Order of Server:
Eulogy
Song (Amazing Grace)
Scripture Reading (Psalm 90:10; Isaiah 40:28-31)
Song (I Call it Home)
Message (“My Story”)
Song (Old Ship of Zion)
Benediction (Prayer)
Graveside
Message: My Story:
The Psalmist said in chapter 30 and verse 5, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Jesus said, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his.” (He did say, in His sight; not ours.)
This occasion does not seem precious to us, after all we are only human.
Yet sorrow is not forever, but Love is.
Physical death is the path by which God has chosen for all of us in this room today to walk.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Genesis 3:19 states that “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Psalm 104:29 “Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Ecclesiastes 3:20 “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”
Psalm 89:48 “What man [is he that] liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die…”
Today our friend _____ is in the hands of a just God “who knoweth and doeth all things well”.
After Stephen had been put to death for the cause of our Lord, the brethren lamented his death in Acts chapter 8 and verse 2.
It’s not wrong to sorrow. To feel and experience loss.
But Christians do not sorrow like those who have no hope.
For Christians have HOPE:
Jesus said in John chapter 11 and verse 25, “he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”.
______ was, unique; and I genuinely cared for him.
______was a likeable guy.
He had a giving heart. He was big hearted.
He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
He gave even when he did not have it to give.
_______cared about others; He shaved his own head in support of those who had lost their hair because of cancer.
______was a fighter; He was healed of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
He served his country from 1972 to 1974 in the Army.
He was a carpenter by trade and seemed to love to work with his hands.
______loved the holidays and he loved his family.
______was proud of many things:
He was proud of his grandchildren, as all of us grandfathers understand.
He was proud of being baptized.
He was proud of the work he had done on Churchill Downs.
_______was the kind of man who couldn’t wait for tomorrow because he knew he got better looking every-day!
_______loved the WildCats and they sent him off well:
On November the 2nd “Terrence Jones scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead No. 2 Kentucky to a 97-53 exhibition victory over Division III Transylvania on Wednesday night.”
_____loved the horses.
He was excited about this year’s Breeders Cup and sadly did not get to see it.
So this is for you ______:
“After two days of racing at Churchill Downs, the main event arrived as 12 of the top three-year-olds were called to the post for the 2011 Breeders Cup Classic.
The field made it into the gates without incident and the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic got underway at Churchill Downs. Uncle Mo bust from the outside and Game On Dude took the lead from the inside, leading the field down the front stretch. As they hit the first turn, it was Game on Dude, Uncle Mo, So You Think and Stay Thirsty leading the way into the back-stretch.
Game On Dude held the rail as they came to the final turn, with Uncle Mo breaking from the outside along with To Honor and Serve. As they came down the stretch, So You Think got a run down the inside, with Game On Dude surging. But out of nowhere, Drosselmeyer came on in a shocker, coming out of nowhere down the stretch to take it at the wire.”
I have some fond memories of Jimmy.
I knew him as a Friend who called me “Preacher”.
I preached to him, prayed with him, even baptized him.
I worked with him at the Church and the fireworks tent.
_____was a man who had many struggles and challenges in his life.
_____was a man who loved God.
_____was a man who loved to come to Church.
He loved the Word of God and could quote it quite a bit of it.
____ was a man who wanted more out of life than he often recieved.
He will be missed by us all!
E. V. Hill said there are 3 verses to death’s song:
1) “The Lord giveth…”
a. And everyone can sing this first verse.
2) The second verse is – “The Lord taketh away…”
a. This second one is a very difficult verse to sing, but until you can sing this one, you can’t sing the third verse.
3) The third verse is, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Luke said in Acts chapter 9 “36- Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 39- Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”
Here the Bible speaks of a godly woman who was remembered by what she left behind.
What did ____ leave behind?
People that will remember him, always.
People that will miss him, sorely.
Ask yourself:
“What will you leave behind at your death?”
_____story is written. There is no turning back the pages for him.
Your story is still being written.
What does your story say about you?
How will your story end?
We are poorer today as a people because of Jimmy’s passing from this life.
And yet on the other side of that same coin we are all the richer because we in this room today still have breath in our bodies.
Life yet to live and experience.
Time to do something of importance.
Time to live and love.
Time to make a difference in and with your lives.
Time to adjust your heading and direction.
Time to change your course.
Time to be born again;
Time to find God’s will for your life.
The Apostle Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost some 2,000 years ago answered the people’s question of what they should do with these words:
“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.”
Acts 2:37-38
That is good advice for us today.
No matter what life has been for you up to this point, “Old things can pass away, all things can become new”!
Make today the day the story of your life reads right!
I would like to leave you with this Poem:
“Loves Release”
When I am gone, release me, let me go
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love.
You can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.
So, grieve a while for me, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while we must part.
So, bless the memories that lie within your heart.
I won’t be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call on the One to whom I’ve gone
And I will come.
Though you can’t see me or touch me,
In memory I’ll be near
And if you listen with your heart,
You will hear
All of my love around you, soft and clear.
And then when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and “welcome home.”
Grave Side:
Opening Remarks:
We gather here to claim memories which are forever sacred as they are a gift of God. We are supported by a faith stronger than death, sustained by the hope of a life that extends eternally beyond this place. Within that confidence, we gather here to commit all that is mortal of our friend to this resting place, surrounded by the handiwork of God in nature, yet aware that we have a resting place not made with hands but by God Eternal.
“Dust to Dust and Ashes to Ashes; For from Dust we are and unto Dust shall we return”.
Poems:
Goodnight
This is a sacred place
We have come to today
Standing here in these moments
Saying we care in this way.
Cold winter rain – Beat gently here
Warm summer sun – Shine ever so clear
Green grass and the sod – Lie kindly in the light
As we leave this one we love
Good night, dear heart, good night,
Good night.
(Fred J. Foster)
