[JPRT, 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress JOINT COMMITTEE PRINT 1st Session
_______________________________________________________________________
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES AND
OTHER TRIBUTES
HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE UNITED STATES
TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE
IN HONOR OF
ALAN NUNNELEE
LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MISSISSIPPI
August 27, 2015
Joint Committee on Printing
93-206
Alan Nunnelee
LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
MISSISSIPPI
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES
AND OTHER TRIBUTES
Hon. Alan Nunnelee
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
1958-2015
Memorial Addresses and
Other Tributes
HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE UNITED STATES
TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE
IN HONOR OF
ALAN NUNNELEE
Late a Representative from Mississippi
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
First Session
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
Tributes by Representatives:
Rohrabacher, Dana, of California...............
5
Thompson, Bennie G., of Mississippi............
3, 4
Memorial Service......................................
7
BIOGRAPHY
Congressman Alan Nunnelee represented the citizens of
Mississippi's First Congressional District. On January 5,
2011, he took the oath of office to support and defend our
Constitution. Alan believed that the strength of America
lies in its people, neighborhoods, churches, and
communities, not the Federal Government. He was known for
his conservative, pro-life, pro-family, fiscally
responsible values and was a defender of the Second
Amendment. He served on the House Appropriations Committee
and the Agriculture, Energy and Water and Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittees.
Before joining the 112th Congress, Alan represented Lee
and Pontotoc Counties in the Mississippi State Senate. As
chairman of the appropriations committee, he developed a
reputation as a strong fiscal conservative. Every year he
was chairman the budget was balanced without raising
taxes. Prior to that role, Alan chaired the Mississippi
State public health and welfare committee where he fought
against waste in Medicaid and was a leader on several
national committees addressing public health issues. He
also stood shoulder to shoulder with his fellow
conservatives during the tort reform battles in 2003 and
helped Governor Haley Barbour pass comprehensive tort
reform in 2004.
Known as a champion of pro-life causes, Alan was
nationally recognized for his success in helping make
Mississippi the safest place for unborn children. Alan
also knew that faith in God is a cornerstone of American
life. In 2001, he authored legislation to place our
national motto, ``In God We Trust,'' on the wall of every
school classroom in Mississippi at zero cost to the
taxpayers.
In Congress, Alan continued his work as a fiscal
conservative by voting for spending cuts, the balanced
budget amendment, and repeal of Obamacare.
Alan was a graduate of Mississippi State University.
Prior to Congress, he was vice president of Allied Funeral
Associates, a life insurance company and a member of the
Community Development Foundation's board of directors.
Alan was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Calvary
Baptist Church. He and his wife Tori have three children,
Reed who is married to Kemily, Emily who is married to
Trey, and Nathan who is married to Colleen. Alan and Tori
also have two grandchildren, Thomas Kemp Nunnelee and
Harper Grace Nunnelee.
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES
AND
OTHER TRIBUTES
FOR
ALAN NUNNELEE
Proceedings in the House of Representatives
Monday, February 9, 2015
PRAYER
The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered
the following prayer:
Gracious God, we give You thanks for giving us another
day.
In this Chamber, where the people's House gathers, we
pause to offer You gratitude for the gift of this good
land on which we live, for this great Nation which You
have inspired in developing over so many years. Continue
to inspire the American people that through the
difficulties of these days we might keep liberty and
justice alive in our Nation and in the world.
Give to us and all people a vivid sense of Your
presence, that we may learn to understand each other, to
respect each other, to work with each other, to live with
each other, and to do good to each other. So shall we make
our Nation great in goodness, and good in its greatness.
On this day we also ask Your blessing of peace and
consolation upon the family of Representative Alan
Nunnelee of the First District of Mississippi, who is
being laid to rest this day. Bless as well the Members of
this House, his staff, and all who mourn him. May he rest
in peace.
May all that is done this day be for Your greater honor
and glory.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I offer a
privileged resolution and ask for its immediate
consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 99
In the House of Representatives, U.S., February 10,
2015:
Resolved, That the House has heard with profound
sorrow of the death of the Honorable Alan Nunnelee, a
Representative from the State of Mississippi.
Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions
to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of
the deceased.
Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it
adjourn as a further mark of respect to the memory of the
deceased.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE LATE HONORABLE
ALAN NUNNELEE
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on Friday we
lost our colleague Alan Nunnelee, who represented the
First Congressional District of Mississippi.
Yesterday was the funeral for Congressman Nunnelee. The
entire Mississippi delegation and 40 other Members of
Congress attended.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House pause for a moment of
silence in remembrance of Congressman Nunnelee.
The SPEAKER. Members will rise and observe a moment of
silence.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rouzer). Pursuant to the
order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Speaker on
February 9, 2015, appointed the following Members of the
House to the committee to attend the funeral of the late
Honorable Alan Nunnelee:
The gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson
The gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Boehner
The members of the Mississippi delegation:
Mr. Harper
Mr. Palazzo
Other Members in attendance:
Mr. McCarthy, California
Mrs. McMorris Rodgers
Mr. Aderholt
Mr. Neugebauer
Mr. Conaway
Mr. McHenry
Mr. Fleming
Mr. Thompson, Pennsylvania
Mr. Walberg
Mr. Benishek
Mrs. Black
Mr. Denham
Mr. Flores
Mr. Hultgren
Mr. McKinley
Mr. Womack
Mr. Hudson
Mr. Messer
Mrs. Radewagen
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do
now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 9 o'clock and
13 minutes p.m.), under its previous order and pursuant to
House Resolution 99, the House adjourned until tomorrow,
Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at 10 a.m., for morning-hour
debate, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the
late Honorable Alan Nunnelee.
Honorable Patrick Alan Nunnelee
United States House of Representatives
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2:30 p.m., February 9, 2015
Calvary Baptist Church
Survivors:
His wife Tori and their three children, Reed (Kemily),
Emily (Morris), and Nathan (Colleen). Alan referred to his
children's spouses as his daughters-in-love and son-in-
love, ``because the relationship is created by love and
not by law.'' He also leaves behind three grandchildren,
Thomas, Harper, and a grandson expected in April; his
parents Sandra and Pat; four sisters, Lisa (Carl), Dodie
(Scott), Shannon (Jimmy), and Ammi (Brian); two brothers,
Joshua (Allie) and Matthew (Olivia); his mother-in-love,
Pat Bedells, and brother-in-love, Barry Bedells (Karen);
eighteen nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles, and
cousins.
