Don wore his old military uniform a couple of years ago on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Kathy brought flowers from their garden.
From the message given by Loren Romick at the funeral of Don McIntire -
We are gathered today to commemorate the life of Donald Delbert McIntire born November 8, 1938, and asleep in the Lord May 28, 2014.
Sometimes in our lives we feel that words are not enough. It seems that words can't do justice to our memories nor approach the ability of verbalizing our emotions. We must try though and for each of us it will be different because we have our own unique memories and emotions. All I can do is try to express my own.
As I was thinking about what I should say today a question came to mind. Many have asked it before and many will ask it again. The question is this: What is the measure of a man? How do we mark success in this life? As I thought about that it occurred to me how simple Don was, and I mean that in the best possible sense of the word. There was nothing complicated about him at all. Nothing contrived. Nothing phony. What you saw was what you got and that was refreshing, especially in a world that seems to grow increasingly complicated. He enjoyed the simple things of life and. now that it's all said and done, aren't the simple things what we cherish the most anyway? So in memory of our simple, uncomplicated brother in Christ we will look to a simple, uncomplicated text:
So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
In this passage the apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthians who had a tendency to complicate the simple Gospel. So Paul reduced Christianity to its core and summed things up by saying: Three things remain: faith, hope and love. I would like to consider these three things in respect to Don.
Let's begin with faith. Faith abides in our innermost being - our spirit. It is that measure given to each of us as granted by God but we must use what He has given to us for "Faith without works is dead." Can anyone deny that Don had an active, lively faith? He showed his faith by his works. He was a tireless worker for the Lord, serving in whatever way he was asked to.
Although Don was never officially a "member" of Mt. Olive Church that didn't keep him from being active - and I do mean active! He shared in the load of teaching Sunday School and was a pillar in Vacation Bible School and special services. When asked to fill the pulpit he gladly did. He was usually the first to show up when a work day was announced. When the call was made for helpers to clear the church grounds who was there the first thing the following morning? Don...with his mowing scythe. A simple tool right? But the perfect tool for a simple, uncomplicated man. He worked on every project our church undertook. He was a worker. Jesus was a worker too. He explained that He healed on the Sabbath because His Father never stopped working so why should He? Jesus continues to work as He is preparing a place for all those who love Him. Would it surprise any of us to find out that Don is looking for a hammer somewhere to pitch in to get the job done?
But faith is more than what a man does. It is also measured by what a man believes. Again, can anyone doubt Don's faith. His faith in Jesus was the source from which all his works flowed. Just as he was a tireless worker, he was a tireless witness for the Lord. He was always ready with a scripture verse for comfort or direction. He was never ashamed of the gospel of Christ and gladly confessed Jesus before men. For that reason we can rest assured of Christ's own promise that He will confess Don before the Father! What more could a person ask for than that?
Faith is really a simple thing. Jesus said all we needed was the faith the size of a mustard seed to see God work. Don had that kind of simple faith. It was part of who he was.
As faith resides in our spirit, hope resides in our souls - our emotions and our minds. Just as it is difficult to distinguish between our spirit and soul so hope and faith can be hard to separate. In fact, the writer of Hebrews uses hope in the definition of faith when he writes, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for." We hope with our emotions and thoughts and this is the area where we are most vulnerable today. All of us are sad. Some are confused. Some may even be angry. Whatever we are feeling we all agree that death is somehow wrong. We sense it deep within us, and this is okay because it's true. Death was not designed for man. The Bible tells us "Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men." Death is wrong! It entered from outside. But it's here now. We have to deal with it. Can it be made right? Yes it can! "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica assured them, " But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
It's alright to grieve. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. But what a difference hope makes! Our faith in Jesus, His death and resurrection, keeps hope alive. All those in Christ will see Don again at the glorious return of Jesus. What a promise! This is why we can affirm the Scripture as it proclaims, "Then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" This is God's promise. This is our hope.
Just as Don displayed faith, he displayed hope. He was full of hope. Hope poured from his lips - hope for his family, his church, and fellow believers everywhere. Above all, there was no doubt that his hope was in the Lord.
That being said we need to come to terms with something. Don doesn't have faith or hope anymore. He doesn't need them. Paul writes, "Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?" We know that Don is now seeing what he hoped for the most - the face of God. Faith and hope are now exchanged for praise and worship. All tears are wiped away and no more pain or death.
So with faith and hope removed all is reduced to love. I have suggested that faith is of the spirit and hope of the soul so where does love reside? I believe this love, God's love, agape love, must permeate our entire beings - spirit, soul and body. It must stem from our spirit's communion with God, flow through the thoughts and emotions of our soul, and command our body to offer itself as a living sacrifice to the Lord, ready to do His will. One more time I have to ask, can anyone deny that Don loved this way?
He loved in so many ways. He loved creation. He loved to be outdoors working, hunting, fishing, or just walking admiring God's handiwork. He loved to garden and share in his bounty with everyone. Sometimes our church porch looked like a farmer's market because Don would bring his produce and give it away to anyone who wanted it. He loved giving and receiving hugs. The simple things of life. He loved to sing, and as Kathy claims he obeyed scripture by making a joyful noise to the Lord. He loved collecting pennies, finding enjoyment in those simple little things that others discard. He loved taking pictures of everything because he appreciated the beauty in everything- flowers, icicles, wildlife, and especially his favorite subject - the beauty in his family's faces. If you saw Don speak of his family once you would never forget the way he smiled and the way his eyes lit up. How he loved each one of them.
He was so proud of each one of you. Even in the midst of the tribulations and strife that sometimes befall families his love for you never failed.
What greater proof could there be of God's love expressed in a man than saying that his love never failed? This is why love is the greatest of all. True love - God's love - never fails.
Finally, and most importantly, Don loved the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. And I'm convinced that he would have me share the message of love with you. "Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave us His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Our simple friend, Don, would want me to invite you to share in the simple gospel, to have faith in Jesus, that you would hope in Him, and that you would respond to His expression of love by asking Him to be your Lord and Savior, then loving Him in return.
Perhaps then, this is the true measure of a man - how much he loves. And if love is the true measure then our friend, brother, grandfather, father, and husband, stood very tall. Don is at rest now, asleep in the Lord. We grieve, that's true, but let us remember not to grieve as those who have no hope, We have the ultimate hope - Jesus Christ. Let all of us who grieve rest in Him as well.
We thank you God for the blessing of knowing Don. He will be greatly missed here by all of us, but we eagerly anticipate the day when we see him again in Your Kingdom. Watch over those who mourn this day and grant them peace. In the Name of Jesus Christ our hope, Amen.