Hal Church Funeral

Psalm 23:title–6 HCSB

A Davidic psalm. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff —they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Requiem for the Living

Requiem for the Living

Don't weep for me when I'm gone Those who knew me, know full well that in love and in laughter I lived as a prince And, in my heart of hearts, I served my calling Waiting for this time to come, when I would see my king

The first time I heard those words I didn’t really understand what they could mean.

I knew what they meant. I understood seeing my king… I understood what it meant to serve my calling, at least I think I did. But those words to that song didn’t hold the same meaning for me when I first heard it as they hold today.

Something happens when you lose a loved one, someone that is close to you, someone that you have known and grown up with or had a long lasting relationship with .

In times like these we turn in so many directions looking for meaning, looking for a reason, for answers.

Earlier we read psalm 23

A few things stick out when it comes to this psalm.

The lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing lack.

A shepherd protects. a shepherd cares for, a shepherd guides the sheep into safe places. Sheep are dependent on the shepherd for so may things. This is so important when we look at our lives. We have a shepherd that makes sure we have all we need. Even when things don’t make sense, even when we are afraid, or confused or angry. We have a shepherd that makes sure we have all we need.

Even though I go through the darkest valley I fear no danger, for YOU are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.

We are going through a dark valley today.

We all have questions, we are sad, we are wondering why. We are even a bit mad at God. It’s easy to say we want to celebrate the life of Hal, it’s easy to give lip service to the fact that we know where he is, and we do. Hal is with the Lord. Scripture makes that clear to us. IF you have a relationship with Jesus.

I love what Paul says.

(HCSB) — 16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 1 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. 6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight, 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

All of us are marching toward one conclusion, our outer self this flesh and blood that we are grows weak, it falls apart, breaks down, each day that we walk this earth we walk towards something, we walk towards eternity, there is one question that remains for every one of us and that question is which eternity are we marching towards.

17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

As a follower of Christ Hal had to undergo affliction. In the last months of his journey on this earth things were not easy. Time in the hospital and at Shepherd of the Valley back and forth. His body once able to do so much slowly shutting down. but in that affliction there was something more going on, something more happening, sorrow in the night but joy in the morning though out his life Hal was saving up in his eternal account. The one that really matters. Each hardship here a deposit there. Each act of service here an investment there. Growing, maturing, getting larger and more amazing and more beautiful not because Hal deserved it but because the God he served was making the deposits.

18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

While earthly accounts may seem small, while the time here seems to have been short we realize something more. Hal understood that what happens here is temporary what happens there is forever. He knew like anyone of us who has a relationship with Christ knows that this world is not his home it’s just a stopping place. Eternity happens for everyone no one escapes eternity we were built for it. Hal understood what that meant and he allowed God to build with him an eternity full of light and grace and worship of the one who created us all.

2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven,

There came a point on Hals journey just like it will come in all of our journeys where this flesh will give out and our spirit will long for the freedom that comes when we enter our eternity with the one who made us. Aches and pains

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

David understood what it meant to have an eternal perspective.

Paul says it this way.

6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight, 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

The assurance that Paul has here is amazing. He tells us that we are always confident. For the one who has placed his or her faith in Christ there is no confusion, no fear in death. Death is not an end for the Christ follower, as cliche as it sounds death is the beginning of our real life the life that we are designed for. Death for the believer, death for Hal was a change of address to the place that he was always designed to have. A place in the presence of the one who created the very universe in which Hal lived. Who put each person together. Who numbered the hairs on his head. Who saw Hals beginning and knew of his ending. And who welcomed Hal home to the place where he belonged all along.

While all of that is true it does not make our lives here any easier.

The question is what about you?

End with a very clear idea of what God wants for those who do not know Him and the promise he makes to those who do.

I end with this scripture one of the ones that gives me the greatest comfort when I am in the place we are all sitting in right now.

1 Corinthians 13:12 HCSB

For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

Hal now sees all there is to see, now knows all there is t know and if he doesn’t he has the opportunity to sit at the masters feet.

He no longer has pain or wonders how long He simply lives in the presence of his Lord. And I am sure that He longs for all of us to do the same.