immortal (1 Tim. 6:15-16a). He also dwells in a light that no person can approach, until, through Jesus Christ, we are victorious and in the presence of God, for that eternal kingdom home has “no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23). All of us will be found of God on that Day of Judgment. Let us make sure we leave behind a successful life here, which translates to an eternal life with God over there!
Uplifting Update By the grace of God and your prayers, Amber continues to improve. On June 9 we learned her “tumor marker” was down to 73. Her breathing is a little better, though she is still on 2.5 liters of oxygen 24/7. Her physical strength is improved, though she still cannot walk long distances. Since the last Harvester update, she has been able to attend two morning worship services, the first of which brought tears to my eyes, until we sang the line in We’re Marching to Zion, “Then let our songs abound, And every tear be dry.” She is scheduled for her sixth overall chemotherapy on June 30, then a few weeks after that her body will be re-scanned. The next phase of treatment will depend on what that scan reveals. We appreciate the many prayers, words of encouragement, and acts of kindness toward us. Your encouragement and the strength of the Lord and His word is what sustains us. Thanks be to our awesome God, my mind set is no longer that Amber is dying of cancer but that she is living with it! —Brian
|
J. H. Blackman, Jr., faithful Christian, Gospel preacher, and Florida School of Preaching board member and instructor, departed this life on June 6, 2010. He began his preaching career in 1949 at the age of seventeen with his home congregation, the Springfield church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida. In these early years he preached in the Southeast Georgia towns of Ludowici, Brunswick, and Folkston, and in the Northwest Florida towns of Lake Butler, St. Augustine, and Brooker. He graduated high school in 1951, earned an associate of arts degree from Florida Christian College in 1953, and a bachelor of arts degree from David Lipscomb University in 1955. After graduating from Lipscomb, he began the work in St. Marys, Georgia, and was instrumental with others in starting the Fernandina Beach, Florida, congregation. He later preached in Hopewell, Virginia (1957-1959); Hollywood, Florida (1960-1962); Salisbury, North Carolina (1963-1964); Cocoa Beach, Florida (1965-1967); Bartow (North Jackson Avenue), Florida (1967-1969); Winter Haven (Central), Florida (1970-1972); Lakeland (South Florida Avenue), Florida (1972-1975); Plant City (Springhead), Florida, with whom he also served in the eldership (1976-1990); and North Lakeland, Florida (1991-2010).
