I thought I would devote today's blog to my friend Paul who unexpectedly passed away last Sunday at the age of 41. This is the sermon transcript I will preach at his funeral in about 1 1/2 hours. Paul was a great friend to many. A great husband to Donette and a great father to Haley, Katie and Stewart. Paul was the youngest of five sons born to Dennis and Mary Catherine Moore. As you can imagine, Paul experienced a lot more of life than many of us. His brothers shared story after story with me about their childhood and great things about Paul.
Many of you know that Paul was a natural athlete. He was talented in ways that most folks just dream about. He was a great football player but he had a special love baseball. He made his first unassisted triple play in Peewee ball.
That was unheard of. Most young kids at that age aren’t sure which way to run the bases, but not Paul. He was a natural. A lot of that talent came from the coaching of his older brothers. Danny told me that he thought he did pretty good at most things then Paul came along and perfected all he’d done.
During his years at school Paul was one of the most popular members of the student body. He was a hard nosed, tough full-back and an amazing baseball player. I feel safe in saying that he was one of the best athletes Owen High School ever produced.
He always giving the best in him for the honor of the Warhorses, caring but little for personal glory. But in all of his athletic prowess, he also experienced a few bloopers along the way.
Like the time he was fielding an infield ground ball, stepped on his glove, tripped and broke his collar bone. Jeff Burleson said Paul got up and said, “I’m alright! I think I’m alright!” Then he straightened his shoulders and said, “No, I’m not alright. I know it’s broken boys!”
He was tougher than a pine knot. And as so many have said before, he was a tremendous athlete. But even the best are sometimes prone to trip up.
And this wasn’t the first time he had broken his collarbone. Once he and his brothers were all wrestling WWF style in their bedroom. Paul got pile drived into the bed post and he snapped his collarbone in the melee.
That was something that seemed to be rather common place around the Moore house especially if mom was away. Kenneth said whenever she would go shopping, they’d clear the living room & it was full blown WWF smackdown.
They broke a lot of stuff doing that. They were thankful when superglue came along.Although Danny said there were all kinds of lamps and what-nots glued together in all sorts of odd positions.
Whenever mom would take the boys shopping with her, they’d stay in the car while she went inside. Paul would somehow knock the car out of gear and they’d coast around. Finally coming to rest often times at the far end of the lot. That’s when mom would tan all their hides.
Paul also had some rather startling experiences with his older brothers. Like the time they all ran up the hill to look at the interstate construction and spotted a UFO. At least that’s what it looked like to the boys. Probably the first real UFO sighting ever in Black Mountain.
I remember Paul here at the church, when we would do the Easter dramas. He was one of our big muscular men that always played the part of a Roman guard.
Paul took the part seriously and like everything else, gave 100%. I sort of suspect that he took a little pleasure in roughing up (Daren Pinkerton) who played Jesus. Throwing him down on the floor, laughing, mocking him. He even roughed me up a little as well. I played the part of Peter. And I’m a pretty big man. But when I cut Malchus’ ear off, Paul shoved me down with one arm.
When we hear these stories, we can’t help but smile. Some of us even break out into laughter, and that’s ok. Laughter is often times the balm that soothes the soul. Just because you laugh doesn’t mean you don’t hurt. Laughter communicates life... and we know that Paul is still very much alive.
That’s because death is not a period that is a final ending... It’s a comma that ushers us into the eternal. Paul was wide open in everything in life. He gave 100%. At life at being a Christian, a husband and a father. He not only supported Haley and Katie in all of their sporting and other activities... But He kept them in church, kept them involved, and was sure to set a godly example for all of his kids.
And the love of his life was Donette. Thru good times and bad he was always there by her side. And Donette, you were by his side as well. It was evident to me that your marriage was a match made in heaven.
When someone as young as Paul dies, we have questions "Why is it that the enjoyment of life and the happy life of someone like Paul suddenly cut off?”
But we must remember. His life hasn’t been cut off. And he is experiencing enjoyment of life unknown to any of us. And the consolation for all of us is the belief that our life goes on at a higher plane after this thru out eternity.
Living here or going to heaven is sort of like having an old beat up, 40 year old Volkswagon & someone offered to swap you a 2010 Viper... You wouldn’t be sad about that would you?
But we still wonder, "Why on the very threshold of even greater things, a life full of promise and ambition, should life be cut off and the opportunity denied?”
We must remember that the fullness of this life is not measured in achievements, in years or material things.
