Additional Funeral Services for Saints

Frank G. Funeral Message,

April 5, 2000

(Frank G., early eighties, died from heart disease. He had been a member of the church for many years, but did not receive the Holy Ghost until he was in his fifties.)

Frank G. was not a simple man. In his early years, he endured a difficult and near-poverty childhood amidst other painful conditions. He was forced to quit school and find a job to add support for the family. Later, he joined the Navy to forge a new life for himself. He became fiercely independent, self-reliant and determined to achieve certain goals in life.

Although his formal schooling came to an abrupt end, his keen mind never stopped working. He continually engaged people around him in mental exercises, mathematical quizzes and riddles. He often met me in the aisle of the church after service and put deep questions to me about the scriptures, especially those that dealt with faith and belief. At the end of those discussions, I was always humbled by a statement that he would make to me as he grabbed my hand and cried. "I trust you, Brother Jordan!"

Frank was deeply introspective and thoughtful. He searched out answers to why things were the way they were and why people did what they did. All his adult life, he asked questions about life. Perhaps the real motivation behind this was an attempt to sort through issues of his own life, many of them rooted in his childhood. From time to time, he would say, "I feel like there are two men struggling inside me."

But God has a way of bringing his own enlightenment into our lives and questing minds. For Frank, the pivotal incident that took place in his life that assured him of the existence of God was in a ferocious storm at sea. The huge ship he sailed tossed to and fro like a piece of cork in a tub of water. Gigantic waves, eighty feet high, crested and crashed over the vessel, threatening to send it to the ocean floor. Frank prayed fervently that night. "God, if you will just save me from this storm, when I get home, I will serve you." Sure enough, when he arrived home from the navy, he began to go to church.

Yet, Frank battled with dark personal and emotional issues which were deeply imbedded in his life. For years, he came to church, but never totally surrendered his life to God. But, in 1976, after praying countless times at an altar over thirty years, God filled his life with the Holy Spirit. I was there that night, and I witnessed the miracle for myself. What a testimony to perseverance!

None of us are perfect. Frank G. had his share of human frailties and faults. But God is faithful. Frank always wanted prayer and Bible-reading. Last Friday night, the answers he continued to search for finally showed up. Evidently, the things God really wanted to reveal to Frank could not be expressed in this life. He transported Frank to a better place where the brilliant light of God's glory even now is opening up the mysteries of life and eternity to someone who always wanted to know "why?" When the family came to his bedside where his still form lay, they did not see pain or struggle etched across his face. Instead, they saw the picture of peace and contentment, the image of a relieved and happy sailor coming in to harbor from a tempestuous sea.

God gives each of us a unique life.

Psalm 107:21-31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

None of us can choose the circumstances, or the beginning appointments and accoutrements of our lives. We wake up from our childhood and find ourselves afloat in calm or storm, among the rocks and sea predators or in protected waters, free from harm.

God permits experiences in our lives to make us.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

Who among us would choose the storm? If we could, we would avoid all the pain, the damaged emotions, the illnesses, the bitter losses or agonizing defeats. But God knows that each of these hardships and difficult experiences in our lives are like the refiners fire. They bring out the real mettle. The trying times have much more to do with who we are than the easy times.

But God allows us to make the choices that define us.

28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

The best choice any of us can make is to "cry unto the Lord." We are no match for the monstrous waves. The sailors who return from a life and death struggle in the high seas, come back humbler and changed. Those who take on the fury of life without the guiding hand of God, cannot survive.

Our choices determine the destiny that awaits us.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The destiny for every individual includes not just a certain departure from this life, but also a sure appointment with the judge of the whole earth. The Bible says, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment. Since we do not have the ability to save ourselves, all of us must look to the Lord Jesus Christ and his sinless blood for our salvation.

Frank has gone on to his reward. He made his peace with his maker, he settled the sin question, and trusted in God. But the real question is no longer about Frank G., husband, father, grandfather, friend. It is a question that only you can answer.

The greatest value of a funeral is not just to honor the person that died. It provides a solemn moment for all of us to peer into the face of our own destiny. It is to consider our own mortality and decide here and now that we are going to do something about it. We did not give ourselves life, nor did we have control over all the experiences we have faced or will face. God does, however, place the power of choice in our hands, and permits us to determine our own destiny on that basis.

The scriptures teach, and Frank G. believed and practiced, Repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The choice is yours.

