Retire The Colors
June 5, 2008 4:34 pm Church Life, Spiritual FormationI had the interment today for my friend Gail Oxley. Gail was a Viet Nam veteran so there were soldiers present to give him the military honors he so deserved. I love our troops. They inspire me. After I finished my brief talk and prayed, one of the soldiers played taps. He then marched smartly to the casket and gave the order to “retire the colors“. I got a lump in my throat as they folded the flag and presented it to Gail’s wife Joanne. “On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation” they thanked her for Gail’s service and presented her the flag followed by a salute.
Yesterday, we also “retired the colors” at Gail’s celebration service. Gail was wearing his “Live Different” bracelet and had his “Live Different” t-shirt folded neatly inside his casket. Joanne arranged for everyone at the service to have a bracelet just like the ones we passed out earlier in the year. I am on bracelet number 6 because I have given mine to several new children at Fellowship. I had one young lady who worked with Gail come and ask me for 15 more bracelets for her co-workers who had to miss the service. Cool stuff.
I’m reminded today that I am first and foremost of citizen of heaven. Paul said we are “strangers” to this world. My home is in heaven. I’m just staying here for a while. Gail being there before me makes me more anxious to “go home.” The “colors theme” make me think about the color red. The blood that our beautiful Savior, Jesus, shed for my sin and yours. How priceless his gift was and still is today. Someday, Jesus will say “retire the colors” and I will lay my spiritual armor down. I long to hear God say, “Nice Job John, welcome home Son.” The lump is back in my throat.
Until that day, I want to fight the good fight. I want us all to fight the good fight. The one thing I will no longer be able to do when I get to heaven is to tell people about Jesus and the difference he makes. That is why I do what I do. That is why I exist. It is why God is calling us to Elevate what we do as we redefine church in the Delaware Valley.
Gail served…do you?
Gail loved to worship…do you?
Gail connected with his life group…do you?
Gail gave…do you?
Gail made church his priority…do you?
Honor the colors…live different.
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Julie Hartman :
Date: June 7, 2008 @ 11:05 am
My brother-in-law, Gail, is also a brother in Christ. He is missed very much, but it does give so much comfort to know that he is with the Lord, and free from that chair and from the pain he experienced as a result of the disease. Thank you, Pastor John, for delivering one of the most amazingly unique services that I have ever attended, and also for sharing from your time with Gail.
I went away from the services just feeling so wonderfully blessed by the love shared between family & friends. Love truly never fails, and as for my wonder brother-in-Christ…I will see you again.
Thanks again to you and to all the folks at Fellowship Church for their part in the service and fellowship dinner afterwards.
Jo Anne Oxley :
Date: June 8, 2008 @ 6:55 am
Thanks, Sis for the above. As I shared with John at the end of the day of Gail’s celebration service, I never would have imagined that anyone would be able to make me laugh at Gail’s service, or that it would be possible to remain even remotely composed during those days leading up to and including the burial service.
Our Lord and Savior has amazing grace that He is ready and willing to give to all those wishing to receive and I assure you my hands were being held wide open to Him to receive that grace. Sure, the disease was rough and something both Gail and I would have instantly gotten rid of had we had the choice. The challenge for all of us is to Live Fully in Him in all circumstances, even (especially)adversity.
The many, many small and large details that paved the way for Gail’s promotion to God’s Home Office (in the best location of His Universe) were so amazing and perfectly timed that THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT GAIL HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT TO TRAVEL TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH JESUS LAST SUNDAY. I was privileged to be present to personally witness this amazing chain of events and for that I will be forever grateful and at peace with Gail’s new assignment. Absolutely, I will miss Gail, but to date I have this feeling that he is still with me. For now, I will honor Gail’s legacy while I “Be” (definition - wait quietly on Jesus for my new assignment). And I already have a feeling from deep within about some possibilities . . .
I want to take this opportunity to thank Pastor John and all involved in spending countless hours preparing and coordinating and delivering Gail’s celebration service and the meal for family and close friends afterward. You all truly made the day a magical day that I will always remember with a smile on my face.
Very importantly, my gratitude for all of the prayers! They were all answered!!!! Gail has been healed in the most perfect and permanent and divine way possible. And my spirit is strong and filled with joy and gratitude and I am closer in my relationship to Jesus than ever. So, now who doesn’t believe in the power of prayer???