HONESTLY, who wouldn’t want to be known as a “man, or woman, of their word?” It is one of the highest forms of honor to be known as a person of your word.
This past week a dear brother, Bruce Rinkert, passed away. Bruce was a man of his word. Or maybe it is better written, Bruce was a man of His Word. From the time I met Bruce, more than 30 years ago, I have only known him to be a man who loved the Lord, and loved the Lord’s Word. Bruce was the first “real live Gideon” I ever met. I had heard about those faithful men who passed out Bibles and who made sure hotel bed stands contained a copy of the Holy Word, but Bruce was the first I had the pleasure to met face-to-face.
Bruce loved to not only make sure the Word of God got “placed,” but that the Word of God got shared as well. You could not have been in Bruce’s presence long before he was lovingly sharing of the love of God. Whether it was to the youth at the detention facility on Graham Hill Road, or at a restaurant, or in his own hospital room, he lived to tell the old, old story, in the newness of every moment.
Bruce’s life, as of late, was not an easy one. But to spend time with him was not to hear of his troubles, but to hear him ask about your life, and the members of your family. Bruce cared, and Bruce prayed. Like Moses, if you took time to notice, you could see that he had been to the Mountain of the Lord. Even in the aged brokenness of his body, the radiance of God shown.
I shall miss Bruce. His stories, his concern, his love for God, his prayers. I am thankful to have known Bruce, a man of His Word. Oh, that we would all continue his legacy.