The following is the memorial speech I gave at my Papa’s funeral.

Certainly, God gave the world a gift on Oct 25, 1929 for that was the birthday of my grandfather Kenneth Chappell. To his parents, he was a gift. To his siblings, he was a gift. To all of his family and friends, he was a gift. A few years later, God gave my grandmother, LaNell Chappell, a wonderful gift when He brought such a loving husband to her. Shortly after they were married, God gave them a daughter and a son – and these children received an immeasurable gift when being raised by such a good father. And now, all of us, who are his grandchildren and great grandchildren, have been given a gift to have such GRAND and GREAT PaPa. He was the spiritual patriarch of our family, and our family has been given a great GREAT heritage. So today, when we mourn our loss and celebrate his life, we learn that even today is a gift… because today there is much joy in honoring and remembering my grandfather.

Now, if PaPa was here right now, he would probably be a little uncomfortable because he never liked being in the spotlight. Whenever I needed to be corrected as a child, he would look at me and say “hey boy… hey boy” in that deep voice of his. And today, he would be saying it again because he was a humble man… who never wanted a lot of attention on himself… and today I think he would say “Hey boy… hey boy… everything good about me in only because of the Lord.” I think Papa would want us to talk more about Jesus than about him.

So here’s what we’re going to do - We will remember some specific things about our Papaw… I will share some thoughts on behalf of Papa’s grandchildren… my uncle Val will share thoughts on behalf of PaPa’s children… we will sing a few of my PaPa’s favorite songs… Pastor McLaughlin will bring a message… but our end goal is to see that the life lived by my PaPa is like a big mirror that reflects the beauty, and majesty, and love, and grace, and glory of his Lord Jesus… and as we remember PaPa, we remember Jesus… Ok?

So what are some things we grandchildren will miss about our PaPa?

1.We will miss the good old days at the old house in Clio. We will miss long walks in the back woods… where PaPa carved our initials in the tree bark… and told us to look for Indian Joe… and taught how to shoot slingshots and BB guns… and made us feel like we were strong enough to push over trees.

2.We will miss the way he gave us nicknames – like Rock, and Catfish, and Blakers, and Clayford, and Sweetheart…

3.We will miss him at family holidays and get togethers. We will miss him reading the Christmas story before we open presents… we’ll miss him sitting at his spot at the table during family meals… and the way he would always fall asleep in his big chair with his head tilted to the side… and snore so loud that it would hurt our ears.

4.We will miss the way he loved to take us fishing… and somehow he would always catch bigger fish and more fish than us… whether in the little ponds in Clio or Saginaw, or at the AuSable, or Virginia, or down south at family reunions, we loved to fish with him.… we’ll especially remember how he laughed at Blake when he asked Papaw if hushpuppies came from the ocean… fishing with PaPa was always so fun!

5.We will miss the way he showed us affection. We will miss the way he held us in his big strong hands… and his handshakes that wiggled our hands back and forth… and how he would hug us from the side and squeeze us in really close… and how he would sometimes tug on our hair for no reason and rub our head.

6.We will miss the way he played games with us. We will miss his skill at Dominos and Hand and Foot… and how he would help Paige look for keys to the small play houses… and how he would sometimes hit the wrong colored ball when we played pool because he was colorblind…

7.We will miss many other random things – like the way he laughed so hard during Dennis the Menace that we’d have to shut the movie off… and how he made the best popcorn with the perfect amount of butter and salt… and how he would help us tie our shoes… and how he would put coffee in our sippy cups… and how nice it was to see him in the morning drinking a cup of coffee and just looking out the window.

Last night, the grandkids were hanging out, and some things were said that speak volumes about his life:

1. Blake said it so well when he said “I wanted everyone that I know to know him”… what a compliment it is for grandson to want all his friends to know his grandfather.

2. Clayton said “I loved how he was so fun and we were always laughing with him”… surely there was joy whenever PaPa was near.

3. Paige said “I love how much he loved MeMaw, and how he always called her ‘Shug’”… oh that all men could learn to love their wives like PaPa loved his.

4. And Kendon said “the fact that so many people would come to his funeral says how influential his life was”… wouldn’t it be great if we all could live a life with such impact.

Now, it is certainly true that PaPa was a good man… the best I’ve known alongside of my father. The fact that all of you are here today is a testimony to that. But we all must be very clear about one thing when we remember him – THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT HIM ARE A RESULT OF GOD’S WORK IN HIS LIFE… AND THE GREATNESS OF HIS CHARACTER IS A RESULT OF HIS PERSONAL DESIRE TO LIVE LIKE JESUS…

So as we reflect on PaPa, we magnify the greatness of the Lord and Savior of his life – Jesus Christ! So here are some ways that PaPa was like Jesus:

1. Just like Jesus, Papa loved to pray. Over and over in the Gospels we read about Jesus withdrawing from the crowds in order to pray. In Luke chapter 11, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray… In the same way, PaPa has taught many of us what it means to be a man of prayer.

2.Just like Jesus, Papa lived a holy life. It’s weird to say this, but none of us the grand-children can actually remember a time when PaPa sinned. Now surely, PaPa was not a sinless man like our Lord Jesus… I’m sure MeMaw could tell us a few good ones… but the point is that he lived is such a way where he turned away from sin, and toward the ways of God. He pursued holiness.

3.Just like Jesus, Papa loved little children. In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus says “let the little children come to me.” Now, we all know grouchy old men who avoid children at all costs. Papa was the opposite. He loved children and welcomed them just like Jesus.

4.Just like Jesus, Papa made strangers feel loved. We read stories in the gospels like the woman at the well… where Jesus met a woman and immediately she felt loved and known by him. For many of you in this room, PaPa was the first man to greet you when you first came to this church… You immediately felt loved and known by him. That’s because he was welcoming you just like Jesus would.

5.Just like Jesus, Papa was a servant. Matt 20:28 says that “the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We all know that PaPa was the epitome of what it meant to be a servant. Many of us would say that he was the most humble man we’ve ever known. He continually put the needs of others before his own… and in doing so, he was acting like Jesus.

6.Finally, just like Jesus, Papa loved his bride. Over and over in the New Testament, the people of God are referred to as the Bride of Christ. Simply stated Christians are the bride, and Christ is the groom. In Ephesians 5 we read these words about grooms and brides – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself up for it.” So we see that the one of the primary roles of a husband is to give himself up for his bride just like Jesus did… to sacrifice for her. PaPa was a man who would sacrifice anything for his bride. He loved his wife, served his wife, and would do anything for her well being. As my Papa loved his bride this way, He was reflecting the love of His Savior – Jesus – who sacrificed his very life for his Bride by dying on the cross 2,000 years ago.

If we remember anything about PaPa today let’s remember what he would want us to remember - that all of his greatness came as a result of his great desire to live like Jesus lived… and love like Jesus loved. Praise be to God for the life he gave to my PaPa, Kenneth R. Chappell.

YES… IT’S TRUE!!!

We are welcoming Shane Claiborne, author of the Irresistable Revolution, to speak at APEX - Mon, Feb 11 at 7:30. Shane is a radical follower of Jesus who believes we should turn off our TV’s, pick up our Bibles, and rethink the way we live. He has ministered among the homeless in the inner city of Philedelphia… among the lepers in Calcutta with Mother Theresa… and even in the suburbs of Chicago with Willow Creek Community Church. He is passionate about inviting churches across the US to live in a way that displays the love of Jesus…

This event is open to all of APEX and to the general public. Admission is free, however, an offering will be taken to benefit local community organizations. Shane will give a presentation followed by a time of prayer and Q&A.

YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!