MY DEAR FRIEND, JIM NIMNICHT, DIED ON DECEMBER 7. It was a personal, relational blow of major magnitude.
Death always makes us sad. But it’s not gut-wrenching until it’s up close and personal, until it takes someone you were just sitting next to in church, that you just shared lunch with a few weeks ago, someone you won’t see again this side of heaven. That’s my friend, Jim. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, award-winning college professor, golf buddy, rabid Husky fan, but most of all, a brother in the Lord, a fellow sojourner walking through life, impacting many along the way—including me. I’m sure if I could talk to him today, he would remind me to, “Look to the unseen things, to Jesus and the life to come because it is wonderful!”
While massaging the pain, my wife reminded me of these insightful words from the apostle Paul. They remind us of bigger things than our finite, limited, earth-bound perspective.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
And so, even in our pain, Judy and I will lift our eyes to the world to come, to the time when we’ll see Christ as he is and, in the process, be transformed into his image (1 John 3:2-3). That is how Jim will look the next time I see him, full of life and health, breathing freely, his hearing, diminished for several years as mine is now, fully restored! We will rejoice together at our ability to hear the slightest whisper across the room.
Here’s the takeaway. Death is a wake-up call. It reminds us that we’re just passing through. This painful world is full of political unrest, broken relationships, and aging bodies, and life is a vapor, the blink of an eye.
We still have opportunities though to tell others about our glorious Savior and encourage them to cast their gaze to the life to come where every tear will be wiped away and Christ will make all things new.
That’s what Jim did, and he’d want us to do the same.
Thank you for this comforting message as we, too, grieve Jim’s death. This dear brother in Christ had become a good friend as part of our “219” group. In remembrance of Jim and as a blessing to Kerry,, here is Ephesians 2:19: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” Rest in peace, Jim.
Well said, brother. Our loss (of Jim) is God’s gain. He was one who spent his short time here on earth living for Christ and preparing for his life to come. We will miss him here and look forward to seeing him in paradise. I wonder what the golf courses are like in Heaven?
Beautifully written Bill! What a hope we have in Jesus. The only thing that makes this life bearable.
Bill, you did a wonderful job of honoring Jim with your most recent post. I have known him since I was just 22 years of age and he has twice been my university professor (undergraduate & graduate level), my supervisor (as his assistant during my graduate program), respected mentor, loyal friend, and faithful brother in Christ. Like you, I will profoundly miss Jim, for he is much loved & cherished. Despite the health challenges in his final years, Jim’s confidence in God’s promises and the joy of his salvation never wavered or diminished. In fact, his love for Christ only seemed to further solidify & galvanize as his personal trials mounted. I often think of James 1:2 and tend to view it as one of the toughest standards in the Bible to meet. In fact, it almost seems impossible at times, but Jim observably demonstrated otherwise. He was joyful to the end, humbly honoring God in the process, and blessing others with his remarkable faith. Jim was a gift…
Always a gentleman, always an encourager, always a beloved brother In Christ. Can’t wait to see him again!
Hi Bill, I am Jim’s daughter Kate. I talked to my Dad if not everyday to every other day. Ha! He and I knew what we were doing through out the day and I loved that! Always made me feel like I had him right next to me(I live in MO). There is a song called “The Good Ones”, when it came on the radio I thought “ this has to be played for my parents”…it is so true…so about them! I know my Mom will miss him with her whole heart, she will love him forever and she treasures every minute she had with him.
I was able to come to AZ along with my siblings to see my Dad. How thankful I am for those days. I am so at peace to know that my Dad is healthy, happy and is looking down at me and watching over all of us. I know I will see him again, reading your words were perfect.
He is and will always be my Sweetest of Sweet Dad and I am so glad he knew that EVERYDAY!
❤️~Kate
Bill, thank you for the tribute to our “219” brother. Jim was a kind, soft spoken man with frequent words of encouragement.
He and Kerry were a great example of marriage. Even as he laid dying, his eyes looked to his bride in love. They expressed an intimacy between them that I have rarely seen.
Our friendship was a newer one but Denny and I treasure Jim and Kerry and their part in the “219’s”