(Note: Last names have been intentionally deleted from the text of this message.)

Scripture: Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for a special awareness of your presence as we gather here today to remember the life of this loved one. Please, we pray for your comfort and strength as we reflect. May each one here be consoled in his or her grief and be brought closer to the reality of the issues of life and death. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Obituary:

On behalf of Harry’s family and the congregation of Christians that meets here in this place, I’d like to welcome all of you to this special service.

Harry was born on June 30, 1923 in Prescott, Oregon, the son of Ralph D. and Eva Irene. He left us to begin his life in eternity on April 16^th, 2000. He was 76.

Harry served his country in the United States Army during World War II, entering his service from Coquille, Oregon in 1943. His boot camp training was at Camp White, Oregon. He was assigned to Company C, 97^th Signal Battalion, 91^st Division. He fought in Europe at the Battle of the Bulge, and made the landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. He was a prisoner of war for a short time and was honorably discharged on November 18^th, 1945 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. For his part in securing the freedom we enjoy today, we are grateful.

Harry married Betty Louise on October 23^rd, 1945 at Winfield, Kansas, after a one week courtship which, I guess we can say, worked very well. Harry and Betty were together until he passed away this past Sunday, a total of 54 years. Harry worked for Champion International Company in the hardboard division for 17 years, retiring in June of 1985. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Louise of Sweet Home, their children, Ralph  and Bill, both of Albany, Roger, Kenneth, and Betty, all of Lebanon, and Anita and Connie, both of Bend, 18 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, his brother Charles of Kerrville, Texas, and his sister, Margery of Lebanon. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Patrick, his grandson, Kirk, and his great-granddaughter, Sabrina. He will be greatly missed as your presence here today indicates.

Personal Remarks:

I had the privilege of making Harry’s acquaintance only a couple of short months ago at his request, through Grace, one of his caregivers. During that brief time we visited quite a bit, exchanging life stories (that usually centered around family) and had a number of good laughs. Harry shared with me some of the various experiences of his 76 years. I found him to be a gracious man in surprisingly good humor for one in his condition. Harry did his best, even up until it became impossible to communicate, to be loving and polite to those around him, even when he was suffering. Just a few weeks ago He gave me the great privilege and joy of helping him address the spiritual needs of his life. As a result, Harry decided to obey Christ’s commandment to be baptized. Then in the presence family and friends, in the swimming pool at Sweet Home High School, while the angels of heaven rejoiced, he made the good confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and was immersed for the remission of his sins. The change in his life from that point was very notable from my perspective. Shortly thereafter, he made up his mind that he would, of God permitted, attend the services of the church at least one time before his death. True to his word, a couple of weeks later, even though he was weak and often sick, he was wheeled into this auditorium and sat there at the back of the building where he was able to partake of communion and sit through part of the service.

Harry was happy with his decision to become a Christian and expressed to me that he only wished he had done it sooner. I’ll say more on that account in just a few minutes.

For now I would like to read some words that were submitted to me to be read on Harry’s behalf by family members. When I’m finished, it may be that some of you would like to add your remarks to these. If so, you’ll have the opportunity to stand right where you are and address the rest of us.

Betty Jean, Harry’s daughter, wrote:

(Read notes)

Ken, Harry’s son, wrote:

"I remember how Dad loved to go fishing and how he would tell us kids to catch night crawlers and grasshoppers. Then we knew we would be going fishing. But through the years the thing that would stick out the most was that Dad always put Mom and his family before his own needs. To me, Dad stood a man among men."

Connie, Harry’s daughter, though she didn’t write anything, expressed to me her fond memories of how Harry and Betty made Christmas a special time. Apparently there was one particular Christmas when Roger had made it clear that he wanted a bicycle. As the day approached however, there was only an envelope under the tree with Roger’s name on it – no bike. The ruse continued until Christmas morning when Roger opened the envelope and found instructions on how he should go out to the woodshed for his gift which, yes, you guessed it, was a bicycle. Connie has continued her parents’ the tradition of hiding the gifts on Christmas and wants to pass it along to her grandchildren.

Apparently Christmas at the ________ home was not just a thing that only the kids looked forward to. One time Harry, who couldn’t wait until morning, woke all the kids up at midnight to open up their gifts.

Connie also told how Harry was close to his grandchildren, and of his deeds of generosity. She spoke of one time she remembers, where, though money was tight in the ______ house too, Harry bought groceries for a family in need.

Roger spoke of Harry’s firm but honest discipline and his unselfish nature. He also mentioned how proud Harry was when he, Roger, joined the Army and ended up going to some of the same places his father had served during the war.

Also shared with me was the pride all of the children had in their parents’ long and lasting relationship.

Betty’s words for Harry were that he was a "simple man with a big heart."

Now we want to give any of you who wish the opportunity to share something of your recollections or to express your appreciation for the way Harry’s life affected you. If you want to comment, you may simply stand right where you are and I’ll recognize you. Please speak loudly enough so we can all hear you.

