Bob Cassell, Messenger

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of lights, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).

Dick Elliott was a good gift, one of my very best friends, a talented artist, and a great athlete. This unique gentleman knew, of a certainty, that Jesus Christ was the perfect Gift, the King of Glory, who gave his life in payment for all his sins.

At this very moment, the mortality of Dick Elliott is swallowed up with eternal life. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened; not that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life           (2 Corinthians 5:4).

What does it mean that mortality is swallowed up of life or by life? This is not complicated as temporal life, which is a short-term assignment on planet earth, is swallowed up by a permanent life that is greater than a mortal life. This eternal life does not endure in our earthly mortal bodies as these bodies die and are no more. Eternal life is received in these mortal bodies but to realize the eternal, the temporal or mortal must be put off or removed as the mortal body is mortal and cannot endure eternally.

Therefore, the believer must be clothed in eternal life which is impossible to be swallowed up by death or the end of mortal life. Since Dick Elliott’s mortal life is over and is reduced to ashes in an urn, it is only because this temporal life is swallowed up by eternal life that he can be transported from earth to heaven in a new body.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). The Greek language makes clear where the body will exist. It is constructed thusly, (present with the Lord) in translation it is pros plus the accusative, and is translated, FACE TO FACE with our Lord. How can it get any better? It Can’t!

This may be surprising to you, but from the first breath you possess eternal life. You will live forever! No one is exempt. However, the greatest question is, where will you spend eternity? You will either enter heaven because Jesus Christ takes you there or you will be cast into hell because you rejected his saving grace. In either place, you will exist eternally. To believe in Jesus Christ is to have eternal life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life (John 6:47). You can believe this super surpassing declaration! Or, you can scoff and consider it unimportant. Yes, you will suffer the inescapable consequences.

To ignore, put off, or reject him is to be eternally condemned. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).

It is by God’s amazing grace that Dick Elliott is now face to face with the living God. Why is this a living reality? Because on a certain day, in a moment of time, he bowed before the God of mercy (Jesus Christ), and placed all of his faith in him personally! And yes, Jesus Christ immediately answered and saved his eternal soul.

This gentle, kind, intelligent, and sensitive man wanted no attention drawn to himself, but gave much attention to all his loved ones and friends. Dick Elliott brightened every room he entered. The attention to him did not occur because of clamor or vociferousness. It was because of a peaceful and quiet disposition that exuded, I mean you no harm. That disposition is a rare and blessed characteristic. I will never forget this appealing and unique trait that radiated from my close friend, Dick Elliott.

Dick was a highly talented artist, and through his generosity I have received several of his paintings. I am so proud to have this portion of him because when I look closely at the paintings I see gold, silver, and precious stones. They represent Dick Elliott at his best! He aspired to excellence and achieved it. If you have one of his paintings, you have a portion of the best of Dick Elliott!

My first meeting with him was in a class I was teaching for the department of Revenue. In identifying myself, a part of the introduction was to acquaint the audience with my background and at the bottom of the introductory information I wrote, “I enjoy bible study!” He discussed this with me after the class, and it was the beginning of a lifelong spiritual connection. Thereafter, we met for lunch almost every day for more than a year and enjoyed a mutual friendship of trust and respect.

Dick eventually retired and would drive from Hendersonville to Nashville to pick me up for lunch. We often ate at the Belle Meade Cafeteria and had become very close and trustworthy friends. We had agreed, only a person who is trustworthy can truly be trusted.

At our first lunch, subsequent to his retirement, I asked Dick. What does it feel like to be retired and to have a new and changed life? His immediate but unforgettable response was, “Well Bob, I am so thankful to be where I am in life, it would almost be ungrateful not to be content.” Is that not a statement of solid gold? Yes, indeed! I have repeated this original statement many times and hundreds have been blessed by hearing it. It is rare to hear such a succinct and meaningful statement from someone who simply stated what was on his heart.

He was my patient golfing coach and we practiced incessantly. We hit 300-400 balls a day. We worked on the short game, long game, sand traps, chipping and putting, we did it all! During one practice we noticed the balls were not responding well, and it was cold. After checking the weather, it was no wonder, we were cold, it was 27 degrees. Let it be known this frigid temperature did not prevent our lengthy practice. It actually created a good memory that we discussed and laughed about many times.

After our lengthy practices we would visit I Hop or other local restaurants. On many occasions, the waitress who knew us would always say “Uh Oh, Here comes trouble.” That’s because we bantered each other unrelentingly and included the waitresses in our frivolity. We had a lot of fun and truly enjoyed each other.

My very quiet wife Julie, and I dined frequently with Dick, and I always tipped with 2-dollar bills. Julie occasionally thought I tipped too much. Dick got a kick out of what Julie was doing unbeknownst to me. He said, “Bob, as you are leaving, Julie is slyly pulling some of your $2 dollar bills.” Julie had told Dick; “he tips too much!” Dick thought that was hilarious.

On a highly congested traffic section of town, Dick was driving to our favorite restaurant and inadvertently pulled in front of a motorist. The irate motorist pulled alongside with the window down and exhaled a vicious barrage of life-threatening expletives and attempted to make him pull over; Dick never glanced at her and quickly said to me, “now Bob, just look right straight ahead, don’t let her know you see her… just keep looking straight ahead and don’t say anything.” What a non-controversial and gentle man he was. Most people would counter or respond with an even greater barrage of ugly retorts, but not my gentle friend Dick Elliott.

