Taking Down Your Tent

David Schultz Funeral

3/21/07

That last song we just heard is called, “Wish You Were Here.” I believe that is Dave’s desire for each of us today. He wishes we were where he is right now. This past Thursday when I stopped by to see Dave, he had just taken a turn toward his home in heaven. The excellent nurses at Evenglow and the hospice team were serving him so faithfully and tenderly. We decided to put one of his cassettes on and these words filled the room…

In a little while,

We’ll be with the father;

Cant you see him smile?

In a little while,

We’ll be home forever,

In a while....

Were just here to learn to love him;

Well be home in just a little while.

Welcome

On behalf of the entire family of Dave Schultz, I want to thank you for coming. My name is Brian. I’m one of the pastors here at Pontiac Bible Church.

Psalm 34:17-18: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I pray that we will sense the Lord’s closeness today as we grieve the home-going of Dave.

But I also want you to know that our grieving, though real and raw, is filled with holy hope. We don’t despair because those of us who know Jesus will see him again…in a little while we’ll be home forever. Paul wrote these words to those who were stunned by the death of their loved ones in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.” I trust that these words bring you encouragement today

Friends, on the basis of David’s belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he left this world last Friday morning and is now in a place that is more real than what we experience here. 2 Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

And so we’ve come to:

• Celebrate Dave’s life

• Worship the One who gave him life

Prayer

Scripture Reading

One of the passages of Scripture that I read to Dave early on that Friday morning was Psalm 23. Betty Schultz is going to read that right now.

Special Music: “Amazing Grace” (Danny)

Eulogy

 Read Obituary

 Donna

 Jessie

 Natalie

 Dan

 Darla

 Diane

I loved watching the expression of love between Dave and Jane. Jane, you were such a faithful wife! Your tender and compassionate care for Dave did not go unnoticed. The way you caressed him and comforted him and cared for him was amazing. You were a model for young married people of what it means to keep your vow to “love, honor and cherish in sickness and in health…” Jane, you said that Dave always made you smile. I want you to know that you made him smile, too! And when you think of him now, you can still smile because he’s in the arms of the Savior.

In talking with the family, three key qualities stand out.

1. Dave was a man who loved to learn.

- Liked to go to school and work

- Loved to figure out how things worked – inquisitive

- Very organized; catalogued everything

- Built a robot

- Read owner’s manuals – favorite was the Bible

2. Dave was a man of honor.