At church yesterday morning we learned that Dr. Walter Fremont had passed away earlier that morning. In December he and his family celebrated 20 years of his survival after being diagnosed with ALS - Lou Gehrig’s disease in December 1986. He has to be among those who have lived the longest with this horrible disease. And it wasn’t even the ALS that caused his death - it was internal bleeding!

Dr. Fremont’s influence on me as a student in several of his classes was huge, much greater than I realized at the time. His love for the Lord and for people and his enthusiasm for life and service were evident to all his students and left a mark on us all. If he had not encouraged us to go visit the displays at the Principals’ Conference on campus my senior year, I would probably not be a teacher now. And now as I teach I feel greater freedom just to be myself because of his example. I remember his standing on his desk and doing many other zany things to get or keep our attention or to get his points across.

In my summer work as an IT tech, I worked on his computer this past summer at Barge Hospital on campus. Even with his severe limitations, he was cheerful and encouraging as always. He even used his only finger and thumb that he could still move to give his repaired computer a command to tell me thanks, praise the Lord, and have a great day!

Furthermore my wife and I counted his daughter Elaine Fremont as a good friend and were shocked and saddened by her sudden death in an automobile accident in the mid 90s. Like her dad, her life was about others rather than self. I have a page on my site about a holiday she invented - Bonza Bottler Day. You can read about it and find the link there to the official page her family has put up about the holiday. My page is http://ivman.com/bonza.html

I’m sure Dr. Fremont and Elaine are enjoying a grand reunion after over 10 years of separation.

For those interested - the visitation will be this evening (Monday) from 6:30-8:30 in the War Memorial Chapel on the campus of BJU and the funeral service will be Tuesday evening at 7:00 at Hampton Park Baptist Church here in Greenville.

As I reflected on Dr. Fremont’s impact on my life, I thought I’d send a special iv early this week to honor him and the way he touched lives.

***
Do famous and powerful people wear sunglasses because the spotlights blind them to reality? Maybe they suffer from a delusion that earthly power means something. (It doesn’t.) Some may suffer from the misconception that titles make them special. (They don’t.) Others have the impression that temporal authority always makes an eternal difference. (It doesn’t always.)

To prove the point, take this quiz:

1. Name the ten wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name five people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. How about the last decade’s worth of World Series winners?

How did you do? I won’t tell you how poorly I did. I think most people don’t do very well on it. With the exception of you trivia hounds, most of us don’t remember the headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we forget such “important” things, isn’t it? And those categories mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are purportedly the best in their fields. However, the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
2. Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile.
3. Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time.
4. List several teachers who have aided your journey through school.
5. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier? It was for me, too. The lesson? The people who make a difference are often not the ones with this world’s acclaim, but the ones whose lives truly touch other lives.

***
This is Rob again…
Some of you have had profound influences on my life (and I thank you for it), and some of you have been influenced by mine. (I hope it’s been for the good.) Our life touches other lives, for good or for ill. Let’s all keep trying to have a positive influence on the lives we touch. Things are temporal … people are forever.

quotation…

“Do I see my world as a tourist or as a missionary? Do I just admire the beauty of the attainments or do I see the bondage and death?” - Dr. Drew Conley

=^..^= =^..^=
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

Teachers live forever in the hearts they touch.