Your family gathered together recently at the FR (family reunion) to carry on with tradition and it was good to see bits and pieces of you displayed in your family. We miss you Dorrance, but you didn’t leave us empty handed. The legacy of your life shines brightly in each of us in different ways, some received your competitive nature, some music, others have that tenderness. I always admired the way you valued people more than things. I strive to be more like that but I’ve got a long way to go yet. We love you and look forward to seeing you again.

We miss our loved ones during the holidays more because holidays are family time for most. Sure miss both mom and dad this year. Especially dad since his passing was recent whereas mom’s was 22 years ago. 

Dad and mom always got us a Christmas present and occasionally a two. One year Daniel and I got BB guns. I was probably 11 and Daniel was probably 10. Some neighbor boys had BB guns an we got into a shootout down by a drainage ditch that went through the neighborhood.

We weren’t shooting at targets. We were shooting at each other. It’s a wonder someone didn’t lose an eye. Don’t remember if the folks found out about it. Probably didn’t or we would have lost our guns for sure. 

Amazingly, we got out of our childhood and teen days alive. 

The following tribute was written by grandson Brent Manning in a devotional he placed on St. Luke's United Methodist website December 3, 2017. Brent is employed at St. Luke's.

This year I witnessed an amazing thing, the passing of my grandfather.  This might seem like a rather strange statement, but as our family has learned to live our lives without him, I have had time to think about the amazing man he was.

During his final days, he was in the VA Hospital and we were able to stay with him around the clock.  There were times that he would tell us his stories of his adventures; trying to be a movie star, his WWII stories (which I had never heard before), some of his favorite jokes, singing songs he wrote, and most of all, his passion for his Savior.

You see when he was young, he became an evangelist and traveled the Southwest, preaching revival after revival.  At his height, he was booked for years in advance.  He later pastored a number of churches in Oklahoma.  While I was talking to him one day in the hospital about his ministry, I asked him how many people did he feel like he impacted.  He said that he had no idea, he didn’t keep track of it.

Well I would have to say he impacted a multitude of people.  While we sat in the hospital people would stream in to share a prayer, a memory they had of him, and what he meant to them.  When a friend would walk in, my grandpa’s face would light up and he was quick to offer a handshake or a hug.  

At his memorial service the room was so full that we had to set up overflow seating because so many people came to show their respects.  It was amazing to hear the various stories of what he meant to those who were there.  Each one having a special memory of what he meant to them, the special way he would go out of his way to be there for them.  

During the Advent season, it is easy to become distracted among the chaos.  My prayer is to become more like my grandpa, making an impact on those around me.  Being a better father, husband, friend, co-worker, and most of all, to become more passionate about my Savior, Jesus Christ.   

Brent Manning, Grandson

Evelyn was Dad’s childhood sweetheart despite their first meeting in Borger, Texas. Evelyn was probably 6 or 7 at the time and had recently buried her pet rabbit that had died. 

The story goes that the rabbit first died and Evelyn took it to her dad and asked him to pray for it. Miraculously, the rabbit revived and lived. Later, the rabbit died again and Evelyn buried it in a box in the yard. 

The TV Manning family came by for a visit. Those who know how mischievous Dorrance was can probably guess what happened. 

After the children had finished looking at the gravesite and went off to play, here came Dorrance with the little cardboard box casket. Somehow, Evelyn overcame that first meeting and they became sweethearts as teens and eventually married.

 (Dorrance wrote his last church bulletin for March 5, 2017. Below is what he wrote.)

 LINN AVE. PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH

2632 SW 39th ST.   OKLA CITY, OK 73119

PHONE-681-2248- CHURCH-685-5174 PASTOR

March 5, 2017

READY FOR GLORY!

 “PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.”  PSALM 116:15

                On March 1, 1981, preacher and Bible commentator D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones lay on his deathbed.  From 1939 to 1968, he had served as the pastor of London’s Westminster Chapel.  Now at the end of his life, Lloyd-Jones had lost the ability to speak.  Indicating that he did not want any more prayers for his recovery, he wrote on a piece of paper: “Do not hold me back from glory”.