2 Corinthians 5:1-11 For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down-- when we die and leave these bodies-- we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 How weary we grow of our present bodies. That is why we look forward eagerly to the day when we shall have heavenly bodies that we shall put on like new clothes. 3 For we shall not be merely spirits without bodies. 4 These earthly bodies make us groan and sigh, but we wouldn't like to think of dying and having no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will, as it were, be swallowed up by everlasting life. 5 This is what God has prepared for us, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 6 Now we look forward with confidence to our heavenly bodies, realizing that every moment we spend in these earthly bodies is time spent away from our eternal home in heaven with Jesus. 7 We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing. 8 And we are not afraid but are quite content to die, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So our aim is to please him always in everything we do, whether we are here in this body or away from this body and with him in heaven. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged and have our lives laid bare-- before him. Each of us will receive whatever he deserves for the good or bad things he has done in his earthly body. 11 It is because of this solemn fear of the Lord, which is ever present in our minds, that we work so hard to win others. God knows. (TLB)

The circumstances of life are given to us.
God permits the experiences of life to make us.
We choose the way we will respond to our experiences.
Our choices determine our destiny.

(Prayer)

Funeral Message for Harold R., Jr.

December 28, 2001

(Harold R., 64, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was saved in his middle adult years and became a deacon.)

2 Samuel 3:38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

When General Abner died, King David visibly mourned for him. The circumstances of his death were much different than our loss today, but the sentiments were the same. David wanted everyone to understand the stature of the man he called a prince and a great man in Israel.

The character of Harold R. Jr. cannot be fully captured by any single word or phrase. As an endlessly resourceful entrepreneur, he thrived on the challenges that the business world and marketplace continually threw at him. As the founder and owner of two major businesses, he managed his way through daily crises and succeeded where many had failed. As a leader and mentor, helped and coached (some might say pushed and prodded) many younger people he brought on board with him to success.

As husband, father and grandfather, he took great pride in going above and beyond the call of duty to provide everything he possibly could for his family. No one could ever question the love he had for his family. One of the beautiful expressions I heard after he died on Christmas Day was from his wife, Peggy. She said, “Harold, you made every day like Christmas Day for us.”

Harold R. was a man of action. He left the idle talk and lounging to others. His boundless energy kept him going from early until late, accomplishing his goals, setting new ones and constantly thinking about what needed to be done and how he could go about doing them.

Harold R. was the epitome of a giving and generous spirit. He faithfully supported his church and gave to many other charitable causes. Whenever he saw a personal need that touched his heart, he found a way to meet it. Not only did he give many financial gifts, he also gave people opportunity to work. He knew that the gift of a job paid the best dividends for them over time.

Harold’s love for hunting and fishing was legendary. The woods and the water called him often, and he responded with enthusiasm. Some of the grandest times he enjoyed with his sons, sons-in-law, friends, and especially his grandsons, were fishing for bass or trout, and hunting for deer or turkey. In fact, had the Lord not chosen a different course, they would all be in Alabama today, a hundred miles from nowhere, out on a deer lease.

I could go on talking about so many things. He was a trailblazer, a confident leader, a no-nonsense man with a tough exterior but a tender heart. To me, his pastor, he was a solid man of great faith. He had a strong interest in Bible prophecy and would fax me or give me an article from time to time about current events and their connection to the end times. He was one of our deacons, he taught Sunday School for many years, and faithfully engaged in prayer and Bible-reading.

On December 21, God called Harold to a higher home. We thought for a few days that he may stay with us, but the heavenward pull was too strong. The paramedics, the doctors and nurses did everything humanly possible to revive him, and hundreds of people prayed. No one should ever think, “If only we would have done more, the outcome would have been different.”

We may be tempted to think that Harold’s departure was too sudden, too abrupt, or even untimely. All of us who grieve, sense that a huge hole has been left behind. But Harold left this life like he lived it. Suddenly, without a lot of advance warning, he made his move. He always knew that timing was everything.

2 Tim 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing

Harold delegated well. It was one of his strengths. He must have thought that all the people he handed out jobs to were capable of carrying on. But, you will always have the feeling that, at any moment, he will walk through the door to check up on you!

Let me tell you what Harold did this week.

1. He traded this fleshly body for one that will not perish.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2. He traded his home in this body to presence with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

3. He traded death for life.

This may seem backwards, but let me explain. As to the penalty of sin, we are as saved as we ever will be. As to the power of sin, we are saved from that daily. As to the presence of sin, that is yet future for all of us. Harold has a life now without even the presence of sin being there in a spiritual paradise.

John 5:24 “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

In his resting place today, he awaits the final trumpet.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

4. He traded a world of war for a world of peace.

This has been a tumultuous year. We could almost envy anyone who escapes this strife-filled existence and enters into the realm that is ruled by the Prince of Peace.

Revelations 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

5. He traded the hurried pace of a competitive business for eternal rest.

Heb 4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Many lives have been touched by this one man. He taught people how to operate business in his line of work. He taught many of you here today how to hunt and fish, or how to do it better. He taught you how to work hard, do things right and be successful.

