From Denmark to the Desert Part Two

 Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4 beginning in verse 13, “…we do not want you to be uninformed about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.  For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died.  For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

We have gathered here today, with heavy hearts to both mourn the death of Augusta Turnbough and to celebrate a life well-lived.  As much as we celebrate the life that Augusta lived, more than anything, we are here to honor and celebrate Christ’s work of redemption in the life of Augusta.  And though we grieve and mourn, we do not do it as others do who have no hope.  Because we are certain that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, so, will all of God’s faithful be raised to eternal life on the day that Jesus returns.  Just as Christ rose from the dead – so one day, Gussie Turnbough will be resurrected, and at this moment – she is resting in the loving embrace of her savior, Jesus.

Mourning, crying, pain, and death are very much a part of this life and this creation.  But our hope is set on Jesus and he will bring about a renewed creation and he will give us our lives back again in the age to come.  The apostle Paul reflected on this in Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 18. Paul writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.  For in hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what is seen?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Paul tells us that one day, God will renew and restore the entirety of this creation.  And at that moment, God, through his Spirit will bring back all the dead through resurrection to enjoy the renewed creation with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – for all eternity.  This is our hope – this is Gigi’s hope and we know that in Christ, this hope is secure, even though in this life, we must wait for it patiently. 

On March 24, 1919, Augusta Marie Jensen was born on the island of Fyn in Denmark.  Like people, names evolve through time.  Probably none of us here know her as Augusta.  To many here, she is Gussie.  To others, she is mother.  And to many, including myself, she will always be Gigi.  So, from here on out, you’ll have to forgive me, but I will refer to this fine woman as Gigi.

To fully understand Gigi, you had to have known Papa.  There was no one who had as big an impact on Gigi’s life than her husband of nearly 56 years, Richard Vanoy Turnbough (Rip).  Papa was Gigi’s husband, her best friend and companion – the father of her 6 children, and her spiritual example and mentor.  His faithfulness transformed Gigi’s life, and together, they passed on their faith to their 6 kids, 20 grandkids, and I don’t even know the number of great grandkids, not to mention countless others, including my own father, Gigi’s son-in-law.  Papa & Gigi provided a sound foundation built on faith and love and together, they made their house a home.  Their house wasn’t one that would feature on HGTV, but it was a place that all were welcome and made to feel a part of the family.  Whether it was people from church on a Sunday afternoon, or stranded travelers, Gigi was always hospitable.  

I mentioned that like people, names evolve.  Through the rich Christian faith of Papa, Gigi embraced the gospel and received new names.  In addition to Augusta and Gussie, she took on the names of “child of God”, “daughter of the King” and “sister in Christ”.  Hers was a genuine faith, but it was of a gracious and non-preachy variety.  And one of the ways she lived out her faith, was through the deep and genuine respect she showed Papa.  Over the past couple of decades, it was rare to have a conversation with Gigi without the name of Rip being brought up.  She would say things like, “Rip, he was such a great guy.  He was the best man I ever knew.”  She missed her life partner so much and even after his death, his godly example continued to make a difference in her life.

Gigi took life seriously, but she didn’t take herself too seriously.  She had a wicked sense of humor and she knew how to have a good time!  Several decades ago, Papa heard a coyote getting into the hen house and so he ran outside in the dark with a gun.  Following close behind him was Gigi with a flashlight.  A few cars drove by and they probably had no idea what was happening, but they must of have thought Gigi was one tough lady since her husband was running away from her, carrying a gun, while she only had a flashlight!

Gigi was always the life of the party, especially in her younger years.  Old film footage we’ve seen, showed her dancing and carrying on with her children and other adults at family gatherings.  She was fun to be around and was always good for a laugh or two, whether by mistaking windmills for cow-fans, or mispronouncing the abbreviation for condominium (the reader will have to figure this one out for themselves!).   

Hers was a rich life and that richness was shared with others both young and old.  Over 30 years ago, when I was about 10, I remember Gigi driving me from Balmorhea back to my home in Marble Falls.  It was just she and I for the 6-hour road trip.  I don’t remember all our conversations on that journey, but I do remember having a serious spiritual conversation with her.  Nearly 35 years later, I can still remember some of the specifics of what we talked about.  You know, Deuteronomy 6 exhorts God’s people to talk about the Lord, when they lie down, when they rise up, and as they go about their daily routines.  This was one of those moments where Gigi put this command into practice and it’s a good reminder to all of us, that those important faith discussions we share with our children and grandchildren make a lasting impact.   

