Remembering My Dad

Today would have been my dad's 77th birthday on earth. He's celebrating it in Heaven this year. I'm certain that is infinitely better. I had the privilege of preaching his service this summer. Here are some of the things I said.

"There’s an obscure part of a verse of scripture in Hebrews, Chapter 11, that I’m sure most of you have read but never given much thought to. Hebrews 11 is called the “Hall of Faith” by many, and in verse 4, the writer is commending Abel, the son of Adam and Eve. The last portion of this verse states, “And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

Years ago, I was struck by this verse in a quiet moment and began to consider the impact of Barry McCain on my life and so many others. “And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” Pastors will tell you that the easiest funerals to write are the ones that have already been written by the life of the person being remembered. So it is with my dad. If it is possible, my dad demonstrated even more faith in his passing, than he did in his living. He knew he was in his last days and he marched forward in faith, knowing there was a great reward for him at the end of his race, and never looking back. His faith in those last few weeks, fully aware of what was happening to his body, was even greater than the faith in which he had spent his entire life walking.

Barry McCain was a son, brother, husband, daddy, grandpa, great grandpa, uncle, brother-in-law, deacon, teacher, co-worker, musician, hunting buddy, friend, and perhaps many other things to many of us. I promise you this, however you knew him, and in whatever capacity you knew him, he was 100% that man all of the time. We are here today to honor and remember him, because even though he took his last breath on earth, April 24, 2020, his faith still speaks. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:4 writes, “For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” On April 24, 2020, what was mortal in Barry McCain was swallowed by life and he entered into the blessed presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ. Of few things, I have never been more certain.

I thank you all for coming today and welcome you here. My dad would not have wanted us to make a big fuss out of him today, so we are going to make a little fuss.

The faith and good works that we saw in Barry McCain, God prepared beforehand. I want to share three things with you about my dad that most of you may or may not know. I wrote these things down years ago as I thought about how his faith speaks. As we were all gathered at the house together in April, I listened to Cheryl, Lori, and Brady talk about daddy and their words confirmed these things.

First, my dad was a hard-working man. He worked hard at work, and at home, and for his church. He took every responsibility given to him as of utmost importance. We didn’t have much by way of material possessions, but my dad passed on far greater things than that. For the rest of my days, when I am working hard at something, trying to be a good husband and dad, trying to learn something new, working with my hands, or just doing the best I can do, I will do it to honor the Lord and in honor of my dad. I think all 4 of us kids do this naturally in different ways. If you’re watching, know that it is a reflection of the example that was set before us. Work - when done with the right attitude and effort - is a gift from God that was given to us in the garden, before the fall. Work hard for the glory of God.

Second, my dad loved the word of God. Every Sunday afternoon it was guaranteed you could find my dad in one place. About 2 or 3 o’clock he could be found in his room studying. He would be there until it was time to get ready to go to Sunday night church. He was studying for his Sunday school lesson that he would teach 7 days later. He taught a group of men, many of whom were more educated than my dad, but here sat my dad at his computer, diving deeply into the text, preparing for Sunday school. I once asked him why he didn’t just wait until the day before so it would be fresh on his mind. He told me he had tried that, but felt like he needed to spend the entire week preparing his lesson because it made him a better teacher. He found joy in knowing the word of God and in teaching it to his class. His faith still speaks because he taught his children to do the same.

Lastly, my dad was a man of incredible integrity. When I was a teenager I mowed lawns and saved up some money. One summer day I walked to Howard Brothers from the church and bought a ZZ Top tape. When I took it home and proudly displayed it to my dad, he was not pleased. He didn’t approve of me having the tape because of the group and their music and the things their music promoted that was probably over my head at 13, but he didn’t want it getting in my head. He made me take it back. Some time shortly after that, my mom came home with a book from the church library entitled, Hells Bells. It was a book all about the evils of rock and roll and it listed groups that sang songs that were inappropriate, including specific references to lyrics. I read it and actually enjoyed the book. Not long after that, my dad came home with an Eagles album. Being the smart alec teenager I was, I decided to check and see if that group was appropriate for my dad to listen to. I proudly went to him and pointed out the songs and lyrics that were not appropriate. My dad took the tape back. Fast forward twenty years and the Eagles came out with a 2 disc Greatest Hits album. I got it for my dad either for his birthday or Father’s Day and included a note that said, “I think we are both spiritually mature enough for you to have this album now.” My dad had no idea what I was talking about. How many of us, if called out over an inconsistency in our life by one of our teenagers, would have remembered that forever? How many of us would have told our child to mind their own business? How many of us would have taken it back? How many of us would have forgotten completely that it had even happened? My dad was a man of incredible integrity. He didn’t even remember. He did the right thing and forgot about it completely. I strive to be that consistent in my walk with Christ, but I fail so miserably all of the time. Oh that I could attain that level of integrity. That’s who my dad was and that’s why I said earlier that he was 100% who you knew him to be. He was always that man.

My dad never would have been who he was apart from Christ. I hope you take that away today from this service. All those years ago when I was jotting down my thoughts I concluded with this. “I am the man I am today, because of the grace of God through Jesus Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, and because of the foundation that was laid for me by my parents.” I know that Cheryl and Lori and Brady would echo these words. We have been blessed."

I miss him, but I'll see him again.