I had been to Jim Rittenhouse's house when I was little with my parents, but I don't think I met him again until 2002. My Dad and I went to the hospital because Jim and his wife Grace had been in a car accident. Jim was ok, but Grace was hurt. Jim was driving with his wife to his side, and Jim accidently pulled out in front of a fast moving semi truck. What I remember most about that day was Jim's attitude and how he was reacting to the situation. He knew that it was something that happened for a reason, and that God allowed that to happen for a purpose. I remember that I was going through a tough time, and I had a lot of questions, and while in the waiting room, Jim took the time to talk to me, and help me. Grace soon died in the hospital. Jim and Grace had been married for 62 years.
Months later I was also in a serious car accident, and it happened because I accidently pulled out in front of a fast moving suburban. That was really difficult for me, because I caused the accident. But soon I could see God in the middle of that situation, and how it happened for a reason, and one of the reasons is that God wanted to use that situation to help me. In my life, it is the difficult times when I turn to God. One thing in common between my accident and Jim & Grace's accident is that God wanted us to trust him with the situation, and know that He is in control.

When I was attending college at MidAmerica in Olathe, I had a history class, and one of the requirements was to do an oral interview with someone. I asked Jim, and I think I really surprised him, since we really didn't know each other. I told him if he wanted to do the interview, I would come to his house, and we could sit down together, and I would have a list of questions for him. And I would also have a voice recorder, so I could get it all on tape. And when we were finished, it would be typed out on a computer, and then put on an internet site that is run by the university. I can't remember if he said yes immediately, but I soon got a letter in the mail from him, and he said that he wanted to do the interview, and that it was an answer to his prayer. He also said he wanted to speak about God, and what God has done in his life. The interview was done on November 28, 2003 in his home. Jim was confident that God would help us to talk, and when I read the interview again, I can see Gods hands in it, and I think God told Jim exactly what to say. Here is a little bit from the interview:

My questions to Jim: "Jim, can you think of somebody that has really influenced your life?"

Jim's response: "You bet. That minister that preached that message about God's grace did me a favor. After that period of time I worshipped with a modern version of the church. Where, born again, Spirit filled, ministry of the Spirit and things of that kind were never even mentioned. It was more or less just a fellowship of people who felt that Christian faith was more involved in a person to person, you know. While we called it a social gospel, Tim, I followed it a long for about 30 years. I kept wondering a long time as I went along through that, how about Christ's sacrifice at Calvary's Cross?; how does it come that we are talking about personal relationships all the time and nobody was saying much about what Jesus did for Calvary? I really got confused about that and finally, the time came when I told the Lord I have to get this question resolved. I said "I don't believe I was saved because I have been good to somebody." I think I have been saved because Christ was good to me when He went to Calvary's cross. And so, I decided I was going to find the answer to that before I went any further. I was so confused about faith or works, I guess that is the way you could put it. So, I started a prayer time of my own, and a Bible study time of my own. Then, the Lord sent three men into my life that I can remember that were definately an influence in my life. I don't want to forget my wife, Gracie. She was a blessing to me all the way along. We just kind of helped each other, you know, grow in the Lord. She was just a real wonderful blessing to me. And, by the way, Tim, I want to mention to you and I know you are young like I was, about the same age. And one of the most wonderful blessings you can ever have in your life is a wife that loves the Lord like you do."

The interview lasted about an hour, and I was really glad with how it went. Then came the time to type the interview, and my Grandma Essie helped me. I would rewind, play, and pause the tape, and she did the typing. It took quite a while, but finally the interview was written out, and more than 12 pages long. I am really glad that I was given that assignment, because I think a lot of good came out of it.

Jim recently died, but I am happy for Jim, because I know that he was ready, and he was very excited about going to Heaven. Really I wish for what Jim has, and that God does something in my heart similar to what He did in Jim's heart.