Jim Bolin Funeral Service

The Shepherd's Comfort: Honoring a Life of Faith, Family, and Friends

Bible Passage: Psalm 23

Psalm 23 beautifully describes the Lord as our Shepherd, providing comfort and assurance in our times of need. It highlights protection, guidance, and the deep love God has for His people, I do not find it surprising knowing Jim that he wanted for this to be the message to his friends and family. I got to know Jim shortly after coming to Highlands, as I spent time with him up in that sound booth. Jim was a man who loved people, loved His Lord, Loved his family, and loved his friends. It was not hard to find yourself a friend of Jim Bolin. The man cared about making people feel valued. He was dedicated and made sure that no matter what he was there when he committed to be there. As I got to know Jim, there was not a week where he did not brag on his family, not a week where he did not take a moment to teach me something. Whether it was about the Navy, the electronics we used and how he learned that over his years in avionics. Jim was knowledgeable on so many levels. One of his greatest areas of knowledge was his faith and I believe he wanted to share some of that knowledge with us this morning. Jim would want us to see 3 things in the scripture this morning. First, the promise of provision. Second, guidance in our grief, and Third the Eternal Embrace. If you will stand with me as we honor the word of God in the reading of this passage.

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.

1. Promise of Provision

Psalm 23:1–2 ESV

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.

Jim in his many conversations made it known how he believed in how God provided for him and his family. Jim was no stranger to sharing how much God had done for him. Jim was also a man who provided for his family and committed. In his life he served 30 years in the Navy, and then spent time serving in the church and serving as a dispatcher for the FHP. This idea of providing was nothing new to Jim. He understood though that God provided in a way that He could not provide. Today as we experience this immense grief Jim would want to share with us the provision of God. The provision of God is peace. God delivers us peace. One of the things I know is that in his time in the service Jim came to know something about storms and peace. Both in his personal life but also in the service. I remember talking to Jim one Sunday and he told me about the structure of the Navy ships and how the racks were designed. The racks as I learned were the beds. Jim explained to me that in the middle of storms the racks were designed so that they would move with the motion of the seas. They were designed so that when you were laying down you would not move as much as the ship would. In the middle of the storm you would be cradled and essentially rocked to sleep. Today there is a storm. A storm of emotions, loss, hurt. In the middle of that God is here to provide you peace. Jim wanted us to experience the provision of peace that God provides. He also wanted us to understand the guidance of God in our grief.

2. Guidance in Grief

Psalm 23:3–4 ESV

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.

This passage of the scripture is interesting because notice what it does not say. It does not say you lead me away from the valley of the shadow of death. You take me the long way around. No it says even though I walk through the valley. Even though I am in the middle of the valley of the shadow of death. I will not fear. Can I tell you this morning, if you knew Jim you can stand firm on the fact that He had a personal relationship with Christ and because of this anyone in Christ will see him again one day. There is no fear in death because Christ defeated death on the cross and He has made possible for us to have restored relationships with those who have gone before us. As we navigate this valley of the shadow of death and this pain of separation overwhelms us, Jim in selecting this scripture was reminding us that God is with us in the middle of the valley and that He brings with Him the provision of peace. Jim liked how things worked. He liked understanding the intricacies of tools and of systems, and electronics. Jim explained to me how a cassette tape worked and how it played through the sound system. Jim wanted to know more about how things worked than many people I have ever met in my life. He was not content with running the sound, he wanted to know how it worked, and teach others how it worked. This is the same image here in this scripture. Just knowing that Jim was a believer is not enough he wanted us to know that because God was with Him in the valley of the shadow of death, we do not need to fear death or an y other experience in our world. We have a God who stands with is here in this time of pain and He can bring us peace. We see God’s provision of peace, God’s guidance through life’s struggles, and lastly we see the eternal embrace.

3. Eternal Embrace

Psalm 23:5–6 ESV

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.

This last scripture allows us insight into what Jim is now experiencing. Jim is no longer experiencing pain and struggles. Jim is no longer struggling in this flesh. Jim is free from all of this. God has set up a table for Jim, anointed his head with oil, and Jim is in the house of the Lord forever. This is the eternal embrace that anyone who allows God into their heart can experience. Jim greatly loved his family and spent many of our Sunday's telling me how much he enjoyed his family and seeing them grow and become successful. Jim loved each and every one of you. I said it earlier and I believe it. In choosing this passage of Scripture Jim was doing what he always did. He was making sure we know where he is, and how he is doing. He was making sure we know what God has to offer in our lives and how we can accept and receive it. Jim would want you to know this morning that there is an eternal reward in the relationship with the Lord and it unites relationships that this world and flesh rip apart. Jim is in the home of the Lord this morning with no more pain and no more suffering and he is waiting for us to all meet him there.

Ending with the assurance of God's eternal presence, note how the imagery changes to a banquet, symbolizing abundance and blessing. You could suggest this depicts the ultimate fulfillment of living in God's house forever. Link the point to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who ensures we never 'lack' in spiritual blessings. As encouragement, propose that the legacy of love and friendship left by our loved one continues to 'anoint our heads with oil,' remembering them brings goodness and mercy to our own lives.