| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9630 Registered: 12-2003  |
I just received an email from the son of Thomas Francis who has been a member of this forum for years. Every year Thomas wrote an article for the Easter edition of Proclamation. Richard was just designing Thom's article for this year's issue when I got an email from his son. Thom, who suffered complications from diabetes over the past ten years, died last Thursday. It's so very sad--Thom has been a great blessing to me. But it's also fitting that his bio will be his son's words about his going home to be with the Lord along with his article entitled, "No Fear in the Resurrection Life". I will miss Thom, and I am praying for his family. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6740 Registered: 3-2004  |
Thom was one of the first people to greet me on this forum. I liked reading what he wrote. I will miss him even though I know where he is now. It is a much better place to be with God. Diana L (Message edited by Flyinglady on April 06, 2009) | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 562 Registered: 10-2006 |
Colleen, Thanks for letting us know. Thom is now in the presence of Jesus! God sure used him here. I bet he's hearing the words, "Well done good and faithful servant." I'm praying for his family, friends and every life he touched that the Holy Spirit will be near to them and hold them them close and comfort them as they continue without him here. Please tell his son and family that he was loved and will be missed on the forum. I, too would like to send a card. Should they be sent to LAM and forwarded or is another address more appropriate? How exciting that Thom will be celebrating the resurrection in the presence of Jesus! The very thing he was writing about is living reality for him! | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 471 Registered: 5-2004 |
Thomas was one of the first to offer advice about my fears when I first came to this forum almost exactly five years ago. I've printed out his words about keeping my focus on Jesus, and they have been in the cover of my Bible since. Along with my tears of sadness for his family, I'm filled with joy knowing that this year he celebrates Easter in the prescence of the One he loves so dearly. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9631 Registered: 12-2003 |
I really don't have a good way to manage cards. What I'll do is to email his son and give him a link to this thread. I think this will be meaningful to him. Thomas was a wonderful person with mature Christian insight and a tangible passion for Jesus. I admired him. Colleen | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 424 Registered: 1-2006  |
I look forward to meeting Thomas. Better days are coming! Bob | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 215 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thomas wrote a post on August 5, 2003 that gave me such comfort and help as I was preparing to leave the Adventist church almost 6 years ago. I will never forget it. I have copied and pasted it here. The prayer he wrote is amazing. **************************** August 5, 2003 Colleen, I so agree with you. I remember in my life, I coldn't begin to understand so much of the Bible. It kept getting filtered through EGW, even after I no longer had anything to do with the SDA church. After all, the "truth" that I had learned as a child and young adult, learned from my father and mother, from the only people I had ever known and respected, was the "truth" from an Adventist prespective. From this viewpoint, it was impossible to know the real 'truth". I wrote a prayer that I physically taped into the front cover of every Bible that I own. Before I read the word, I would sincerely pray, Lord Jesus, You are God. There is no other. You are Lord of my life. You promised that Your spirit would teach us and lead us into ALL truth. Show me the truth as it is. Not the way I think it is, have been taught it is, or wish it were. Lead me into your ways as they are, not the way I want them to be. Fill me with Your spirit and help me to trust You and love You more and more, each day. THANK YOU! Amen. It was only when I prayed to be taught real "Truth" and prayed to be led from the 'Truth" I had always believed, that I was able to be open to the Holy Spirit and His guidance. Sincerely praying that prayer was the hardest thing I have ever done. It meant turning my back on everything I had ever believed or had been taught was right. It meant going in a different direction than the direction of my dead father (the one whom I most admire and love of anyone alive or dead, in my personal life ,except Jesus)family and friends. What I gained was Jesus! Only Jesus. I have been asked so manuy times by SDA's, "How could you leave the sabbath?" or "How could you deny the 'spirit of prophecy'?" To this day, no SDA has ever asked me "Do you still love Jesus?" In a protracted discussion with one dear family member, I was told "for me, the law is all there is." I responded, "for me, the resurrected Savior who went to the cross for ME, is all their is." Her response was "Well, that too!" Need more be said? As Paul said, I glory in the Cross and only the cross". Take the world, but give me JESUS! In him, I am the winner! <>< Thomas | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6746 Registered: 3-2004 |
Leigh, Thank you for copying that post from Thomas. Now that he is with God, we still have his encouraging words with us. Thank you awesome God. Diana L | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 822 Registered: 11-2007  |
That is an amazing post. It's so awesome to see how God is faithful to His promises of His Spirit for those who ask. Thomas is having the best Easter of his existence! =) Sondra | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 1838 Registered: 10-2002  |
Thank You, God, for Thomas. Thank You for holding him safe by Your side now. We can't wait to meet him again as we stand next to him gazing into Your face. Thank You, Lord, for everything You have done for us, and for everything You are. Thomas, see you soon. In Jesus' name, amen. Your bro, Ramone | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1643 Registered: 4-2000  |
Thomas always expressed a deep love for Jesus. I sensed his godliness in every post in spite of his intense physical suffering. Truly, our great and caring God will make up to him for every burden, heartache, and pain he endured throughout his life. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 2673 Registered: 10-2004  |
I remember Thomas from when he was a regular poster, especially during my early days on the forum. He will be missed. It's hard to believe that he is gone (though, of course, he's not really). Praying for his family, Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on April 07, 2009) | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 567 Registered: 10-2006 |
What a gift Thomas left us in that post. His heart for Jesus is so evident. I pray that this post that you shared Leigh will bless his family. That prayer is going in the front of my Bible, too. I bet he is having the time of his life seeing loved ones who have gone before and most importantly his Savior and Lord. Many prayers are ascending for his family and loved ones. Joyfulheart |