(Additional Sharing time)

We’ll bring our comments to a close at this time. I would hope that some of you might continue your recollections of Harry’s life over the next weeks as you adjust to life without him.

I would also like to remind all of you that a widow grieves an especially deep grief when she loses her husband. Betty will need your support in the coming weeks and months as she too must adjust to life without Harry. Your phone calls, your stopping by to visit, after everyone has gone home from the funeral can help lift her burden.

Right now we’re going to sing a song that the family has requested – the well-known hymn, "Amazing Grace." You will find it in the red song book there in the rack in front of you at page _______.

Song: "Amazing Grace"

Scriptural Remarks:

Right after Harry’s baptism I shared the following passage with him. It comes from Matt 20:1-15. See if you can’t find Harry’s story in it.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2"When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4and to those he said, "You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went. 5"Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day long?' 7"They said to him, "Because no one hired us.' He said to them, "You go into the vineyard too.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, "Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.' 9"When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10"When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11"When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12saying, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.' 13"But he answered and said to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14"Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15"Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?' The message of this passage is, I hope, obvious to us. The landowner in the story is God and what is on display in the parable is His great generosity. The workers hired at the eleventh hour received a full day’s wage even though they did not deserve it.

We just sang "Amazing Grace" and that word "grace", has to do, at least in part, with God’s generosity. Perhaps the hymn could have been just as well titled: "Amazing Generosity." It has to do with doing someone a favor that they don’t deserve.

The eleventh hour workers in the parable didn’t deserve a full day’s wage. They had only worked one hour. If you or I went to work somewhere and worked only 60 minutes of a 12 hour shift and received a full 12 hours pay, what would we say about our employer? We would say that he was generous and we would be very grateful. We would probably tell and retell the story to those we knew. To anyone looking for work, we would heartily recommend this employer. "He’ll treat you right!" we would say without hesitation.

Bringing this down to where we live, the eleventh hour worker in this case is Harry and anyone else who comes to God late in life. He will receive the full benefit of eternal life even though he had very little time to return any service. I suggest to you that if anyone is singing "Amazing Grace" in heaven at this moment, it is Harry. As he meets Peter and Paul and Matthew and John and other saints of God there in that place, I’m sure, when he gets the opportunity, he’ll tell them how amazing God’s grace is. But of course they will be singing the same tune because, even though they were involved in longer service, the eternal life they received is worth far more than they ever paid.

So is this story an encouragement to wait until the last minute in order to decide to serve God? I know that many people think that way. "After I’ve lived most of my life for myself doing the things I want to do, then I’ll come to God at the very last moment and everything will be alright."

There are a couple of things wrong with that thinking. One is that we have no guarantee as to whether we will have the opportunity later in life.

We read in the book of James,

"…you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

Not everyone has an advance notice on his or her departure for this life. Accidents happen. People sometimes die young. Life turns out to be shorter than we anticipated.

Another thing wrong with intentionally waiting until the last minute to come to peace with God is that turning our backs upon the truths of God early in life has a way of hardening our hearts for later. A lifetime spent turning away from God on purpose sometimes makes it difficult to turn back to God later.

There is an important point in the parable that should not be overlooked: No one received anything unless he went to work for the landowner. Yes, the landowner was generous in a big way, but he wasn’t just passing money out on the street to everyone. Those who received a denarius from him were those who joined him in his vineyard. Those who didn’t got nothing.

We must come to God on His terms if we wish to have the eternal life He offers.

I’m reminded of the very important words of Isaiah:

"Seek the LORD while He may be found;Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;And let him return to the LORD,And He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."

Solomon left similar words:

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them.’"

Ultimately, it all comes down to this, my dear friends. We’re all going to come to this place. One day, sooner than we think, the funeral will be for us. Once we’re in the casket, it will be too late to make our peace with God.

I encourage you today to place your life in the hands of Him who said,

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."

Special selection: "Beyond the Sunset"

This will conclude our service here. We will resume in a brief ceremony at Twin Oaks Cemetery in Albany as soon as we can get there. The directors have asked me to let you know that, because of the distance, there will be no car procession as we leave Sweet Home and make the trip to Albany. We will all need to find our way there on our own.

(Give directions)

Service dismissed to graveside.

Graveside Committal Remarks:

As we draw our time together today to a close and pay our final respects to this one who was so loved by family and friends, may I offer some words of comfort from the Scriptures? You have made it obvious by your presence that Harry will be greatly missed. Many of you will understandably continue to grieve for a time.

As I have already pointed out, Harry was a Christian. Consequently, the Scripture speaks of a day, yet in the future, when this grave that is sealed today will be reopened and this body that is committed to this spot will be resurrected.

Listen to the words of the bible:

1Thes 4:13-18

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Today we commit the body of Harry to this resting place until such time as God chooses to blow the trumpet and raise it once again to life everlasting. Amen!

Shall we pray?

Honor Guard

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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