David Painter - 2/27/19

22819

We gather this morning to mourn the loss and to remember, celebrate, and give thanks for the life of David W. Painter.

We temper our loss with the promises that are ours in God's Word. In Isaiah 26:19 we are told

But those who die in the Lord will live;

their bodies will rise again!

Those who sleep in the earth

will rise up and sing for joy!

For your life-giving light will fall like dew

on your people in the place of the dead!

The Apostle Paul wrote,

13And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

Let's pray together

Father, we come to you with hearts torn. We are sad, and yet at the same time we are so grateful for the gift you gave us in David Painter. Help us to remember today. Even more, help us to worship and to renew our confident hope that this is just a transfer point for David. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

David W. Painter was born June 7, 1932 in La Harpe, the son of George F. and Leah Jane Warner Painter. He grew up knowing what it meant to work hard and became quite skilled at tormenting his sisters . . .even to the point of hanging their dolls in the barn!

David's life was changed forever in his Junior year of High School when a new girl transferred into the sophomore class. David saw Jean Overton and determined she was the girl he was meant to spend his life with. So, he cancelled the date he already had with someone else and asked her out and they were married on August 18, 1951 which means they have married for 68 years. They were an inseparable team. David used to call Jean his "American Express Card because he never left home without her."

The Painters were blessed with four children: Mellany, Melinda, Jerry and Terry. They grew up knowing their parents were always there to support them. They were at all the games and other extra-curricular activities. There were no REAL problems with the kids. Oh, there was the time Terry helped orchestrate a Junior skip day from La Harpe High, and the time Jerry had a New Years Eve party that became bigger than mom or dad thought he was having. But for the most part, dad controlled the kids with but a look. When he twirled his finger like a Cyclone it meant "wrap it up" and when he wagged one or more fingers at you, you knew you had better stop misbehaving. . . or else! I get the impression that punishment often consisted of a 6:00 a.m. wake-up call to go out and cut hogs.

Every once in a while David would find out about some misadventure the kids were involved in. He would always make sure they knew they were "busted." They always acted shocked that he should think such things. When they asked who gave him this information he always responded the same way, "I read it in the Quill."

The only time the kids ever remember David being really angry was with the animals. Apparently, the finger wag didn't work for them.

David was a good teacher. He encouraged his children to stand on their own and helped them to have a good work ethic. He was a great mentor to his children and grandchildren. They all knew if they needed anything at all David would be there to meet the need.

David served as the Henderson County Clerk for 23 years. As a result, he knew just about everyone in Henderson County. He was discreet about his work and loved what he did. It is hard telling how many times he helped someone out because he wanted to believe everyone could do well if someone believed in them.

David was a presence. You generally could hear him in a room before you ever saw him. He always had a kind of twinkle in his eye that made you think he had something funny to say but was holding it in.

David loved to go to various community events. Some of it was because he needed to make sure people knew who he was to be re-elected but mostly, he loved people. Jean and the family would often be standing at the door for a long time before David would ever get around to leaving. It would be nothing for David and Jean to travel from Burlington to Galesburg to Macomb to home in a day trip. David loved to be on the go.

He used to hand out press on flowers as a way of reminding people to vote for David Painter. The boys are wearing some of those flowers today.

If you asked David how he was, he always said, "I couldn't be better." After some of his hospitalizations it changed to "getting better every day."

Once one of the nurses asked David, "Do you ever wake up grumpy?" It was like David had been waiting for someone to ask him that question. He said, "No, most of the time, I let her sleep."

A Nurse asked him before heading into surgery, "Can you tell me your date of birth?" David responded, "It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky . . . and then he would spin this yarn about the day he was born. When he was done, he asked, "Do you want to know what time it was when I was born?" The nurse said, "O.K. what time were you born?" His response, "I don't know, I wasn't wearing a watch!" On the other side of surgery in recovery one of the nurses made the mistake of asking him to tell her his birthdate . . . same story, even in a groggy condition. You have to wonder if they found a different way to ask him for that information,

The nurses loved him. He was always positive. He was a man who chose to see the best in people. You would be hard pressed to remember a time he said something negative about someone.

David was always ready to give people a hard time . . . especially people who knew little to nothing about farming. When Mark started dating Mellany, David took him outside so he could learn the difference between the smell of pigs and the smell of cattle.

He had a cousin who was in the FBI. The cousin said he had seen lots of marijuana in its distribution form but had no idea what the plant looked like. David told him to get in the truck and he would show him! So here is David Painted taking an FBI agent around to see all the marijuana plants! Hmmm.

David served as a loan officer at the Raritan State Bank. He was on the board of the Henderson County Library, the La Harpe School Board, Henderson County Soil & Water Conservation. He was involved with the American Cancer Society, a former leader in 4-H and the Boy Scouts. David was also a member of the Terre Haute United Methodist Church.

It was at said Methodist Church that the congregation was doing a responsive reading with the Pastor. At one point the congregation's part stopped but David, let's say, "ran the stop sign" and said with his booming voice "And the fruit of the Spirit is . . . " with just he and the Pastor. His family never let him forget that moment.

David was an avid Cardinal fan. He loved to organize bus trips to Cardinal games. I think he liked the fact that he got to go to a game with so many friends.

Then there was the time David called over to where Brenda Murphy works and said, "The Old Painter needs to get his hair cut." What the woman heard was some the "Old Tater" needed to get his hair cut. The nickname stuck. David just went with it. Eventually, Jean was known as Sweet Tater, the kids were tator tots, the Grandkids where tator hash browns, and the great-granchildren were the tator-chips!