Pallbearers:
Morgan Baldwin, Mike Currie, Doug Davis, Ted Maness,
Dickie Rhea, Rob Rice, Jordan Russell, and Giles Ward
Honorary Pallbearers:
Members of Rep. Nunnelee's Congressional Staff
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Micah 6:8
``He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does
the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with the Lord your God.''
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
``Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus.''
Patrick Alan Nunnelee
October 9, 1958-February 6, 2015
Order of Service
Presentation of Colors .............................
Mississippi
State Highway Patrol Honor Guard
Special Music .......
Calvary Baptist Church Quartet
``Happy Over There''
Opening Remarks ......................................
Rex Gillis
Opening Hymn .................................
Congregation
``Great is Thy Faithfulness''
Special Speaker .............................
Gov. Phil Bryant
Special Music ................................
Rev. Doug Spires
``The King is Coming''
Eulogy ................................................
Reed Nunnelee
Hymn .................................................
Congregation
``Be Thou My Vision''
Message ...........................................
Dr. Ed Deuschle
Folding of the United States Flag .........
Mississippi
State Highway Patrol Honor Guard
Presentation of the
United States Flag .................
Gov. Phil Bryant
Special Music .......
Calvary Baptist Church Quartet
``America the Beautiful''
Recessional .......................................
Congregation
``Because He Lives''
Pianist:
Lisa Tally
Organist:
Lynn McGrath
LIFE STORY
Patrick Alan Nunnelee, 56, of Tupelo, Mississippi went
to be with the Lord on February 6, 2015 with his family by
his side.
He was born in Tupelo on October 9, 1958 to Sandra and
Pat Nunnelee and spent most of his childhood in Columbus,
Mississippi. His family moved to Clinton, Mississippi in
1975, where he graduated from Clinton High School in 1976.
Alan attended Mississippi State University where he served
in the Student Government Association and graduated with a
degree in marketing in 1980. After graduation, he went to
work with American Funeral Insurance Company selling life
insurance. He fell in love and married Tori Bedells
Nunnelee of Clinton on April 10, 1982. The company
promoted him to Regional Sales Manager in 1987, and Alan
transferred his family to Morristown, Tennessee where they
lived for seven years. In 1994, he was promoted to
National Sales Manager and returned to Mississippi. Alan
and his father formed another life insurance company,
Allied Funeral Associates, in 1996, and he spent the
remaining years of his life building their company into a
small-business success story.
Alan was known to many as a servant. Some may remember
him through his work with the Mississippi Lions Club Eye
Bank and donor recovery program. During his college years
he was diagnosed with an eye condition, which ultimately
caused him to lose his sight. Through the loving acts of
two donors, he received cornea transplants, which restored
his eyesight. He spoke in churches and civic groups all
over Mississippi telling his story. He also served his
church faithfully, teaching Sunday School classes of all
ages and serving as deacon at First Baptist Church in
Morristown and later at Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo.
Alan's servant heart prompted him to be exceptionally
active in the political arena. He spent many years
campaigning for political candidates and issues whose
views represented his conservative values. In 1995 he was
elected to the Mississippi State Senate. He served the
people of North Mississippi for 15 years, chairing
multiple committees and tirelessly traveling back and
forth to the Capitol. Alan was elected to the United
States House of Representatives in 2010 where he served
until his death. He took great joy in telling people of
his beloved Mississippi. His life's work revolved around
protecting and promoting the family, defending the lives
of unborn babies, and cultivating an environment for job
creation.
Rex Gillis. Tori asked me to share with you that Alan
loved Gospel music and this one will make your toes tap,
but we are here for a celebration, let's keep that in
mind.
[``Happy Over There.'']
Rex Gillis. That was great. Mark 10:45: ``Jesus said, `For
even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.'
'' And gave his life for ransom for me. We are here to
celebrate, we just started celebrating, the life of one of
God's greatest servants, Alan Nunnelee. You know Alan
wouldn't have had it any other way, for Alan was at peace,
in Jesus' presence and he's smiling, and he doesn't want
to come back. Now selfishly, I want him to come back. Just
like I know you would. My name's Rex, I'm a longtime
friend from Columbus, Mississippi, where I went to high
school and church with Alan.
I'm both humbled and honored that Tori asked me to share
today about a great man. Going way back now, we've all
been teenagers. Unfortunately, I did some things that I
didn't really want my kids to know about. I think we've
all been there. But you know, Alan was always upright and
he was the good kid. Never in trouble like the rest of us,
but I had one good story on him where he slipped up.
That's always good to have, is one good story on your
Congressman. However, when I was at his home, and Tori
invited me about 10 days ago and I was bedside holding his
hand and we were talking, I said, ``You know, I think I'm
going to tell that story,'' and Alan with extra energy
surged up and said, ``No!'' So I promised him I wouldn't
share and I won't today. But the truth is, is that Alan's
standards were so high, that for us that story was not a
big deal because we were in trouble all the time, but for
Alan it was a big deal. Because he had impeccable
character.
Now when Tori called me from the hospital Saturday,
January 24, she told me that Alan had turned for the worst
and that the medical community, which had served him well,
had done all that they could do. Suddenly Alan, in his
bed, turned to Tori, and said, and in his toughest
situation I might add, said, ``How's Rex doing?'' Did not
those actions speak louder than the words?
------------
The funeral service was transcribed by the staff of the
House Republican Conference.
Yesterday I received a message from another fellow high
school classmate, Dr. Rusty Linton, a surgeon and the
Mississippi State team doctor. This is what the message
said. ``Over the last year, every time I sent Alan a text
of encouragement, he asked about my wife and said that he
and Tori were specifically praying for her. He always
downplayed his problems and showed care for my wife.
Selfless. Humble. I sent him a text on Super Bowl Sunday
thanking him for all of that and for being my friend. He
was a true man of God and the kind of leader that
Washington needs more of.''
I think the point is, and it's obvious, that Alan was
deeply struggling, and his first concern was others. Alan
always lived his life concerned about the welfare of
others. Above himself. Always strong for others, he did
not have to seek for strength, he just always seemed to
have that strength. He was who he was, always. He just
generally lived life in action to serve others. That's all
I can remember. Alan, many times over his political
career, he would state, and this is a quote from Alan,
``It's not about a person named Alan Nunnelee, but a voice
of the people seeking change, motivated by their love of
country.''
He personifies the message that was on Ronald Reagan's
desk. It said there's no limit to what a man can do, or
where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit.
You know that was Alan. We believe that there was a
calling on Alan's life to serve the people publicly. He
was obedient to be God's man for our community, for our
State, and for our country. Simply, Alan made a
difference. For that reason we celebrate today. He leaves
a great legacy for his family. He'll be remembered as a
great man who served others.
