In preparation for funeral services I often ask people if their loved one had a favorite bible passage or bible story that I can share. Most don’t have one, but when I asked Linda she immediately said, “Joshua 1:9.”
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
I. The Place of Courage and Strength
When you think about Jon you see strength and courage in his life.
• How hard would it be for you to have lost a leg and continued to participate in life? Jon did.
• How hard would it be for you to use a wheelchair everywhere you went? Jon did. In fact, there was one Sunday that their car was in the shop for repairs and Jon came rolling down Tenth Street in his wheelchair so he could come to church.
• How hard would it be for you to keep up a positive outlook even though at times you have fallen down because of your physical issues? Jon did.
• How hard would it be for you to be a Greeter at church and welcome members and new visitors to services? Jon did.
Sometimes we think of courage, strength, and faith as belonging to people like the young man David who went down into the valley to fight the giant, Goliath. Those things don’t just belong to the heroes of scripture who are set apart in scripture for some great task. They belong to us everyday people, too. Jon fought his giants because he believed God was with him and could give him the strength to go on.
Jon lived his life in a way that made him stand out. He embraced life. He “got into the game” and tried to live life fully and without fear. That’s a great example for us, especially in this current time when we seem to be afraid of everything.
II. The Results of Strength and Courage
A. People Loved Jon – FB Posts speak of (not going to read all of the posts, but summarize):
• His warm and caring friendship “to all.”
o “I would do 5 AM for you!” (He once said that he wanted his funeral at 5 AM to see who his real friends were.
o All of the Grand kids and Kids at Heart are wearing yellow in his honor because they love him.
• His welcoming nature, that booming voice – [My game with Jon to see if I could get into my office without him noticing. Not once!
• His smile and laugh.
• His wonderful Christian walk.
o Long-time friend: “I know he is sitting beside St. Peter welcoming all who enter.”
o “My cousin Jon was a great saint. I am so grateful he knew Jesus and I will see him again.
B. He was an Influencer:
1. His Family
• His daughter Tommye: “Dad gave me my love for all music, racing, football, basketball, softball, and everything in between. I was his Tomboy and he called me, ‘Tom Cat.’”
• To play with the kids on Christmas morning, he would run through the house shaking sleigh bells and saying, “Ho, ho, ho, Santa came!”
• He would wake the kids up in different ways depending on his mood. If he was happy, he would tickle them and say, “Rising and shining.” If in a bad mood, at least for Tommye he used cold water to get her up and going.
• Anna: “He was so loved by all of us. The best Papa I could ever have. He was a superhero to me.”
2. His Teams
• Sheila Burgess: “He was my first real basketball coach; taught me sportsmanship.”
3. As a Patriot, fighting for America as he could. His dad was a preacher and I think he'd have liked this story.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” preached Rev. John Peter Muhlenberg, from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1. He closed his message by saying:
“In the language of the Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.”
At the end of his sermon, January 21, 1776, John Peter Muhlenberg threw off his clerical robes to reveal the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army. Drums began to roll, men kissed their wives, and they walked down the aisle to enlist. The next day, Pastor Muhlenberg led 300 men of his church and surrounding churches to join General Washington’s Continental Army as the 8th Virginia Regiment.
III. The Significance of Facing Death: Both Expected and Unexpected
A. Expected
1. Revelation: Ecclesiastes 9:5 (ESV) – For the living know that they will die, Per Ecclesiastes 3:2 – 2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
2. Observation
B. Unexpected
1. That’s for others – we’re surprised when it hits our family; or ourselves— “I thought I was the exception.”
Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
2. Jon’s heart attack was a surprise.
a. Health issues
b. Heart attack was sudden
[An average of 1,671 American’s die suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack every day. Talk about a pandemic!
Conclusion:
Someone has said, “We can die twice.” We can die physically and we can die when people stop talking about us. Let me tell you a story about lasting influence. For many of you in this room today, Jon Perry has made a lasting influential impression on you.
Lasting Influence
Explorers were sailing through uncharted waters. The strong winds blow the ship off course, and they spotted uncharted islands. The captain ordered the men to drop anchor and go ashore.
On the first few islands he sees nothing but sadness. Underfed children. Tribes in conflict. No farming or food development, no treatment for the sick, and no schools. Just simple, needy people. The captain sighs at what he sees. “This is no life for these people.” But what can he do?
Then he steps onto the last and largest island. The people are healthy and well fed. They have: Irrigation systems to nourish their fields and roads to connect the villages. The children are healthy. The captain asks the chief of how this island had moved so far ahead of the others.
The chief gives a quick response: “Father Benjamin. He educated us in everything from agriculture to health. He built schools and clinics and dug wells.”
The captain asks, “Can you take me to see him?”
The chief nods and signals for two tribesmen to join him. They guide the captain over a jungle ridge to a simple, expansive and well-equipped medical clinic.
The captain, though impressed, sees nothing of Father Benjamin. He repeats his request.
The chief invites, “Follow us to the other side of the island.” They reach a series of fishponds. Canals connect the ponds to the ocean. As the tide rises, fish pass from the ocean into the ponds. The islanders then lower canal gates and trap the fish for harvest. Again the captain is amazed. Then says, “I don’t see Father Benjamin. Please take me to where he lives.”
They lead the captain up a steep, narrow path. After many twists and turns the path takes them in front of a grass-roofed chapel. The voice of the chief is soft and earnest. “He has taught us about God.” “Is this where Father Benjamin lives?” the captain asks. The men nod and smile. “May I talk to him?”
Their faces grow suddenly serious. “Oh, that would be impossible.”
“Why?” “He died many years ago.”
The bewildered captain stares at the men. “I asked to see Father Benjamin, and you showed me a clinic, some fish farms, and this chapel. You said nothing of his death.”
“You didn’t ask about his death,” the chief explains. “You asked to see where he lives. We showed you.”
Jon is living on in you right now. Keep his memory alive. Remember the things he taught you, even in imperfections like his OCD grass-cutting requirements of the mower: level one for the backyard and level two for the front yard; and always change directions when cutting grass, don’t cut it the same way each time.