But these must not be the only things you learned from Harold R. His magnanimous spirit, his expansive love, his generous heart, his great faith were also there for you to receive if you could and would. Harold was a man of deep convictions. He didn’t preach his beliefs at anyone, and he accepted people for who they were. He never shirked, however, from sharing his faith when someone opened that door. He told them about his love for God. He told them of his love for the name of Jesus. He took that name on his life in the waters of baptism, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And so, if you don’t follow him in business and lifestyle, in love for fishing and hunting, in leadership or politics, you can follow him in his faith. It was his faith that held the greatest return on investments. Harold R. believed this with all his heart. That’s why he never relinquished his grip on God.

Jesus is soon coming for his church. That’s what Jesus said. That’s what Harold R.’s bible said. That’s the hope that this prince and great man in a spiritual Israel possessed. And that’s the key to the great reunion with him that we are promised in God’s Word.

Let us pray.

Funeral Message for James A.

March 17, 2005

First Apostolic Church

(James A, 83, died of Alzheimer’s disease and an apparent stroke. He was saved later in life and became a deacon.)

The Book of James

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

For those of who may not be familiar with Bible terminology, an epistle is a letter. In the New Testament, the letters are considered as books. Thus, we have twenty-seven books of the New Testament. In the text, however, Paul refers to another kind of epistle or letter, the kind not written with paper and ink, but lived out in the lives of certain people. These people were evidently so dedicated, so fervent, so powerful in following though with their convictions that they had the force of a book in the bible.

The twentieth book of the New Testament is the Book of James. Anyone who knew a man by the name of James A., knew that he was one of these people whose life was a living epistle. So, lying in state before us here this morning is the twenty-first century book of James (A.).

Sunday afternoon, when I stopped by the nursing home, James was finishing up his book and turning it over to the publisher. This idea of the book of James began to dawn on me, and so I started to look over the book of James in the bible to see if there were any parallels between it and James A. I discovered some amazing things. Out of the many references I could have used, I chose several that most closely resemble the life and character of James A.

James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James was unwavering in his faith.

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James was a peaceful man.

James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James practiced religion in almost everything he did.

James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Good works. That is what James A. was all about.

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James was a Godly man. He read his bible through many, many times, often twice or three times in a single year. He loved to go to church, and he was never double-minded about his love for God.

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James was a Praying man.

These are just a few of the spiritual truths you could get out of reading the book of James in the Bible or our book of James.

Now, far be it from me to question the twentieth book of the bible, but there are some other truths that were spelled out in our book of James that didn’t make it in the original manuscript. I want to open this book up a read a little more to you. It may be a little strong for some, but I know James would want me to read it just the way he lived it. I could not do less.

There is only one God and his name is Jesus. James was a oneness believer through and through. He knew what the Bible taught about the Godhead and he could quote the verses that made the truth plain to see.

John 14:8-9 “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

There is only one way to be saved. You must repent of your sins; you must be baptized in water, by immersion, in the name of Jesus Christ; you must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the spirit gives the utterance. All of this is according to Acts 2:38. Anyone who knew James A. knew that this is exactly what he believed. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard him say, “I told them guys at work…” and then he would quote the book of Acts. Some people may have thought this was too confrontational, but the honest and sincere spirit of this man took any of the sting out of his witness.

There is a real heaven. 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.”

There is a real hell. Revelations 21:8. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Jesus is coming again and it will be soon. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Luke 21:25-28 “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

I could go on and on for an extended period of time discussing all the scriptural truths and doctrines that James believed wholeheartedly. I guess the best thing for you to do, and the thing that James would want you to do, would be to come to church and hear it preached and taught for yourself. But the thing that is most important to me this morning is for you to know that these eternal truths lived in the very fiber and soul of this man.

One of the last times I went to James and Ada’s house, I put my arms around both of them and prayed. Ada asked James if he knew who I was. He couldn’t say my name, but big tears welled up in his eyes. I knew he knew I was his pastor.

I believe James would want me to read a couple of other passages out of his book before I’m through.

Your soul is precious. It’s the only thing you have that will live forever. The efforts you expend on taking care of this body and living a life of pleasure in this world is all ultimately in vain.

Matthew 16:26. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

You have to make a decision. You can think about it; weigh it all out; put it off; try and walk away from it---but sooner or later, it will come down to a decision.

Matthew 27:22. “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” Even though he was a pagan ruler, Pilate understood that he had Jesus on his hands and he could not turn the disposition of the case over to someone else. Oh, how he would have loved to, in the crucible of that hour, to be free from making this solemn judgment! No. It was up to him to say yes or no. So it is with every one of us.