Now family and friends, the Bible in Nahum 1:7 says,
``The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He
cares for those who take refuge in Him.'' We are all here
today to encourage the Nunnelee family and some of our
friends and colleagues.
Now, we all know the truth; behind every great man is a
great woman. Tori, you define the virtues of a Proverbs 31
woman. In every aspect a wife is to serve her husband, and
that you did. You lived it out. Besides Alan experiencing
your overwhelming love, you have ministered to the rest of
your family, your two sons, your daughter, your father,
father-in-law and mother, your in-laws, your sisters, your
church, your community, everyone around you. What we
witnessed were the virtues of your faith, marriage,
finances, your career, your homemaking, your beauty, and
all the wise use of your time. Your countenance today in
this place is overwhelming. God's peace transcends through
this whole process, and as we gather today to celebrate,
because we know where you're at, we know where Alan's at.
So thank you for serving my friend and our leader. I think
it's appropriate at this celebration as we witness Alan's
legacy, and I know we're in a church, but I just think
that we need to clap and thank this family and Alan.
[Clapping.]
Now Tori, I know if you were standing up here, you would
say just as Alan would today, it's only by God's grace
that we're able to do anything, and we all know that Alan
and Tori realized that God is the source of their
strength. I know what they want us to do here is not just
to honor Alan but to honor God in this place. So in a
world with many countries, and countries with many
leaders, can one man make a difference? Well yes, it
depends on where his strength comes from. David, when he
faced Goliath, or Moses when he faced the Pharaoh, Paul,
when he had his many excursions and trials, and even Job
who faced more trials than anyone including Christ
himself. Many individuals make a tremendous difference,
when they use God as their source of strength. So Alan
sought his strength in Jesus Christ, and he was bold in
his faith. He never wavered back even in high school, Alan
was a solid man of character, he was true to his wife,
true to his family, his children, his friends and
colleagues, but most important he was true to God.
It's often said that the true character of a man is
easily seen in a time of distress, and in very hard times
we have witnessed the character of Alan Nunnelee the past
several months. He is what defines a real man, and a great
man, and his legacy now reflects that.
At a Prayer Breakfast before the swearing in to Congress
I stood before an audience with Alan, and our Nation being
in trouble deeper than most realize, and with probably the
only way to truly revive it was through God using one
faithful man at a time. So we publicly asked Alan, ``Are
you that man,?'' and looking at him we all believed that
he was that man, and we said, ``Let's go to battle.'' Alan
said, ``Let's go.'' Now, here we are, Alan has fought the
good fight, he's crossed the finish line, God is prepared
for him in God's time.
In our human logic, we may ask, why did a great man like
Alan have to die, why now? We'll only know these answers
in God's presence, however some of those answers become
clear today for some of us in this service. Because we see
the testimony of a godly man and a godly family. So Alan's
gone, he's left, so what's our legacy, what will we lay
before God?
In closing, as we celebrate Alan Nunnelee serving us,
with godly character his whole life, I truly believe if
Alan were talking to each one of you individually or if he
stood up here at this podium today his final words would
be, ``Well, I'm just doing fine, all is well, how are you
doing?''
Rev. Doug Spires. Lamentations 3:22, 23 tells us this,
``Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail, they are new every
morning, great is your faithfulness.'' Let's sing it
together, we proclaim it together in a song. Lord, great
is your faithfulness.
[``Great is Thy Faithfulness.'']
Governor Phil Bryant. Alan Nunnelee was my brother, my
friend, and the best man I ever knew. Now he would not
like for me to say that, because he would think in his way
somehow, I might compare him to others in his goodness,
kindness, love, devotion, and character. He would never do
such a thing. He would always encourage others to be
better than they may be, not in an overt way but in Alan's
dear way. Tori, I had the last opportunity to visit with
him, it was such a joy.
Children, I know that may seem strange under those
conditions and circumstances, with our dear friend's
health challenged in so many ways. But it was a joy for
me. I realized, as Tori did, it might be our last chance
to see one another this side of paradise. Now we will all
see Alan Nunnelee in the blink of an eye. I have a feeling
when I walk through those gates he will say, ``Well good
morning! How are you?'' When the sun is setting it will be
``Good afternoon!''
Alan and I came into the legislature, my second term and
I think his first in the senate, about 1995 and as we
began to work together during that legislative process I
realized this man was something very special. One writer
would say that if Alan Nunnelee would tell you something
you could guarantee that it was for certain. I felt that
same way and I thought how unusual it is that in this
great legislative body that telling the truth is such a
premium. That people would go about telling others, this
is Alan Nunnelee, if he is telling you the truth he really
means it. Oh he did. Sandra and Pat what a wonderful job
you did. What an amazing man he was.
These last 2 days I've spent a good deal of my time
reading my Bible, searching for answers and quotes and I
realized this morning Alan Nunnelee had me reading my
Bible. One more time he made me a better person. He wasn't
even there but there I was searching Scriptures. I kept
coming back to the first psalm. David wrote, ``Blessed is
the man who does not walk in the council of ungodly, but
delights in the laws of the Lord.'' Mr. Speaker, I thought
about that. He delighted in the laws of the Lord. He shall
be like the tree. That was Alan Nunnelee. A tree. Strong
oak, that could stand against it seemed, any wind, storm,
challenges that came its way, but also offer the beauty
and the coolness of the shade that he would invite you
into. Just to rest and take comfort.
``A tree planted by the river of waters,'' writes King
David, I think he meant the Mississippi River. May not
have realized it at the time but of the rivers of water of
course is the great Mississippi and there was this great
oak of a man, Alan Nunnelee. Whatever he shall do will
prosper. Oh, did he prosper. Wonderful children, Reed,
Emily, Nathan, how proud he was of you and his wonderful
grandchildren, and Deborah and I have our first, so we
realize it's the best thing ever and Alan would tell me
that, ``Just wait,'' he would say. ``You just don't know
how wonderful life can be.''
He was always telling me how wonderful life could be.
Even when he was appropriations chairman and I was
Lieutenant Governor, he would say, ``Don't worry Governor,
we're doing just fine.'' He had a strong faith like that.
I was thinking as I stood at this podium today looking at
Alan at this angle, it would be very similar as I would
stand there and say, ``The Chair recognizes Senator
Nunnelee.'' As he stood at that podium, he would always
have an Alanism. He would begin with some historical
reference. Something someone told him back home, and I
would think, ``Where are we going here Mr. Chairman?''
He would tell everyone at the first appropriations
committee that he attended, that he was chairman of, I
think he stole that from Jerry Clower, you see he had
always been on the finance committee, in the senate, and
when I called on him to be chairman of the appropriations
committee he said, ``Governor, you may not realize it, but
I've never been to an appropriations committee meeting.''
