Friends, we have gathered here to praise God -- and to witness to our faith, as we celebrate the life of ED.
We come together in grief, and we acknowledge our human loss.
May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, and in death resurrection.
Will you please pray with me?
Eternal God, we praise you for ED who has finished his course and now rest from his labor. Let your perpetual light shine upon these that have gathered here. Grant us peace, and help us to believe where we have not seen, that your presence may lead us through our years. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
MUSIC 1
– Scriptures
Music 2
FAMILY COMMENTS
Folks, if you don’t believe that Love hurts then I am afraid that you have never really known love. When you are a teenager there is the ache to be close to that special person. Sometimes an even bigger ache when a relationship breaks up.
We are here today to celebrate love and a very special lover. ED, a man who understood how painful love could be.
He had a love for music that lifted him up. For Ed Music could take a day of short breaths and aches and pains and take him to a level of floating on a heavenly cloud.
During the summer ED and Jim came to choir practice. They had no intention of singing on Sunday. ED thought that somehow his voice was not good enough. The rehearsal was more of a pick a song and the hymnal and sing out.
Let me tell you something, for a fellow on oxygen he could sing fast and strong, normally out singing me. We would be singing something with multiple parts and really fast and he would look at me when I missed my base part because I needed a breath. I accused him of turning up the oxygen which I considered unfair.
Ed loved his family starting with the apple of his eye, Jimmy Nell. I think the spark in their relationship came from being the best of friends and sometimes the sparks flew with the running banter of remarks and sometimes with sweet kisses and little I love you whispered across the room.
He loved his brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and the pictures were close at hand to prove it. Oh how he worried if any of you were out and forgot to call. Oh how he cared for your every pain and trouble.
There was another branch of the family tree that he gladly claimed and that was his church family. There was no lack of love because, he knew that we were all related by blood, the blood all Christians share. And that means that ED was my older brother. ED was a living example that the more love you give away the more you have. The more you risk the better the return
Folks I was personally blessed because, ED was a perfect example of a happy Christian. He laughed easily, he smiled quickly, he raised a hand to praise God when the music moved his soul and the biggest delight of a pastor, he occasionally let out an amen or other supportive remark.
At least I thought it was supportive, sometimes I would notice Jim giving him a reaction, you know, one of thoes wife looks. A sort of I’m gonna smack you. Sometimes, ED would let me in on the secret. ED loved to make people smile and laugh.
Folks, ED was fortunate to have kept a sharp mind, even in his hardships he had a great outlook and wit.
ED was a spiritual man, a good husband, a faithful and true friend. He was a deep person and offered true insight into the questions of life. He expressed wisdom with humor and love.
I suspect that most of you know that he was a warrior….a prayer warrior. He knew that he could not fix most things, like his preacher…and perhaps some of you and your problems…and he lifted us up to the Lord.
Sometimes with sorrow and sometimes joy, he shared his heart and his love for his family and friends with the one in which he had complete and perfect faith. ED loved normal, real, imperfect human beings and sometimes he felt the pain of loss and disappointment and worry over the safety of the people he loved.
It would not surprise me if he prayed for almost every person in this room by name. ED understood that all things were possible through Christ.
In recent times ED had a weak body; however that did not mean a weak or wavering faith. Ed knew that the place he met God most often, was in the deepest part of life’s valleys. In his time of personal trouble he always reached for the hem of Jesus garment which included giving thanks for every blessing no matter how small.
Let me give you an additional scripture for your consideration today.
John 13
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.
I am honored to be the pastor of ED, but, I need to tell you the truth.
ED was not a perfect man. ED had flaws. I only will talk about one of them today. He thought that he was a bigger sinner than me. He thought he was a bigger sinner than any of you.
He knew the scriptures, he could tell you the promises from the Bible. He knew that God through His son Jesus Christ would forgive all sins.
He even understood that that meant his sins….
His problem was that he knew that no matter how hard he tried. He still goofed up and committed a sin.
He had no question of his salvation…He just thought that he would never be able to be perfect. And he was trying real hard.
Somehow he got the idea that this problem made him unworthy, Somehow made him a second class citizen and he tried his best to avoid being seen by God.
He wanted to hide in the back of the crowd. How could he let Jesus touch or even see him?
Boy, I am glad that it was only ED and me that felt that way. I would hate the think that anyone else felt that guilty over personal flaws and daily mistakes.
It took a while for ED to understand that he was struggling with God’ work of sanctification. His feelings of unworthiness were because God was actively in the process of making him a Holy vessel.
ED did not want to disappoint his heavenly father. ED’s personal struggle with holiness was being resolved and matured through the love and grace of God.
His failures were never hidden from God because, it was God that was helping ED to reach his goal of perfection. God wanted to wash his feet and ED thought he need a whole bath with Lye soap and a scrub brush. ED in search of the perfect relationship tried to force the separation and God was not going to let his get away with it.
The work needed to reach perfection and holiness is handled by God but, we have to say yes and respond to his direction.
ED and many people that call them selves Christians are in the same struggle as Peter. Peter was the apostle that would do anything or go any where to try to get closer to Jesus. Even if it meant trying to walk on water….
So there is ED’s biggest battle with Love….how to get closer to Jesus when you are on this side of the river.
Well, I can assure you that he found a way. The work of Jesus Christ was completed and ED has reached perfection.
Folks, Love hurts, and today we all share in the kind of pain that happens when a part of our very soul is ripped away. We all feel and express our pain in different ways. However, pain and hurt are proof that we are alive and most importantly it is proof that we love.
ED will be missed in so many ways. His family and friends have a piece missing in their lives that can never fully be replaced while we are here. The community of friends –have lost a man that loved and cared for people by sharing wisdom, encouragement, prayers and love.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not happy about my loss, but, I am joyful because his losses have been completely recovered.
I am happy because he has been from the breathing treatments and hoses which limited his freedom to enjoy his family and church.
I am excited because he has received a new imperishable body, free from pain and limitation.
I am confident that ED has heard the coveted words, “Well done my good and faithful servant, you are just in time for choir rehearsal.”
All Glory be to God!
Pray with me.
Grave side
Listen to the words of Jesus
24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
His body is the earthly vessel which we have all seen and recognize. But it was only a container for the eternal soul which is the person that we love.
Almighty God,
Into your hands we commend your son ED in the sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life through Christ our Lord, Amen.
This body we commit to the ground earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Prayer
Eternal God, you have shared the Life of ED, before he was ours He was yours. For all that ED has given us to make us what we are. For all that which continues to live and grow within each of us and for his life that in your love will never end, we give you our thanks.
You have received ED into your arms and he has received his reward but we ask you to comfort in our loneliness, strength in our weakness, and courage to face the future.
Draw thoes that remain closer to one another and give them your peace and perfect comfort I the coming days and weeks protecting all of us as we go from this place. AMEN.
