(Carl) David Carlton Pace Jr. Memorial

We have come here today to celebrate and remember the life of David Carlton Pace Jr, better known as Carl. On behalf of the Pace family, I would like to thank each of you for your words of encouragement, your timely prayers that have ministered to them, and how you’ve practically supported them during this time. I was speaking with David Sr. and he knows that God has been coordinating and choreographing this season. Thank you for rallying around this family during this unexpected and unplanned tragedy.

Death, though it happens in the blink of an eye, in a moment, is never something that is momentary for loved ones left behind. This family will walk through the death of their son, brother, loved one, and dad for a season. Death is not a page in a book, it’s a chapter. So friends and family members I want to encourage you to continue remembering this family in the weeks and months to come. Don’t forget. Send them a card. Stop by their house. Visit the kids at school. Pray for them. Be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to this family during this season.

But death

We have come to celebrate and remember the life of Carl David Pace.

Prayer

Now, we are going to watch a slide-show with pictures of Carl and family a few times and I encourage you to take the next 20-30 minutes as an opportunity to remember and honor the life and memory of Carl.

Song

Video

Prayer

Eulogy

Carl, 43, passed away October 13, 2017.

He was born January 3, 1974 in Wichita Falls, Carl was a lifelong resident of Iowa Park and worked 12 years for the City of Wichita Falls Water Distribution and Treatment Cypress Plant as a senior mechanic with a Class A Surface Water License.

His hobbies were cookouts and family gatherings, and he was also an avid fisherman.

Carl is survived by the love of his life, Rachael, and his children Seth, Natalie, Chance, Tyler and Lexie; his father, David Pace Sr. and wife Diane; mother Debra Crown; brother Kevin and wife, Tracie; nephews Mitchell and Mason; Uncle Leeland Pace and wife, Inge; Grandad Clyde Webb and wife Bonnie.

Carl was preceded in death by his uncle Gene and wife Shirley Pace; grandparents Alton and Ida Lee Pace, and grandmother Barbra Webb.

As a child, Carl was attached and had a fond love for his Grandma Webb - which he called “Mimaw Webb”. He loved playing sports - baseball was a passion during his early years and as he grew it morphed from baseball to football. For those of you who knew Carl he was the type of man who worked with his hands and had a sharp mechanical mind.

He went to tech schools for welding and refrigeration and received a class B and a class A license in Surface Water. Carl had a mind for mechanics. It made sense to him. You know some people compose, others write, some are orators and a few are olympians - but Carl he was gifted with mechanics. He was the type of man who put his hand to the plow and maybe developed a bit of tunnel vision while plowing the field or accomplishing a goal but, Carl would get it done.

He was a family man who enjoyed cooking, family get-togethers, having friends over and he loved fishing. Recently, in fact, he bought a boat that he took the kids out to the lake on. He was a good dad, a good man and a good friend.

Chance it was brought to my attention that your dad loved chess and that is something that he has passed on to you - chess club at the Junior High, right? You know you will always have that. Each time you checkmate your opponents king you will remember that small, but invaluable gift your dad passed to you. That is precious. Don’t let it go.

Carl loved his big family and he also had a second home and a second family at the with the City of Wichita Falls at the Cypress Water Plant. Carl considered each of them extended family. Butch his bossman was a 2nd dad to him. Someone who took Carl under his wing like a mother hen. He worked 12 years with the City of Wichita, worked up through the ranks and though he received offers to go elsewhere and work - he couldn’t leave his second family. Carl’s life wasn’t always sunny and light, he walked through hard times, but in those times his 2nd family met many practical needs in his life.

Specifically, there was one Christmas where Carl wasn’t going to be able to provide Christmas for his family - he was doing all he could to take care of the necessities - so the employee’s of the City of Wichita rallied together and made a wonderful Christmas for his family. We all need that type of community in our life, that type of extended family and I’m thankful that Carl had it.

And then David had Racheal - the love of his life. She was his partner, his friend, someone he could laugh with, yell at and find home with her. Racheal shared a moment she will never forget that on the day that Carl died that morning he came by the house unexpectedly and to Racheal’s surprise and she said, “babe, what are you doing here?” And Carl’s response was “I just wanted to tell you I love you, babe.” He loved you and he loved his family.