You see, they're divided in equal parts. So if you're on
finance you're always meeting in finance and you never get
a chance to go to appropriations in the same way, and he
said, ``Are you sure?,'' and I said, ``I'm pretty sure, I
prayed about this, and I think you're going to be
appropriations chair.''
As the Chair recognized the appropriations chairman,
Alan did something remarkable, he let all that would come
share in that process. He would listen to everyone. Now
his door and hallways were always full. I thought there
was a point where more people wanted to talk to Alan
Nunnelee than they did to me. As appropriations chairman,
the Lieutenant Governor, is here today. He appreciates and
understands that, but you see, oh, did he prosper, and the
wonderful family, tremendous career, friends that love him
dearly, love him so much. His son-in-law and daughters-in-
law, to which Alan, an Alanism, he would call son-in-love
and daughters-in-love. Daughters-in-love and son-in-love,
that was Alan.
At special times he could capture that wonderful moment
of faith and joy and even in the most difficult of times.
I had never seen anyone quite like him. I thought at some
point, surely I will see that there will be an Alan that
will weaken in these storms that come on us. A flair of
anger perhaps somewhere along the way. Never. He was
always the strongest oak that could be.
He called me when he was considering a run for Congress.
We had talked about it, he was my appropriations chairman
so I said, ``Alan, you are my right arm. What will I do if
you leave? We have another year of appropriations and some
of the most difficult times ahead of us.'' That was during
the times of the great recession. He of course said, ``Oh,
there are other people who can do this job much better
than I.'' Well we had other people, Senator Davis, but
Alan Nunnelee was that special man. He called me at home
one evening and he said, ``I have made a decision, I have
crossed the Rubicon,'' an Alanism. I said, ``Is that in
Lee County?'' I never had heard that before so I had to
look it up and see exactly what Alan meant. He had crossed
the Rubicon like Caesar into Rome, he was at the point of
no return. He realized that was the moment for him, he had
made that decision, he had intended to give it all his
energy. He had asked Tori and she had said OK.
We would never do it without the women, I can assure
you. We would never even attempt it and we would never be
successful without these wonderful women that lift us up
and keep us strong and stand with us.
So as Alan crossed that Rubicon, there we were
campaigning together. I said, ``I am on the way. Tell me
whatever I can do to help you.'' That was the way we
always were. If I needed his help in the political or
personal arena, he was coming. There was no doubt. He was
one of those friends that you can count on, no matter
where you're at, and circumstances did not matter to him.
If you needed the help, there were no questions afterward.
It was ``I will be there as quickly as I can.'' What a
remarkable man this was.
There are so many things that I think of when I think of
Alan. I will certainly miss his friendship. Though that's
the selfish way of looking at it. But I had opportunities
to call and talk to him, to hear that encouragement again,
to hear the faith that he had in this great country. How
much he loved this wonderful State and those beautiful
grandchildren, especially that one.
My favorite movie is ``It's a Wonderful Life'' with
Jimmy Stewart. In fact, Deborah can tell you, for many
years until they got old enough to rebel, I would force my
children to watch it. Oh, they would say, ``Here they go,
we have to watch `It's a Wonderful Life.' ''
I wanted them to understand the meaning of what George
Bailey's life was about. Alan Nunnelee was much the same.
I notice little things in the movie each time I see it. In
Peter Bailey's office, George's father who passed away as
a young man, it seemed, in the movie there was a sign that
said, ``All you can take with you is that which is given
away.'' A sign in the office. Next time you watch the
movie, it's there hanging. All that you can ever take with
you is what you have given away. That was perfect for Alan
Nunnelee. He gave away so much. To everyone who came into
contact with him, he gave all that he had. He was the best
man that I ever knew.
George Bailey thought his life meant nothing. Did he
make a difference? He kept wondering. In fact, he thought
it would be no different in the world if he had never been
born. A clumsy little angel named Clarence showed him the
difference. George Bailey changed the world around him for
so many. He made their lives whole. He built houses and he
was determined to make sure that everyone had an even
chance in life. He protected those who needed protecting;
he stood for those that had no one to stand for them. Alan
Nunnelee was as much a George Bailey in our time as could
have been. Clarence, after showing him what life would be
like without him, said to him, ``You see, George, each
man's life touches so many. When he isn't around, it
leaves an awful hole, doesn't it?''
There's an awful hole in our lives now. Our friend is
gone on, to walk the streets of glory. I will miss him
dearly, as we all will. But I will never, I shall never
forget, what Alan Nunnelee gave me. To see his faith. To
believe as he believed. To know that one day again we will
be together in paradise with all those we love and
cherish. Alan Nunnelee was my friend, my brother, and the
best man I ever knew. I love Alan Nunnelee. I know that
God loves him too.
Rev. Doug Spires. Tori asked for me to share with you that
this is one of Alan's favorite songs. Now that he is in
glory face-to-face with the Lord Jesus who he loved so
much, I have no doubt he would want you to know the
impending truth of this song.
[``The King is Coming.'']
Reed Nunnelee. I was with him this summer when a physical
therapist walked in the hospital room and she sheepishly
confessed, ``You know, we've been meeting in the lunchroom
and none of the therapists are sure what to call you. You
know? Do we call you Mr. Congressman? Do we call you Mr.
Nunnelee? Do we call you Your Honor?'' He grinned at her.
``Oh, almost 56 years ago, Pat and Sandra Nunnelee thought
Alan would be a pretty good thing to call their little
boy. Why don't you just use that?''
You see, he was important, sure enough, but he was not
ever self-important. He took his job very seriously but he
never took himself all that seriously. You know, he didn't
get hung up on titles. Sure he'd introduce himself as
Congressman Nunnelee, if that would help a veteran get his
benefits, but otherwise, well, he was just Alan. He could
talk with crowds and walk with kings, but never lose the
common touch. Most of you in this room knew him by one of
his many political titles: Mr. Chairman, Senator,
Congressman. But if you hung around him long enough, you
knew that there was one title that he was proudest of. He
called it the most important title he's ever held, and it
wasn't chairman, and it wasn't senator, and it wasn't U.S.
Congressman. Well I could say it but he gave the
commencement address at my law school graduation, so I'm
going to let you hear it from him.
[Video plays.]
Emcee. Please join me in giving Congressman Alan Nunnelee
a warm MC Law welcome as he delivers our commencement
address.
Alan Nunnelee. Thank you. It is a privilege to be here.
It's an exciting day. One of my three children is a member
of the graduating class, so while I may have a lot of
titles, the title I'm most proud of is dad. Reed, I'm
proud of you.
