The Service of the
Resurrection
In Memory of
Stephen Chandler
Hawkins
Collections
Steve was a collector. He collected many things. Steve
collected Legos, Toys, Comic Books, Fiction and more-so Non-Fiction Books,
Music of all sorts, Guns, War Memorabilia, Coins, Model cars, bowling balls,
dumb jokes, trivia facts, cats, boxes in his basement, outdated food and beverage,
even visions of the stars and planets, and many things that I’m sure I was not
aware of. Collecting was a lifelong hobby for Steve that brought him joy.
But it wasn’t until the time that he started collecting
these Monster kits, that it hit me. Sure, in my childhood, I put together car
kits. You know, the ones you break the pieces off of a plastic tree, paint and
glue everything together, put the decals on and then, there you have it… a
model Mustang, or Avanti or a model whatever, car. As Steve was telling me
about how he put together Monster kits the same way. I didn’t do that, myself,
and really wasn’t aware of these model kits. Steve told me he remembered a time
or two putting these kits together with his dad, Speedy.
Recently, it hit me. Steve’s interest wasn’t really in this
model monster kit. Steve was having a memory of a different kind of collection.
Steve was collecting this stuff, for sure, but really all of
this stuff he was collecting wasn’t the point of anything. It was all just a
bunch of stuff. Useless worldly stuff. You see, Steve was really collecting
relationships. In collecting these Monster Kits, Steve was reminded of what he
was really collecting.
Steve was collecting a relationship with his dad, putting
together the Monster Kit.
So, lately I got to thinking…
Steve began his collection of what really mattered, with his
mom and dad.
Then he collected a sister. Along the way, Steve collected
cousins, more sisters, school friends and neighborhood friends, church friends,
sprinkle in a few brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, drinking buddies, bowling
buddies, car enthusiast buddies, sports friends, work friends, drive-thru
customers, Facebook friends and on and on I could go again.
Steve wasn’t collecting stuff… the stuff didn’t matter. The
detailed facts and figures and what seemed to me to be a bunch of trivial crap,
wasn’t what Steve was collecting. He was collecting links that led him to his
real collection that mattered… Relationships with people. The stuff was just
stuff. But the people collection was what really mattered the most to Steve.
Steve could recall more people’s names and details about
each person. Where they lived, what they did or are doing in life. How they
died, how they live, the houses they lived in and what they looked like now or
in the past. Steve knew these people he collected through life in stunning,
amazing detail that never ceased to amaze me as he would recall them in
conversations with Sue and myself many an evening, around our animals and the
kitchen table. Steve could talk about people to late in the evening and into
early in the morning. So much so, that I termed the phrase… “Steve Leave.” He
would say he had to go, but really never left because he continued to talk in
detail about someone he had collected and his relationship with that person,
before he would ever leave. And he could go on and on and on. Standing by the
door with his hand on the door knob. It was one of those fun and funny things
that were actually a delight… a “Steve Leave.”
When Steve was in the hospital earlier this month. I asked
him how he was doing. I didn’t mean in terms of his health. It was obvious his
health was horrible. Steve told me he was worried about the story of the weeds
and the wheat.
Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus put another parable before them, saying, “The
kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his
field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore
grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the
master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in
your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has
done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather
them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the
wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at
harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in
bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
I came to see that Steve realized that along the way of
life, he had not only collected stuff, people, and relationships; but he had
also been collecting sins. He was worried about his sin. Was he wheat or weed?
Will he be collected to be burned?
We all collect sin. Steve was facing his collection of sin
as we all face our own collection of sin. And he was afraid!
I told Steve… that just by you mentioning this subject, you
have turned. You have turned to face Jesus in the midst of your sin. Is that
right? He whispered yes.
And then the conversation went on. I told Steve, we all come
into this world as sinners. We all go out of this world as sinners. That’s not
the point. You have turned towards God in your sin to face him. You know now
that your sin is your death. --- Steve nodded yes --- Have you prayed about
your sin to God? --- Just a look from Steve – then a nod yes.
