Celebrating the life of Arne Thorodd Thomassen (1921-2006)

(One of the last pictures I took of dad, November 24, 2005, his 60th wedding anniversary)

June 29, 2006 was the day dad passed away. Arne T. Thomassen (1921-2006)

“An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.” (Proverbs 29:6 NIV)

One thing that dad did was to sing! Where did he get his song? Well, I believe it same primarily from the Lord. The Bible says in several places that “the Lord is my song.” One evidence of one’s relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the song that He puts in our hearts. Psalm 40 says the Lord hears our cry; lifts us out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire (of sin); sets our feet on a rock and puts a new song in our mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. “Many shall see it and fear and trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1-3).

Dad sang all the time. I think that is one reason he was a very happy man. I know that he faced difficult times in his life. He had struggles like everyone else, suffered pain, and went through great trials, but he never lost his song.

Dad was a Proverbs 29:6 kind of guy! He was righteous (because of his relationship with Jesus - it was his trust in Jesus that made him in right standing with God) and therefore he would sing and be glad (or rejoice). He sang in the car, around the house, when he worked, all the time. He knew countless numbers of songs. And, his songs were usually songs of joy and they made him glad. As we were growing up we learned a lesson that if you sang, work was not as hard. Little then did we understand there were things like “work songs.”

So, today as our family looks back on dad’s life, one of the things that comes to the forefront is the song he always had on his lips. He truly did what one of the notes he collected said:

You are the chosen of the Lord Lord To sing His highest praise. And through the medium of song To show His wondrous ways. (unknown)

He also had this saying: “Yes, music has power. Let us use it for good!” (unknown)

Good advice! So, dad, we sing praise today because the Word of God commands it, but because you modeled it! We miss you but we know that today, at this moment, you are in heaving singing praises to the One you faithfully served for 85 years on this earth.