Jack Benz, who was a lifetime friend, saw Dick walking close to an area where the locals were playing basketball, and invited him to join in. Dick did well and used all of his thin 6’6” height to good ends. They became good friends for life.

Where did the basketball go? Dick was a well know city player and achieved several honors including starting center on Nashville’s all city basketball team! He received a full Scholarship with Tennessee Tech but, because of his slight frame, Stick (as he was called) was used very infrequently. Dick thought he could do better, so he transferred to Austin Peay, and became the starting center. Dick was a wrecking ball there and achieved the honor of being selected on the ALL OVC team as the best center in the league. Wouldn’t you know it! Austin Peay faced Tennessee Tech in a regular season game and Dick would return to the gym and see the coach who had not used him. The formerly benched thin framed Dick Elliott, scored 38 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and was clearly the most valuable player of both teams. The Tech coach, with a lot of egg on his face said, “Dick, I’m sorry, I made a mistake.” Indeed, he did!

Dick was one of the best fast pitch softball pitchers in Nashville. He had an overwhelming fastball, a riser, curve, drop, change up, and slider. He was extremely formidable, and most feared by Nashville’s best batters.

Dick was a scratch golfer shooting a consistent 72 or under. His goal, after retirement, at the age of 69, was to shoot his age or a 69 before his 70^th birthday. HE DID… on his quest toward making this goal, I would ask over a period of weeks, “Dick did you make the 69 today?” “No Bob, but I’m gettin’ there!” On and on it went for several weeks… 70, 71, 72, 70, etc. then it happened! As he walked into the club house with a broad smile I asked again. “Dick did you make it, did you shoot a 69?” With a wide smile he said, “no Bob, I didn’t shoot a 69, I shot a 68!” He was so happy as that was a staggering goal for a man who was almost 70 years old.

Dick accomplished many things in his high-quality life, and one of his best talents was water color painting. He was approached one day by Grace Guthrie who wanted to learn water color painting. Dick took her under his wing and they spent hundreds of hours together with Grace learning well and becoming an artist Dick indicated had eventually, surpassed him. I won’t argue with this statement as Grace Guthrie has become a phenomenal artist. For a certainty, Grace Guthrie was a high-water mark in the life of Dick Elliott, and she added, love, goodness and grace in great abundance.   

Another high caliber friend, who meant the world to Dick, was Candy Owens, his cardio, personal trainer coach, and mentor. Candy patiently worked diligently to keep Dick toned and in good condition, and he was. The love and care that emanated from Candy to Dick lifted him into heavenly places and added untold years to his life. Candy watched his every move and truly cared for him. They became very close friends. If Dick could speak to Candy, he would say…thank you Candy for being my very good and trusted friend.

Both Grace and Candy, were devoted friends and gave Dick overflowing happiness by consistently demonstrating their love and devotion for him. Dick loved them dearly, and because of their devotion he was lifted to a level that gave him undeniable, happiness, meaning, and purpose for the remainder of his life.

I am acquainted with both of these unique women, and in the stead of Dick Elliott I say to them, thank you for making high quality deposits to this gentle and unique giant of a man. Thank for your devotion, dedication and sincere love.

Dick loved his niece Elaine, who took care of most of the details of life that had become difficult for him. She lived very close and it was a true blessing that many of his personal matters were assumed by her. Dick enjoyed a good relationship with his brother Jack and his sister Anne. He truly loved them and they loved and admired him. Dick was loved by his many friends and to know Dick was to know a true and trustworthy friend. He was a friend you could relax with and be your authentic self.

My O’ My, something marvelous happened to Dick Elliott, something that is beyond the imagination … It’s mentioned in Jeremiah 6:4, the daylight has faded, and the shadows of evening are long, and yes, the sun has set in the life of my friend, Dick Elliott. With his departure, the family of saints in heaven has expanded and the circle of friends on earth has contracted. I like the way God does this!

This kind and gentle man has done the impossible! He has crossed the Jordan! His statement to me a few days ago was firm, certain, and sure …. He said, “Bob I’m ready to cross the Jordan,” yes, he was… and now he is across the Jordan and has realized his finest hour… he has reached his highest goal, he has received the ultimate prize … at death, you could almost hear him whisper,  

“Heaven opens, earth recedes, rejoice with me…this is my coronation day, my highest prize, and my greatest reward.

My dear devoted friend Dick would say to you; I have received what I could never earn or deserved… I have received the gift of eternal life because I have received Jesus Christ as my eternal, and only Savior! It is he who has given this eternal life to me! It is he who has taken me across the Jordan, safely to the other side.  

Jesus Christ is my savior, I am his child, and I hope to see each of you in heaven. We will have an eternal, happy, and peaceful time there!

Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Tim 2:5).

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13: 38,39).

My race is run… I have crossed the Jordan! Jesus Christ held me up and took me across! Without THE LORD JESUS CHRIST bearing me up, I would surely drown.

I am Justified freely by his Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

For we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that Love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Join my dearest friend, Dick Elliott in heaven by believing on Jesus Christ. Take our glorious Lord at his word and call on him, believe in him. He that believeth on me HATH EVERLASTING LIFE (John 6:47). How can you ignore this stupendous offer from the very lips of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?