I remember playing football in high school and in college. On some days, the coach would call us all in and we’d take a knee around him, not sure of what to expect. On those very special, rare occasions he’d say something like, “Okay men, you’ve had a great practice so I’m cutting you loose early... Let’s take it in!” None of us complained whenever practice ended early.
I believe this life is practice for eternity. And when Jesus called Paul last Sunday he probably said something like, “Okay Paul, you’ve had a great practice! You’ve excelled! Let’s take it to the house!” And Paul didn’t complain.
Paul had already experienced the most important things in life and he was an example for others along the way. His character was above reproach and he influenced the lives of so many. I’ll always remember Paul’s self-less, serving attitude and impeccable character.
C.H. Spurgeon once said: "A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you. So carve you name on hearts, and not on marble."
THE Psalmist David said, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
In John 11:25 Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
It takes faith to believe that. Paul had that kind of faith. What is faith? It’s trusting in something you can’t see before hand…
Paul had faith that God’s promises were true. He had faith that Jesus had prepared a place for him & one day he would go to that place…
Before Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered the New World, his country, Spain, which said, "There is nothing beyond." The three mile limit of their shoreline was the limit of all they knew and they thought nothing lay beyond the horizon… But when Columbus discovered an entire world beyond the shores of Spain, the motto of the country was changed to read… "There Is More Beyond!"
Friends, because of Jesus, we know there is more beyond. There is a land that is fairer than day that lies beyond the life we know right here…
Because of Jesus, we know that this world is not our final destination… and for those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord, the best is yet to come.
So what do we say about Paul’s life? What are some of the things we’ll remember him by? First, he lived...
1. A Life of Integrity… People know him as a man of integrity… A man that was true to his word. What a great trait to be known by…
2. Paul was a Patient man yet a Firm Man who was also loving and kind.
3. Paul also Leaves us Many Precious Memories… All of you have memories of him that will bless and enrich your lives forever.
Memories are the precious jewels of life that God gives us to decorate our way.
And those memories live on, even after the person is gone, reminding you of the times you spent together & the principles of life that live on thru you.
4. Lastly… Paul’s life Tells us of a Blessed Hope.
When a Christian leaves us in death, it’s not the end & it’s not forever; Not a final good-bye, just so-long.
Death seems so final. But it’s not. It’s a passage to the other side. And if we knew Jesus, we’ll be reunited with believers who’ve gone on before us…
In fact, in my mind’s eye, I can see them standing on the other shore, waving to us; telling us to come on in… and Jesus will be at the head of the crowd.
He went before us so that He could show us the way home… And when He died, He blazed a trail thru the unknown so we don’t have to be afraid.
As a boy growing up in Canton, I used to walk home from school every day with my best friend Dennis.
Dennis was a great little guy… always looking for adventure… not afraid of anything…
On the way to our house, we passed a big culvert that ran under the road. It was at least 4 feet tall, and carried a little stream from one side of the road to the other. The entrance and exit of the culvert was overgrown with blackberries & honeysuckle.
It was dark and a little scarry… I always imagined that an old Troll lived in the culvert and he had a bunch of snakes he couldn’t wait to unleash on tresspassers…
One day as we were walking home Dennis said, “Let’s go thru the culvert!” I told him he was crazy, but he bounced down the bank and disappeared into the dark pipe. I was screaming for him not to go… I was afraid he’d disappear in the troll’s house… In a couple of minutes, I heard a familiar voice calling out from the other side of the road, “Come on Kevin! You can make it… Come on… take the path to the other side…”
And so I passed thru the culvert to the other side unafraid. Dennis had gone on before me and was there to meet me.
In a sense that’s the way Jesus meets us on the other side… we may only see the thorns and the bushes that confuse us and block our way…
But Jesus has already blazed a trail before us and when we get to the end, we’ll see there’s nothing to fear… Jesus has prepared the way…
In John 14, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; F80 if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
And we can have hope one day I when we enter that celestial city not made with hands, we’ll see Jesus, waving us over…
And Paul will be there too… maybe with a fishing pole in his hands trying to catch a trout out of the Jordan… Or playing a game of pick-up with Peter, James and John.
Do you have that kind of hope? Do you know Jesus? Is He your eternal hope? Have you trusted Him for eternal life?
Paul did… what about you? What is your hope built upon?
The Apostle Paul said, “If in this life only, we have hope, we are of all men the most miserable…”
For a believer, death is not a hopeless state of uncertainty… it’s just a passage way, a culvert that leads from one side to the other…
