Sue Watt graciously sent us a note about the memorial and burial services for Dale Palmer along with the folders which were distributed. They arrived Saturday afternoon.

Reading sheets of paper is not the same as being there, but they can sure help us rejoice with Dale and grieve with Arvalee and her family. I would like to pass on to you two portions of the memorial folder. The first lists everything that Dale did in more than 50 years. It’s a good thing this is only a list because, as his manner of living spoke volumes, so his deeds would fill many more.

• Dale pioneered the Gimi tribal area in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in 1954.
• He served on the PNG Field Committee for some 40 years.
• He opened the Sepik region in 1972.
• He served in administration at the PNG Headquarters.
• He taught national students in the RI (Religious Instruction) Classes at Goroka Demonstration High School.
• He served in Rabaul, ENBP in the Islands Region.
• He served as an NTM Representative in the USA upon his return from PNG in 1993.

A friend of Dale’s father, Luther Briggs, was injured in Papua New Guinea during World War II. Thirteen-year-old Dale was fascinated by the adventurous tales of that far-away land. What if Luther Briggs had never told those stories? Would Dale have walked an entirely different road? Would many people in Papua New Guinea have heard “The Story” of Jesus Christ from someone else? Or, this is horrible to imagine, not at all?

Sue remarked that at the memorial service pictures were displayed of Papua New Guinea people Dale was privileged to see respond “God’s Tok” by faith. She didn’t say, but maybe it was mentioned that some of these had already been enjoying the presence of their Savior the day Dale finally arrived safely home.

Of course, there is more to a person’s life than what they did as a vocation. Dale and Arvalee are in an elite group of couples that were married 50 years or more. Fifty-nine years and two months to be somewhat more precise. He fathered and took responsibility in raising their five children. They have honored him, increasing his tribe with 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, each of whom know or are learning about their grandpa’s Lord and His completed work on their behalf.

Arvalee mentioned in her email that a counselor arrived shortly after Dale’s death to console her. But it was the counselor who heard of their faith and hope when Arvalee said, “the moment he took his last breath, he went to Heaven.” Printed in the memorial folder is a poem by Martha Nicholson that expresses a believer’s hope. It is entitled, “The Other Side.”

This isn’t death, it’s glory!
It isn’t dark, it’s light.
  It isn’t stumbling, groping,
    Or even faith, it’s sight!

It isn’t grief, it’s having
  My last tear wiped away.
It’s sunrise, it’s the morning
    Of my eternal day!

It isn’t even praying,
It’s speaking face to face.
It’s listening, and it’s glimpsing
    The wonders of His Grace.

At last I know the rapture
Of meeting face to face
The One who sought and saved me,
    And kept me by His Grace!

An adoring family and an accomplished ministry would all be meaningless without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In a 2003 audio recording, Dale spoke of the circumstances just prior to his salvation.

“It was at church that Pastor Kermit Byrd always shared a verse or two of Scripture with us kids after volleyball games on Monday night. Gradually those words began to touch my heart. At 17 I finally understood the Gospel message and put my faith in Christ as my Savior.”

As a capstone on the life of a great and effective servant of the Lord, it would seem appropriate to quote one of Dale’s favorite verses in Pisin English or even the Gimi language, but we couldn’t understand what was being said. Fortunately, in that same recording, Dale loosely paraphrased 2 Chronicles 16:9 from Pisin,

“God, the big one, knows how to watch really good the men and women who are under his authority alone.”

If you thought you were left out last week, you weren’t, and here’s whyÉ

My parents and I left early Thursday morning for Manteca, CA (just south of Stockton) so that on Friday we could participate in my first nephew’s high school graduation.

Pastor Rigsby reminded us of a conversation he had with Eric when he was in kindergarten. Pastor Rigsby asked, “Are you the smartest one in your class?” Without missing a beat, Eric said, “Yes!” (what do you expect a five year old to say?). We re-told the story, but Eric didn’t remember being asked or answering so pompously.

The night before his graduation I asked Eric, “Do you think you are you still the smartest in your class?” I got the same answer Pastor Rigsby got 13 years ago, but with an appended reason. While Eric wasn’t the valedictorian, he made an insightful observation, “Being the valedictorian doesn’t mean you are the smartest in the class, just that you got the highest grades.”

There was one bizarre moment of Eric’s graduation. I don’t mean that somebody forgot to turn on the sound system so the principal could be heard. In Eric’s class, there is a student named David Sheets. Ironically, there was a David Sheets in my high school class, too. Many of you know David and his family. David earned a unique award at our graduation. He attended all 13 years of school without ever missing one day. Not many people can make such a claim, however, David Sheets can, and so can this other David Sheets.

Saturday morning, June 2nd, we got a call that Jack Arbuckle died the night before. His lived his final two months at the Veteran’s Hospital in Long Beach. On the Sunday before we left for Manteca, prayer was requested and offered that Jack and Carmen’s daughter Linda would make it across the country (she drives a semi) in order to see her dad alive. God was gracious and Linda was given another opportunity. The funeral was Friday, June 8th at Riverside National Cemetery.

Last Sunday, June 3rd, I had to privilege to visit Don Slaven at First Baptist in Hughson. The fellowship and the worship services are always a delightÑthe time is just never long enough. Don’s sermon was geared toward graduates and “Children’s Sunday,” based in Proverbs 4. You’d think I’d remember the main pointsÑI heard the sermon three times (twice at church and again at lunch, for Eric’s benefit. Maybe it should have been for mine). I can only loosely paraphrase what I heard. “Have a purpose for your life that is larger than the status quo: go after God’s wisdom; avoid wicked people (who believe and practice the opposite of God’s wisdom); and let God’s wisdom control every aspect of you, your life and being.”

I thought I would get to visit with Wanda, as well. Wanda made an unexpected trip to San Diego because their youngest daughter, Jill, had a seizure (the second in two months). At that time doctors were able to treat symptoms, but had not discovered the cause. Keep Jill, her husband, and the Slavens in your prayers.

Thursday evening I was at Diamond Bar High School to witness Shawn Cho and Eric Moon’s graduation. It takes a lot of pomp and circumstance to get through 822 graduates. I am glad they invited me and had an extra ticket so I could be among those who were there to enjoy the accomplishment of their children. What an honor and privilege! There wasn’t anyone named David Sheets at DBHS. However, there was a third graduate there with whom I (birthday) partied 13, 15, maybe as many as 17-years ago, or so. Eric Moon and Shawn were dumbfounded and wanted to know how I knew Gary Brown and that he was being scouted by the Boston Red Sox baseball team. They think I know everyone. Gary is Dennis’ (my brother-in-law) nephew.

Just in case you begin to wonder a week from now whether you were left out, again, you weren’t, and here’s whyÉ

I will be in Dallas June 13 to 20. I have an aunt and uncle who want to commemorate their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a vow renewal service.