Landis Dean Funeral Devotional

Paths, purses, and thrifting

I think it’s important to recognize some people who have contributed so generously to help make this celebration happen.

Brian, Avery, and Keenan. Thank you for bringing pictures, stories, and memories for us all to cherish and hold. Thank you for letting us, The Salvation Army Lakewood Temple, host this celebration. We are thankful and grateful.

To our Divisional leaders, to the Corps officers and staff members, and particularly those in the social services department who have just poured out support for Landis, and us. We’re grateful for your graciousness and your encouragement for the years that Landis served at The Salvation Army.

To Landis’ running mate, fellow New Yorker turned Minnesooootan, prayer co-warrior, co-worker, and eternal friend in Christ, Yvonne Dobler. I think all I can say is thank you for bringing Landis to life for us. (picture slide). Look at those smiles.

Landis and I never met face-to-face. We spoke on the phone early after our arrival here at Lakewood. Yvonne was adamant that we get in touch with her.

I called and she answered quietly. Landis, this is Lt. Adam Hines from The Lakewood Temple. My wife, Lt. Amanda, and I are the new officers and we wanted to reach out and see how you are doing and if there is anything we can do for you.

No, just pray for me. She was energetic, she was cheerful, and she was joyful. She asked us to pray for her and to let everyone know that she was fighting the fight.

She was sweet, kind, loving, smiled for miles. But you may not want to upset her. Ask Gary Murphy, who made the mistake of asking her to speak to the crowd at a concert. Gary said it only happened “once.” That’s conviction.

For those of you who don’t know this, Landis loved thrifting. As I looked through the pictures that have come my way, I realized this. As much as I would have loved to have met Landis, I’m sure she would have just had a ball with my daughter, Bella. Bella’s a thrifter. Bargain shopper mentality - how much for how little.

Does it match? Does it matter?

Thrift store merchandise is often viewed as second-class, throw away stuff. Stuff that “doesn’t cut it.” The store is seen as a place of “resort” - as if to say, well, it’s not really my preference. Somewhere else would be better.

Here’s what I’ve learned about Landis Dean - the thrift store is exactly her place. Why? I’m guessing she knew that she could find the perfect sunglasses and purses at the thrift store. There’s something powerful about finding treasures at the thrift store. But you have to look around when you go.

At a deeper level, her preference to go thrifting lie in her conviction for serving suffering humanity - Landis knew that the place God called her to be and to work and to minister was with people who the world ignores, throws away, or simply doesn’t take time for.

Imagine, if you will, that you have a really valuable item or items that you want to keep safe. You and I know that we aren’t reaching for a clay pot.

What is so precious about a clay pot? Nothing, and that is the point.

God, in His infinite wisdom and kindness chose to give us the treasure of the Gospel, the treasure of His Son’s light to live inside us, the clay pots. Ordinary clay pots are exactly that, ordinary. Most people seek to improve the look of a clay pot by painting it, sticking stuff to it, maybe even breaking it and putting it back together with wild-colored glue and mortar.

Trying to improve or place value in our lives by fixing our outside appearance won’t cut it. In fact, most people look at clay pots and think that fancier pots have greater value.

If you’ve ever been thrifting, you know that there are times when you search through the store and BAM - there’s a treasure hidden in that store. But it wasn’t right in front of you. It was probably on the back of a shelf, maybe in the bottom of a bin.

Friends, Landis knew that God’s extraordinary power lived in her. If she cracked or broke, what people discovered wasn’t brokenness, but God the Master Potter. Verses 8-9 share this picture of life - the pressures of living in the world. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.

It is no secret to anyone here that the past few years, maybe many years have been hard because of Landis’ declining health. Did that stop her from pursuing work with her Pathway of Hope clients? No, it emboldened her to dig deeper into God’s extraordinary power and deliver hope through their relationship.

There is something about thrift stores that screams of God’s eternal perspective. What someone else wants to get rid of, God will fashion anew. What someone else sees as invaluable, God sees as an opportunity for new life. Landis’ view of the people she served was exactly this - come and experience the hands of a Savior like muddy clay is formed into a clay jar.

Psalm 40:2 “He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.”

It’s interesting that the Psalmist references muddy clay as the place where God brings us from. Muddy clay is really quite worthless. But, Landis preached this message with her life and work - come and experience the hands of a Savior like muddy clay is formed into a clay jar. This is when you are given a purpose and strength that you couldn’t create or fathom on you own. How is clay given strength? It is kiln dried.

I don’t care how broken, beat down, counted out, destitute, you were, Landis Dean knew that there was extraordinary power available through the blood of Jesus Christ to redeem and restore you. She saw you as eternally valuable, eternally important, and eternally worth pouring her life into.

Even in her weak body, Landis possessed the greatest treasure, the power of the resurrected Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4:14 “We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and present us with you.”

Landis was planted on the rock of Jesus Christ, on his life, teaching, death, and resurrection. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lived inside her, giving her assurance, even in her suffering, of her final home.

Short time on this earth, clay pots don’t last forever.

Paul closes his writing with a picture of giving. God’s grace was given to us and it is extended from person to person. God’s grace is abundant. Endless, available to all who are in need. If you need to be filled today from God’s abundant grace and love, we are here to pray with you.