On Borrowed Time: Stories of Unlikely Survivors and the Grace That Conquers All

There are so many of us living in pain when we needn’t be. There is only one place we can find peace. This moving book reaffirms that no matter what your past scars are—abuse, addiction, or health issues—God’s providence and grace are sufficient. The victory has been won so act with a sense of urgency and claim your peace today!

-TRACEY C. JONES

of Tremendous Leadership

"On Borrowed Time is filled with wonderful stories of broken lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ and put to use for His glory. This book will challenge all of us once broken now transformed people to use the time and opportunities we’ve been given to make a difference for Christ in the lives of others. Time is a treasure, and we never know how much of it we have. Use it wisely!"

-TERRY SMITH

District Superintendent of the Eastern Pennsylvania District

of the Christian & Missionary Alliance

Tricia pulls no punches as she does not hide the fact that life can be extremely rough, sometimes because of our own bad choices, and sometimes not. But through the pain, anguish, and confusion, somehow God’s grace and compassion break through and come to the rescue. Let me encourage you to look and see in these pages how, no matter what you are going through, God can make something beautiful of your life.

-MICHAEL DI GIACOMO, PH.D

Professor of history and theology at University of Valley Forge

On Borrowed Time

Stories of Unlikely Survivors and the Grace That Conquers All

© 2016 by Tricia Kline

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-62020-564-8

eISBN: 978-1-62020-495-5

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture marked NIV taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture marked KJV taken from the KING JAMES VERSION, the Authorized Version.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Cover Design & Typesetting by Hannah Nichols

Ebook Conversion by Anna Riebe Raats

Photography by Justin Kline

Photo of Jerry T. by Scotty Hougham

Author Photo by Charles Pursell

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Credit must first and foremost go to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Anything good that comes from this project is because of Him. He is my inspiration—the reason why I write. I am so thankful for the salvation He provides, for His direction and provision, the sanctifying work of His Holy Spirit, and for the promise of eternal life in heaven with Him.

Justin: I am blessed to be your wife. Thank you for your steadfast support and for keeping me grounded when I start to feel discouraged or frustrated. Thanks for being my provider, protector, best friend, and love of my life! I love growing in faith with you.

Charles and Kathleen Pursell (Mom and Dad): Thank you for your examples of faithfulness to the Lord, for leading me to Him, and for always being there for me, praying for me, and supporting me in my endeavors. May God bless you always.

Pastors Rich Earl, Rick Shell, and Terry Smith—thank you for offering suggestions, resources, and encouragement.

Thank you to Ambassador International for taking this project to publication, and to the friends and family members who encouraged me throughout the research, interviewing, and writing process.

And last but not least, to each individual who agreed to be interviewed and to share their stories: I am honored to call each of you friends. You have taught me invaluable lessons on how to make the most of every moment and to realize that we’re all really living on borrowed time that requires an intentional focus every day.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Endorsements

Title Page

Copyright Information

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1

Faith

Buying Time

Chapter 2

Jerry C.

A Jar of Marbles

Chapter 3

Jimmie

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Chapter 4

Jerry T.

Quitting’s Not an Option

Chapter 5

Jeri

A Reason for This Season (of Life)

Chapter 6

Shane

God’s Not Slow

Chapter 7

Bill

It All Belongs to God

Chapter 8

Susan

Today is the Day

References

Contact Information

INTRODUCTION

I ARRIVED AT THE SCENE of a one-vehicle crash not long after it happened. With my reporter’s tablet, pen, and camera in hand, I exited my car and crossed the highway to join police and other emergency responders by the side of the road. I was just in time to watch a body bag being carried from the scene. Together, we looked down the small hill to a mangled pickup, its driver’s side door torn from its hinges and lying fifty feet away.

The man inside never stood a chance.

Over the years, my career as a journalist landed me in a number of horrifying spot news locations that I will never forget: shootings, blazing buildings with bodies inside, car crashes that claimed lives that just minutes before were vibrant and hopeful—all leaving unprepared loved ones in shocked grief and uncontrollable tears. And it made me think that could have been me or that could have been someone I knew and loved.

What if it were?

