Justin Warnow Funeral 8/31/24

Welcome and Opening Prayer

thank you all for joining the family today and on their behalf I want to say thank you for your prayers, your visits, your calls, and your support throughout this week and ongoing support from here on. While no one wants to ever have a week like this one, with friends and family to rally behind you, you have a place to heal from.

Today we gather to celebrate a life lived to the full, the life of Justin Warnow. As we begin this afternoon, would you please join me in prayer.

Father God, we ask for your strength now as your word tells us that you draw near to the broken hearted. That you are always with us, that you hear the cries of our heart and the pain that we go through. Such pain is no surprise to you as you endured great suffering yourself, ultimately paving the way for us to find freedom and peace. Lord we call on you now to bring that peace to rain upon this family now in their loss and grief. Strengthen them and us today as we remember. Call our hearts and minds to times of joy and care as we reflect, knowing that we never really say goodbye.

Music 1

Obituary

Justin Blaine Warnow, age 34, of Republic, Missouri, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2024, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born January 17, 1990, in Yuba City, California, the son of Michael and Tracy (Cariker) Warnow.

Justin was a 2008 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, Missouri and from the Law Enforcement Academy in Joplin, Missouri. He worked for the City of Republic Police Department. He was a drummer for the Plastic Image Band, loved playing video games and working out at the gym.

Justin is survived by his parents, Michael and Tracy Warnow of Mt. Vernon, Missouri; his daughter, Zoe Blaine Warnow and her mother, Tawny of Republic, Missouri and her son, Carson Wilkes; one sister, Melissa Warnow of Mt. Vernon, Missouri; one brother, Jeremy Christensen of Miller, Missouri; two nieces, Emma and Rylee Tobey of Mt. Vernon, Missouri and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Justin was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Plummer and Jeraldine McDaniel and paternal grandparents, George, and Kathryn Warnow.

Rest of the story

The truth is that a obituary does a poor job of summing up a life. Its reading about the grand canyon instead of looking out over the edge and experiencing it for yourself. The truth is that Justin crammed so much life into his 34 years. He lived his life in constant movement, using every day as the gift it was. Joy encompassed him everywhere he went, evident constantly by the smile that never left his face.

Whether it was playing video games , going to the gym with anyone who would go so they could all compare gains, cooking all the protein he could get his hands on, playing music with his band, or simply spending time with his friends and family, he was always in the moment. Squeezing it all out to the last drop.

He loved his sister Melissa, and unlike me and my sister, she loved him as well. Its rare to see a picture of him that didn’t have his big sis lurking somewhere close because they were inseparable. Melissa always had a way of, shall we say over thinking situations to the point where she would think about thinking about thinking about things. In those moment Justin would be the one to come and in play the best psychologist ever, “If you can’t change it by worrying about everything then why don’t you just stop worrying.” Melissa, did that ever work? I might try that with my wife later and see how it goes?

Jeremy and him were thick as thieves all the way from the Ninja turtle Pjs days, to the power ranger phase, to watching him for 2 hours when he refused to walk home because he wanted to play on the playground at school, to climbing up in the tree, refusing to get down, making Tracy bring them food up to the top (one of the only times she didn’t fall and hurt herself), to always playing games together.

His obituary spoke about his band plastic image. He actually spent 2 years in LA chasing that dream, surfing couches, eating Ramen noodles, because he never did anything half-way and he wanted to be a Rockstar. Even when he did come home, his biggest fan was ready and waiting with her pink guitar. And Uncle Justin always had time for her, making Emma always feel like she was one of the guys, not a little kid but a real part of the band.

When he came back to live in Republic a part of his heart blossomed that was there from the a very early age. His name means “Just and Up-righteous” and he was a total rule follower. One time while racing his dirt track rig, he had the opportunity to go up to the next division, that is, if his car passed the checks. Some people knew how to make it look that way but Justin wouldn’t have it. He wouldn’t race the car at all unless it was 100% within specs and legal. So he started working 2 jobs and going to the Police Academy in Joplin. When he graduated, he joined the Police Department in Republic, often talking to everyone about how much he loved it there and especially his fellow officers. He spoke often to his family about how much his first trainee, Officer Powell, meant to him and how proud he was of him.

But with Justin you couldn’t just get the letter of the Law without the silliness either. As I was sharing with the family they told the story of loosing Justin in a clothes rack in JcPenny. As they started panicking, trying to find him, security closed down the store. Still having no luck, they closed down the whole mall, checking everywhere and everyone. Justin had slipped out the front door right past security to wait near the car so that everyone wouldn’t leave him. Ever year when poor Dallas would play Santa claus for the kids, Justin never once felt that that didn’t include him too. When the kids would go over to Grandma and Grandpas house, they had their own room with own beds that they could stay in, but that was for the other kids, because Justin, the baby, would always take over Grandma and grandpas bed. Sleeping right in between them.

