Jim Didn’t Quit!

I first knew Jim Hollars as a seminary student in my urban evangelism practicum. We became good friends due to common interests. He was a walking baseball encyclopedia and a serious runner. I followed his career as a church planter in Ohio until he developed Parkinson’s disease and took early retirement back to Fort Worth. But Jim didn’t quit. He became Chaplain of the Fort Worth Cats minor league baseball team and invited me to assist him. When his voice faded he still didn’t quit but began to write. Two books were produced plus a most interesting blog. Recently Jim’s challenges (which he called opportunities) increased. Surgery on his neck was followed by a fall, resulting in emergency surgery followed by a stay in the intensive care unit. On Saturday, March 15, Jim’s race ended. Cause of death – aspiration pneumonia – God’s way of taking folks home who refuse to quit the race. Jim ran an outstanding race and he finished the course without quitting. Jim’s life verse was, “I run in the path of your commands, for You have set my heart free” (Ps. 119:32). Heaven is now even more special because Jim Hollars is there. Do yourself a favor and go to www.didntquit.com. It’s the best first-person commentary on suffering and faith I’ve ever read.