So, Steve, here’s the deal. In the name of God, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit… All your sins have been forgiven. I can, and will always
say this, because I can. I love to say this stuff. I can say it not because of
me… nope… I’m a sinner as well… I can say this because Jesus says I can. As
Jesus was speaking to his disciples, he told them…
John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew 16:19
I (Jesus) will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray
for one another, that you may be healed.
Why? Why do I say this? Well… Jesus is a collector too. We
live our life in a collection of sins. But Jesus took all of that sin we have
been collecting and takes it upon himself. God knows that we can’t help
ourselves. We collect sin every day of our lives. I have a huge collection by
the end of each day. I collect sins that I know about and sins that I don’t
know about. And so do you. Every one of us here collect sins. Some people hate
their sin and other people just love their sin. And then there are those who
hate their sin, then turn to the voice and face of Jesus.
I told Steve that God loves him so much, even in his sin,
that he takes his sin upon himself.
Jesus collects, and has already collected the sins of all,
and took that sin into himself, and put it to death on the cross, once and for
all time. When Jesus was with all the sins upon himself, he declared at his
death, "It is finished!" And he meant it! No fooling! The power of
sin was dead forever.
Huh? Then why do we all still sin?
We still live in a world of sin and evil, but the power of
sin to lead us into hell was defeated in Christ. In Christ we need not fear
eternal death and the fires of hell.
We know we are sinners and not gods. We know we need God.
I reminded Steve of the “Thief on the Cross.”
Luke 23: 32-43
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to
death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there
they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And
they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but
the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if
he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming
up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews,
save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of
the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you
not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do
you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we
indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man
has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into
your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with
me in paradise.”
Steve doubted his faith… yet it’s not even about faith. We
can’t muster up enough faith to buy this story. God gives us the faith we need
in order for us to be able to believe in him and receive salvation through him
alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this(faith) is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.
As we turn to Jesus, in the midst of our sin… Jesus grants
us faith and paradise.
Jesus grants us paradise not because we did something to
deserve paradise. No! He grants Steve, You and You and You and Me, paradise,
because he loves each and every one of us and wants more than anything that we
live in relationship with him. Jesus collects souls too. Souls to live with him
forever in paradise.
So, Steve, nodded and smiled.
In life we can always turn and listen and see and believe.
So, Steve, rest in peace, rest in paradise, there’s more to
come. Much more to come as you rest with all God’s Children together.
1 Corinthians
15:20-24
But in fact Christ has been raised from the
dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man
came death by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam
all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end,
when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after
destroying every rule and every authority and power.
Steve, we struggled with you in these last few years to see
a doctor. We could hardly even get it to happen. Little did I realize until
now…
You didn’t want to see A doctor. Nope! You knew something we
didn’t. You knew you needed THE Doctor.
Thanks, Steve that you made me part of your collection. And
thanks for this eternal conversation that you let me have with you in God's
presence.
I'm sure each of you will be reminded of your own eternal
conversation that you have had with Steve. Cherish it, write it down maybe,
hold it close, collect it in your mind, because it's worth so much more than
any stuff you will ever collect.
And thanks be to God that he has collected Steve and You and
You and You and Me into his saving arms! Turn to Jesus and believe… even if you
only have a mustard seed of faith, given to you from above.
Amen!
Commendation
Let us commend Steve Hawkins to
the mercy of God our maker and redeemer.
Into your hands, O merciful
Savior, we commend your servant, Steve. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a
sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own
redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of
everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. --- Amen
Rest eternal grant him, O Lord;
and let light perpetual shine upon him.
Merciful God, you heal the broken
in heart and bind up the wounds of the afflicted. Strengthen us in our
weakness, calm our troubled spirits, and dispel our doubts and fears. In
Christ’s rising from the dead, you conquered death and opened the gates to
everlasting life. Renew our trust in you that by the power of your love we shall
one day be brought together again with our brother Steve. Grant this, we pray,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. --- Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily
bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever.
--- Amen
*Evangelical Lutheran Worship Copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
*Biblical passages ESV
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