I Have a Dream...Imagine...

Pessimism sucks!  It does no one any good.  No one is blessed by pessimism, but unrealistic optimism is not very helpful either.  Realism is crucial.  So, in my view, realistic optimism is the best disposition to possess.  

But sometimes, even realistic dreams don't feel very realistic - at least not in the beginning.  And it seems to me that very few people have the capacity to see what possibilities might lie ahead.  Once he left the Beatles and went solo, John Lennon wrote the song "Imagine".  Lyrically and musically it is a masterpiece.  The lyrics are a masterpiece, but they aren't very realistic.  After all, Lennon is only asking us to imagine.  He is not telling us that any of his optimistic ideas are even possible.  He admits he is a dreamer.  As I mentioned above, dreams are crucial, but many of us are unable to imagine the things that dreams are made of.  So we need those visionary types to help spur our imaginations. But the dreams that have any chance of coming true should at least be rooted in reality and most of what Lennon imagines is far from realistic - at least for the next several hundred years.

But a few years before Lennon's song was released, another man had a dream.  His name was Martin Luther King Jr.  And though his dream has not yet been realized, it is far more realistic than Lennon's and I do believe there is a real possibility that much of what he hoped for in his famous speech from 1963 can be realized in the lifetime of my daughter Ashlyn, if not before.  In fact, much of it has already become true, at least partially.  

I consider myself to be a dreamer, but one whose dreams are rooted in reality.  I am optimistic, but not naïve.  I believe that people have the capacity to change (I've seen change in my own life and in the lives of those closest to me) and if people can change, then whole communities can change for the better.  So, if I were to borrow from both MLK and John Lennon, what might I dream?  What might I imagine?  My dreams are rooted in my vocation as a minister, and so I imagine a better future for my church community.  

I have a dream that one day we will all put as much time, energy, and passion into our faith as we do our jobs and our hobbies.  I have a dream that our commitment to Christ and his people will not be rooted in our circumstances, but instead in our relationship with Christ and our fellow brothers and sisters.  I have a dream that one day, to riff on another 60's icon, we will not ask what our church can do for us, but what we can do for our church.  

Imagine if our spiritual family was as important to us as is our physical family.  How might that transform our relationship to the church?  I have a dream that one day being a member of the church is to be a valued member of a community - a community where all of life is shared, both the triumphs and the struggles.  

Imagine if we all continued to grow in our knowledge and understanding to the point where we all had a mature understanding of scripture and theology!  Of course, we would never assume that we have arrived.  Just the opposite! The more we would grow, the more we would become aware of how much more we need to grow!  What would it be like in our Christian communities if there were no questions which were off limits?  I have a dream that one day, followers of Jesus, will feel just as comfortable expressing their doubts and fears as they do the things they are fully convinced of.  Imagine if instead of judging the theology and doctrine of those with whom we disagree, we instead allowed their perspective to help us grow in our faith.

I have a dream that one day, we will love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.  I imagine that some day, we might all love our neighbors as ourselves and do to them what we would have them do to us.  Imagine what it will be like when our Lord Jesus returns and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven.  Imagine what it might be like if we all began to (imperfectly) live into that reality now.  And to quote a more recent icon, let's dream of the world we want to live in and let's dream out loud!  Because sometimes, dreams come true. - Shay 

A House Built on the Rock

 For over four months, I read the Sermon on the Mount each and every day.  I was preaching a sermon series from the greatest of all sermons, so I wanted to get Jesus' teaching into my head and even more so into my heart and life.  As I read this foundational - almost constitutional teaching each day, it dawned on me that in order to live out Jesus' exhortations which begin in Matt 5:21 and following, a person must become the kind of person that the Beatitudes in Matt 5:3-10 describe.  Alas, I am not yet that guy!  But I hope to be.  I pray that through the Holy Spirit's transforming work in my life I become what those Beatitudes describe.  

I need to become poor in spirit - not self-reliant, but Spirit reliant.  I long to have the confidence that even when I mourn, God the Father will comfort me.  If I want to inherit the renewed earth in the age to come, then I must become meek.  If I find myself (which I often do) lacking in righteousness (both in my disposition and my actions) then I need a greater hunger and thirst for righteousness.  God knows that I need mercy and so I must become merciful.  And if I want to someday see God, then I need God to create in me a pure heart.  And if I want to be a son of the King, then I must be one who pursues peace.  And even if I am persecuted for righteousness' sake, I should not be surprised, but rather I should rejoice and be glad as I persevere towards God's heavenly kingdom to come on earth.  

