Jim McGuiggan went home yesterday. Not home to his daughter Linda’s (where he had lived quite comfortably for many years in the basement or as he told me his son-in-law told him, “The first floor”). No, he went home to His Father! We can only imagine how glorious that was and is.
I’ve been in Jim’s orbit for almost half a century. In 1979, Janice and I were part of the AIM program at what was then the Sunset School of Preaching (now Sunset International Biblical Institute). He taught our “Life of Christ” class both semesters.
But even before we went to Sunset, I knew of him through his books and his tapes. I can’t remember the first book of his that I bought (maybe The Kingdom of God and the Planet Earth), but I bought everything he had out and would continue to do so over the years. Also, I had a cassette of a message he gave somewhere called, “God on His Knees.” This would later become the basis for The God of the Towel. Jim was down to earth in his writing and dynamic in his speaking. He always challenged me and brought me closer to God. No one has influenced my understanding of God, Scripture, and Christ more than he has.
I remember when we were at Sunset, I gave him a copy of something I had written (really it was just a smattering of something). Somehow, he managed to find something redeeming to say about it and told me to keep writing. Over the years, we exchanged letters, then emails. Most of the time I was looking for help with a text or a subject, but in the latter years of his life I had the opportunity to help him out with a couple of things. It brought me great joy to be able to give back just a tiny bit to someone who had given me so much.
I’ve been extraordinarily blessed in my life by two special men. One was from Ireland and the other is from South Africa. I called him this morning and told him just that. I then shared that Jim had been called home and it was a good thing due to the circumstances. My South African friend in his nineties, so I hold no illusions about the time we have remaining.
But it just became even more precious.
Jim McGuiggan, called home to the Father. I can just see him and Ethel smiling, can’t you?
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 