Reed Nunnelee. How about that. There are only three people
in this world that have the absolute privilege of using
that title. I am so proud to stand before you today and be
able to call him dad because as dynamic a State leader as
he was, as faithful a public servant, I assure you he was
a better daddy. I told my Aunt Shannon I empathize with
the Gospel writer a little bit who concluded his book by
saying, ``Look, if everything that Jesus did was written
down, there wouldn't be enough books in the world to
contain all of that.''
Well, I can't keep you here all day, but I did ask my
siblings to write down something about their dad. My
youngest brother Nathan wrote this:
In 2007 people began talking about the upcoming
statewide election. My dad had served in the State senate
for 12 years and had established himself as a workhorse in
Jackson and a politician who could get things done. His
natural leadership abilities, his incredible work ethic
and his ability to find solutions made him an obvious
candidate for one of those statewide positions. Many
people began to approach dad about running for Lieutenant
Governor. Well, dad loved Mississippi and knew that if
elected to that position he would have the opportunity to
serve Mississippi in a way he never could before. However,
dad chose not to run, and the question that came to
everybody's mind was, ``Why? Why would a man with such a
love for this State and such a desire to serve choose not
to pursue that position?'' What's more, why would a
candidate with such obvious support choose not to run?
Publicly, dad just downplayed those questions, but
privately dad explained to us why he wasn't going to run.
I was 16 years old in spring 2007 and was getting ready
to start my senior year at Tupelo High School. Dad knew
that running for Lieutenant Governor would require him to
spend much of the summer and fall campaigning around the
State and doing so would mean that he would be gone for
most of my senior year. Dad chose not to run so that he
could spend time with me before I left for college. It was
important to him to be there for me. When he said, ``the
title I'm most proud of is dad,'' those weren't just words
to him, he lived it. Through his actions, he was telling
me ``I love you.'' He was saying, ``You have value. I
value you more than I value men's praise. I love and value
you more than my career, or money, or success. I love and
cherish my time with you more than anything this world
could offer.''
Over the past few months, dad became very intent about
telling us how proud he was of us. He told me many times,
``I love you and I'm proud of the man that you've
become.'' Those are words every son needs to hear, but for
me, it was something dad showed every day.
The middle child, my sister Emily, wrote this:
As a little girl, my dad often took me on daddy-daughter
dates. He always let me choose what we would do for our
date which inevitably meant I would ask him to go to the
mall and pick out pink dresses. Every now and then he
would surprise me with a special date to the Velveteen
Rabbit. There he would let me pick out any outfit in the
store. These became my favorite outfits because he would
always tell me I looked beautiful, like his little
rosebud. I cherished those dates with my dad because it
was time he set aside just for us.
My freshman year in high school, a boy came to our house
to pick me up for my first date. My dad met him at the
door and shook his hand. Looking him in the eye he said,
``You better take care of my little girl, son, she's the
only one I got.'' This soon became the tradition for any
boy who came to pick me up on a date. Even when I went to
college, I would call my dad for him to tell my dates over
the phone. Only later did it occur to me what my dad was
doing when he took me on daddy-daughter dates. He took me
on dates to show me how his little girl deserved to be
treated. Later he made sure those boys who came to our
house knew he was entrusting them with his precious little
girl, and he expected her to be treated with respect.
On my wedding day, my dad walked me down the aisle right
here in this church. When we got to the front of the
church, he reached out his hand to my future husband and
said, ``This is the last time I'll get to say this and it
brings me joy knowing you'll do this. You better take care
of my little girl son, she's the only one I've got.''
Over the past 9 months, I had the privilege of meeting a
lot of the doctors and nurses that cared for my dad. With
every caregiver I met, I found myself telling them, ``You
better take care of my dad. He's the only one I've got.''
Every time I said that, my dad would grin. He knew that I
meant it. So now, for one last time I say, ``God, you
better take care of my dad. He's the only one I've got.''
You know, I remember. When dad comes home from work, you
know what kids do. You just kind of assault him at the
door. Well, he'd no more than get one foot in the door and
I'd come up there with questions. Well having inherited
his love for baseball, I'd always have the same one,
``Hey, dad, you want to play catch?'' Well, I'm a dad
myself and I know how easy it can be to say, ``Oh, you
know Buddy, I've had a long day at work. I'd really just
like to take a load off. Can I sit on the couch?'' I never
got that response from dad. It was always the same. This
is verbatim, ``Hey, dad, you want to play catch?''
``Absolutely! There is nothing so important in the world
that it can't wait for me to play catch with my little
boy.''
Every night when he tucked us in bed, he'd tell us a
story, and conclude with the same message. In fact, the
night before he went in for brain surgery, I asked him to
record a video for my two children. ``Dad, just tell them
whatever's on your mind. Whatever you want them to know.''
He told them the same thing I'd grown up hearing every
night. It's on the screen.
[Video.]
Alan Nunnelee. Harper, Poppy loves you. I'll never forget
how it felt the first time I saw you and how proud I was.
I want you to know that you are special. You're special
not because of anything you'll ever do in life, or
anything you'll ever own or accomplish. You're special
because God made you special. If God makes you special,
nobody can make you un-special.
Reed Nunnelee. You're special because God made you
special. If God makes you special, nobody could ever make
you un-special. Let me tell you, that's something every
little boy and girl needs to here.
That's what he was saying when he decided to forgo his
State election. That's what he was saying when he talked
to my sister's dates and that's what he was saying when he
threw the baseball with me. We're special, we have value.
Well I'll tell you as much as I learned from dad growing
up, I learned at least that much in the last few months.
When dad gathered us all around to deliver the diagnosis,
he began by saying, ``Let me tell you my attitude about
this whole deal. You know, `Amazing Grace' has always been
one of my favorite hymns. One verse in that hymn says
`Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I've already
come. It's grace that's brought me safe thus far and grace
will lead me home.' ''
He had surgery last summer to remove most of the tumor.
Well the night before the surgery I had an opportunity to
talk with him and tell him the things on my heart. You
know it wasn't anything I hadn't already said but it was
good to sit down to tell him those things again. He said,
``Reed, I taught you how to ride a bike, I taught you how
to shave, I taught you how to throw a curveball.
Unfortunately, it looks like I am going to have to teach
you what it looks like for a Christ follower to walk
through something like this.'' Oh, and teach he did.
