Earl Schneider Funeral
Notes
Transcript
1 There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
3 a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
This is a time of death, a time for mourning.
Grief is the appreciation of what was good. It is the appreciation of love, of friendship, of joy, of steadfastness during the hard times. Grief is gratitude of what has been. If this life was awful we would not mourn. We might be silent or a little pleased. Grief is the realization that life will be different now.
We still might also have some happiness at this moment that one who was so loved is no longer in pain, suffering and not able to maintain life as they once did. This might warm give us solace.
Nothing of what you feel today is wrong.
Jesus wept, is the shortest verse in the Bible and the event occured as friends mourned as we are mourning together.
Even anger at the injustice of death or the hardship of a mortal toil is not wrong. Maybe times of frustration and hurt between you and Earl, you and Dad, you and your brother come to mind. Times where you didn’t get to hear the apology or say the apology. This too is proper to reflect on today. Today can be that opprotunity as you say good-bye to forgive Earl. To forgive him as you would want to be forgiven, and to forgive yourself. To recognize that in the relationships here today you have opportunity to forgive, to ask forgiveness, to love, to support, to appreciate and to grieve with.
18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted;
he saves those crushed in spirit.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Prayer
Prayer
I didn’t know Earl, but I know his amazing son. I appreciate who is son is and that is a reflection upon his father. I am here today because of the family’s request but I find this family to be kind, warm and hospitable. So laid back even in times of grief. Thank you. The life you now live also is a reflection on the life of Earl Schneider.
While I only met him once to my recollection, as I heard stories about him I reflected on something his sister said, that is so wise, it says something about a person in how they exit this life.
Earl passed peacefully in his home after days of being cared for by family, friends. and the wonderful people of hospice. His ex-wife, sister, and good friends held hands and prayed as his beloved dog seemed to join them in prayer as his body was removed from the home. To be so loved that even your ex-wife comes to be by your side is a beautiful thing.
But before I get to romantic about his life, I have heard that Earl was gruff, with a stereotypical german way of telling you when you are doing something wrong but quiet if you are doing it right. His instructions were clear and his value of good craftsmanship high.
This is one legacy of his life, the value he brought to his work as a carpenter. Yes the same job that Jesus did with his step-father Joseph. At one time Earl worked for a company with his father and his son all working for the same company all as carpenters. The ones who have to know so much to get the job done so that we can have shelter, places to work, places to enjoy life.
Earl taught his son Earl Jr. how to work on a construction site, he said “your job is to make your boss money. If you don’t make your boss money you don’t have a job.” He instructed Ej to look for ways to save time, to bring added benefit to the job including always carrying a pad of paper and something to write with. His work ethic was so valued that his friend Eddie would even come over to ask Earl advice about his own job site.
One of the hardest thing in life for a man is to have a good friendship. Earl had that with Eddie and Bubba. He enjoyed life with them car shows, hanging out, shooting, tinkering. Long after the work world had stopped he enjoyed his friends.
Love for work, for friends, and for love.
He loved, he was married three times and he was with his beloved Betty upon her death not too long ago. He loved her very much. He showed love to his kids. He wasn’t one for huge displays of affection but his daughter said it well I know he loved me because he told me.
His step children speak positively of him which says so much and even his daughter-in-law says he was a father to her. One she could count on, one she go to for wisdom.
Again the man wasn’t perfect, none of us are. I heard that a way to tick him off was bring him Pepsi and not Coke. He himself had trouble asking or receiving help. But he loved and he was loved. which is a beautiful thing to be known for.
God tells us in his eternal word
9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.
We are in awe of God. Because Earl brought people into this world we, there friends love. Because Earl gave those who knew him a blessing of friendship, love, and life.
His life lays in your hands know Lord.
this gives me purpose to call of us to reflect on this gift of life that we still have.
What will we continue with, while those who knew him grieve I ask you to purposefully choose to take something from His life, something good or maybe a warning that he gave you, or maybe a failure that he showed that you will avoid. What will you take from this life of Earl’s? In this way you will honor him and honor God by continuing.
I speak a lot of God today because today we recognize that much of what we think is so vital is not that important. Much will be departed with in the days to come. But what will not be departed with are the things that God tells us are the most important -
Love, joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness, steadfastness.
We do go on and what we do with this life matters when we see God. Today, we can drop all that doesn’t matter and reflect on where we stand before God. Because as Earl is today we will be. Perhaps today you recognize that your life now needs to change to be ready for the next life. For what really matters when you stand before God.
I love a diet dr pepper but I can tell you Pepsi, Coke, Dr Pepper not going to matter before the Lord, nor will our jobs that we did, nor will our bank accounts, or any other statistics about us. But instead our love for Jesus and our love for one another. These are the things that matter.
Thank you Lord for this wonderful life, for Earl for what he built but more importantly for what he built in the hearts and souls of his friends,and his family bless them Lord with the awareness of your presence in their time of grief, blessed them with good friendships, good stories, and the warmth that comes with rememberance my their tears be the water that produces life. May their sorrow be filled with appreciateion of what was but also may thier lives be filled with the joy of living out what their friend gave them for the rest of their days, the hope of an eternity with you Lord Jesus. In Jesus name Amen
Music
Music
Sharing
Sharing
Prayer
Prayer
Burial
Burial
