Eric Mack On-Line

This afternoon, my family and I attended a memorial service for Dr. John R. Dunkin. Dr. Dunkin was a pastor, teacher, and president of the Los Angeles Baptist College and Theological Seminary (now, The Master's College and Seminary).

I did not know Dr. Dunkin personally, but it turns out that I know many of his family, friends, and the thousands of people whose lives he touched. Today, he touched my own.

For almost two and a half hours, I listened, in awe, as family and people who know him shared testimony of the faith and deeds of this man, a man who loved the Lord and God's Word, the Bible, and who devoted his life to others in Christian ministry. It was an awesome celebration of a life.

Since I did not know Dr. Dunkin personally, I was able to be, in some ways, a disconnected observer of his life through his memorial service. I could not help but think about the beginning of Dr. Stephen Covey's book "The 7 habits of highly effective people," in which he admonished us to "begin with the end in mind." Dr. Covey challenges us to consider what it would be like to be a guest - an observer - at our own memorial service. What would we want those present to say about our life? What would they say about it? Thinking about this today reminded me of the power of that visualization. The 600-800 people present today, are a testimony to Dr. Dunkin's legacy.

From what I can tell, Dr. Dunkin indeed began with the end in mind. He was certain of his eternal future, he knew what his purpose was, and he knew on whom his plans depended.

Dr. Dunkin's home with the Lord now. He will spend an eternity in the presence of his Lord and Savior.

He lived a rich life and he leaves a legacy of family, of leadership and changed lives.

His race on earth may be over, but his real adventure has only begun.

He finished well.