The Character of a Family

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Our daughter Becky visited with Lenora on Christmas, she spend several days with us and was able to visit with her grandmother. Becky lives in Hutchenson Kansas and has to travel to Kansas City to fly out, then come to Columbus then to Portsmouth. Becky wanted to come back for the funeral, but her mother and I felt it was best for us, with the weather and time schedule and the pressure of getting her back to the airport, etc. that she would just remember the good time she had with Lenora at Christmas. The imortant thing I believe is she was able to visit with Lenora when she was alive.

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If I had the ability to sum up the experience of losing a loved one who has died, and the reaction of the family in the process, and how the extended family and community reacted would be a wonder

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The Senior Member of this family is Bob Temple, Sr. He is the root and the rock of the Temple clan. When I started Seminary in 1966 Bob had just finished Seminary in 1966. Then in 1969 I married his daughter Charity. So for 38 years I have been in the family.

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From our perspective of living life, it is to be lived as a believer in Jesus Christ, and as much as Christ would live. This is called being a Christian. One who lives, breaths, acts, and obeys the Lord Jesus Christ. The focus that we want others to see in us, is a love for the Lord in all we do. We are not all about going to Sunday School and Worship Services on Sunday, Sunday Night and Wednesday Nights. To us its about 24/7 full time Christ-like living.

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It’s always been about "growing in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." It’s always been "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." For Bob it’s been about family, and it’s been about ministry of preaching, and it’s been about shepherding those whom the Lord has given him.

For Bob he would take the family to Philippians 4, and he would have Charity to read verses four to 8.

• Rejoice in the Lord always;, and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing (don’t worry about anything) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things." In the KJV version always for over forty years.

If I am correct, Lenora was at the side of Bob for fifty-five years. Charity and I were in ministry away from Portsmouth for over thirty years. In the thirty-five years they had Mex-Itali and the years they were at Victory Baptist, Portsmouth Baptist, they both were side by side. I have not seen or heard anything about them that would suggest that they have wavered from their love for Christ, family and ministry.

So how are they going to respond in a death of a loved one? Just like they have lived in the past fifty-five years. To the glory of the Lord. You are going to react today in the manner that you have become over the time of your life.

The Temple clan, the Lemaster clan, the Sonner clan, the Mucha clan, the Whisnant clan, the Gullette clan, seems to be a strong lineage. And they were together when Lenora passed away last week.

Posted by Charles E. Whisnant, proof read by Charity Whisnant Jan 14, 2008

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