When our own personal eternity starts, we will not be able to point to anything or anyone else as the precipitating cause for our soul’s destiny; not circumstances, not disappointments, not people, not habits, not relationships, life, nothing but our own personal decision.

In terms of decision, I have always been fascinated by a natural phenomenon, not far from here, on the eastern end of Lake Erie. That’s where the waters from the Great Lakes spill over into Lake Ontario. It’s called Niagara Falls. As you maneuver your boat in this strategic area, the current begins to pick up speed as it heads toward Thunder Alley, and then on to the falls. There is a certain point where your vessel becomes unmanageable and you cannot escape the current that pulls you inexorably to the falls.

James A. made his decision and I am convinced today that he is in the presence of Jehovah.

2 Corinthians 5:1-9. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

The question that remains is what you will do with the message you have received from the book of James that has been effectively and transparently lived before you.

Let us pray.

Funeral Message for James Russell G.

November 26, 2005

Reeb Funeral Home

(James G., 60, died of lung cancer. He was raised in the church, baptized and received the Holy Ghost as a small child, a received a powerful, renewing experience late in life.)

In Philippians 2:25-30, the Apostle Paul writes of a little known man with the unfortunate name of Epaphroditus. I would rather just call him Jimmy. This disciple bore one main distinction---he was a helper, a servant, a man with a simple mission. You would think that a man with a servant’s heart would not merit much space in the New Testament, but the great Apostle interrupts the flow of doctrinal and theological revelation to make sure Epaphroditus received his just due, and perhaps to cement the significance of his role in the Kingdom of God.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Here was a man who lived, not for himself, but for the benefit of others. Paul knew that the monumental task of the church—and the myriad of other little tasks—needed men like this, who, totally disregarded their own pain and tears to serve the greater cause.

A gentler or more selfless soul than Jimmy G. never existed. He had simple tastes. His life consisted of making life easier for others. He was always ready to share the bounty of his tomato, potato, cucumber and green onion (just to name a few varieties) garden, and his strawberries were his special delight. He hunted, fished, helped raise and train dogs, and he had stories to tell about it all afterwards.

He lived “on call.” Wherever he was needed---in the shop, in the yard, in the kitchen, down the street, driving the truck---or whoever needed him, Dad, Mom, brother, neighbor, friend---that’s where he went. Big jobs or little, it meant no difference. He was everybody’s helper, everybody’s extra hand, everybody’s friend. Without malice, without guile, without a personal agenda, he had nothing but kind words and best intentions for everybody. Even in the final stages of cancer, not one hint of a complaint came from his lips.

Jimmy loved and was loved. His brothers included him in on hunting and fishing trips, and they have stories to tell as well. More than once, on one of these trips, they would stop at a restaurant for breakfast. Jim would order a good-sized meal, eat every bite, and then push his plate away and say, “Buddy, I don’t have a dime!” But I have a sneaking suspicion that he earned every dime’s worth of food by doing more than his share of the chores. Jimmy was his dad’s constant companion. I don’t remember a time when Avery came to the church to work on a project that he didn’t have Jimmy with him. They were one and inseparable. On more than one occasion, Avery told the other boys, “If anything happens to Jimmy, it will take all three of you to do everything he did!” And no one in this life ever received better care than Jimmy did from his mother, Ethyl. My only question is why Jimmy wasn’t a lot bigger than he was with all the home cooking he had in her kitchen.

Early on, it was thought that Jim’s life would be sad, starting with that tragic day in the quarry when he saw a boyhood friend drown. That incident deeply affected Jim, and after that, his life unfolded along a different path than anyone might have predicted. A brief stint in the army didn’t agree with him and he had to deal with some other challenges as well. Finally, he came back home to settle into a routine that defined the remainder of his adult life. While it is true that he didn’t follow the usual pattern like getting married and having a family, he didn’t have an angry or bitter spirit as though he was cheated out of blessings that were rightfully his. He accepted his lot in life with uncommon contentment and boundless cheer. The poet wrote it in beautiful words:

The Plan of the Master Weaver

My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me,
I may not choose the colors,
He knows what they should be
For He can view the pattern upon the upper side,
While I can see it only on this, the under side…

Sometimes He weaves sorrow, which seems strange to me,
But I will trust His judgment, and work on faithfully,
It is He who fills the shuttle, and He knows what is best,
So I will weave in earnest, leaving to Him the rest…

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle no longer flies
Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why -
The dark threads are as needed in the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

My favorite story of the Master Weaver comes from the Orient where tapestries are the special products of many villages. It is said that the Master Weaver sits in the middle of the room, surrounded by his apprentices. Whenever one of them makes a mistake, he brings the work to the Master. The old man studies the tapestry until he figures out how the apprentice can incorporate the mistake into a greater design so that it would appear to the one who purchased it that it was supposed to be that way from the beginning.

