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We received this e-mail from Karen,
John (Kratos) McManus' wife,
today, August 24.
Hello Brother,
Just wanted you to know that John, my sweetheart went to Heaven on August 21st. We had a wonderful service yesterday and the Lord was with us...now I am seeking His will for our son and myself to know how to live until we are all together again. Thanks for all of your prayers and support with John in the past.
Love in Christ, Karen
We would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to reflect on John.
John was a Jesus man, by that I mean life centered in obedience to Jesus. A great deal of how I perceived John was typified in the WWJD bracelets worn by so many in the organized church world. I understood so much of what he wrote because we both ministered and hung with the same group, known as the “faith movement”. When we first became acquainted, he would debate a point from that view.
So much changed these last three years as we grew in our understanding of our Lord. We were all it seems in the school of Christ together.......and we shared from our most different aspects and lessons.........
John and Jack debated on several forums and sometimes you might even find me involved........lol. We all grappled with the things God is making clear to us now…somewhat like the proverbial story of trying to describe an elephant to each other from opposite sides of the beast in a dark room.........…..Here are just a few of the topics we discussed;
* eternal torment vs. all will be saved,
* sovereignty vs. free will,
* need for covering, submission vs. Jesus is our head and only covering
* new age doctrines vs. Jesus is enough.
Every doctrine and creed was examined and re-examined over the three years we knew John. And yes, we came to love and respect him deeply, as a champion of the faith.
Often John and Jack would be on opposite sides of a debate. They were relentless with what they believed God had shown them in an unusual, spirit led way. They would lay it on the line with each other and all……The first tangle he and Jack got into was on a forum called “The Eagle Forum”, the discussion centered on;
Eternal Hell and Torment vs. Jesus will save and restore all men.
John was a moderator on the site as he and Jack began to debate. As I read their thoughts, one day I would be on John’s side and the next day on Jack’s. By the end of the month long debate over a 1000 hits showed many others were daily reading that thread. Very few joined in the debate as it was a holy thing, something God was doing between these two men…for our benefit. I was blessed to be part of that large audience viewing, I finished each night pondering their words.
How I recall the part that forever endeared John to me. So much of that debate had been on equal footing. Both men knew their stuff, so to speak. Then one night John began to ask Jack questions some honest inquiries, you could feel the hush. After an anointed response from Jack, John wrote something close to...........
Jack I see it ..... I see what you have been saying and the Lord has made it real to me .....it was true, the spirit had made it real to John and to me, and so many others that month…it took God using both John and Jack to clear out the traditions of men ..... and when it was over you knew Jesus had cleared out the money changers again ..... whew!
Karen, your husband left an inheritance that gives all men hope and the hearts of many were touched by him including ours……..Many times he shared about his family and asked for prayer. So in a way, we feel we know you all. We will miss our beloved friend and we will continue to pray for you, please keep in touch….
Love in Christ,
Joian and Jack
Note: We will forward any of your comments and condolences onto Karen and the rest of the McManus family.
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