Gigi not only spoke of her faith, she also put it into action.  At the age of 40, she earned her water safety instructor’s license.  She did this because she was concerned that many children around Balmorhea were exposed to drowning risks at the State Park pool, the lake, and the number of irrigation ditches crisscrossing the area.  She taught these swim lessons without charge.  It was just a simple way for her to serve.

God blessed Gigi with a vibrant faith, but she was given many other gifts by her creator.  She was an immensely talented artist.  From paintings of epic landscapes to creatively colored crafts and woodworks, her God-given gift of design delighted dozens and added warmth and beauty to many a home.  She also loved to crochet and in her later years, she served the little babies of the NICU at the Health Sciences Center in Lubbock by crocheting tiny little blankets for them.  It’s estimated that she made over 4,000 blankets.  Her love of the Lord led her to serve when and where she could. 

And she wasn’t just a creative artist, she also had an adventurous spirit that she shared with her family.  Some of the blankets she made for the little babies where created while she accompanied her oldest granddaughter, Tammy Camp at medical conferences.  These conferences were not all business - the two ladies were rumored to have stayed out much too late in such cosmopolitan places as Chicago, San Francisco, and San Diego.  Gigi delighted in making the most of life and travel was one of Gigi’s delights.  Over the decades, she and Papa went on dozens of trips with their loved ones.  From daytrips in the Davis Mountains to longer treks in the Canadian Rockies.  From California to New York and even overseas, to England and Denmark.  At least three times, Gigi made pilgrimages to her family’s farm in the Old World. 

The most recent trip happened a little over 9 years ago.  19 of us visited Bury St. Edmond’s where Papa was stationed in WWII.  And then we had the opportunity to travel to Gigi’s home country and stay just a few miles from the Jensen family farm near Honnerup.  Gigi made that journey at the age of 92 and she was as active and involved in this trip as the rest of us!  Gigi’s granddaughter, my sister, Misty Boyles, put together a book of pictures from this homecoming trip and just a few days ago, my daughter Ashlyn and I were able to look through the contents of this collection with Gigi.  She was able to see so many of her family members in the pictures and we talked about the good times we experienced on the trip.  It took her full circle through her journey – from Denmark to the desert.  It was the last time I had a coherent conversation with her and it put a fitting bow on the gift that was her life.    

The next evening, Ashlyn, and I took my uncle Larry’s 4-wheeler out for a spin and as we rode, off in the distance we noticed a cloud formation hovering over “Sleeping Beauty” mountain, creating the appearance of rays of light shining down on the resting dame.  Ashlyn and I were captivated by the natural phenomenon.  That same evening, my sister Tammy and her husband Philip, noticed the same thing as they went for a stroll.  Tammy commented that it was as if God was shining his light on our own sleeping beauty, Gigi, as she peacefully slumbered, awaiting her entrance into eternal rest.      

Gigi’s was not a perfect life.  Like all of us, she had her foibles, her stumbles, and her falls.  Hers was not a perfect life, but it was a redeemed life.  And these little stories, these tiny anecdotes, these micro-memories – they don’t really do justice to the fullness of who Gigi was.  But these small stories fit into a larger story – the narrative of God’s great big drama.  God takes our small stories and makes more of them than we can dream or imagine.  He makes much out of our tiny little lives.  And then we discover that this life is merely a prequel to eternal life in the age to come.        

In Christ Jesus her Lord – Gigi lived a life of faith, hope, and love, and it’s that hope found in Jesus that gives all of us the strength we need to face death because we are looking forward to a better future.

John writes the following in Revelation 21, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among humans.  He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them, he will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’  And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’  Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’  Then he said to me, ‘It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.  Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’”

The apostle Paul says this at the end of Romans 8, “What then are we to say about these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?  Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is it to condemn?  It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord." 

From the gospel of John, chapter 11, “I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our sister in Christ, Augusta Marie Jensen Turnbough, and in a few moments,  we will commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit.  They rest from their labors, and their works follow them.

The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.

May the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, make us all complete in everything good thing so that we would do God’s will, working that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever!  Amen. - Shay