"Jesus was once asked why a certain man was born blind. Did he sin while still in the womb? Jesus replied that it was for the glory of the Father that this man was born blind. The Bible did not say that Jesus healed him...

"Like the movie It's a Wonderful Life, it's hard to imagine what our lives would have been like without having known someone like James. Not even Jimmy Stewart could have played his life adequately...

"I had a snuff addiction in the mid 1980's...On one particular occasion, when I barely new James, I thought I was alone in a room and decided it was safe to bend under a desk and deposit my spent wad of tobacco into the waste basket..."

"Indeed, the passing of Rev. Putney is a very sad event. Although I only met James a couple of times he left a profound impression upon me. His presence on your video alone constitutes a legacy of compassion, hope and triumph...

"Good evening...life is so very odd. A recent letter from a long ago friend, who is now in prison, led me to do a computer search for the man I knew many years ago as Steve Putney...we all hung out together in Saco...

"I knew James when he was a new Christian. We were in a convalescent ministry together, through the Vineyard. I led worship and he preached...

If you would like to read the Los Angeles Times memorial to James, please follow this link.

My Uncle James was my Godfather
And I'll always hold him dear.
He may no longer live on Earth
But spiritually he'll always be near...

Last year I wrote an essay called This I Believe. In it I said family would be with you forever. Well, you are probably wondering "What about when they die?" When one of my family members dies, I always believe that they are in Heaven looking over me from above...