               Because life is precious, it can be hard to let our loved ones go when the time comes for them to depart this earth and go to heaven.  And yet God has set a time when he plans to call us home.  Psalm 116:15 tells us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

               When Paul saw that death was near, he was encouraged by what awaited him in heaven. “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

               No matter where Christians are in life’s journey, the ultimate destination is to “be with Christ, which is far better.” (Phil. 1:23)  This should give us confidence facing life’s challenges and comfort when other believers leave for that glorious home Christ has prepared.

The glories of heaven await all those who believe in God’s Son;

The trials of this life will fade when we see the heavenly One.

********************************

 HUMOR!  

Pastor Lane was annoyed because an elderly man kept falling asleep during his sermon every Sunday morning.  So, one day he said the man’s grandson, “If you can keep your grandfather awake I’ll pay you a quarter”.  The ruse worked for two weeks.  The old man was alert and listened to the sermon.  But on the third Sunday, however, the pastor found that the old man had fallen asleep again.  After the service the pastor sent for the boy.  “I am very angry with you.  Didn’t I promise you a quarter a week to keep your grandfather awake?”  “Yes,” replied the grandson, “but grandpa gives me a dollar a week not to disturb him.”  The preacher had been talking for an hour and a half on brotherly love. “and now, dear friends, what more can I say?” he said at last. How about “Amen?” came a voice from the rear.  “Who is the perfect man?” the preacher cried.  “Is there such a man?  If anybody has ever seen or heard of a perfect man, let him speak now!”  A small nervous man stood up in the rear of the church.  The preacher looked at him in astonishment.  “Do you mean to say, sir, that you have seen or heard of a perfect man.”  “Yes, sir,” replied the man.  “Who is he?”  “My wife’s first husband.”  Ed:  “My girlfriend’s father said if I could add four plus six, I could marry his daughter.  I thought real fast and said, “Four plus six is eleven.”  Fred: “Whew! That was close!”  Ed:  “That’s the trouble.  He said it was close enough.”

Although Dad was not perfect, he was a great Dad. His greatest quality was his ability to convey his love to us kids and others. He not only told us he loved us; he demonstrated it. 

We always had lots of hugs and kisses. When he came home from a hard day’s work it was “daddy time”. When I was very small he would have me ride his foot, and pretend it was a horse. Later I rode his back as a horse and fell off when the horse stepped into a “chug hole”. 

Dad loved to run us “tickle races”. He would put us on the floor and hold our hands above our head. After counting to three he released our hands and we had to lower them quickly to cover our arm pits to keep his tickling fingers away. 

As I grew older we would play ball in the yard including tetherball, volley ball, catch, etc. He put up a basketball goal on the driveway and we would play after he got off work. Dad was very competitive and it was frustrating to seldom-seldom win. However, if you did win you knew it was meaningful. 

Dad could always beat me playing “horse” with the basketball. That included beating me when he was 70 years old. However, there came a time when I was a teen that I finally could beat him one-on-one. It wasn’t that I could out shoot him. It was only because I could out jump him and get layups and easy shots. 

As a grown-up, Dad continued to play with us boys. We played basketball almost weekly until he was almost seventy-five. Daniel and I played Dad in tennis also up till that age. It was not Dad who quit. It was me due to my bad knees and being overweight. 

Up until his marriage to Shirley, dad never enjoyed fishing. Daniel and I loved fishing and would go often. We would invite Dad, but he just wasn’t interested. Shirley finally talked straight to dad and told him he should go fishing with us so we could enjoy doing things together again and make new memories. Dad agreed and fortunately the first trip we really caught fish. After that he was “hooked”. 

The past few years Dad was not able to play the sports he loved but he found a new love in fishing. He really was good at it and often caught more than Daniel or me. My only regret the past couple of years is not going fishing with Dad more often. 

A few years back, I realized that Jesus’ mission to earth was to inform us that God is not just a deity but he is our heavenly dad. Jesus clearly said that God is our real father. He said in Matthew 23 not to call anyone on earth Father. 

I began to realize that God is my true Father. My dad, Dorrance, contributed to my earthly body but not to my spirit which came from God. 

Fortunately, my dad, Dorrance, showed me a depth of love that helps me understand something of the depth of love our heavenly Father has for each of us. 

