03/05/11 funeral

Paul Simpson

A. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe
itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When
the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death
has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the
power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. We are here today to praise our God and to honor the life of Colonel Paul
Simpson.
1. On behalf of the family, I want to thank everyone for your presence
here today.
2. And thank you for all the flowers, cards, food, hugs, and love that
you have given to this family. I know that they would want me to
express to you how grateful they are.
3. The family wanted me to especially thank all the hands-on care
givers that helped Paul through till the end. Mike and Angel and
Mildred and Connie.
a. While you may have been paid to do your job - you did it with
incredible love and care and this family wants you to know how
grateful they are.
C. About three weeks ago Paul called me and asked if I would come by to see
him. There was something important he needed to talk to me about. So the
next afternoon I dropped by to see Paul and he shared with me how he
believed that his time was short. He was in a great deal of pain. While he
continued to get up everyday and get dressed and take his treatments - he
was tired. Very tired.
1. And I remember asking Paul the most important question that any
human being can ponder, “Was he ready to die?” Yes he was - and
he shared with me a number of reasons why.

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 2. This morning I can say without a doubt that Paul was ready to die. In
fact, I don’t know of anyone more ready! He lived bravely and he
died bravely. His faith in God was strong.
3. Any life that leaves us unprepared for the next life is a foolish life.
Matthew Henry said, “It ought to be the business of every day to
prepare for our last day.”
D. When Paul finished speaking I picked up his bible and turned to the
passage that I’ll read to you now. 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:10, Therefore we
do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly
we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,
since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 1 For we
know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building
from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly
dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do
not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly
dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the
one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us
the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are
always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we
are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are
confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home
with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at
home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1. When I finished reading this passage he sat back in his chair smiled
and said, “How did you know? That is just what I needed to hear.”
2. And he asked that I use this passage as the text for my message here
today. And so I want to honor that request.
E. Let me set the stage by pointing out that in chapter 4 and 5 of 2
Corinthians the apostle Paul uses two metaphors to describe the human
body.

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 1. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 he refers to our bodies as jars of clay. Some
versions say earthen vessels.
2. And then in chapter 5:1 he compares our body to a tent. An earthly
tent.
a. Both of these would have been very familiar to a first century
audience.
b. But the message translates well today even for the 21 st Century.
F. Notice that first metaphor with me.

I. OUR BODIES ARE LIKE JARS OF CLAY.

A. Part of what that image conveys is that we’re fragile. Pottery can be
chipped cracked, or broken. In other words, this body is made out of
material that will not last forever.
B. But Paul’s main point in this passage is not about the vessel itself - his
point is about what the vessel holds. It’s what’s inside the vessel that’s
valuable.
1. The earthen jar is meant to be filled and emptied for some
constructive purpose. Used to benefit others in some way.
2. Maybe it’s filled with medicine for the sick, water for the thirsty, or
food for the hungry.
3. And so while the vessel itself is slowly wearing out it’s used to bless
and benefit others.
C. And so I began to think about what flowed out of this earthen vessel?
What was it that poured out of Paul’s life that blessed and benefitted
others?
1. I thought of several things that poured out of his life...
D. LOVE FOR COUNTRY.
1. Paul exuded patriotism at it’s highest level. And he would instill that
patriotism into his children at every opportunity.
2. I know of no one more loyal or more proud of his country than
Colonel Paul W. Simpson.
a. He proudly served his country for 28 years. He joined the army
in March of 1943.
b. He entered the army as an enlisted man - as bill said “just a
country boy” - but due to his focus, drive, tenacity and
intelligence he went from private to full bird colonel. He did it
the hard way.

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 c. As one member of the family said - it was sheer determination
to be outstanding at what he did.
d. He went to college while in the military earning his MBA from
George Washington University in 1965.
e. And before that Paul served in the Pacific in WWII and he was
a member of the 11th Airborne.
3. I love the story that Bill shared about how just a few days before his
passing they were having a bit of difficulty getting Bill back into his
room and to bed. Bill leaned over and gave Paul the Airborne
command, “Stand Up! Hook Up!” And even with all the fog of the
medicine Paul immediately responded, “Hook Up!” And his legs and
feet started moving in the chair. Feet that hadn’t moved in a while.
Bill had to keep up. He was still Airborne.
4. Here’s what one man wrote: “Can anything be more ironic than the
lives of our nation’s military? They love America, so they spend long
years in foreign lands far from her shores. They revere freedom, yet
they sacrifice their own so that others may be free. They defend their
own right to live as individuals, yet yield their individuality in that
cause. Perhaps, most paradoxically of all, they value life, yet so
bravely they ready themselves to die in the service of their country.”
5. Tom Brokow was not exaggerating when he called those who served
during WWII The Greatest Generation.
a. Paul Simpson was a part of that greatest generation who served
his country and survived the horrors of war.
b. He’s to be interned at Arlington Cemetery with honors.
c. Paul was proud of what he had done for his country. Not vain
but proud.
d. He is a hero in so many ways. You probably noticed all the
medals and honor that was bestowed upon him for his service to
his country.
6. But I want to read to you from a letter that Paul may have valued
more than all the letters and commendations he received. It was from
someone under his command and was sent to Paul’s commanding
officer. It was written in 1968 by an African American soldier. I
point that out because I think it speaks volumes about how Paul saw
human beings and not color. (Read letter.)