When the doctors told dad how serious his cancer was his
attitude from the very beginning was to consider how
blessed he was. He and my mom reminded everyone that the
Bible says in all things give thanks and that's the
attitude they adopted. They handed out these bracelets
which many of you are wearing which are inscribed with
that verse. ``You know,'' he said, ``You don't just give
thanks when your bill gets signed into law, you don't just
give thanks at a victory party on election night, you give
thanks even when you find out you are dying of cancer
because God richly blesses and we have a lot to be
thankful for,'' and that's what dad did.
You know they began writing down all of their blessings
on a poster board. I have it here. In all things give
thanks. Well one poster board turned into two, into three,
and before you knew it we had nine poster boards filling
up the walls in every hospital we went to and they were
hanging on the wall when dad spent his last days at home,
to remind us that God richly blesses and in all things to
give thanks.
You know his attitude was just relentless. Many of you
know he had a stroke during the surgery. Well he couldn't
speak right after the surgery. He was paralyzed on his
left side. We're talking about a politician who can't walk
and talk. Many of us would sit down and quit. That's not
what dad did. Sitting in a hospital bed, his speech was
garbled and he told me, ``Reed, put on `Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony.' '' All right, OK. He told me a story you know.
Many of you know that when he was in college he went
blind. He said he would sit in that dorm room and lay on
his bed and he would listen to ``Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony.'' Couldn't see a thing but he said, ``You know
when Beethoven wrote that he had started going deaf and I
knew sitting on my little dorm room bed that if God can
speak one of the greatest pieces of music to a deaf man,
he can do the same with a little blind boy. That was the
attitude he carried.
``Anything the mind of man can conceive and believe it
can achieve.'' That's what he said. Well I wrote that
down. You know when PT and OT would come in I know what my
response would probably be--``Oh, I don't want to do
this.'' That's not what dad said. He would look them in
the eye and say, ``I'm ready to work hard.'' They said,
``We wish all of our patients had that attitude.'' He
said, ``the last freedom any man has is the freedom to
choose his own attitude.'' I wrote that down.
We were in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins before a big PT
session and I was trying to temper his expectations. I
said, ``Dad, you know you had a great day yesterday. You
know it's fine if you can't do everything today and need a
little rest.'' ``My job,'' he said, ``is not to rely on
past successes but to draw on them.'' I wrote that down.
It's like a Jedi master.
You know I also learned during the last few months how
proud he is of our State. I heard him on many occasions
implore the therapist to visit the New Mississippi as he
called it. He was so proud of how much progress
Mississippi has made over the past few decades especially
in the area of race reconciliation. He was so proud of his
generation for their role in integration. While lawmakers
and teachers and coaches and parents were certainly
instrumental in that change, it was the kids who made it
work and he was proud of that. That's why in our house dad
didn't dismiss racism as some quaint little southern
quirk, he rebuked it for the sin that it is. ``I don't
think God will hold me accountable for the Mississippi my
grandparents created, but he will make me answer for the
Mississippi my grandkids grow up in.'' So it won't
surprise you that I remember many Sundays sitting in the
back of a mostly African American church because dad had
been asked to preach.
A few months ago we spent the weekend visiting mom and
dad in Tupelo. It came time for me and my family to go
back to our home in Jackson, and I became emotional
because I didn't know how many more goodbyes I was going
to get. Dad reminded me that in all likelihood this
wouldn't be our last goodbye but if it is he said,
``aren't you glad we can say it without any regrets?'' And
I am. See unlike many people who get told they have 14
months to live, dad didn't have to spend the last few
months of his life making amends for strained
relationships or going to former friends and apologizing.
He often quoted one of his favorite proverbs which served
him well in politics. ``When a man's ways please the Lord
he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.'' So this
morning I am sad beyond belief but I don't despair because
I had a daddy who taught me the most important lesson that
real joy is found only in Christ.
I'm reminded of a story he told. When dad was growing up
in Columbus, Mississippi, he learned a song in Sunday
School that says ``This joy that I have, the world didn't
give it to me, the world didn't give it, and the world
can't take it away.''
Well when he chaired the appropriations committee he
said they were literally about 2 minutes away from a
government shutdown and other fellow legislators would say
``You know you've got to be under more stress than anybody
in the State right now but we don't hear it in your
voice.'' ``This joy that I have,'' he said, ``The Capitol
didn't give it, and the Capitol can't take it away.''
I decided to let dad close this one out. You know I
mention he gave the commencement address at my law school
graduation and his speech focused on how quickly our
culture is changing. How are law school graduates supposed
to deal with that change? Well there was a bigger lesson
that he wanted us to hear.
[Video.]
Alan Nunnelee. There's another aspect of change. It's much
more personal than the macrochange that I talked about.
The large economy, the changes in technology. It's a
change that hits home to every individual. It's the type
of change that comes when you're sitting in the examining
room. The seconds tick by like hours as you're waiting for
the physician to walk in and the physician walks in and
says, ``We have the results of the tests. They're not
good.'' At that moment you know your life is going to
change.
When the phone rings at 2 a.m., and if you wake up and
try to shake the sleep from your brain, you answer the
phone and a cold sweat breaks out, because your worst
fears become reality. That's a much more personal change.
Or, you're called in at work, and they use different
phrases: downsizing, cutbacks, and budget reductions. But
the end result is all the same. You thought your life was
planned out for the next several years. And all of a
sudden, your life is changed.
I would encourage you, in order to prepare for that
day--and those days come to us all--make sure there is
something in your life that doesn't change. I've had a
great role model in that area, my dad happens to be here
to watch his grandson graduate. At age 41, he took a job
with a very small fledgling company based in Mississippi
and over the next 18 years dedicated his life to watching
and making that company grow. As it grew to a major
national force, he approved all of the benefits and
recognition including financial that came with that role.
The company became so large and so successful that it
became attractive to outside investors who came in and
said, ``This is great. We are going to add three more
companies to this operation and we're going to make you a
major national leader and you're going to have even more
opportunities than before.''
A very short time after that merger they came to see him
and in less than 5 minutes time, his career was over. Then
they brought in a psychologist from way out of town. My
dad looked at that psychologist who he didn't know and he
said, ``Look, let me explain something to you. As a little
boy in a small country church in Eastern Pontotoc County,
I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He said, ``It's
a good thing I didn't have my faith and trust in a
company, because if I did, I would be reaching to hold on
to something that wasn't there.''
Graduates, I encourage you in order to cope with change,
put your faith in Christ, in Jesus Christ, something much
more important, much more lasting, than anything that
you'll see here today.
Reed Nunnelee. That's the man who served our State for so
many years and that's the man I am so proud to call dad.
[``Be Thou My Vision.'']
Dr. Ed Deuschle. Haven't we been blessed beyond measure?
