3.23.2005

living a life "in love"

One of my college professors passed away yesterday. James Trumbo loved Jesus. When people ask about James, that’s what they will hear, James loved Jesus. Other professors would walk into class and say, “turn to page 483 in the Pentateuch commentary, blah, blah, blah..” but Mr. Trumbo usually had a different approach. He would walk into class so quietly with a calm sweet smile on his face, silently walk to the front of the room and wait for everyone to get quiet. As soon as the room quieted down he would say, almost in a whisper, “don’t you just love Him? Don’t you just love my Jesus?”
He did this all the time, it was a wonderful way to start the morning just focusing on the love that Jesus had shown us, and giving some back in return.
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He would tell us stories about people he met and how he loved to tell them about Jesus. He told us a story one day of a garbage collector that was out in front of his house. James was taking the last garbage bag out and took a minute to ask the garbage man if he knew Jesus. James was the kind of guy that could pull that off though. The love that James had for Jesus was palpable, you could feel it, you could see it on him. When James led worship you could see that he was completely lost in a love song to his savior. He worshipped the same way when he was in front of a huge crowd as he did when he thought no one was listening.
I was at school early one day and heard James playing piano. It was pitch black inside the chapel, at about 7 in the morning and no one else was there yet. I snuck into the back of the chapel and sat on the floor and listened. He worshipped with all his heart, it was beautiful. His worship wasn’t an act or a show, it was a heartfelt love song. James “lived in love”.

“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. We love each other as a result of his loving us first.”
I John 4.16b-19 NLT

4 comments:

Benji said...

Hey bro, a friend of mine here in SD got married this past weekend and Jon Maddux was a guest at the wedding...it was nice to touch base with him after several months of nothing, it was also nice to know that he and Marissa are expecting twins!
What I thought was really cool about seeing Jon as well was that the first thing he said to me when we started talking was that he'd heard that James Trumbo had died and he was sad to hear that news.
Even though I'd never gotten the chance to meet Trumbo personally, I always remembered you and Jon and your other classmates talking about him and how "In love with Jesus" he always was.
By the way, Jon says hi.

Anonymous said...

I did not know Pastor James had gone on the be with Jesus until I read this today.

I remember him as a Pastor Choir Director/Worship leader and friend. After I was disabled and moved to AZ we kind of lost contact.

It’s always hard when a family loses a man who is such a powerful expression of the life of Jesus. I will pray for Anne and the rest of the Trumbo clan. He is with the Jesus he loves. Now that he has seen him he is even more like him. His labors are over and all of his questions are answered and he is at rest in the presence of Almighty God.

I can almost hear the words at his entrance into heaven as he meets Jesus in heaven. Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He is at total peace in the presence of his beloved with joy everlasting with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He will be missed by those who love him and we will meet him again one day as I’m sure he will be close to Jesus as he was always walking/following after or worshiping Jesus.


The Lord is my Shepherd,
I'll walk with Him always.
Always, always,
I'll walk with Him always.
Always, always,
I'll walk with Him always.

He is the Good Shepherd,
I'll walk with Him always.

He'll love me forever,
I'll walk with Him always.

He lives in my heart,
I'll walk with Him always.


May the Lord Jesus bless you Anne and strengthen you and you family.

Drew & Roberta Wells

Anonymous said...

Rest in Peace, James. I will never forget your presence at 1627 fifth avenue, San Rafael the summer of 1970. You were writing the music for Peace Before We Die, you and Ann were living in my second bedroom. We were all so happy when the record contract was done and you were able to move forward.

It been a short 35 years, I read that your life was fulfilled. Rejoice.

E

Anonymous said...

James was my teacher, fellow musician and the one who introduced me to Jesus in 1984.