James Horton Face to Face with the Lord

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character confidence, and confidence (in the plan of God) does not disappoint us. - Romans 5:3-5

Yesterday, my husband and I learned about the death of a man who visited us in Burton in 2001. James Horton will be dearly missed and our prayers and constant thoughts are with Tanya and her small children ages 6, 2 and 5 months as well as others in his family we have never met.

Here is the history and my fond memories. He and his young wife were newly wed, visiting from Canberra, Australia in 2001. Their pastor there had attended Berachah Church and so we were in fact all a part of the same church family. They stayed on with the Stark's for 4 or 5 months and so we got a visit one weekend at the farm. It was quite interesting to have them around and they could read a car owner's manual with those fabulous accents and I would be spellbound. Apparently, the part of Australia they hailed from produces the heaviest Aussie accent. I loved it! They were traveling around the world as is common with young ones in Australia, I understand. Maybe it is common here too..just was not common for me the proverbial homebody. And they were so adventurous too! I knew that she had been a snowboard instructor in California and he was also into sport. On this particular weekend they visited, we had a chicken snake lodged between the flooring of what we called the 'Stop Gap' building inside the closed barn. It was visible at the roof of the cellar under this interior building. I will never forget how they touched (iccckkkkk!!) and tried in vain for over an hour to coax that snake out of that wedge. I just stayed inside and made pizza. Anyway, they were traveling around in one of those old VW buses that looks like a travel trailer on the inside with a bed and a little stove. It was so cool. I remember Tanya saying that they could have one child and use this van for travel still...didn't I say 'adventurous'?!

We also had a dinner party at the Stark's including the Horton's and got to gab about differences here and there and some of their adventure travels. It was fun for me to live vicariously through them. Since I became a mother, life has sped forward rapidly as it does for parents. I knew that they were blessed with a baby boy about the same time that we were in 2003 and then I lost track of them for awhile.

Fast forward, 2010, yesterday. My husband called from work to tell me about the news.

Tributes flow for jet-ski rider James Horton
BY DAVID STOCKMAN POLICE REPORTER
06 Jan, 2010 10:28 AM
The family of James Horton, the jet-ski rider killed on the Molonglo River, has told of his life as a religious, fun-loving man.
The 39-year-old father of three died after the jet-ski he was riding was hit by a ski boat on a bend of the river about 1.2km south of the Dairy Road boat ramp on Monday.
Mr Horton was at the river with his wife, children and extended family.
His 14-year-old cousin was on the back of the jet-ski when the accident occurred. The teenager was knocked unconscious and suffered bruising down one arm.
Mr Horton's wife, Tanya, said her husband was a ''fantastic father'' who had an infectious personality and whose warmth touched all those he met.
''He was an honest, fun, outgoing man and he lived life fast and to the full,'' she said.
''He was a believer in the Lord and that's where he is now, he's face to face with him and he'd want all his friends to know he's in no more pain or suffering.''
The Fraser couple had been married for 10 years, with three young children aged six, two and five months.
They opened a store Adrenalin Plus specialising in water sports and snow sports on Lonsdale Street in Braddon almost nine years ago.
The 30-year-old mother said her husband was highly skilled and used the stretch of water twice a week.
''We're down there all the time, that's what we do. James, he's got his licence and he has fun, but he calculates his risk. He has fun, but he's smart about it.''
She said the family was receiving a great deal of support from family and friends, with phone calls coming from around the world.
Mr Horton grew up in Canberra, attending Canberra High School and Hawker College.
A police statement yesterday said investigations indicated the accident occurred when ''both craft ... attempted to take evasive action and appear to have turned in the same direction''.
Mr Horton died at the Canberra Hospital shortly after the accident on Monday afternoon.
Police were seeking information yesterday from three people travelling in a boat that came into the area after the accident, helping Mr Horton and his passenger.
Water police were alerted to the accident nearly one hour after the first call to emergency services at 12.25pm. They arrived on the scene at 1.36pm.
A number of waterway users have expressed concern about overcrowding at the site, with some uneasy at the presence of water-skiers, wake-board and jet-ski riders on the same small stretch of water.
Only 10 boats are allowed on the stretch of water at one time, with owners required to book and register ahead of time.
Six warning letters have been issued in the past 12 months to owners of watercraft who have used the area without an appropriate booking. Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the Environment Protection Authority had received no complaints in the last 12 months about safety on the water or overcrowding.
He said it was not possible for rangers or water police to be at the site at all times.
''It's obviously a tragic accident, it's too early to draw conclusions about why this accident occurred and our thoughts have to be with the family of the man who has died at this time,'' he said.
ACT Water Ski Association president Noel Dix said safety on the stretch of water was typically good, with the 10-boat system working well for the past 20 years.

What the article does not say is what a wonderful believer James was in witnessing about the living God to the young sport enthusiasts he encountered at their store daily. The teenager on the jet ski with him is Tanya's cousin and an unbeliever. His life will be altered forever and prayer for his reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ as saviour is the wish of many. I think he has an injured arm but is fine. James took the full brunt of the other water vehicle. He is a hero. As Gene Cunningham quoted , "Greater love hath no man than this, to lay down his life for his friends."

I know to some it sounds too simple to say that God has His plan and this was His perfect plan for James. It does not seem fair that his children will not have him, his care, his love for the Lord and for them. His young wife will live on nurturing these little souls in the memory of their father for always. My thoughts often turn to Tanya now as James is face to face with the Lord and in perfect peace.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11