Kingdom People Doing Kingdom Things

I don't know how long I've been saying something to the effect that "it is all about kingdom people doing kingdom things." Long enough that when my adult children are in a room where I'm speaking, they seem to anticipate the phrase before I do. But I'm not embarrassed by that - it truly is all about kingdom people doing kingdom things.

Just as I was handing out our first test in Biblical Interpretation on Monday of this week, I got a message that, despite my tendency to ignore the iPhone while in class, I checked. It was from a former student, Laurie Wardle, telling me that earlier Monday morning, another former student, Scott Gamel, had unexpected died of a massive heart attack. (Somehow I think Scott might have chuckled a bit when he realized that he had just interrupted my Interp test!)

Today I've been looking at Facebook with an uncommon interest in what people are posting. Lots and lots of Scott's friends have posted sweet notes about Scott's life and notes wanting Vicki and the six sons they brought into this world to know that prayers are being offered in their behalf. When moments like this come barging into our lives, one thing we know for sure is that the body of Christ knows that it is time for us to get on our knees. There's comfort in that thought all by itself.

Scott was at Point (then ACC, but Scott loved the college and supported its ministry and on his FB page you see "Point University") during a time when there were lots of great young men who would marry equally great (or greater - smart boys marry up) young women who have truly become kingdom people doing kingdom things. I'm thinking right now about posts I've seen from people like Buck and Laurie Wardle, Mike Thompson, Chris Rollins, and lots and lots of other people who are stunned by the untimely loss of such a great kingdom worker. Seeing what they are writing reminds me of what a blessed life I have had to have been a part of their lives at some level.

Scott was a model of what I hope Point continues to produce - both in ministry degree programs and other degree programs where students may not have vocational ministry in mind, but understand that when all is said and done, we're all ministers. He believed it was all about Jesus. Period. No more. No less. He refused to let the gospel, anchored in Jesus and oozing grace, be encumbered by the nonsense of legalism, tradition, and the rest of that stuff that keeps us from transforming the world. Despite his die-hard Alabama Roll Tide view of life, I think he actually thought it was possible for Auburn fans to go to heaven - but only by the grace of God! Young guys like Scott, Buck, and Chris - and lots of others - have established kingdom outposts in very different places in the United States - but somehow with the same message: Jesus. Period. No more. No less.

It's so rewarding from my vantage point in life to see them post on Facebook about their churches and ministries, their families, their kingdom outlooks, and life in general. The occasional email or response to some blog I've written more than makes the day. It's hard for me to imagine why God would bless me with the opportunity to have been a part of the lives of young Christians like this - but I'm incredibly thankful He has.

I've been thinking about Scott - and Vicki and their sons, their church family, all their family and friends from all around all day. I can't help but think of a little verse from Jeremy Camp's Give Me Jesus.

When I come to die
When I come to die
Oh, when I come to die
Give me Jesus

It wouldn't surprise me if Scott loved that song as I do. But even if he never heard of it - it was his song.

Thank God for Scott Gamel - a kingdom person who did kingdom things!