David Sr. pointed out that Carl trusted in Christ as a young man and was baptized at the “Little Chapel on the Hill.” Which, family and friends, is ultimately the only hope we have for David.

Transition: Though from our perspective this death is untimely and unplanned from God’s - it is quite the contrary. That’s one reason I love God’s Word so much because it reminds us that there is a God that is in charge of the entire universe and knows how to weave our lives in a perfect pattern, by causing and permitting all things. There is story after story that reminds us that God is a wise God that is in control in the best of times and the worst of times.

In we run into a passage that for the disciples was the worst of times.

John 14:1–6 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

On the eve of his death, Jesus spoke to his disciples the most comforting words found in Scripture. We turn to his words this morning — for in them we find life, hope, peace, comfort, and clarity as we grieve at the death of Carl. And family and friends, it is right for us to grieve and to have sorrow, yet not without hope.

Even Jesus wept at the death of his dear friend Lazarus; which means that he understands the heaviness you feel during this time. Yet, with this understanding also comes the promise and certainty of Christ through the gospel. Let’s look at the words of Christ almost immediately before he would go to cross to bear our sins and open the way to the Father. He begins like this...

A. “Let not your hearts be troubled” (literally, “Stop letting your heart be troubled”)

Is that a cruel, uncompassionate command to those weighed down with grief?

No, Jesus was well acquainted with sorrow. He left his heavenly home and became 100% man while still being 100% God. No, it is a reminder that each person is responsible for the condition of our heart.

1. We must remember the situation.

Jesus’ told his disciples that he would be leaving and that brought sorrow to the disciples. They could not see and grasp the future glory that his departure through his death and his resurrection would bring.

2. And We must consider.

That it is normal for us to be focused on the momentary, the present — that’s where the disciples were in their emotions and thoughts. But it is not always healthy to remain there.

It is normal to be absorbed with those things most dear to us — thus we see the disciples absorbed with Christ. And it is normal to be absorbed by the most pressing matters before our eyes — thus the disciples could only think of keeping Jesus with them. These are normal things, but not always best.

It is normal to think that a deep grief or pain or sorrow will never go away. Yet never is a long time, and we are not King of that time or of God’s wise and kind purpose in it.

3. And we must Listen to the command.

So Jesus, recognizing that his disciples were already troubled, with great compassion and wisdom, told them it was time to no longer be troubled. They had gone through the ripping emotions of thinking they would never see him again. But he directs them to something much greater, something lasting and eternal — being in his Father’s house.

B. The blueprint for bringing hearts to rest and peace — two commands from Christ. He says let not your hearts be troubled...

1. “Believe in God.”

Believe in God — not a god of your imagination or your superstitions or your design.

heavens and earth belong. Believe in God — the One who has given names to all of the stars, the One who knows when a sparrow falls and who knows the very hairs on your head. Believe in God — the One who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, who gives life and breath and existence to all things. Believe in God — the One who is our refuge and strength and who is an ever-present help in time of need, the One who is our light and salvation before whom the nations are but a drop in the bucket and a speck of dust on the scales, who is our shepherd who comforts us with his rod and staff and who prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Believe in God — the One who has elected a people in Christ before the foundation of the world, who did not spare his own Son but delivered him over for us all, and who freely gives us all things in Christ Jesus. Believe in that God! Ponder his infinite majesty, goodness, loving-kindness, wisdom, mercy, and love. Ponder how he sent his Son on your behalf. “Do not let your heart be troubled,” Jesus said. Yes, believe in God — what a God he is to soothe troubled hearts. 2. “Believe also in Me.” Again, we are not to believe in a Jesus of sentimentalism or a Jesus of our fanciful imagination, but Jesus Christ the Lord revealed in Holy Scripture, the only unique Son of God the Father, who is coequal with the Father, who possesses all of the divine attributes. Believe in Jesus Christ, who is eternal and immortal, who himself made everything and apart from him nothing has come into being, who in the fullness of time was sent by the Father to be conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin’s womb, who was born under the Law so that he might

Believe in God — the God of Holy Scripture, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the maker of heaven and earth, the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills, the One to whom the heavens and earth belong.