As this generation gets tossed to and fro by all the noise, diversions, and full, rapid-moving schedules we create for ourselves, we seem to have grown numb to the gravity of each tick of the clock, to the fact that our lives are so short, and that none of us are promised tomorrow.

After graduating high school, I began working in the newsroom of my local newspaper. One of my main duties was writing the obituaries. Jokingly nicknamed the angel of death by coworkers, I was required to write about people I had never met—reducing their entire lives to a single column that would be laminated or tucked away in a scrapbook by surviving friends and relatives to forever remember them by. I compiled hundreds of them—people of all ages, of varied backgrounds, families, and hobbies.

Each obituary reminded me of the unpredictability and shortness of life, and at times I wondered what my own obituary would say when my time came. What would I be remembered for—what would be my legacy?

Fortunately, I had one thing these people didn’t: Time. Time to change, time to accomplish, time to forgive, time to set aside petty disagreements and genuinely love those around me.

If you’re reading this, you still have time to do the same. Don’t let another moment pass you by without being conscious of a greater purpose, the need to have a better attitude, the importance of connecting with others in a deeper way.

Of laughing, crying, striving . . . living.

On my way home a few years ago from covering a township meeting for a local newspaper, a song sung by contemporary Christian music singer Jason Gray caught my attention. Titled Good to Be Alive, the lyrics spoke of making the most of every moment and living a life of love as though we’re on borrowed minutes and seconds.

Do you want to live like that? What does a life like that look like, anyway? In this moment, do you even feel as though it’s good to be alive?

I sincerely believe everyone can use a wake-up call to daily move us in that direction, and I hope this book accomplishes that for you through the true stories of near death and the truth of the Word of God that spurs us all toward living life to the fullest—which is what we were created for.

~ Tricia Kline

CHAPTER 1

ISAIAH LED HIS YOUNG SON by the hand as they approached the aqueduct of the Upper Pool outside of Jerusalem. God told him he would find Ahaz here.

Knowing the armies of newly allied Israel and Aram were on their way, the king of Judah and his men were checking the water supply and taking the necessary measures to protect it against the enemy siege that was threatening the capital city. They had to act quickly. A report had come to the king that the Arameans had reached Ephraim, just above the territory of Benjamin where the people of Judah had access to the international western coastal highway. And it was only a few miles from the capital of Jerusalem.

Throughout the land of Judah, the armies had already pillaged towns, taken hundreds of thousands captive, and killed many more. The army of Israel slew 120,000 of Judah’s people in one day. Now, they were plotting and ready to take over the capital, divide it, and appoint a new king in Jerusalem.

Once enemies, the kings of Aram and Israel decided to join forces against their common enemy: the growing eastern empire of Assyria and its merciless, powerful, well-resourced military. The Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pileser III, bragged openly about his abilities to conquer and demand allegiance of every nation his armies approached. The leaders of Aram and Israel knew they only stood a chance of withstanding him if the kingdom of Judah, to their south, would join their coalition.

If Judah caved to Assyria, Aram and Israel would be geographically situated in the middle of two hostile forces, and that would mean ultimate doom for their kingdoms. Desperate for Judah’s cooperation, they marched toward Judah with the intent of forcing Judah’s king, Ahaz, to join them. Ahaz had already resisted their request to join their confederacy. This time, they wouldn’t ask.

Ahaz was clearly a threat. His pro-Assyrian political leaning was in stark contrast to his forefathers’ strong stances against any type of alliance with that empire.

Not only did he not share his fathers’ politics, Ahaz quite obviously did not share the Israelites’ strong faith in God—Yahweh. Now, with Judah being threatened on every side, Ahaz was not about to start trusting the God of his fathers, especially not as he watched Assyria conquering nations right and left. They did not serve Yahweh, yet were building a strong empire. But little Judah was being attacked at every angle, and it was all but in a position to fall if action wasn’t taken soon.

Not only were the Aramean and Israelite armies approaching from the north with their own agenda for Judah, but the Ammonites to the west, who had paid tribute to Judah during the reigns of former kings, were now asserting their independence again. The Edomites were attacking again and carrying away some of Judah’s people. The Philistines were invading too. Fear had gripped the heart of King Ahaz and the people of Judah.