I am convinced my dad’s love will never end. I am convinced it will continue beyond the grave. The following is a fictional scenario that I believe would be true for me if I were a rebellious, self-centered, self-righteous, sinful son who rejected all religion. 

First, my dad would come to me many times and lovingly talk to me about my life and beliefs. He would plead with me to change and warn me of a hellish future awaiting me in the next life. 

If I died in this condition, I could see him continuing to pray for me hoping beyond hope there would be a possibility of salvation beyond the grave. His love would not quit. His love would go beyond his theology and hope to find a way. 

I can see him after his death realizing I was not in heaven but in torment. I see him making his way toward the throne asking people he met if there could be any hope for my salvation. 

I hear one say. “Dorrance, you know there is no way to escape the fire if you refuse to bow the knee.” 

I hear dad reply. “I preached that myself but surely there is something that can be done. I love my son too much to do nothing.” 

Finally, dad gets before the throne and makes his plea for mercy on his son. God reiterates what others said. “He must bow or there is no mercy.” 

I hear my dad’s defense. “But Father, surely your message is not the same as Nebuchadnezzar’s; Bow or burn? You could have burned Nebuchadnezzar that day but you gave him mercy. Surely you are greater than earthly tyrants? With Nebuchadnezzar, you won over your enemy instead of burning him. Surely you can have mercy on my son, Darryl.” 

I hear my dad continue. “Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison, could you let me go talk to my son? Surely he will listen now because of the torment he is in.” 

I imaging God saying, “Since Jesus did that, I will allow you to try.” 

In torment, I see my dad pleading with me to submit to God with no success. The rebellion of life has become worse in the torment. 

Dad leaves dejected but still determined to find a way. Back at the throne he challenges God one more time. “Remember on the cross, Jesus prayed forgiveness be granted because of the people’s ignorance. It is obvious that my son or any other who chooses torment over heaven must be mentally unstable. Besides, his blindness is not his fault. All the failures of Christians must have caused him to turn out this way. He cannot help his blindness or change it. Surely you should have mercy on those blind people and honor Jesus’ request?” 

God seems moved by this argument and says. “I will consider your argument.” 

Dad leaves the throne and I hear another say. “Dorrance, your son made his choice. There is nothing you can do about it. He had plenty of chances before he died. Besides, you know God will wipe away the tears so that means soon you won’t remember your son anymore and the sadness will be over.” 

Suddenly, dad has an idea and returns to the throne. “Father, I understand that you soon you will wipe away our tears so I will forget my son and the pain. I want to tell you that would be far worse to me than forgetting.  I don’t want to ever forget my son. I have one last request.” 

“I will change places with my son. I would rather live in torment remembering him than live in paradise forgetting him

 AND

If you cannot do this for me and for Darryl, I choose to go to hell and be with him so he won’t be alone.”

Suddenly I envision the Father rushing to Dad and enveloping him in his arms. 

“You have displayed the true love of a father. You have done what Jesus did and Moses proposed. You know my heart like David did when he said, ‘If I make my bed in hell, you are there’. Your love has saved both you and your son. Today you have proven that love will never fail.”

 ************************************

I have no doubt my father, Dorrance, would do just what I have described. I would do the exact same thing for my sons. Most other fathers would also do the same. If earthly fathers would be so loving, how much more would our Heavenly Father do the same for all humanity. 

Many seek salvation for a few. Would our Heavenly Father not be pleased for us to seek salvation for all the world? 

Some say Abraham could have saved Sodom if he had faith to hold out in his intercession. Perhaps there is no end to Our Father’s mercy and love if we are willing to ask. 

Paul claimed to be the worst sinner. If we can claim the same and hope for salvation, perhaps all can be saved. 

Could we not all say that if we were born into the circumstances of others - wouldn’t it be likely we would become as they did and possibly turn out to be criminals and worse. Surely, we are not judged to hell based upon where we are born. 

Jesus truly did pray for the ignorant to be forgiven. Wouldn’t it be great if his prayer was answered? 

If all other arguments fail, could we possibly love our brothers enough to go to hell with them? Perhaps Our Father is willing to show mercy when we become merciful.