When you step back and look at the life of Jimmy G., the divine genius of the Master Weaver wove a greater grace into the tapestry than we could have imagined. Out of the midst of bitterness, God brings forth sweetness that comforts us all. Finally, Psalm 84 takes this whole theme to the next level:

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

There is no known valley in Israel with the name “Valley of Baca,” but a common shrub grows in the Middle East that is called the “balsam shrub” that some believe the Psalmist was referring to in the valley of Baca. This shrub, when it is crushed, produces a fragrance that is very much like a tear drop in appearance and texture. It is likely, then, that this reference means that many of us find ourselves passing through the valley of tears. Those whose strength and heart are in the Lord, however, don’t complain of the caustic, stinging effect of the tears, but rather make the place of tears a well, or a spring of water. The trials that could defeat us become the source of our victory; the questions that could drain us of life actually pour life into us.

Jimmy, instead of a burden, became a quiet source of joy to his family. He may not have been without his faults, but his heart was easily touched by the Spirit of God. Baptized in the lovely name of Jesus, God filled with the Holy Ghost many years ago, and in the last few weeks of his life, God took care of some things he struggled with for so many years. To his mother and father, no greater comfort exists than these spiritual blessings. Ethyl and Avery, he lived his life devoted to both of you, fulfilling a purpose that God ordained for him, and he was happy. Thank you for every act of kindness, every understanding word and every heart-felt prayer. None of it was in vain. To all his relatives, Jimmy leaves behind a legacy of unselfish duty and a generous spirit of giving. He was a credit to the G. and B. families.

Jimmy love to work in the soil with plants and living things. This morning, I read again in Revelations 22:1-2 about the scene in heaven.

22:1 “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Good gardeners like Jimmy are hard to come by, and maybe even heavens gardens need someone to take care of them. Do you think…?

Jimmy, we loved you.

Let’s pray.

Mark A. S.

February 17, 2005

(Mark S., 46, died with brain cancer. He was saved in his adult years.)

I was not there, but I wish I could have been.
To see Mark outfitted in his khaki’s and flannel shirt;
Waders, vest, straw hat, tackle box;
Sloshing through the noisy rapids;
Catching his balance after slipping on a rock;
His fly rod whipping the line overhead;
Eying the shadowed spot near the bank
where the brown trout may be lurking;
Soaking up the sheer pleasure of the experience.
He knew that the essence of fishing was not the catching,
It was just being there…in the river or on the bay.
The bona fide angler never gets frustrated.
He wins even when he loses.
He doesn’t measure his trip as a success or failure
Depending upon whether or not he pulls in the fish.
To present the bait, to engage the prey, to battle for the supremacy,
to laugh, or holler, or whistle or groan…that’s what he lives for.

John Eldridge says, in Wild At Heart,

“Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived.That’s the nature of it and has been since the beginning when God set the dangerous stage for this high-stakes drama and called the whole wild enterprise good. He rigged the world in such a way that it works when we embrace risk as the theme of our lives, which is to say, only when we live by faith. A man just won’t be happy until he’s got adventure in his work, in his love and in his spiritual life.”

This morning, we have come together to reflect on Mark and weigh the impact he made on our lives. Some would call it a memorial, others may think of it as a celebration of a life. One thing seems clear, though. No sense of heaviness or a spirit of mourning clouds the atmosphere. Rather, it is an air of victory, the sweet triumph of a life well-lived that we recognize here today.

The life of one like Mark, however, cannot be considered in mere nostalgic terms, or simply in personal, sentimental reflections. His faith and love were too vibrant for that. The reach of truly good men transcends the limits of their mortality and continues to make a difference in the lives of those who succeed them.

In searching the scriptures over the past few days, I have chosen three of them that embody the principles and passions that Mark possessed.

Paul, that consummate Christian who authored much of the New Testament, wrote, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21. This is the way Mark lived. Few people that I have known have so seamlessly integrated God into their lives. His work, his play, his relationships, his faith, he breathed the word and will of God into everything. He approached it all “thoroughly, precisely, conscientiously…” For him to live was Christ.

Sometimes, the truths of Christianity may be stated in theological terms, or delivered in some homiletical masterpiece. The best evidence, though, in my estimation, is the life of a genuine Christian. Notice what Paul said about God in Christ. “For God, who com-manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6. He then said, “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:11. God has so ordered and ordained faith, that we would not stumble over the lack of seeing Jesus in the flesh. He has given us “earthen vessels” through whom we could see God so clearly, it would be as though he were still with us in the flesh. If you need evidence of Christ’s reality, consider his servant, Mark.

Mark was a Christ-like man.

