Wed, Aug 2nd - 2:41PM
Special Tribute: In Loving Memory of William P. (Billy) Parnell
Special Tribute
In Loving Memory
William P. (Billy) Parnell
LAMAR- William "Billy" P. Parnell, age 74, died Sunday July 2, 2006 at his residence. Funeral services will be 4:00 Wednesday, July 5 in Lamar First Baptist Church, with interment following in Lamar Cemetery, officiated by Revs. Mike Parnell and Tom Brown, directed by Belk Funeral Home, Lamar. Mr. Parnell was born in Darlington County, son of the late Preston "Buster" and Lois Player Parnell. He was an electrician for Dupont until his retirement. Billy was a caring husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed singing in the choir at his church, Lamar First Baptist, where he was also a church deacon. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Vermelle Pope Parnell of the home, two sons: Rev. Mike (Bonnie) Parnell, Chris Parnell, all of Lamar, a daughter, Terri (Jerry) Godbold of Cheraw, 13 grandchildren, five great grandchildren two brothers: Don (Lettie) Parnell of Columbia, Larry (Pat) Parnell of Lamar and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Tuesday night at Belk Funeral Home, Lamar.
Excerpts from the Eulogy and Message by Pastor Michael Parnell For His Dad, William (Billy) P. Parnell, At His Home-Going Celebration - July 5th, 2006
Psalm 37:23 - "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he [God] delighteth in his way."
Mark 10:17-22 - "And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? [18] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. [19] Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. [20] And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. [21] Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. [22] And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
On behalf of my family and myself, I want to thank everyone who has showered us with prayers, love, encouragement, visits, phone calls, emails and multiplied acts of kindness that have been shown to us. There are no words in our vocabulary that could possibly express to you our appreciation and thankfulness to God, in His divine wisdom, for assigning friends and loved ones like you to us.
We are here today to honor and celebrate the life and the home-going of a unique man-of-God. Not unique because he is my dad. He was unique before he ever became my dad. But, where and how do I even begin to eulogize a man like Billy Parnell?
Second only to the Lord Jesus, and other than my mom, he is my greatest hero. Had I not had the blessing of being his son, and had only known him as a friend; Billy Parnell still would have been a hero in my book. However, my heart is forever thankful to the Lord, that He placed me, my brother and sister into the care of him and our mother. God gave us the unique opportunity to know a true hero in a personal and intimate way. A man who loved his wife, children and oh yes, those grandchildren.
It has been stated over and over, not just after his death, but all during his life, people repeatedly saying that Billy Parnell was a good man. Last night, at the visitation, it was the first thing that almost everyone who came by said. I know that people say that about many men and women, and in most cases I am sure it is true. However, no one knows you better than your wife and children, those who live with you, and unless you really knew my dad, you cannot fully appreciate his goodness in its fullest sense; and may find it hard to believe.
Where my dad is concerned we have only good memories. In all of my 50 years, I never, ever one time heard him use a swear word - not even before he got saved. The strongest slang he ever used was "ah, shah". If he ever said that he was a little annoyed. I have never seen him in a rage; never heard him say a harm or negative word about anyone; and I mean anyone.
He was not a man of many words, but if or when he said something it was worth hearing. It was either wisdom or funny, or sometimes funny wisdom. He had a dry sense of humor, such as the time I said I didn't like carrots. He said they were good for my eyes. I said, "Dad, now how do you know that?" He replied, "You've never seen a rabbit wearing glasses, have ya?"
Or like the time that my sister, Terri, came in and said, "Daddy, the brakes on my car are making a funny noise." He said, “They stop ya, don't they"? Or like when he and mom were building the new house while it was under construction, and she said something to the effect that this particular room didn't look big enough, to which after looking around, he responded, "yeah, we're gonna be pretty cramped in here".
Along more serious notes, however, dad never spoke without giving a lot of thought to what he was about to say. That's something that seems to be taking me much longer to learn, than it did him. You see the Word of God has a lot to say about our words, what we say and even how we say it. Jesus said that it's by our words we are condemned or justified. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Death and life are greatly determined by the power of the tongue, and he who uses this power rightly shall live because of it. 1 Peter 3:10 - "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no (deceit) guile:"
I believe my dad had learned this principle early on, because he did love life, and he did see good days, because he spoke no guile. Psalm 34:13 - "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."
Yes, my dad was indeed, a good man. He had some things in common with the young man in our text from Mark 10. However, unlike the young man in this text, dad came to a place about 27 years ago, where he realized that he wasn't "good enough", his righteousness was as filthy rags before the Lord. He realized that his goodness may do to live by, but it would not be good enough to die by.
So, at a revival meeting above Hartsville, on a Friday night, my dad walked the aisle, and I had the privilege myself of praying with him and leading him to the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Not a lot of outward change took place, he was already a good man. Actually, once he met the Lord, he was a better man, but the most pronounced change that took place was suddenly, this man who during my life, up to that point, never went to church, unless it was a wedding or funeral, fell in love with Jesus, and subsequently fell in love with His Church!
Now days we have a lot of people who have the misconception that "I don't have to attend church if I am a Christian, but that is one of the most unscriptural bill of goods that anyone has ever allowed the devil to sell to them. My friends, my family, my loved ones; the Bible says that "Christ so loved the Church, that He gave Himself for it!" Now if the Church was important enough for Him to die for, it should be important enough for someone who claims to be His child, to live for Him and the Church that He died for!
Now listen, don't come and tell me that God spoke to you, or the Spirit of God led you to do this or do that or thus and so, if that same spirit has not led you to join and get involved in the Church. You may be led by a spirit alright, but, it's not the Spirit of God!
Oh, just going to church does not save you, but if you're saved, you will want to go to church!
One of the distinguishing marks in dad's life after he was saved was that he loved being in church. He was faithful to his family, faithful to his church, faithful to his pastor, faithful to his choir. He loved singing with his choir. You'd never get him to perform a solo, but he would sing with the choir. Dad loved music. He and mom of course, bought my first guitar and dad showed me my first guitar chords. He enjoyed up-beat music, which is why the choir just sang one of his favorites, the "Heaven Medley".
Yes, Billy Parnell, was a good man, but my assignment today is really not to tell you all about Billy Parnell; he preached his funeral by how he lived. What my dad would want me to do today is not talk so much about him, but to talk to you about Jesus.
What he would want me to convey to you is: Don't let the devil fool you into thinking that you are "good enough". The Holy Spirit quickened this to him years ago, and he realized that being good simply was not enough. He became acutely aware that he must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
He would want you to know the same thing. You don't have to wonder, you don't have to just hope, you can know Him and the power of His resurrection!
Dad's steps were ordered. I have reflected over the events of the past week and the more that I reflect on them, the more I see the hand of God in operation.
No, dad wasn't sinless - but, he was forgiven. There has been only one sinless man ever, of course, Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter stated that Christ "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" (1 Peter 2:22)
However, Jesus recognized this attribute in others. John 1:47 - "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold (see, hey look) an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
I do believe that Jesus saw Daddy as the angels escorted him, and said, "Hey, look guys, a man indeed, in whom is no guile!" "Welcome home, son, welcome home. Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!"
Pastor Michael Parnell
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Wed, Aug 2nd - 12:07PM
"From Glory To Glory" Here On the Kingdom Talk Forum
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