The more and more I become conformed to the image of Jesus and thus become like the above, the more I will be a faithful member of Christ's community - a community that is the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and the city set on a hill.  And then, alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ, I will fulfill God's creational intentions by living out a greater righteousness that does to another what I would want done to myself.  I won't be one who is angry and says hurtful things with my words.  I'll be one who is not only faithful to my spouse with my actions, but even with my thoughts.  I'll become a person of integrity who chooses not to retaliate when wronged, but instead chooses to go the extra mile and prays even for those who persecute me.  And I won't practice my piety for show, but through a genuine relationship with God, I'll communicate simply and directly.  God will become the treasure that I seek and I will learn to trust him to provide me with all I need, even allowing myself to go without from time to time.  And then I can freely step away from the judgment seat and offer grace and mercy to others, because I am so aware of all the grace and mercy I have received through Jesus.  I'll know that if I ask, I will receive, if I search, I will find, and if I knock, the door will be opened to me.  Because I will have come to know that God is for me and not against me and that he is good, I will trust him with everything, including myself.  And with that assurance, planted firmly in my heart, I will be able to walk (ever-so-slowly) down that hard road into the narrow gate.  The Spirit will produce fruit in my life and I will not only know the Lord, but more importantly, I will be known by him.  And then I can build the very foundation of my life on the rock of Jesus Christ, knowing that no matter how fierce the storm winds blow, nor how high the floods of life rise, my house will stand firm.  And I will know that I can trust Jesus with all these things, because all authority in heaven and on earth has been granted to him.

I know that all of these things will one day be true.  Not because I can achieve any of this on my own, but through the Spirit's transformation in my life, these things are gradually becoming a reality.  Emphasis on gradually.  And I am encouraged by Paul's writing to the Philippian church when he said, "he who began a good work in you all, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.  Come Lord Jesus - come! - Shay 

Go Crawl Back Into Your Cave, Plato!

I am not a fan of systematic theology.  Yes, I know, we all systematize our theology to some degree or another and if we were not to do so, the result would be less than optimal.  But, I think it is a mistake to embrace an overly systematic understanding of the Christian faith.  God has revealed himself to us in a story. But it's easy to dismiss certain parts of that story or to relativize the theology emerging out of a challenging narrative when it does not comport to our "system", whatever that system may be (Thomism, Calvinism, Restorationism).  A better approach is to embrace the narrative of scripture - to live, move, breathe, eat, and sleep that narrative in its historical, cultural, literary, and yes, theological context.  Then, we can live with and embrace the good, the bad, the ugly, the confusing, the contradicting, and the paradoxical of the story of scripture.  If you can't live with unanswered questions and ambiguity, your only option is to not live at all.  

One of the worst things to happen to the church was the wholesale and less than critical embrace of Greek philosophy.  This happened through time in various contexts, but I believe this obscured much of the Hebraic and Jewish theology that was critical to the early church.  I believe that in many ways, it replaced the God of Israel with the god of the philosophers.  I recently wrote some verse with this in mind.

The God of the Philosophers

Time was pregnant with possibility.

One came and condescended, though not condescendingly.

The philosophers preached divine impassibility,

But they underestimated the emotions of One not threatened by relationality.

The church fathers - the patristics - bounded by their own immediate context and ignorance - 

In seeking to keep their faith orthodox, introduced great heterodoxy.

The scholastics were even worse.

Thomas Aquinas and his ilk offered not much more than a curse.

Even the reformers were retarded by the Medieval and the Greek philosophical.

So, here's a middle finger to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle!  

Okay, so maybe I'm being overly harsh.  Some might say that I am the ignorant one.  That's certainly a possibility.  But the more I read the Biblical story, the more I am convinced that much of the systematic theology would have been improved by embracing a narrative theology.  There is an unfolding and messy picture of God found in the Biblical narratives.  It's a story of reality and even God himself, not simply being, but also becoming.  I find this God much more gritty and much more attractive!  This is the kind of God with whom I can have a dynamic relationship.  What say you? - Shay     

Quitting is Underated

 A life lesson that isn't often taught is the value of quitting.  One would need to add a few caveats to this, but there are many times in life where the best course of action is to simply quit.  

If you try a new hobby, but discover that it isn't doing much for you - quit.  If you begin reading a book for pleasure, but a few chapters into it you decide that its not as enjoyable as you hoped - quit.  If you've developed a habit that does far more damage than good - quit.  

Some might argue that once you begin a course of action, you should always follow it to its necessary end.  But that's just stupid!  In behavioral economics, there's a concept called the sunk cost fallacy.  Basically it says that people have a tendency to continue down a certain path if they feel they've already invested too much time, money, or effort in the endeavor.  The reason this is a fallacy is that the best thing you can do when you realize you've gone down the wrong path, is to turn around, no matter how far you've gone.  If you've already wasted money on something, why continue to waste more?  If you've already lost time to a lost cause, why lose more?  And if you've already put blood, sweat, and tears into something that's less than optimal, why not find something better to pour your energy into?

Another thing that sometimes makes it hard to quit is the pressure that others might place on us.  We might worry how we will look in the eyes of our peers.  We may want to save face.  Quitting is an admission that we, to some degree or another, made a mistake.  One of the reasons pride is such a deadly sin is exactly in cases like this.  It takes humility to change course, but isn't life about learning.  None of us know it all.  Sometimes the only way to find out is to try and fail.  But once we discover failure is inevitable, the best course of action is to learn from our mistakes and then move on.  And if we genuinely learn from our missteps, then the journey was well worth it.