Second, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” In our age of affluence and entitlement, too many of us presume upon our rights, expect performance and too often resort to coercion when we don’t get what we want. Gratitude has nearly become extinct. Mark had a refreshing spirit of thanksgiving about him.

I vividly recall the day Mark and Mimi sat across from me in my office, holding hands and telling me about the new challenge of disease. At that point, it was still hard to talk about, and the grim reality had only started to creep up on him. He talked of the prognosis, of treatment, of hoping to beat it…but the tears that fell from his eyes did not diminish his awareness of God’s blessings. Just as the scriptures taught him, he continued to give thanks in everything, even in the most desperate of circumstances.

Somewhere in his relationship with God, Mark discovered a profound truth. When you accept that everything is a gift of God, including your life and breath, then you have no presumptions about your rights. You simply react with a grateful heart for all things God does give. Mark never complained about the life he didn’t have; he thanked God for the life God gave him.

Mark was a grateful man.

Last, I go to the passage Paul wrote about his final days. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” This scripture grew in importance to Mark as the days wore on. If you had a chance to see his note cards, you would have noticed his references to heaven. That eternal goal continued to provide inspiration for him. He believed fervently in this. He often read the words of Jesus when he said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.” John 14:1-3

But as heaven drew closer, the Apostle’s thoughts focused on others, not himself. “…and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8. “…and not to me only!” Here, the man many consider to be the greatest Christian who ever lived, who gained an abundant entrance into those glorious gates, was yet concerned over others. I saw that same magnanimous spirit in Mark. Throughout his Christian life, he loved to teach, to share, to help others know Christ. Then, confined to hospice care, with words, and prayers, and finally, gestures, he never stopped reaching out to others, he never stopped loving others.

Mark was a caring man.

No, I didn’t get to wade into the Au Sable River with Mark to fish. I was there, however, to see Mark walk into another river…the River of God, the river of Ezekiel’s prophecy…“waters to swim in.” He had a true “Book of Acts” experience, just as the early disciples received on the Day of Pentecost. I witnessed his baptism in water and in the Spirit. He was never tentative, conflicted or uncomfortable with his relationship with God. He reveled in the flow of the Spirit; he exulted in the name of Jesus; Openly expressing his joy of God’s glory. In the end, as Mark struggled against his disease, his prayer language that he received as a gift from God never failed him. Mark had no dark, calculated agenda, no list of selfish demands, no guile; With child-like faith, he simply embraced God---not as a problem to be solved---But as an adventure to be lived.

And now, what an adventure he’s having!

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. KJV Rev 22:1-5

Let us pray.

Funeral Message for Pamela H.

May 28, 2002

(Pamela H. 74, was saved as a young girl and gave her entire life to ministry.  She was a pastor's wife and a celebrated musician.) 

Her Song Lives On

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

Pamela H. was an exquisite work of art. Her natural beauty in appearance was complemented by her gracious personality, genteel mannerisms and indiscriminate kindness with which she treated everyone she met. Among her many talents, she had tastefulness in interior decorating, in subtleties and shades of color and had a sense of balance in all things aesthetic. She was the kind of person who, when you received a present from her, you hated to spoil the package by unwrapping it.

The hallmark of Pam H.’s character was a true, Christian demeanor. She had no rough edges, and without calling attention to what she was doing, she brought the best out of difficult situations. She loved to laugh, and helped to soften the harshness of many negative circumstances with her ability to see humor in every situation. While serving the church family and her many music students, she also took much time to listen to their troubles and trials, and their dreams and plans. For many, she was an oasis of refreshing words, a calming influence in the midst of storms, and a constant source of affirmation.

Pam H. was a devoted wife, a dedicated mother, a committed grandmother, a faithful first lady to her church, an example of discipleship, a true friend, a peerless teacher and---everyone would agree---the very picture of femininity. She wasn’t perfect, but I can’t think of any of her imperfections at the moment. Well…maybe with the exception of being late for appointments. In fact, I understand that she was supposed to go to heaven a week ago, but she showed up a little late. I’m sure she gave the Apostle Peter a little apologetic smile as she finally passed through the pearly gates, and he, I’m sure, found her as irresistible as the rest of us always did.

Pam H. loved people, sacrificially. She remembered certain things people liked, and did her best to delight them with it. To her, the greatest modern development had to be the Meijer’s 24-hour store, because many times she could be found shopping at four A.M., trying to find something that she knew somebody needed or wanted. Audria and Adena were her special joys, and she spent many hours of her days doing things for them. Pam H. loved God. As you’ve heard, her entire life from a young teenager to the time she died was spent in the service of the King. Pastor H. told us Sunday that he still has vivid memories of her on the organ bench, hands raised to heaven, and surrendering true worship to God.