All these powerful testimonies of Alan Nunnelee's life. I
was in his room on Wednesday when I saw him for the last
time, and I saw those placards all over the wall, seeing
all the things he was thankful for, and all the people he
was thankful for. I looked on one and there in the middle
was Uncle Ed. I'm Uncle Ed, and I was proud to be on that
list of people for whom he gave thanks. Jesus, in the
Sermon on the Mount, said, ``You are the salt of the
Earth.'' He also said, ``You are the light of the world.
Let your light so shine before men that they might see
your good works and glorify your Father who is in
heaven.''
Alan took those words of Jesus quite seriously. He
became the salt of the Earth, he became the light of the
world, and even those in the House saw the glory of God in
the life of Congressman Alan Nunnelee. I rose early this
morning in my motel and at about 5 in the morning, I had
gone down to the lobby to grab a cup of coffee. The
television was on, and there was a beautiful tribute to my
nephew, and I was all alone watching it, watching news
footage that I had not seen before. It was very touching.
Right after that, there was a story of a young man who
spoke recently at Auburn Baptist Church, a nearby church
in Lee County, and I was intrigued by what I saw. His name
was Clay Dyer. Clay was born with no legs, missing one
complete arm on one side and had a partial arm on the
other side, and he was in a mobilized wheelchair. He had
been at Auburn Baptist Church where they filmed this and
he was just sharing his testimony. He was a professional
fisherman if you could believe that. Yet he shared that
the secret of his life was his relationship with Jesus
Christ. He said, ``Nobody has an excuse when they look at
me, for not experiencing the joy of the Savior.'' Here was
a man who did not look down at what he lacked, but he
looked up at what he had. That was my Alan. When he was
blind at Mississippi State, coping with an illness at the
end of his life and all the challenges in the middle of
life. Alan never looked down at what he lacked. But he
always looked up with what he had. I think Uncle Ed
probably taught him this. I've heard it reiterated several
times. I think I'm the teacher.
We cannot control what life does to us, none of us can.
We can decide what we will do back to life. Regardless of
the circumstances, Alan faced the circumstances of life
with faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He took one
step at a time forward with persistence, prayer, and as it
has already been so beautifully stated in everything he
gave thanks for. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus,
concerning God's children.
You've been sitting a long time, and Alan would want you
to stand and stretch your legs, but also to show respect
for God's word. I want to dedicate the 112th Psalm to my
nephew. Would you stand in reverence for the word of God.
Listen very carefully to what this passage says.
``Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the
Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His
children will be mighty in the land. The generation of the
upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his
house and his righteousness endures forever. Even in
darkness, light dawns for the upright, for the gracious
and compassionate and righteous man. God will come to him
who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs
with justice. Surely he will never be shaken. A righteous
man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of
bad news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is secure. He will have no fear. In the end he
will look in triumph o'er his foes. He has scattered
abroad his gifts to the poor. His righteousness endures
forever. His horn will be lifted high in honor.''
Another version simply says, ``His deeds will never be
forgotten. He shall have influence and honor.'' May God
bless the reading of the Scripture. You may be seated.
In 1904, a woman by the name of Bessie Stanley wrote
these famous words, ``It has been said,'' she said, ``That
a successful person is one who lived well, laughed often,
and loved much. Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women,
the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little
children. Who has filled his niche and accomplished his
task, and who has left the world a better place than he
found it. Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's
beauty, or failed to express it. Who always looked for the
best in others and gave them the best he had. Whose life
was an inspiration, and whose memory, a benediction.'' No
wonder the Bible says the memory of the just is blessed.
Alan knew a lot of Scripture. He could quote a lot of
Scripture. Alan valued that proverb that says that ``A
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and
loving favor rather than silver and gold.'' But he also
understood the paradoxical statement in Ecclesiastes 7:1
that said, ``A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death is better than the day of one's
birth.'' Isn't that something to think about? ``The day of
death is better than the day of one's birth.''
It has been said that faith grows a Christian, life
proves a Christian, toil confirms a Christian, and death
crowns a Christian. One of my favorite verses is Psalms
116:15, that simply says, ``Precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of His saints.'' The word ``precious''
is a word that literally means an experience to be highly
valued, to be highly esteemed. It's the greatest single
moment of a person's life when they take their last breath
and they're absent from the body and precious, they're in
the presence of the Lord. Precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of His saints.
Alan loved sports, he loved sports personalities. He
would be thrilled that I'm using a quote from Lou Holtz to
formulate my thoughts today. I was watching ESPN, a
commentary and Lou was involved, and I don't know what in
the world they were discussing, but all of a sudden, he
just stopped what he was thinking about and went on a
completely different track talking about a life
application lesson from his heart to every one of us, and
he said, ``Listen to me. Everyone needs something to do,
someone to love, something to believe in, and something to
hope for.'' I want you to understand that Alan had
something to do in this world. God ordained his steps,
orchestrated his life, but God gave him a lot to do as he
asked many other of these distinguished guests that are
here today.
I go back to Deuteronomy 6:4 after Moses had given the
Ten Commandments to the Hebrew children, he gave
instructions to the patriarchs of the land, the leaders of
the land, the heads of the homes of Israel, and he wanted
them to heed that instruction that said, ``The Lord our
God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. And
these commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about
them when you sit at home. When you walk along the road,
when you lie down, and when you get up.''
Alan took that instruction very seriously. I believe
that the key to a great nation is a great home. This is
teaching us that in a home setting, the man is to be the
spiritual leader in the home. He is to be a role model, as
has been shared by his son and others. Alan was that role
model, who modeled Christianity, and he taught by precept
and personal example. The Bible said, ``So whether eat or
drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.''
I just want to briefly talk to you about a life that
glorifies God and that's my Alan.
Ray Kroc was the founder of the McDonalds fast food
franchise, and I am not trying to diminish him in any way
at all publicly, but Ray Kroc was once asked the question,
``Sir, what do you believe in?'' He thought for a moment
and said, ``I believe in God, I believe in family, and I
believe in McDonalds. But when I go to work on Monday, I
reverse the order.'' That could never be said of Alan
Nunnelee. Alan kept his priorities straight, and God and
God's will were the primary concerns of his life.
Patrick Morley, in his book ``Walking with Christ in the
Details of Life'' said that spiritual excellence is not
ascending the ladder of leadership to greatness, it is
about descending the ladder of humility to servanthood.
That's just what our Lord Jesus taught us. Whoever wants
to be great among you must be your servant and whoever
wants to be first must be slave of all. That is what Alan
chose to be. A servant to the King of Kings and the Lord
of Lords and a servant to the people of his State,
community, to the Nation, and the world. Alan had
something to do.
