Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dad, thanks for your influence on my life!


Influence can be defined as the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command; the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways.

Influence….father….yes, the two go together. In fact, the two are inseparable.

I look at the picture above taken in August 2003 in New Richmond as members of our family sat together after moving mother and dad into their new apartment. You see, dad had had several “mini-strokes” and needed to be near one of his sons. My brother Curtis and his wife, Andrea, so graciously found a wonderful place for them to live.

We all sat down for a Chinese buffet after working to set up the apartment. From left to right we have mother (Alice Thomassen), nephew David Thomassen, Andrea Thomassen (David’s mother and Curt’s wife), George (my middle brother – probably on the cell phone to his wife!), myself, Curtis (my youngest brother) and dad. At this time dad was 82. Although he was not able to walk like he did due to the strokes, he was still determined to get around. The next few months would see a dramatic turn of events. By Christmas time he became so weak that he had to go into a nursing home. He continued to become weaker, had more mini strokes, lost his ability to speak, but amazingly, he could still sing!

So, what kind of influence could he still have? Dad would sit in his chair with his Bible and his prayer list and pray for all of us and many, many more people. Was this the first time he had done that? No! Many people will tell you that he did this for years. How do they know? Their name was on his prayer list! I know that all of our family members were on that list….every child, grandchild, cousin and on and on. Not only family but friends, former parishioners, work associates and the list goes on.

The Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

For years, dad prayed for us. Although he has now been gone for almost 3 years, his prayers and life still influence us. His influence impacts many things I do. I still remember how he did things or dealt with people over many years of ministry and I am reminded to do what he did in various situations.

Dad was quiet and often didn’t say much, but he didn’t have to. He lived an exemplary life. Is salt loud and boisterous? No. But can it influence? Try putting too much on your potatoes!

On this Father’s Day 2009 I thank God for the influence of my father. I say, “How can I have been so fortunate to have a father who loved his wife and his children and everyone he met; who was kind and gracious to everyone, particularly those who, as he said it, “were down and out;” who was honest, paid his bills on time, never stole, cheated, was a law-abiding citizen; never drank or cursed or abused his family physically or mentally, etc.?”

My brothers and I, as well as our whole families, were greatly influenced just by observing dad’s life!

How many people in the world would have given their “right arm” (another expression used by dad) to have had such a father. I know that we were privileged to have had his influence.

On this Father’s Day I am reminded that it is not the “great things” we do that are important. Who really cares how much money we have or don’t have, what kinds of “things” we have or don’t have, what our position is or isn’t in life? These things do not influence. They may impress perhaps, but they do not impact our lives like the influence of a good father! Not only a good father, but a godly father.
Dad’s, let’s concentrate on influencing our children with our lives. Our words are important and they are needed. (Dad was not afraid of using words!) The most important thing is to life the life. “Walk the walk.”

So, my dad who came from Norway to Brooklyn, New York, when he was a boy, learned English and later became a U.S. citizen while in the U.S. Army, fought in W.W. II, married, went to college, became a pastor, raised 3 sons, remained faithful to his wife for 60 years, lived until he was 85, might not be known by a lot of people in the world, but he had and continues to have a worldwide influence! His family has ministered around the world; many people he mentored are in positions around the world influencing others; his teaching and training, for example, on “faith promises” has meant countless dollars given to missions; his “doughnuts and pastries” influenced countless numbers of prisoners. I could go on and on.

Dad, again today your influence is providing the impetus to write this blog. To let other people know that they, too, can impact other people’s lives in a positive way. Frank C. Laubach, whom you loved to read, wrote a book entitled “Prayer, the mightiest Force in the World.” Laubach said, "Prayer is undervalued by all but wise people, because it is so silent and so secret. We are often deceived into thinking that noise is more important than silence. War sounds far more important than the noiseless, growing crop of wheat; yet the silent wheat feeds millions, while war destroys them."

Dad, your life and prayers continue to impact the world through us. May we be faithful like you! That in itself will influence others!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Happy 88th Birthday, Dad!

(Photo taken on Dad and Mother's 60th Wedding Anniversary, November 24, 2005)

June 9, 2009: Happy Birthday, Dad!

Dad, it is hard to believe that you have been gone for almost 3 years now. In one sense the time has flown; in another it seems to have stood still. Today would have been your 88th birthday! Mother celebrated her 88th just a few weeks ago. We got to see her that night after driving from Springfield the day after I got back from Europe. Where do the years go?

I remember you commenting about our children, “Enjoy them while you can because they grow up so fast!” You were right….I blinked and they are now almost 34 and 24!

As I reminisce today, here are a few of my thoughts about you:

Although you were not always a man of many words, when you spoke what you said had meaning. You also collected words which you put into articles or files. One such set of words is on the inside of one of the Bibles you had, which I am blessed to have:

“Steadfast Heart”

I’ve dreamed many dreams that never come true…I’ve seen them vanish at dawn…But enough of my dreams have come true, thank God—To make me want to dream on.

I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came…Though I waited patiently and long…But answers have come to enough of my prayer, thank God—To make me want to pray on.

I’ve trusted many a friend who failed me. And left me to weep all alone…But enough of my friends have been true blue, thank God—To make me want to trust on.

I’ve sown many seeds that fell by the way...For the birds of the air to feed on…But I’ve held many golden sheaves in my hands, thank God—To make me want to sow on.

I’ve drunk the cup of disappointment and pain….I’ve gone many days without song…But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life, thank God—To make me want to live on.
—unknown

Mother collected many of your sayings in a book she called “Gems, A Collection of Poems, Articles, Quotes, Sermon Outlines, Misc . by Arne Thomassen.” I like several of your quotes that deal with hope.

“Hope is a view of the future that gives purpose to every day events and provides a basis for making the decisions that we confront daily.” (Ministers Manual, 1980, p. 102 by C. Ellis Nelson)

“Christian hope rests on God, not on man or luck or fate. And it is a dynamic, transforming quality, reaching forwards from the present with its fears and frustrations to a future bright with the promises of a faithful God.” --unknown

C.E.B. Cranfield wrote: “The most striking characteristic that distinguished the early Christians from their pagan neighbors was their HOPE. Unlike their pagan neighbors, the early Christians were man of HOPE, who could look steadfastly into the future without fear, not with mere resignation, but with eager anticipation.”

Your words, your actions, your life demonstrated hope. You showed your family that your hope was in God. Although you never had much money, you were rich! You were rich in hope in God. You passed that hope on to your family and that has sustained us.

That is what I want to pass on to my family and my world. I think of one of my favorite scriptures: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

Well, 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that along with faith and love, HOPE abides or lives forever! We have the hope of seeing Jesus one of these days, but also the hope of seeing you again. So, only the Lord knows how long that will be. But until then, we will keep our hope alive in the One who gives us hope.

Let me leave you with a song that I know you know…..and by now you would have met the author, Norman J. Clayton. I remember you taking me to a Christian Business Men’s Committee (CBMC) meeting when I was a boy to hear Norman Clayton in person. I’ll never forget him telling how that as a boy, he lost a finger in an accident, but a drunken doctor sowed it back on and therefore he had his finger! (That was years before reattachments became common place!). Clayton wrote these great lyrics in which he declared: “My Hope is in the Lord” (words and music by Norman J. Clayton © 1945)

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.

Chorus
For me He died;
For me He lives;
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives.

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found
In Jesus' righteousness.

And now for me He stands
Before the Father's throne.
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all;
'Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.

So, dad, my hope is in the Lord! We’ll keep that hope alive as we wait for His return!