But, the music; ah, the music was the greatest talent God gave Pam H. Music interwove itself in and around her life with such fine reticulation that we who knew her could hardly tell the difference between the two. The sparkle in her eyes, the mischievous little grin that spread across her face, the melodious tones of her contralto voice, the enunciation of her words, as though she filtered her every sound through a built-in sustain pedal---all moved through the prism of music. The words of the prophet Ezekiel, in Ezekiel 33:32 could well have been written of her, “And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument.”

Pam’s music artistry far surpassed ordinary practitioners. On the keyboard, she excelled in the art of accompaniment with beautiful arpeggios, chord changes and worshipful, rich background tones. Her innate talent led her to master other instruments like the saxophone, xylophone, Hawaiian guitar, cello and violin. Whatever piece she decided to play, she did so with a professional level of performance.

(Mozart was once asked how to compose a symphony. He told the individual, “You’re a young man. Why don’t you start out with ballads?” The man replied, “But you wrote your first symphony when you were ten years old.” Mozart responded, “Neither did I have to ask how.”)

Pam H. didn’t have to ask how. Music was in her. It was her life.

And so tonight, while we celebrate the life of Pam H., we also share the pain of her loss to us. Even at the age of seventy-four, she remained at the center of activity in her church and family, until she could no longer keep up the pace because of her health. An empty organ bench, a vacant spot on the pew, a place unfilled at the table, a favorite chair without a familiar occupant---all these may make us feel that death has intruded into the inner sanctum of happiness and dealt a devastating blow. The one person who seemed to embody everything right and good has been rudely stolen away from us.

As long as death touches other families in other places, as long as our mortal enemy shrouds himself in cold statistics or wears unknown names, then we can dispatch with him with little emotion. When he reaches into our own intimate circle of friends and loved ones, when he dares to trespass into property where he never had a right to come, we need help greater than ourselves. Tonight, we reach for something greater than our sorrow to strengthen us.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

We take profound comfort in the fact that the bodies that can be diseased by cancer, reduced to a frail form lying in a casket, and emptied out of life will not be the final word pronounced upon us!

It may be an unsearchable mystery to us now, but
…by some reordering of the laws of physics,
…by some restructuring of the principles of biochemistry,
…by some reversal of the universal dying process,

We who know Jesus Christ, we who have read the answer to the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do,” and obeyed the instructions given in that answer, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” are going to be changed.

We will be changed into a form more alive than the one we occupy tonight. This dying, diseased, fading, pain-filled body that we possess will undergo a profound metamorphosis. The death angel has only sputtered a few times in human history. He never got to Enoch or Elijah. He lost track of Moses. He couldn’t hang onto Lazarus the first time around. And Resurrection Morning proved to be a major embarrassment to his authority.

Resurrection Morning, in fact, was the power that flowed backwards to those who escaped death in the Old Testament, and flows forward to us today. If Christ rose from the dead nearly two millenniums ago, then Pamela H. will rise to meet her Lord in the skies, as will you and I who trust in Jesus!

But tonight, while we receive comfort from this passage that directly deals with death, I want us to especially notice the last verse which says that our labor is not in vain in the Lord.

To whom is the Apostle speaking? Whose labor is not in vain? Ours… those of us who labor in the vineyards of the King. Or, more specifically, the lady in pink who lies in state before you tonight. I believe it means that her song will never die.

Where does a song begin? What regal forces interact with each other, bringing to birth the anthem, the melody, the march and the hymn? Job wrote about creation’s morning:

4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7 NIV

The song begins in eternity with the unleashing of God’s creative powers. It survived the rebellion of Lucifer, the fall of man, the besmirching of its lovely face in pagan rituals, and the perverting of its divine purpose in human history. The song lives on. It throws off the insults of a thousand infidels, resists the dances of sensual prodigals, and each time struggles free to expression in praise and worship to God. Pam H. was a window of song, through whom God’s eternal melodies ministered peace, joy and love.

Her song cannot be silenced. It lives on in the noble aspirations of those who learned from her. The song lives on. It lives on in the countless lives inspired and deepened by her music. It lives on because the song’s true Creator never dies.

If you want to hear her music, if you want to hear her sing and play, don’t despair as though the time is past. Close your eyes and push the play button. You will hear her rich, harmonious voice singing again, and you will find comfort in the golden tones of the Hammond organ as only she knew how to play it.

But you will also feel her spirit and the purity of her life. For the music of Pam H. transcended the mechanical notes and synthethsized sounds of the instruments she played. She also communicated the truths of God’s Word through her life and testimony. You will hear her pleading voice as she urges you to seek the face of God. You will also hear her kind words of advice as she gently warns you of wrong decisions. You will hear her praying voice as she intercedes to God on your behalf. 2 Peter 3:1-2 says, “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.”