Justin was always the joker ready for every selfie, when it was called for and serious when you needed him to be. He was always there for his family and if you where his friend you knew it because you’d never had a better one. He was your greatest encourager when he thought you needed it, and he’d never leave without making sure everyone got their hug, thier love, and without saying, “ Love you mama, Love you bubba.”

The truth is we carry those memories with us and they become the legacy that lives like Justin’s fill us up with. Perhaps, here today, you too have a story about Justin; a way that he impacted you or stepped up when you needed him. At this time, the family would like, if you feel so moved, to give you an opportunity to come up and say a few words about Justin’s life.

Time of remembrance (stories)

I have the honor of Reading a letter written by Michael, Justin’s father.

Buddy,

I am in this time of my life simply because of you and a spilled pepsi. Your mom always thought you’d become a lawyer or a police office. And although you did become that officer, you were so, so much more.

You are a baseball player, a video game master. A race car driver, a self taught guitarist and drummer. You are a martial artist, a gym rat and my part time nutritionist. An officer of the law, a friend, a brother, a son, an uncle, a nephew and a cousin. A couple special people even think of you as a Rockstar— their own personal Rockstar.

Your band-mates made you a man more than I ever did. You probably didn’t even know, but you fulfilled a dream and at the same time learned what you wanted for the next stage of your life.

You cares for the safety of your police brotherhood. To Badge #144, thank you for being his friend. I also hope you told Officer Hite you followed in his footsteps.

Your shining moment was when you became a dad— that was your greatest accomplishment. I wish I was half the dad you are. You gave Zoe all your time, you read books, you painted her nails, you enjoyed every moment. She adores you and you adore her. I hope these that remain can fill the void she will have. I know we will try.

A father’s pride knows no end. I am proud of you Justin, now and forever.

Until we meet again, make sure you have a pepsi there for me. Tell Sweat Peas I said hello too...

Sleep well my son — Love, Papa.

Music 2

Message

In 2009, after 4 years of college and roughly 200 hours of volunteer service in various ministries, at the ripe age of 21 I was called by a church to come and be their youth pastor. I was so excited to finally get my feet wet, having persued ministry for the past 5 years of my life, trying to fulfill my calling, and finally get started.

I’ll never forget walking in my first week into the room filled with 25 teenagers thinking about how excited I was to have landed this job, How i was finally going to be doing real ministry, how prepared and ready I felt because of my schooling, how ready I was to show these kids how great a job the committee did in hiring me. I told the kids as we started up Sunday school, “Guys, I’m fresh out of college. I have a lot of classes fresh in my mind and I want to really dive into the things you guys are curious about so that we can really talk about what really matters to you guys so shoot. Give me your questions and I’ll plan some studies and we can dive into it all together.”

Travis Vincent, a young boy around 13 at the time raised his hand. He was probably 5 foot nothing, 92 pounds soaking wet and so unassuming. “Yeah man, I’m really glad you’re hear and that you said what you did. My question is, if God is so good and so powerful, then why did he let my 38 year old mother get cancer and shrivel up and die the way she did 6 months ago.”

I learned that day that my education, my desires, my experiences, and whatever professional opinions I may or may not have as a pastor mean nothing in the face of real pain. In situations like the one Travis represented and like the one we are faced with here today we can ask much the same questions. We can feel lost and confused. We can struggle to find hope and be left asking why or how something like this happens. Where is God in all of this?

Through the years the 23rd Psalm has been a comfort in times like this as it teaches us about God’s provision and care.

Psalm 23 (ESV)

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

David gives us beautiful images of Christ as a shepherd that cares for the sheep, leading them in peace and comfort. He defeats evil, he takes out enemies on our behalf, he defuses danger and provides genuine protection in the midst of even death. The picture is one that shows for us a God who definitely cares and is with us through some of the hardest swells life has to throw at us. In the midst of all the things that can and do happen to us, joy, pain, peace, tragedy, elation, and struggle, a theme emerges. The Lord never leaves. He is with us all the way, no matter where the path leads or how dark the journey can be. He can and often does take what seems like despair and turn it into goodness, as the psalmist says. Even for the faithful who descend into time of intense struggle and pain, they know that the endgame is found in the dwelling of God himself.

We forget sometimes that God knows a little bit of something about our pain and our grief. He took upon himself flesh and humanity, bowing himself to every struggle and weakness that is common to us. He himself, bound by the father’s will and his desire to see it done, asks God to take the cup of suffering from him, that is, unless there is no other way. And there was not. Christ drank that cup of pain, torture, and shame to the last drop to buy pardon on our behalf. This is the truth of the God who loves you. He is not far off or so distant that he could not or would not hear our cries, our pain, or our heartbreak. No, he is intimately aware of it because he’s felt it too.

And while the 23rd Psalm is beautiful and poetic and a balm for the weary heart, its companion verses are found from the mouth of Christ himself in the book of John 10. Jesus says

John 10:27–29 (ESV)

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Three insights are given to us here in this passage about this intimate relationship that Jesus can and will have with us if we but trust in him.

First, we will learn to know his voice.

