I have many books.  In fact, I don’t even know how many books I have!  I have purchased many of them, many of them come from my Dad’s library, some of them have been handed down from my loving grandparents, and the rest have been given to me by friends and fellow Christians that want to help me in my study of the Scriptures.

I was recently going through some books that Susan Thomas gave to me from her Uncle Trent Toland’s collection after he passed away.  One of the books was Nichol's Pocket Bible Encyclopedia.  As I thumbed through the pages of this little booklet, I found this hand-written inscription inside: "To Trenton on his 28th birthday from Aunt Mamie.  Study this book to be wise, believe it to be holy, obey it to be safe."

Aunt Mamie gave this book to her nephew Trenton 70 years ago.  Trenton, a longtime member of the church of Christ, attended and served with the old Government Street church and then the Creekwood congregation.  He passed away in 2013 at the age of 94.

One of the influences in his life was Aunt Mamie.  But who was Aunt Mamie?  I asked Susan Thomas.  Here is her reply:

“Aunt Mamie was my grandmother’s sister.  (My grandmother being Louella Toland, mother of Trent and my mom, Cecile Wiggins.)  She was Mamie Counselman, married to Claude Counselman.  They were charter members of the old Plateau Church of Christ [which later became the Central church], which predated Government Street.”

“Aunt Mamie was quite a character.  She married at 14, had her first of five children at 15.  She was very cheerful and upbeat, wrote cute little poems, always happy...  One of her sons, Claude Jr., became a preacher.  He lived in California.  All of her children have passed away.”

As I’ve shared this story with others, some have reflected fondly about the lovely character and lasting influence of “Aunt Mamie.”  Her nephew, Trenton, also influenced others to follow Christ.

Note the inscription again that she wrote in the Bible Encyclopedia for her nephew: “Study this book to be wise, believe it to be holy, obey it to be safe.”  Aunt Mamie believed that that little encyclopedia would help her nephew understand more about the Book, the Bible, the guide to the abundant life and eternal life to come.

The Book reveals God’s plan of salvation.  It reveals that we are sinners (Romans 3:23) doomed for destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).  But “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  Jesus, God’s Son, paid the price on the cross to redeem us from our sins (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  The redeeming blood that Jesus shed on the cross on our behalf will continue to cleanse us from sin as we walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

The Bible: “Study this book to be wise, believe it to be holy, obey it to be safe.”

Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

P.S.  Thanks again, Susan, for the books.  My thanks to God also for the influence of Aunt Mamie, your Uncle Trenton Toland, and many members of your family, past and present.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org