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 7. No doubt that what poured out of this earthen vessel was love for his
country.
E. Another thing that poured out of the life of Paul Simpson was LOVE FOR
HIS FAMILY.
1. One thing I learned recently is that the family talks about Paul in
terms of BB and AB. That stands for before Betty and after Betty.
Betty’s godliness really had a profound influence on Paul.
a. I can still hear her say his name. She kept the Colonel in line.
b. He did mellow a bit as he aged. He allowed God to soften him
up and work on his heart.
2. But he was a man who not only had incredibly high expectations for
himself but he also had high expectations for his children.
a. As I listen to Bill and Robin talk about their father it sounded
an awfully lot like my upbringing. My dad served in WWII and
was a part of that greatest generation. He also had that
commanding presence.
b. I could relate to what Bill felt when he said that he didn’t fear
the police or the military police but dad was another story. In
fact, if he had gotten in trouble with the police he would have
preferred that they lock him up for his own protection.
3. Bill shared the story how on one occasion a policeman offered to
take he and a friend home - they weren’t in trouble - just giving them
a ride. But Bill still felt compelled to tell the officer that he and his
friend were brothers so that the officer would take him to his friends
house. He said as soon as the officer drove off he hightailed it to his
own home.
4. I also love the story Bill tells about how one day he “borrowed” his
dad’s pen from his briefcase. It was a US government issued pen.
Paul caught him with the pen and dressed him down like you would a
private, “What are you doing with my pen? Do you work for the
government? Did you swear an allegiance to defend this country?”
He wanted to say, “Dad, I’m only in the 2nd Grade.”
5. Paul was a very strict disciplinarian in the BB era of his life. And I
know that in recent times he even acknowledged some of the
mistakes he made.

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 a. What parent can look back and see all their mistakes and what
they should have and could have done. Paul could see that.
b. But I know this: Paul was man enough to change and grow. At
the end of his life his relationship with his children was second
only to his relationship with God.
c. He spoke to me a number of times about how proud he was of
his children. How well they had taken care of him.
6. Luanne shared some memories about the AB - after Betty days.
a. Luanne said that when Betty and Paul got married she came to
think of his not as her stepfather but as just her father.
b. He didn’t treat Gail or Luanne like stepchildren. He did all the
things that a father would do. (Not that they didn’t have their
arguments.)
c. He and Betty were financially generous to all the kids.
7. And the family shared that as Paul suffered through his final days -
by all accounts he was gracious even in his pain. He was quick to say
thank you and to reassure his family.
a. What’s beautiful to me is that he had a wonderful relationship
with all his kids and grandkids.
b. He may have been a tough disciplinarian growing up but he
ended up a sweet, godly, caring father and grandfather.
c. He was able to face his death surrounded by those whom he
loved and who loved him.
8. Love for family poured out of this earthen vessel.
F. Another thing that poured out of Paul’s life, out of this earthen vessel was
LOVE FOR HIS CHURCH FAMILY.
1. It warms my heart to hear his family talk about how much he loved
this church. And I want you to know that he is so loved by this
church.
2. Not long ago I walked to the back of this auditorium with the
microphone as Paul stood here for the last time and thank this church
family for all everyone had done for him. For all the cards and visits
and love expressed towards him. It was a very emotional moment.
a. He would later tell me that he knew this would be the last time
he attended worship at Palmetto.
b. He wanted to come and say his goodbyes.

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 c. Elaine and I enjoyed taking communion to Paul during the last
few months but truth be known - he would have much rather
been here sharing communion with his church family.
d. And one of the special moments for Paul was the very last time
he took communion. Elaine, myself, Robin and Bill. That meant
a great deal to him and to me.
3. Paul touched a number of lives in this church.
a. He was a part of a men’s group here on Wednesday night that
he really enjoyed being a part of.
b. Of course it was easy to love Paul - he exuded a kind of
charisma. He’s going to be greatly missed.
G. Which brings me to another thing that poured out of this earthly vessel - A
GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
1. I don’t think there was ever a time that I visited with Paul when I
didn’t laugh.
a. I didn’t always know what he was going to say and neither did
he.
b. He had the quick wit borne out of an intelligent mind. He loved
to laugh.
2. We played golf several times together and one thing I learned about
Paul is that he had replaced all that bad language that he once used in
the military with some slightly less caustic and more benign phrases.
a. Although they were much more tame there were still a few that
I wouldn’t share from the pulpit.
b. On a number of occasions he would mishit the ball and let one
of his substitution words or phrases fly and then just look at me
and smile. “Sorry bout that Mike.”
c. Of course I was laughing so hard I couldn’t hit the ball.
3. Definitely there was a charisma and sense of humor that flowed from
this earthen vessel. (And by the way - his son Bill inherited that
charisma and sense of humor from his dad. I see that as I’ve gotten to
know him.)
H. One more thing that flowed from Paul, from this earthen vessel. LOVE
FOR GOD.