Believe in God — the One who has given names to all of the stars, the One who knows when a sparrow falls and who knows the very hairs on your head.

Believe in God — the One who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, who gives life and breath and existence to all things.

Believe in God — the One who is our refuge and strength and who is an ever-present help in time of need, the One who is our light and salvation, who is our shepherd who comforts us with his rod and staff and who prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

Believe in God — the One who has elected a people in Christ before the foundation of the world, who did not spare his own Son but delivered him over for us, and who freely gives us all things in Christ Jesus.

Believe in that God!

Think on his infinite majesty, his sweet sovereignty, loving-kindness, wisdom, mercy, and grace. Think on how he sent his Son on your behalf. “Do not let your heart be troubled,” Jesus said. Yes, believe in God — and...

2. “Believe also in Me.”

Again, we are not to believe in a Jesus of pop culture or a Jesus of our imagination, but Jesus Christ the Lord revealed in Holy Scripture, the only unique Son of God, who is equal with the Father, who possesses all of the divine qualities.

Believe in Jesus, who is eternal and immortal, who himself made everything and apart from him nothing has come into being.

Believe in Jesus, who in the fullness of time was sent by the Father to be conceived by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary, who was born under the Law so that he might redeem those under bondage to the Law.

Believe in Jesus, who lived a sinless life though tempted in all things as we are, and is therefore a merciful and faithful high priest knowing our weaknesses.

Believe in Jesus, who preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, raised the dead, and welcomed little children to himself, held them in his arms, and blessed them, saying, “Of such is the kingdom of God.”

Believe in Jesus, who fulfilled all righteousness, in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, who willingly laid down his life as our redeemer to satisfy the wrath of God at our sins, who absorbed the Father’s wrath through his bloody death on the cross.

Believe in Jesus Christ, who cried on the cross triumphantly, “It is finished!” Who was buried in a borrowed tomb and three days later was raised by the Father, who ascended to the right hand of the Father.

Believe in Jesus, who continues as our Great High Priest, who rules in sovereign glory, who will gather his church as his bride, who will judge the living and the dead.

Family and friends Jesus is so full of glory, honor, majesty, and power. That’s why he goes by so many names - none of them capture the complete picture of his awesome nature. He is the: Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Good Shepherd, the Light, the Door, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Word, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb, the Alpha and the Omega, the Great God and Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord — believe in him. “Believe also in Me,” says Jesus, and in so believing, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” This is the blueprint. Believe in God and believe also in Christ. And then Jesus gives promises to those who belong to him.

C. The promise of Christ for all who belong to him.

Croft, Brian; Croft, Brian; Newton, Phil A.; Newton, Phil A.. Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals: Applying the Gospel at the Unique Challenges of Death (Practical Shepherding Series) (pp. 88-89). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

1. The Father has a big house with lots of rooms.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

The picture given is that of an endless, sprawling mansion or palace unrivaled by all of the mansions of our world combined, with each place specially prepared for those who will dwell there.

It is the place where the Father and Son live. The bible teaches that its foundation is of precious stones; its gates of pearls; its streets of translucent gold. There’s no need of sun or moon to shine there, for the glory of God and the Lamb will be bright as the sun. That’s a sweet home. That would have made MTV cribs when I was growing up. So the Father has a big house with lots of rooms. And...

2. Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for all whom he has redeemed through his death on the cross.

“If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” Not one of those whom Christ has secured through his death will be missing. There’s room in the Father’s house for all whom Christ died to save. Everyone who places their trust in Jesus finds a home with Him.

Not one of those whom Christ has secured through his death will be missing. There’s room in the Father’s house for all whom Christ died to save. Everyone who places their trust in Jesus finds a home with Him.

Every room is furnished with perfect love and peace. No sorrow or death or tears or pain or illness or disease or war or broken hearts will find a place there. Jesus makes sure of that! He heals and restores and binds those things back to whole. And we are promised that...

3. Jesus will bring us to his home.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Some Jesus brings earlier than others. Carl’s life was shorter than any of us planned or imagined.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon consoled those in his own congregation in London: “Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days.”

So yes, we struggle with the loss we feel. Yes, we grieve at the thought of the years that he could have been with us. But, to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, who throw themselves upon his mercy and grace - they will be brought home. They will find a home with Jesus. And that is comforting.