Back in August I joined a cohort of other students to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree.  I already have a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies, but decided to go ahead and tackle a second Masters.  Though my grades are good, one and a half semesters into this three year journey, I've decided to call it quits.  I won't bore you with all the details, but my decision comes down to a simple question.  A couple of nights ago, my wife Juli asked me, "Is the time and energy you are putting into this really worth it to you?  Is what you will get out of it, worth what you are putting into it?"  I paused, considered, and then a moment later, it dawned on me.  No.  No, it isn't worth it - at all!  At that point, I knew the only course of action was to quit.  

So, I'm a quitter and I'm proud of it!  What about you?  Is there anything that you need to quit?  If so, do it.  You'll be amazed at the sense of relief and peace that two simple words can bring.  I quit! - Shay 

Watching YouTube at a Panera

 A couple of months ago, two days before Thanksgiving, our family was in Kansas City visiting Juli's brother and sister.  As is my habit, I found a cafe to enjoy a warm cup of coffee and do some devotional and personal reading.  I enjoy reading, studying, and working in public places because it gives you a window into the lives of others.  I chose a Panera Bread cafe for our two days in Overland Park, and one morning this is what I observed.

Watching YouTube at a Panera

The old man sits alone in a corner of a Panera Bread cafe, 

Watching YouTube videos loud enough for all to hear.

A gospel song by Elvis, 

And then something that sounds like the TV show, "Cops".

It's as if the wonderful world of YouTube - in all its awesomeness - all its banal glory - has suddenly opened up before this senior citizen in Overland Park.

On a cloudy, wet, and windy day - the day before Thanksgiving.

He has much for which to be thankful. 

Much for which to be thankful, indeed. - Shay 

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 

From Denmark to the Desert

 On August 10, 2020, at the age of 101, my grandmother, Gussie Turnbough began the transition from this age unto the age to come.  As she journeys toward resurrection, I've reflected on her earthly journey from Denmark to the desert.  I'll share her obituary momentarily, but before that I'd like to explore her life through poetry.

From Denmark to the Desert  - Words: Shay Smith

From Denmark to the desert.

From the fertile fields of Fyn, to the frozen frontier of Manitoba.

A journey embarked upon, not so much to flee the past, but to embrace the hope and promise of the future.

From the Midwest of Canada to the Midwest of the Promised Land, five in a family found prosperity in the roaring twenties of Chicago town.

The third decade of the twentieth century, between two wars and before a depressed state of mind and times, the Jensens sought solace and did their part in building the windy city - from the ground up.

There's were the hands that built America.

In a time of crisis, as her country called - she answered.

He answered too and when war was over, the two became one.

What God brought together, none could separate.

From the windy city to the wind swept foothills of the Davis Mountains, they raised their crops and they raised their family.

In the middle of a dry land, theirs was an oasis - not merely a house, but a home.

Only miles from the San Solomon Springs, hospitality and generosity bubbled up and overflowed, spilling into nooks and crannies of hard, parched hearts - bringing healing.

Fifty-six years wed, one hundred and one years lived, maybe not all bliss, but all blessing.

From the fertile fields of Fyn, to sun-soaked soil, Augusta journeyed from Denmark to the desert.

Augusta "Gussie" Marie Jensen Turnbough, known to her grand and great-grandchildren as GiGi, was born on March 24, 1919 in the small village of Honnerup, Denmark to Anders and Martha Jensen.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard "Rip" Turnbough, her parents; her brother and sister-in-law Willie and Agnes Jensen; sister and brother-in-law Val and Harry Olsen; and by one grandson, Brett Winters.  Gussie is survived by her six children, Dennis Turnbough and Linda of San Antonio, Karen Smith and Dub of Lubbock, Cynthia Winters and Will Ed of Spicewood, Larry Turnbough and Melanie of Balmorhea, Debbie Vickers and Lonnie of Brady, Melanie Reed and Kenneth of Rocksprings, and a brother-in-law, David and wife Vi of Lubbock.  GiGi is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Gussie emigrated from Denmark to Canada in 1924.  Her family later moved to Chicago, Illinois where Gussie lived until the home front effort to support WWII took her to Lincoln, Nebraska.  Gussie was a supervisor for Western Electric, helping produce electronic equipment for the United States Military.  Gussie met a young B-17 pilot-in-training, Rip Turnbough, in Lincoln.  Following the war, the couple married in Lubbock, Texas on December 15, 1945.  They moved to Balmorhea where Rip farmed cotton for 55 years and, together, they raised six children.  

Gussie loved life and she loved her family.  Gussie enjoyed swimming and in 1959 became a Red Cross water safety instructor, teaching hundreds of children in Reeves County to swim at the Balmorhea State Park, San Solomon Springs.  Gussie was an accomplished artist, and she avidly enjoyed reading, knitting and crocheting, blessing countless family members, friends, and a few hospitals with the gifts of her innumerable labors of love.

GiGi was a follower of Jesus and was a member of the Balmorhea Church of Christ.  Her faith in a loving God and salvation through Jesus Christ was unyielding, up to the very moment her Father called her home.  

I was asked to share a few words about my grandmother at her funeral on August 14.  I'll share them in a blog post next week. - Shay