Memorial Service
Philip Addison Robinson
August 27, 1934 – September 19, 2007
First Song… To be played while people are being seated…
Opening prayer
“Dad, Granddad, Phil”
Philip A. Robinson was known as “Dad” to three persons, his daughters Renee
and Leslie, and his son Kevin. He was known as “Granddad” to eleven persons,
Chris, Max, John, Rebecca, Andrea, Melissa, Ryan, Jessica, Amanda, Nathan,
and Karissa. To his sons-in-law Clif and Bob he was known as “Phil,” and to the
rest of family and friends he was known as “Phil.”
The family has chosen to have an informal memorial service, arranged by the
family, because that’s how Phil would have wanted it. He was adverse to anyone
going out of their way for him, but just the same enjoyed any opportunity to be
around his family. On behalf of the family we thank you for being here.
For the Christian it’s never “good bye,” but rather, “I’ll see you later.” Jesus said
in John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye
may be also.
Second Song…
I would like to share something about Phil. When I am done, and I’ll be quick, I
invite you to share a remembrance as well. We will hand out a card and I can
read it for you, or we will bring the microphone to you and you can share it. A
memory, a verse, something you’d like to share.
“Phil the Philippian”
Quite fittingly Phil, upon his conversion to Christ in the late 1970s, took on a
challenge from a church group he was participating in to memorize, to the letter,
the Book of Philippians. “Phil the Philippian” quoted the entire book to me in days
gone by, and we have it preserved on tape. Phil, being a bit of a thespian at
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heart, didn’t just recite the words in a monotone, but added the effect and
emotion of how he felt the writer had when he originated it.
In reviewing the book of Philippians I noted four areas that remind me of Phil,
one from each of the four chapters of Philippians. Here they are!
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Phil thoroughly enjoyed seeing his children and grandchildren. He considered his
sons-in-law his children and this was reciprocated. Many times Phil would openly
comment on how proud of his family he was, and he took great delight in the
accomplishments of all of us. He thoroughly enjoyed being around his family, and
repeatedly gave God praise and thanks that he had the family that he did.
Philippians 2:12 My beloved...work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
Phil worked out his salvation with fear and trembling. He was over 25 years a
Christian, and had made great strides in some areas, but would be quick to admit
some areas that should have been improved went untended. Yet at the end he
was at peace with Christ. He was not arrogant in his faith, not even close, but it
was in his heart to do the will of God as he understood it, and he wouldn’t do
anything intentional to bring shame to the name of Christ. The love of God kept
him to the end; he never turned his back on Christ. Though he carried a load for
things undone, and things disappointing in his past, still, he clung to the message
of the gospel.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phil did something one time, when working at an automotive parts business in
inside sales, that I have never forgotten. Phil had been there for many months
and was prospering – he was enjoying his work and was being promoted. He had
developed a high sense of personal responsibility and personal honor in his new
walk with Christ. An incident occurred where one of his customers received a
defective engine, and was not happy about it. The short version is that Phil went
to his own bank account and withdrew the money sufficient to satisfy the
customer and repaid him. I doubt the customer knew what had happened, and I
doubt the employer knew what happened. But Phil knew, I knew, and Christ
Jesus knew. Phil was this kind of a man. He wanted things done right and fair,
and if that came at a personal cost, then that’s how it would be.
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Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil was a modest man, who used self-depreciation more than once, both in a
humorous sense but also in a serious sense. He admitted that he was somewhat
cynical in some areas and he worked on that for many years. But he also knew
that he had much to be thankful for and in his latter years learned to accept the
things he couldn’t change and worked on thinking on those things that were
productive. He grew to appreciate good things, and came to believe in people –
which took work on his part. But he did it, and he worked on it, and he was
sensitive to it. He kept striving, right up to the end.
I have a short Gospel message to follow, but first would there be anyone else
who would like to share a remembrance?
Third Song…
“Remember Me”
Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering
rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same
condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
In these five short verses at the end of the Book of Luke we see the reality that a
condemned criminal, who by his own admission was getting what he deserved –
the death penalty, was to become the first person to follow Jesus Christ into
heaven. The malefactor, or the criminal, had led an entire life of crime, shame,
and lost opportunities. Yet he said to Jesus, Remember Me. This is what Phil
said, this is what I said, this is what every Christian says at some point in their
journey to Christ. When the Spirit of God moves in a person’s heart, and they
face the reality that God is real, that they themselves are a sinner, and that they
don’t know God, then they ask of God Remember Me.
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I believe Phil would want you to know that he wasn’t counting on being a good
man, wasn’t counting on his good works, and he wasn’t counting on his high
intellect or long list of accomplishments to become a child of God. I believe Phil
would have wanted anyone dear to him to know that he’s in heaven because of
what Christ did, and not because of what Phil or any man did.
To be sure Phil participated in the work of redemption by calling out to God. The
scriptures do say that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved. The sinless man, Jesus Christ, became the sacrifice for sin required of a
perfect and holy God. And Jesus Christ, the great God, the second person of the
holy trinity, laid aside his privilege and came to earth as a man, and humbled
himself, even to death on the cross, as is explained in Phil’s favorite book, the
book of Philippians.
So Jesus died, the God-Man, who knew no sin, but lived as a man and died as a
man, but rose again and is at the right hand of God, making intercession for the
saints according to the will of God. And Phil today is beholding the face of Jesus,
the one he gave his heart and life to over 25 years ago, the one he believed then,
and the one he believes and beholds now. In heaven there are no more tears,
and no more pain. Phil, Dad, Granddad is in this place, a place where he has a
dwelling thanks to God Almighty. A place of joy thanks to God Almighty. A place
where the stain of sin doesn’t steal, kill, or destroy. Jesus said because I live, you
will live also.
Phil said Remember Me, and today he’s safe in the arms of Jesus.
_______________________________
We will have a word of prayer, then after that we will commit Phil’s mortal
remains to its final resting place.
Closing prayer.
Fourth Song…
Placing of the urn in the nitch.
The family is pleased that you could attend today. We are now heading to the
Elmer’s restaurant in the Alderwood Mall area, and all are invited. This is a
favorite dining location of Phil’s, and we conclude our memorial for Phil by doing
something we believe he would have liked – eating at Elmer’s!
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