Do not let your heart be troubled.

Believe in God.

Believe in Jesus Christ.

Trust Christ’s wisdom, love, his purpose, and promise.

He takes care of those whom he brings to the Father’s house.

Friends and family, the way to the Father — the way to his eternal home of perfect holiness, infinite love, and divine glory — is found in Christ alone. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

That’s the hope we have this day. That if we turn our eye’s upon Jesus - if we look full in his wonderful face - if we look to him and rest in him and lean into him by believing on him we will find comfort during our grief now and hope for our eternity. So family, like Carl did many years ago - run to Jesus. Find in him your comfort - He will take your heavy heart and make it light once again.

Closing Prayer

Before we go, Carl’s family would like to extend an invitation to a reception at the Friendly Door in Iowa Park. It begins at noon and you are all welcome to come. The address, if you don’t know where the Friendly Door is located, is 810 North 3rd street. Once again thank you for being here - you are a testimony of the life that Carl Pace lived. Have a blessed day.

Sermon

Genesis 37:11 ESV

And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

And so the story of Joesph continues to unfold and his father sent him to check on his brothers who were pasturing the flock. They didn’t have car’s or motorcycles back then so it likely took him some time to locate his brothers - but when the brothers saw Joseph coming listen to what they said:

Genesis 37:18–22 ESV

They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.

Genesis 37:18

So, they were going to kill him, but Reuben convinced them to throw him into a pit to rescue him when they had left. But that didn’t happen to Joesph. That’s was not his life and his story. Once the brothers threw him into a pit “it just so happened” that a caravan of slave traders were passing by. So, the brothers thought “rather than just letting him die, let’s make a profit on him” and then his blood won’t be on our hand. So they sold him as a slave.

And in we read:

Genesis 37:36 ESV

Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Genesis

So, Joesph finds himself as a slave in the house of Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh. But look at what the bible tells us:

Song

Genesis 39:2–6 ESV

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Genesis 39 ESV

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Genesis 39:2-

So Joesph was handsome. And that set’s up the problem that ensues at Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife had eyes for Joesph. She wanted him in bed. But Joesph had integrity and loved God in fact listen to what he said as she begged him to be with her:

Genesis 39:8–9 ESV

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

So, he recognized that sinning against Potiphar was ultimately a sin against God - and great wickedness that he would not partake of. But Potiphar’s wife was insistent- day after day after day she would beg until finally she tried to force herself on him and Joesph fled, but she kept his “coat of many colors.” And then she cried wolf. She was over it and lied to her husband and Potiphar had Joesph thrown into prison.

Now can you imagine being Joe? Remember the dreams he had when he was a teen? Ruling over his brothers? Even over his parents? These things, these dreams that God had given him were seemingly not coming about...

Scripture Reading

But look at the commentary of Genesis:

Genesis 39:20–23 ESV

And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

So here Joesph is in prison and then the Cupbearer and Baker of the king of Egypt are dropped in prison alongside him. They both have dreams and they find out through the grapevine that Joesph can interpret dreams - for the cupbearer it was good news, but for the Baker it was bad news. And because only God can interpret dreams - and Joesph relied on God the interpretations were correct.

So, Joesph asks the Cupbearer to remember him before the king:

Genesis 40:14–15 ESV

Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

Genesis 40:

And then,

Genesis 40:20–23 ESV

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40:2

Then two years pass and Pharaoh has a dream - and oh, the Cupbearer remembers Joesph in prison. So Joesph comes and by God interprets Pharaoh’s dreams. And he is set as 2nd in charge of all Egypt. And famine hits that land for 7 years that is bad, so bad that it even touches his family that he hasn’t seen in over 20 years. So his family has to come to Egypt to buy food. And there is a reuniting of the family and they move the entire family into the region of Egypt, but then Jacob their dad dies. And all the brothers are concerned - distraught that now Joesph is going to punish them - in fact, he is like the VP of Egypt. Listen to how the story ends:

Genesis 50:15–21 ESV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:15

What you did to me was meant for evil, but God meant it for good. Family the death of Carl was unplanned, but it was no accident. It fits in the wise purposes of God.