But Alan also had someone to love. I am overwhelmed with
what I have seen over the last 2 days. Visitation
yesterday was 6 hours long. Today, 2 more hours. Eight
hours of people coming through the line from all over the
country to say, ``We loved Alan.'' We love Alan's family,
and many of you made a long journey today because Alan
first loved you. Alan had a lot of people to love. Jesus
said, ``A new command I give you: Love one another as I
have loved you. So you ought to love one another and by
this all men will know that you are my disciples if you
love one another.''
I will just briefly tell you that the love of his life
was his wife, Tori, and I had the privilege of assisting
in their wedding ceremony 34 years ago at Morrison Heights
Baptist Church in Clinton, Mississippi. Dr. Kerman
McGregor began the wedding ceremony and I did the vows,
exchanged the rings. I got to the point after they had
exchanged their vows and I looked at Alan and Tori, and I
said to them, ``If these vows are solemnly kept and
faithfully discharged, they will add to the happiness of
this life, dividing the inevitable sorrows, and
multiplying all its blessedness. But if these obligations
are neglected and violated, you cannot escape the keenest
misery and the darkest guilt.'' Alan would laugh and
remind me all the time, ``You really tied a tight knot.''
Then he said, ``I couldn't bear to think of facing that
keenest misery and that darkest guilt.'' Alan was faithful
to every vow he ever took. Whether it was to his precious
wife Tori, or to the Lord Jesus Christ, or to the
Government of the United States of America, Alan was a
keeper of his vows. Tori, again, I've said privately and
I'll say publicly, I've never seen a spouse take better
care of a husband than you have done, and we thank you.
Alan had something to do, he had something and someone
to love, and also, as old Lou Holtz said, we need to have
something to believe in. That's where the faith dimension
of Alan's life comes in. He was a consecrated Christian.
He was following his Lord, Jesus Christ, regardless of
whether anybody else would follow or not. Alan was
committed to following and always trusting and obeying
Jesus Christ. I can remember when Jesus told his
disciples, ``I'm going to leave you soon. I'm going to die
a horrible death. And I'm going to be leaving you and I'll
no longer be with you in a physical sense.'' The Bible
said that their hearts were troubled, deeply in sorrow.
Then Jesus said to them, ``Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. And in my Father's
house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. But I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
One of the disciples present said, ``Well we don't know
the way.'' Of course Jesus said, ``I am the way, the
truth, and the light, and no man cometh to the Father but
by or through me.'' That's usually where we stop. But the
very next verse may be the most important verse of all,
where He said, ``If you had known me,'' Jesus said, ``you
should have known my Father also, and from henceforth you
know Him and you see Him. Alan may have been blind, but he
could see God, every moment of every day. Alan had someone
to believe in.
I also want you to know that Alan had his whole life
shaped by his Christian faith and his focus. His beliefs
in Jesus Christ shaped his convictions, his character, his
compassion, and on and on. But I also know that Alan, like
the great apostle Paul, could simply say that I am not
ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God in
salvation who for everyone who believes, first for the
Jew, then for the gentile. He was unapologetically
Christian. That there was one way to God, not many ways to
God, and that one way was to be saved by grace alone
through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, never depending
on his good works or good deeds or human achievements. He
gave God all the glory. The apostle Paul said, ``May I
never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through which the world has been crucified to me and I to
the world.'' They started to put a flower over my lapel
cross and I said, ``No, you can't do that.'' I said,
``Because the cross is the greatest symbol that the eyes
of man can ever look upon. It is a symbol of what sin will
do, it is a symbol of what love will bear, it is a symbol
of what forgiveness cost, and a symbol of what every human
being is worth.''
And I thought, ``Well I better boast of Alan and all of
his achievements.'' But I said, ``I know Alan, and Alan
would not want me to boast of human achievement or
accomplishment. He would not want to call attention to
himself but he would want to boast only of the Lord Jesus
Christ, who died on the cross to save him from his sins,
and to give him forgiveness, and to grant him the gift of
everlasting or eternal life.
Lou Holtz said, ``Everybody needs something to do,
someone to love, someone to believe in, and finally
something to hope for.'' When I was a young boy, I went to
Mickey Owen baseball school in Miller, MO, and I met a
legendary baseball player by the name of Pepper Rodgers.
He made a statement, Pepper Martin, excuse me. He had just
won a World Series, and somebody asked Pepper, ``Now that
you've won the World Series, what do you want to do?'' He
quickly said to the reporters, ``I want to go to heaven
when I die.'' Everybody laughed, thought he was making a
joke. But then he got dead serious and he said, ``Ladies
and gentlemen, I just told you the truth that when I die,
I want to go to heaven to be with the Lord.'' You see,
hope is not wishful thinking when you believe in the
Gospel. It's a sure thing. Now faith is being sure of what
we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.
I can remember where I was in 1995 just before Hurricane
Rita hit the coast of Texas. I was in Dallas at a
convention of church planters, the largest gathering of
church planters from all over the world. They told us the
storm is coming and if you're afraid you need to get out
of town and go home, and so I was one going home. But
there was a man by the name of John Maxwell who was about
to speak and I said, ``I'm going to listen to that man
before I go to Tupelo, back to northeast Mississippi.''
John Maxwell, I can't even remember what he was talking
about, but all of a sudden in the middle of his message he
did a Lou Holtz kind of thing, and he stopped and looked
at us, and he said, ``I want you all to know something. I
want to make a difference with the people who make a
difference. At a time in history when it will make a
difference, doing something that will make a difference.''
That is Alan Nunnelee. He was concerned until the very
end, asking his brothers and sisters, ``Have I made a
difference?'' I can say, ``Yes Alan, you really made a
difference.''
As you sum up all that has been experienced today, think
of the influence of your life, the impact of your witness.
If you don't know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we hope
and pray you'll find him today. You'll invite him into
your heart as Alan did as a 6-year-old boy and let Christ
transform you from the inside out. If you are a Christian,
rededicate your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ today
and be determined from this moment on that you're going to
make a difference with the people who are going to make a
difference doing something in history that is going to
make a difference at a time when it will be important for
you to make that difference. Alan has hope because of the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's
where our hope comes from. I looked at what cancer did to
his body and I was reminded of the beautiful truth that
death is powerless now. Death cannot cripple love; it
can't shatter hope; it can't corrode faith; it can't eat
away peace; it can't destroy confidence; it cannot kill
friendship; it cannot shut out memories and silence
courage; it cannot invade the soul; it cannot reduce
eternal life; it cannot quench the Holy Spirit; and it
cannot lessen the power of the resurrection. To God be the
glory for his child Alan Nunnelee. He made a difference.