Letters From Grandpa #326

LETTERS FROM GRANDPA

• 326

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will deal with overcoming trouble. While everyone is different we can still be absolutely certain that everyone will at some point in time be facing trouble. In fact “Man is born to trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Job said: “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Yes! God will allow Satan to trouble you as He did Job, but will never allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13). Those who “overcome” trouble are promised a reward. Job overcame and was given a reward (Job 42:12-15). We can too!

Trouble even comes to people in the church. In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are seven letters to seven churches in Asia. Every church had troubles, and every letter had promises to the “overcomer”.

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The overcomer at Ephesus would have the right to eat from the tree of life (2:7). •

The overcomer in Smyrna would not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 2:11). •

The overcomer in Pergamum would receive hidden manna (2:17).

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The overcomer in Thyatira would be given authority over the nations (2:26).

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The overcomer in Sardis would not have his name blotted out of the book of life (3:5). •

The overcomer in Philadelphia would become a pillar in the church of God (3:11). •

The overcomer in Laodicea would have the right to sit with Jesus on His throne (3:21). •

YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE THESE PEOPLE DID, BUT YOU TOO CAN BE AN OVERCOMER!

The late Charlie Boswell provides an inspirational example of overcoming trouble. Charlie was born in Birmingham, AL Dec. 22, 1916. He was an athletic young man and lettered in three sports at Ensley High School. In 1936 he earned a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. In 1937 he was the captain of Alabama’s Rose Bowl football team. That same year he was drafted and sent to OCS at Ft. Benning, GA. He became a captain in the infantry and served in Germany during W.W. II. During the Battle of the Bulge he rushed to save a comrade from a burning tank near the town of Lindern. The tank exploded in his face and left him permanently blind.

Instead of giving up, however, Boswell decided to overcome his handicap. At the Valley Forge General Hospital in Philadelphia, PA., under the instruction of Cpl. Kenny Gleason, he decided to take up golf. After countless hours of hard work he developed the skill to accurately hit that little golf ball he could not see. To zero in on a putt he would have his caddie rattle the pin in the cup, then forming a mental picture of the green he could sink the putt. In spite of being blind he could still shoot par. After shooting 81 at his home town golf course they renamed it after him. In 1946 he placed second at the National Blind Golf Championship in Inglewood, CA. The next year he won the championship at the Northland Country Club in Duluth, Minn. During his career in golf he won 16 golf championships.

After leaving the army Charlie founded and served as president of the Boswell Insurance Agency for 40 years. He also served as first chair of the board of the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation from 1990-1995. Among many other honors and achievements he also founded and chaired the Charlie Boswell Celebrity Golf Classic for 15 years.

The late Wayne Smith told an interesting story about a golf match between Charlie and the legendary Jack Nicholas. Jack came to Birmingham to raise money for a Boy’s Ranch and personally wrote a $5,000 check to that charity. At a banquet that evening Charlie challenged him to a 9 hole

match. The loser would contribute $5,000 to the charity. Charlie refused to accept a handicap from the famous golfer, but did insist that they play the game at night. The Birmingham newspaper featured a full length picture of Nicholas writing out his second check for $5,000. Nicholas described the event as “The Most Exciting Moment of My Life”. He said the reason for his excitement was that he had been beaten by a man who refused to let fear control his life. Charlie died Oct. 22, 1995 at the age of 78. He has left behind a lasting legacy, however, to everyone who needs courage to overcome a handicap.

The late Jim Rutherford Sr. once preached a message titled: “If I were the Devil”. In that sermon he asked the audience to consider the one arrow in Satan’s quiver that is the most deadly. If the Devil had only one temptation to send your way, what would it be? While there are many deadly sins, perhaps the most deadly of them all is discouragement. One reason discouragement is so deadly is that it doesn’t even seem to be a sin. It approaches us quietly like a friend. It agrees with every negative thought that enters our mind. Discouragement put’s its arm around our shoulder and whispers that you have been forgotten by God. Remember! Satan is a liar and the father of lies! He will try to convince you that it is all over and that there is no more use in trying. He wants you to believe that your last hope is gone and it is time to toss in the towel and quit. Since it’s all over anyhow, you might as well take that drink. Since nobody cares what difference does it make if you commit adultery. Since you are already doomed why not quit trying and float down stream like everybody else. This is precisely what the Devil did to Judas Iscariot. Please don’t let him do it to you!

Jesus said: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). If you will stick with Jesus, you too can overcome the world!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce