In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony stands before the crowd and begins: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, I have come to bury Caesar, not praise him.” Friends we come together today to remember David, but I think David be the first to tell you not to praise him, rather praise God who sent him into our lives.

I can tell you God can be praised for David. He was a devoted husband, a good friend, a hard worker, a strong member of a faith community and much more. Today I want to compare him to yeast, in particular baker’s yeast or even nutritional yeast. We know that Paul in the Bible thinks yeast spoils the dough, but we moderns know that yeast makes flat dough rise. It makes our breads and our pastries much more appealing.

Yeast can be used for nutritional value as well. It can be an excellent source of protein and vitamins as well as other minerals and cofactors required for growth. Nutritional yeast is often used with mal nourished individuals to help them restore needed vitamins and to jump start their digestive system.

I see David’s life as so much like yeast. Many times he would take on a new project with such enthusiasm and commitment that an otherwise bland, flat, or moribund program would become enlivened and expand.

I certainly saw that in the classroom when I first met David as a fellow student in Chemical Dependency Counseling. He was always looking for new insights, adding a Christian perspective, and helping fellow class mates better understand the subject at hand.

I saw it in his jail ministry in Latah County. He really felt a call to visit those who were imprisoned, to speak the word of God’s love and grace to them. He helped lay the ground work for the jail ministry that continues.

I saw it in his commitment to his faith community. He would talk about the times he helped organize Lutheran revivals in Southeastern Idaho. Think of it, revivals in a Lutheran Church Now, that is like adding yeast to dough, if you ask me. He also wanted to see Good Shepherd grow. He felt called to be active in this congregation’s ministry. He saw opportunity to do the Lord’s work among the Lord’s people and to bring Christ to the Orchards area.

He brought this same enthusiasm and commitment to his work in Orofino. For him, it was not just a job, but a vocation, a calling of God. He was not just a counselor, a skilled one at that, but a leader in the substance abuse field in Idaho. He had a knack for working with whom many would consider incorrigible in his cognitive behavioral groups. He was a change agent for many inmates.

David served his country with distinction. He would revile my kids with stories of what it was like to be a submariner on station off the Russian coast: listening, ready to help other submariners, keeping the peace

David was also a very good friend who would go out of his way to support friends who were going through difficult times: giving encouragement, showing concern, even sharing financial support, if need be. He always wanted the best for his friends. Someone once said a friend is that person who stands with you when all else fails. David was one such friend for me.

David loved animals. We all know of horse whisperers. Dave was a dog talker. He could talk dog. He would be able to get any dog to pour out its soul to him.

And I could certainly see David’s love for Laureen as the yeast for their marriage. They thoroughly enjoyed each other. They complemented each other in so many ways. I know there were times when David would get weary from work or from other cares, but he always found refreshment in his relationship with his wife. And I know Laureen blossomed because of David.

What amazes me is how God used David to energize people, to change programs, to build community. When people talk about someone being the salt of the earth (Going to the biker Dave. He used to tell the story of being stopped in Georgia by a county sheriff. The sheriff came up to him, and said, “Boy, you in a heap of trouble.”), I picture David being the salt that added flavoring to every calling he undertook.

David’s faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord gave him the assurance that sinner though he was, he was also a saint.
He was a holy man, called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the change agent in everything he did. David found particular strength in the study of God’s Word, in the worship of God, and in the means of grace. David was able to live his baptism in everything he did. While he was settled in his faith, he was also a sent person, an apostle, if you will; a tentmaker; a bearer of good news; an evangelion, to use the Greek term.

I also think David would want you to know that even though he has been called home, God’s work continues. David has helped to form new possibilities for continued growth. God will not leave work unfinished. Even now God is calling us, asking us how can we be the yeast to continue to bring life to where we are called. David has now completed his race. We are continuing our race. But we can be as settled in our faith as David was. Just as God sent Dave, God is sending us. May our lives be as holy as David’s was.

Praise be to God

29 January 2007

I just realized I had not added anything on this page for over a year. Has it really been that long?

2006 was a very good year in the Beebe clan. The grandchildren continue to grow. The children are doing well. Nancy and I remain deeply in love.

The biggest event of the year was the Craig's graduation from Lewis and Clark in Portland. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, which is a prestigious honor society. He has remained at Lewis and Clark this past year working in their Outdoor program. He organizes all the field trips, and orientation sessions for classes in the field. He plans on moving to California this next summer to work on a doctorate in Geography.

In the summer our son, Luke, brought the two grandchildren to Pullman for a week. While the two grandchildren are cousins they have always been the best of friends, but I can tell you that by the end of the week they were more like sisters. Luke was brave enough to take them on an overnighter camping trip. They had a very great time and want to do it again.

Kevin had the opportunity to go on a special youth leadership program over the past year. He got to know a group of great kids. He said that it was the most spiritual group he has ever been in. They did a number of servant programs, culminating in a trip to an orphanage in Mexico. Along the way he met a girl from Alaska. They have been on the phone everynight since then. Thank God for unlimited long distance phone packages now!

Erin continues to work in Blaine, WA, now as the lead teller at her bank branch. She hopes to eventually go back to school to get her Masters in Business Science and get into the management side of banking.

Nancy took on some new responsibilities in the library this past summer when they merged her interlibrary loan department with the circulation department. It was not necessarily a happy move, but they have all been able to adjust.

Me? I am still working at Spokane Community Detox and making the 152 mile round trip commute four days a week. Of course, with the way gas prices soared I ended up having to take on a second job--driving taxi in Pullman. It was a great experience. I have meant people from all over the world, sometimes all in one day. With two universities nearby our community in quite cosmopolitan.

2007 looks to be an eventful year too. We have large family reunion coming up on my Mother's side. Craig, as I said, will be moving to California (we hope to hear news of an engagement soon to Laura). Luke is dating someone now. We hope to meet her this next month. Kevin will begin to consider colleges and career. Erin will probably return to college. Nancy and I are counting our blessings.

Mom would make quilts for her entire family: her sons, her brothers and sisters, her neices and nephews, her grandchildren, and her great grand children. They would be for major events in life: birth and marriage, in particular.