But now, Isaiah was coming with news of his own. Good news. God told him to take his son along to deliver the message. The meaning of Shear-jashub’s name, a remnant shall return, and the boy’s presence during the message’s delivery would underline the promise that God had told Isaiah to relay to Ahaz: Aram and Israel would not succeed in taking over Jerusalem. Their kingdoms were about to be crushed. Judah would be spared. God was sovereign. These kings were only mere men. Be calm, don’t fear. Trust God.

But would Ahaz listen? Would he believe it? Would he trust? Ahaz’s short but utterly blasphemous reign thus far gave Isaiah his answer.

The losses already suffered at the hands of Aram and Israel was God’s judgment on Judah for their abominable practices exemplified by their king himself—making Baal images, burning incense to foreign gods, and even sacrificing their children in a detestable ritual to Molech, the Ammonite god. Altars to gods worshipped in neighboring nations were erected on high places throughout the land of Judah, making it clear that the faith of Ahaz’s fathers—those who had succeeded King David on the throne—had been utterly forsaken. The Lord—the one, true God—wanted to get their attention. But Ahaz had turned from Him.

The people followed his lead.

God told Isaiah that despite the prophet taking His words to the people of Judah, they would not listen, and punishment would come again. Eventually, the kingdom of Judah would fall because of their unrepentant hearts and wicked idolatry. Yet knowing God’s promise of a remnant to reestablish the kingdom, he remained faithful to share the word of the Lord. The passion inside him to share God’s Word with the people—it was the same passion that burned within him when God first called him.

Whom shall I send? he heard God ask.

Here am I, Isaiah answered. Send me.

God would be glorified. His purpose would remain. And the evil practices of Ahaz and its destructive effect on the people of Judah would come to an end.

As he monitored the end of the conduit of the Upper Pool outside of Jerusalem, Ahaz saw Isaiah approaching. The prophet had his son in tow. What was his name? Shear-jashub. The boy’s name meant A remnant shall return . . .

Was that supposed to mean the prophet was coming with some message of hope?

Too little, too late, Ahaz murmured. Your God is useless.

Take care and be calm, Isaiah said to the king. Have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands . . . The evil plan of the kings of Aram and Israel would not succeed, he explained. Thus says the Lord God: ‘It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass.’ And then, the prophet warned him, If you will not believe, you surely shall not last.

Ahaz stood quietly as Isaiah continued, obviously in an attempt to get the king to embrace this newly revealed promise.

Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven, Isaiah urged.

The idea had no appeal to Ahaz. He already had a plan he knew would help to pull his nation out of the pit it was in. He looked at Isaiah and, feigning piety to cover the fact he had already made up his mind to handle the situation his own way, he proudly said, I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!

But Isaiah saw through his response and sharply rebuked his unbelief. Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?

Though Ahaz refused to believe the promise, the promise would still be fulfilled, Isaiah said, for the sake of the few righteous still left in Judah. In just a short while, the kingdoms of Israel and Aram would fall. But Ahaz would face only turmoil from the very place he turned for help.

Ahaz quickly began putting his plan into motion. He sent messengers to Assyria, to beg King Tiglath-Pileser for help. "I am your servant and your son," the letter read. Come up and deliver me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.

Along with the letter, Ahaz took silver and gold from the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as treasures from the royal palace, as payment for the king’s assistance. The act, in one fell swoop, destroyed Judah’s long-held independence and reliance on God. But it accomplished Ahaz’s immediate goal. Tiglath-Pileser did just as he asked.

The Assyrians invaded and captured Damascus with their superior military, exiled the people of Aram, and killed the king, Rezin.

While Tiglath-Pileser was still in Damascus, Ahaz traveled to meet him there to pledge Judah’s vassalage to Assyria. Always seeking to align himself with the strongest and most powerful, Ahaz became intrigued by an altar constructed in the city. Aram had been successful in conquering many regions of Judah.

Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me, Ahaz reasoned.

He immediately had a detailed sketch drawn up of the altar and sent to Urijah, the priest in Jerusalem, along with instructions to build one just like it. The priest complied, and the altar was erected in time for Ahaz’s return. Upon seeing the altar, Ahaz wasted no time in presenting offerings on it. He also had the bronze altar from the Temple removed and placed on the north side of this new altar.

Ahaz used it