To some this might feel like something outside of what they are capable. However, we are told in scripture that we can know the voice, the will, and the character of our God. Why is this possible? Bc God is knowable and personable. He isn’t far off and away, too busy to be bothered by our petty humanity. Often it was the case that during Jesus earthly ministry, the hustle of the day and the urgency of even his own disciples schedule of the best use of his time, he would often stop and heal a man just sitting by the wayside. He’d see someone that everybody usually passed and paid no attention too. And often was it the case that the least of who people noticed where the ones uniquely tuned to know the voice of God when they heard it.

In the midst of a particulary chaotic day the people were all talking about who they thought Jesus was. In all the theories and all the noise, the spirit relayed to Peter that the only thing that made any sense was that he was the long awaited messiah, the Christ. In all the noise, Peter knew the voice of God when he heard it and we can too. All it takes is to seek him and quiet our hearts. I will be the first to admit this is easier said than done but friends, I would encourage you greatly in these next days and weeks to quiet your schedule, make some space for quiet, and seek out God’s voice. Take time to pray. Break open your Bible no matter how dusty it may be, and wait on the Lord. Read the book of John and see how this great shepheard cares for his sheep realizing that you and I are those sheep. Hear him and wait.

Second, he will know us.

This concept was one that used to scare the socks off me as a young man. We have many people that we think know us but do they really know us warts and all. Well God is able to see through our masks, our facades, and our insecurities to the heart of who we really are. Those hidden thoughts, those secrete shames, those fear-clouded failures, yep they are all laid bare before him. Yet, he is not turned off or away from them. The bible tells us in Romans that even while we were sinners (meaning enemies of God) Christ died for us. Meaning even while God knew all your worst, he gave you his best. He knows you, inside and out and doesn’t shy away from you in the slightest. Even in the midst of this loss and the heartbreak that we feel, God knows and draws ever closer. Romans 8:26

Romans 8:26 (ESV)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

when you don’t even have the words to pray or the things to say, God knows your heart so intimately he can finish the sentence you simply cannot.

Lastly, we will follow where he leads.

Where does he lead us? “Eternal life and never perish” speak the tale. For those found in Christ, death is not the period at the end of the sentence. The story doesn’t end there because we are wrapped in the provision and arms of Christ. We find eternality in his design and by the way of the cross, our forgiveness makes way to promise. He says twice that no one no one no one can pluck one from the hands of Christ once he has purchased their freedom. Did you hear that. Your salvation is not attached to you being good enough. It’s not attached to church attendance or giving to charity. Its not attached to your time in the word, your ability to be good enough or how much your cleaned yourself up from who you used to be. None of us is good enough to earn such a salvation. Instead, we find that it is given out freely by one who purchased it by way of his own blood. It was paid for out of his life to make a way for us to be live a life eternal.

These truths are held out for us today just as they were then. All we need to do is to turn from our own ways and take him up on his offer to save us. For those who hear his voice, repent of their sin, join him in his work and follow where he leads, life, real life, starts then and never ends. They will not perish, their life is eternal.

Music 3

Closing Prayer

Graveside

As we come to the graveside here to do the last thing we can for Justin, it is good that we would encourage one another with the reality that Justin’s ultimate destiny does not lie here in this place. 1 Thessalonians tells us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (ESV)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

You see, we still grieve. We will still miss him. We will still think on him often with memories, laughter, and yes loss. But we don’t have to let grief have the final word. The Bible teaches us here that for those found in Christ, this is not goodbye but simply a see you later. While our bodies are constantly deteriorating until they can no longer bear the weight of the struggle, there is coming a day when Christ will crack the sky and come back, making all things new. Paul encourages the believers here in this passage to the reality of that day in an effort to get them ready for it. The biblical euphemism of “those fallen asleep” is talking about those who go before us into death. They will be the first among all of us to heard the command of Christ to rise. They will be the first to see his face and hear him call their name. Justin goes before us yes, but this is not his, or our ends. The Westminster catechism famously says “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” That is our purpose and where all of this is heading. We take great joy in the fact that Justin’s body has ran its race, yes, but Christ is making for him and for us a new body for a new and righted creation. A creation that Revelation tells us

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

This life with all its pains and struggles is coming to an end and the new creation, set right in Christ, will break way to the way God meant for us and him to be. No tears, no death, no more mourning, no more pain. Newness incarnate. Until that day comes, we will continue to live in the now and not quite yet. Take hope that we will see Justin again.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we want to thank you for the 34 years we had with Justin and the blessing that his life was to all of us gathered here. A fantastic brother, friend, son, champion of Justice, and daddy. Thank you for the encouragement that we find in your word that your peace can and will surround us if we will seek your face. You tell us that you can shoulder our burdens, carrying what is too difficult for us to bear. We rely on you now Lord. We give you this family and ask you for your peace upon them in these coming days and weeks. That you would strengthen and hold them so tightly. Comfort them and give them mercy. We commit Justin now to your eternal care, knowing that as much as we loved him that you love him more. Keep him close until the day when we see him and you together. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.