David Painter was a strong and tough man. He had to have 5 surgeries in a two-month period. He seldom talked about pain. Instead he tried to lift the spirit and brighten the day of anyone who came into his room.

That was David Painter. He was a man who loved people. (he might thought malls were made just for him . . . people were already corralled for Him to talk with them. He loved to serve. He loved his wife and his family, and I think it is safe to say that he truly loved life. He leaves behind a host of people who are much better because they crossed his path. David died on Monday February 25th. On that day, I suspect heaven rang with laughter with David Painter right in the middle of things.

[Song]

In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 7 we read these words,

1A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.

And the day you die is better than the day you are born.

2Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.

After all, everyone dies—

so the living should take this to heart.

3Sorrow is better than laughter,

for sadness has a refining influence on us.

4A wise person thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Solomon says what sounds rather morbid: "Better to spend time at a funeral rather than parties." He also said, "Sorrow is better than laughter for sadness has a refining effect on us."

Solomon was called the wisest man in the world for good reason. Parties are a place we go to escape. Funerals force us to face reality. In parties we can just get numb. But at a funeral we have to ask ultimate questions such as:

Why am I here?

Why is there something rather than nothing?

Is this all there is or is there something beyond the grave?

What is it that really matters?

I've heard someone say, "For the Christian there is no such thing as tragedy. For the unbeliever, everything is tragedy." For the believer, even what seems tragic draws them even closer to God. It deepens faith. So it is really not a tragedy but a blessing.

For the unbeliever, good tend make them think they are doing fine on their own. They don't feel they need God. Therefore, it is not a blessing, but a tragedy wrapped in pretty paper. When all is said and done, what matters is where you stand with the Lord.

So let's take some time to do a little reflection. The Bible is clear on three things: First, not everyone goes to Heaven. There is a prevailing notion in the world today that the only thing you need to do to go to Heaven is to die! Or, similarly, only really bad people don't go to Heaven. That is not what the Bible says. Jesus said,

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

In other words, there are going to be some people who think they have earned heaven and will be surprised. They will find that their faith has been spurious; pretend.

Second, only those who put their faith and confidence in Jesus will go on the Heaven. We think we are good people but . . . to what standard are we comparing ourselves? God calls us to be Holy or perfect, just as He is Holy and Perfect. It is hard to believe anyone can think they are THAT good. Or even close to that good.

We are all people who have missed the mark. I like to say, "We are all broken." Some may be more broken than others but we are all broken and need someone to rescue us. That someone is Jesus. The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16 says "whoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life."

But what is it that we must believe? Almost everyone will tell you they believe in Jesus. However, what is necessary is to believe what He said. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father except through me." We must believe Jesus is the rescuer that we need.

Third, God gives this opportunity to everyone, including you. True faith involves action. It is not enough to merely mentally believe the truth about Jesus. We must be willing to stand on it, to depend on it, and live differently because of it. I like to say, we must be willing to "bet our lives" on this truth. In other words, if you truly believe Jesus is your Savior and your Lord, then you should live as if Jesus is your Lord!

Here's my favorite riddle: If you have three frogs on a log and two decide to jump into the water, how many frogs are still on the log? The Answer? 3 because deciding to jump and actually jumping are two different things. There are many people who have decided to follow Jesus but have never actually jumped. Only those who "jump" will find forgiveness and new life.

This offer is open to everyone. It does not matter how much you have, how well you are known, or how much information you have mastered. It doesn't matter how bad you are or how good you appear to everyone else. The offer is the same to everyone: Come to Jesus and have your sin forgiven, you life changed, and you future home made secure.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies." I believe fully that David Painter claimed Christ as His Lord and Savior. I believe that because I see God's fingerprints left behind wherever David was. And because of that he has now passed from death to life; from darkness to light; from broken to whole; and from being in pain to knowing a joy unspeakable.

And this is a good time to look at your own soul and ask, "If I were to die today, what would Jesus say to me?" Will He recognize you as one who truly followed, or as one who simply played with religion? Have you turned to Him to save you or do you just sing about it in church?

How can I be so sure it is all true? I am going to believe the man who died and rose again just as he said he would. Jesus didn't stay dead. After 3 days he came back. This was no "near death" experience. He was dead and buried with a guard stationed around his tomb. Yet . . . He came back and was seen by hundreds of people. Yes, I believe it is all true with every fiber of my being. If you are skeptical about His words . . . look at the actions of Jesus.

I guess what I am saying is: if we could ask David about life after death, If we could ask him how he was doing right now, I am pretty sure he would say: "I couldn't be better" and he would mean it far more than he ever did before.

This is our comfort, our hope, and hopefully where we have all put our trust.

[SONG]

It's my hope that you will remember David Painter and the example he set,

when you hear a boisterous voice in the lobby

when someone asks, "How are you?"

when you are tempted to complain about people

when you see people visiting in a mall

every time you have to do something at the County Clerk's office

And maybe even once in a while when you see "tater tots" or "tater chips"

Let's pray,

Father, we thank you that this is not all there is. We ask that you help us to be sure of our own faith. Thank you for your comfort in this time of loss. Wrap your arms around this family. Help them to build on the legacy that has been given them as a foundation. Grant wonderful memories, cause the stories to be continually recounted, allow David's memory to continue to motivate and inspire, and allow his character to somehow seep into us. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

-Bruce Goettsche