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1. Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment
in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This
is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets
hang on these two commandments.”
a. Jesus said that the two greatest commands were to love God
and love your neighbor as yourself. He said that all the law and
prophets hang on those two commandments.
b. In other words - all law has one or both of these commands as
the foundation. Get these two right and everything else falls
into place.
2. Paul got these two right. Not only did he love people as I’ve
mentioned. He loved God. And we talked a number of times about
his relationship with God.
3. Paul would be the first to admit that he was far from perfect. But he
put his faith in a savior who is.
a. He put his faith in a savior who died on the cross so that his
sins would be forgiven.
b. He put his faith in a savior who arose from the grave on the
third day to show that death is not the end.
4. And Paul loved to read the word of God.
a. He asked me a number of months ago to help him find a daily
reading with larger print. He was very faithful to read it every
day.
b. He loved to worship God and considered it a privilege to take
communion every Sunday.
5. This last week I was thinking about Paul’s army background and was
reminded of how in the bible, God is often referred to as the “Lord of
Hosts”.
a. The word “hosts” means “armies”. And so the idea is that God
is our heavenly Commander.
b. And I thought about the time when Jesus had an encounter with
a soldier, a Roman Centurion, who asked Him to heal a servant,
and Jesus said He’d not seen such faith in all Israel.
c. A good soldier is extremely capable of trusting their chain-of-
command.

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 d. Paul did not have the kind of foxhole faith that fades with time
- he had a lasting faith that trusted God all the way to the end.
6. Faith flowed out of this earthen vessel.
I. Clay pots. Earthen vessels. But there is that second metaphor that the
apostle Paul used in 2 Corinthians 5 to describe the human body...

II. THE IMAGE OF A TENT.

A. The Apostle Paul never served in the military, but as a tentmaker he knew
what it was like to live a nomadic life under harsh conditions. Remember
he wrote: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we
have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by
human hands.
1. People in the Old Testament knew what it meant to live in a tent.
a. Abraham was a nomad who wandered from place to place in
search of water and grass for his livestock.
b. The Israelites lived in tents for 40 years as they traveled
through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.
2. If you are in the army on deployment, a tent is frequently “home
sweet home”.
a. It’s all part of military duty, but no one lives permanently in a
tent.
b. It may SEEM like it at times, but the truth of the matter is, that
at the end of every field exercise or every deployment soldiers
return to their barracks or to headquarters or to a home.
B. That’s the idea in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul is saying that our bodies are a lot
like tents.
1. Tents are meant to only be temporary. They provide a place to live,
but only for a brief portion of our existence. They wear out.
2. And like the canvas of a tent, our flesh is just a temporary structure.
3. Paul pictures death as if one is breaking down a tent and folding it
up, in preparation for moving into a permanent home.
C. Jesus assured His disciples that this permanent, eternal structure was in the
process of being built. In the gospel of John, chapter 14, He offers these
comforting words: “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not
so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”

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 1. When soldiers are on maneuvers, what do they talk about? They talk
about how they can’t wait to get back home; how glad they’ll be to
get back to the “real world”.
a. And the misery and hardships troops endure make homecoming
all the more sweet.
2. The problem is that we often think the tent we’re living in is the real
world—it’s not. What we are experiencing is but a shadow of reality.
3. We are not in the land of the living. We are in the land of the dying.
It’s Paul Simpson who is now in the land of the living.
D. Death is merely a transition in life, like getting orders for a new
assignment.
1. We who remain are left with sadness, but we find comfort in the fact
that being a Christian means we never say goodbye forever.
2. We who are remain, grieve--but with hope. To be absent from the
body--this temporary tent--is to be at home with the Lord.
E. Paul Simpson’s tent here was worn out but now he is with God. No more
oxygen lines or breathing treatments. No more pain patches, wheel chairs,
or canes.
1. Paul has been liberated from his body and is now free from pain and
restriction.
2. Hymn writer Fanny Crosby said, “Don’t pity me for my blindness,
for the first face I ever see will be the face of my Lord Jesus.”
F. I would like to end by reading to you several passages from God’s word.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The
one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever
lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
G. Romans 8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If
God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own
Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against
those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the
one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that,
who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all
day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all

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 these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
H. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be
uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like
the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For 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 word, we tell
you that we who are still alive, who are left until 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 one
another with these words.
I. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,
and the time for my departure is near. 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.
J. Paul Simpson has fought the good fight, he’s finished the race, and he’s
kept the faith. May God’s promises be the measure of our hope and
expectations.

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