Early this morning a great man of faith who has helped shaped the study of the Bible met face to face with the God whom he taught about his entire life. Jim Craddock had been investing his life and time with our entire family over the past two years. His wife Doris and his daughter, Christi Craddock have become a close sister to us. All of them have taught Biblical counseling to Lynn and the girls this past summer when I was shooting in Africa. The Lord was gracious and took him swiftly. His funeral will be this Sunday as we celebrate what he is celebrating. I do miss him so much. Two weeks ago, after attending Life Church one Sunday afternoon I drove to Jims house and went up in his garage apartment. It was the first time he and I had a moment to talk about a newly diagnosed cancer. He said, Kevin, think about it...I win both ways. If this is the end of my life, then I am ready to meet the living God and I win. If this is a struggle I am supposed to fight, I win because in the end, He will get the glory. He smiled at me and he told me how much peace he had in his heart. You know he did it right and he finished well. Afterwards, I thought to myself, would I respond with this kind of courage? This is how I knew I was with one of the greatest men of God ever. Being with Jim was like the same experience I had when Dr. Billy Graham placed his hand on mine and prayed for me. It was like a Moses type of depth and insight so full of love, you couldnt imagine anything greater. I felt the same thing the last time Dr. Bill Bright prayed for me. Now it was going to be my turn, so I got to pray for this genius of Biblical Counseling who founded Scope Ministries and Doris and Jim and I held hands. After that moment, I told him about how Mark Chironna had prayed over the taleet that I had got from Rabbi Curt Landry and I anointed his head with oil, the same oil from the bottle that I used for my mother when she had cancer. It was humbling to be in the presence of one of the greatest men of God I have ever known. After flying and finally arriving home in Tennessee the word came to me that Jim had passed early this morning. He was supposed to be alive another seven days, but God decided, Nope, I want to see Jim today. This past week when I preached my cousin Jack Fishers funeral I shared that there would never be a book written about him, never a movie made about his life or a song ever written. However, the real love and memory we share is now shining in glory with my cousin. So for my second Dad Jim Craddock from Oklahoma, Jim I want to introduce you to my cousin Jackie Fisher who got here a week before you did. You guys keep the celebration going and whenever you see it well Lord, I will get to see them again face to face, just like YOU promised. I love you Jim. Thank you for helping me see God better, for pushing me to be a better man and for being tough on me when I needed to be tough. Thank you for counseling with me from scripture about the mistakes, tragedies and victories, and never giving up on me. My dear brother, you FINISHED WELL!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 02:00:17 +0000
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