If you have permitted your life to stray far from the principles you know are right, God has brought you to remembrance of these things tonight. If temptations and the cares of life have broken down your relationship with your savior, God has brought you face to face with truth tonight. If you have sought for a way, a time and a place to begin your journey back into the favor of God, you have the opportunity before you tonight.

Have you ever heard a tune on the radio that put a hook into your mind, and you could not get it out? My prayer, and I believe the prayer of this family, is that the song that flowed through this vessel would not be erased from your mind. Although her lips are silenced and her hands cannot coax beautiful music from the keyboards again, the song will never die. In this way, her labor will not be in vain.

To the family: the grief you bear tonight may seem unbearable. You may want to cling to this earthen vessel because it is the only thing you know about Pam, and the other side seems so distant, different and even cold. But I would like to remind you of something from the field of music.

Whenever composers or arrangers are challenged with transitioning from one piece of music to another, sometimes in order to change the tempo, or the pitch, or to go from one style into another totally different style, they often use a device known as a bridge. Even as a bridge over a river or a deep ravine is anchored to both sides and makes it possible to go from one side to another without interruption, a musical bridge minimizes the abrupt nature of the change and turns it into something pleasing to the ears of the listeners. Sometimes the bridge can be as beautiful as the music it unites. I know your hearts ache because you loved her so dearly, and because you know she loved you. But she has only just crossed over a bridge. Tonight, she continues her eternal song in heaven’s lofty heights.

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.”

Funeral Message for Vera K.

December 20, 2006

(Vera K. 94, was saved as a young woman.  She served as a pastor's wife, musician, and organizational official for most of her life.) 

First Apostolic Church

On behalf of Brother Fred K. and my wife, Sandy K. J., I want to say again how much we appreciate and are honored by your attendance today. The outpouring of love that you have shown to the family is humbling. At the same time, all of this is very fitting for the grand lady who lies before us today.

Before I begin, please pardon a personal reference. I want to make it clear that I was Sister K.’s favorite son-in-law. Unfortunately, I was also her least favorite. And, I am sure that, many times, I was both. (And, brethren, that will preach!)

Vera K., who, because of her talent and her leadership was often the object of praise and honor, never sought out the arena of fame. She disdained the idea of stardom. Circumstances thrust her into the spotlight, however, and she responded with the very qualities that were born and bred into her from the beginning---her work ethic and passion for excellence. She claimed that she wasn’t a soloist and she didn’t like to personally direct the choir, but she provided the driving force behind all the music that flowed from the platform of the church.

Sister K. was primarily a teacher. As with all great teachers, her focus was not on herself but on others. Everything she did, whether it was encouragement, comfort, instruction or sharp criticism, was to make others better. No one ever doubted that the welfare of others was her ultimate goal.

Sister Vera K. had a special relationship with the Lord. Seventy years ago today, December 20, 1936, she was filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost! (Read account from “Strength Through Struggle”.

She loved the things of the Spirit, but her first love was centered on the name of Jesus. She believed strongly in baptism in the name of Jesus because she understood the importance of, and the power in, the name of Jesus. She was also fervent in prayer. She started the ladies prayer meeting many years ago and continued leading it as long as she was able.

For the last twenty-three years of her life, I served as her pastor…and she was one of the best saints any pastor could have. Few people know this, but she was one of the best givers in the church. She gave multiplied thousands of dollars that she earned through giving music lessons to foreign missions and the building fund. She especially liked to do designated offerings. She envisioned a project and she funded it---like the lawn irrigation system, the flagpole or various pieces of furniture.

Hebrews 6:10 was Sister K.’s favorite scripture. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” There is no better scripture to articulate her legacy of life than this. Vera K. was all about work, labor of love and ministry. If she could rise up and speak today, I believe her words would reinforce the same principles contained in this verse.

To her students, she would say: Practice your lesson! You can do it.
To her fellow saints, she would say: Pray! Be faithful.
To her daughter, Sandy, she would say: Do the right thing. Get it done.
To me, she would say, (and she did): Preach the word!
To her grandchildren, she would say: Love God. Serve him with all your heart!
I don’t presume to know what she might say to her husband!

But these are only speculations. Her lips have now fallen silent to all of us. Now is the time for her to hear what God is speaking to her.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, these are the precious promises given to the people of God. But, have you ever noticed the content of the final verse in this passage? I can almost see Sister K., always the teacher, pausing long enough in her ascent to heaven to remind us of what it takes to please God:

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

To close this memorial service today, the Condon family, whom Sister K. helped to train in music over the years, is going to sing “Goodbye World, Goodbye”

Song

Final prayer.