My Epic Journey

Thought I would post my memorial service notes from my mother-in-law’s service.

Today we gather to remember and celebrate the life of Karen “Chucks” Smith. Each of us referred to her as one of the following:
* Mom * Sister * Friend * but for many of us, Chucks

She was my Mother-in-law and I was proud to have her call me “son”. I have so many great memories of Chucks, I would like to share a few:

*  She would often write me letters in college encouraging me and giving me insights into who Anna really was.

*  One time she actually called me and it wasn’t good.  We both laughed about that call for a long time.

*  But my favorite memories are the ones of watching her with my kids.  She was an amazing grandma who ALWAYS had a surprise, usually candy, every time the kids saw her.

*  This past Christmas has to be my favorite.  We had the wonderful opportunity of having her spend the night on Christmas Eve.  We hauled in her oxygen machine and she slept on the couch and seeing her face Christmas morning as Isaac, Noah, and Emma opened up their gifts from both Santa Claus and her we like watching a child themselves on Christmas morning.

***Ask for other volunteers to share memories***

Transition: When dealing with death I often go back to John 19:30, the moment before Jesus himself experienced death. John 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
“It is finished” . . . 3 little words that if taken at face value may have little hope for some.
* It is finished, it is over, done…how can there be hope in that?
Thankfully on our side of the New Testament we know what took place there and when Christ said “It is finished”, the message meant so much more than the end of a life.

Jesus calling out “It is finished” didn’t mean death was the end, it meant that nothing more was needed to be done by anyone at anytime to receive the gift of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life.
Because of what Christ did for us on that cross we have a say so in our eternity.
We can determine what happens after our own deaths if we choose Christ now and in doing so choose life.

Read John 20:31, ^“But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.”

In the same way you know your name, you know where you live, and know where you are today…you can know that you have eternal life.
And all it takes on our behalf is faith, faith that saves when we call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Right now as we say our final goodbye to Chucks on this side of eternity . . . I encourage you to have faith.
God is a good God, a merciful God and a gracious God…and all of this and more is available to anyone who seeks Him.

Conclusion:  At this time we are going to give you a moment to write a message for Chucks on a balloon.  My kids, every time they have a balloon, will let it go and send it up to Grandpa Crawford.  Now they have been sending balloons up to him and Chucks.  Before we do that, I encourage you to write a note and after we are all done we will send them together and then close in prayer.

Close with a prayer of committal.

It was a hard but beautiful time, spent with family and friends.

I had the wonderful privilege of speaking at Olentangy Liberty High School’s Baccalaureate this past Thursday.  Here is the notes from the message I gave:

Turning the Page—Liberty HS Baccalaureate (June 3, 2010)

As the Pastor of Student Ministries at GPCC, I have had the privilege and responsibility of casting the vision for what I believe God wants for our students. As I prayed and sought God’s direction, He seemed to be pointing back to this idea of a STORY and hence, the reason we have called our ministry, EPIC.

EPIC is defined as a “grand” story that highlights the adventures and achievements of a hero. A list of EPIC stories would include:

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. The Iliad

3. The Odyssey

4. Beowulf

5. Star Wars

6. The Lord of the Rings series

I haven’t always been a reader but over the last 12-13 years I can’t stop reading. I didn’t use to enjoy reading because it was something I HAD to do. Of course, school always had us reading and not necessarily “fun” books and having a mother as a teacher meant my summers were consumed of weekly trips to the library and “countless” quiet hours for reading. Now, I always have a book on me, and though they are normally “non-fiction” books about ministry, leadership, or creativity, I do wander upon a good Fiction book every now and then. But not every story grabs my attention. To me, the characteristics of a great story are:

· Intriguing characters

· Depth and yet ease of plot

· A story that is bigger than the characters

· A deep longing for the next chapter

You are about to turn the page and enter a new chapter of your life . . . literally. The next chapter of your life, for many of you the next 4-8 years, will be some of the most rewarding and yet challenging times in your life. It is during this chapter of life that:

· Ties from friends are stretched and yet new ties are made with new friends.

· The role of parents move from parental authority to counselors, friends, supporters.

· You will determine who and what you want to be for the rest of your life.

· For many of you, this chapter of life is where you will meet your damsel in distress or your knight in shining armor.

This new chapter in your life is HUGE!! So how does God want you to handle this new chapter? Four things I want to share with you tonight from Ephesians 5.15-17, concerning how you need to live this chapter of your life:

1. Be Prepared–prepared for the twist and turns (v.15)

a. There will be ups and downs during this phase of life. Seeking godly counsel from parents, wise friends, etc. is essential during this time of life.

b. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

2. Live life on purpose (v. 16)

a. Don’t hold back.

b. God didn’t design us to live a mediocre life.

c. God designed us to live life on purpose for Him.

d. But in doing so, live for God, not for self.

3. Keep God as your focus. (v. 17)

a. It is easy in life to go with your plan, your parent’s plan, or someone else’s plan, but ultimately you must go with what God want for your life.

b. If God is not the main character in your story than you are not living the right story.

c. The most important part of God’s plan is for you to be a part of HIS story.

God desires that you play a part in a GRAND story—a story that is bigger than yourself but a story in which you are one of the main characters. So how do you become part of God’s story?

Roman 10.9-10 states, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

You must choose to be a willing participant in God’s story. It is not up to your parents, friends, church, pastor, etc. It is solely up to you. So have you entered God’s story? If not, I am asking you to please find me after the service and simply say—“So I want to be part of God’s story!” and I would LOVE nothing more to help you enter this amazing Story God has planned for you.

If you are here tonight and you already have made that chose and you are living out the story, as you turn the page and begin to live out this next chapter, make sure God is your focus, that you are living on purpose, and that you are prepared for what life brings your way.

Prayer

God, thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your story. Thanks for this moment in the life of these graduating seniors where they turn the page and enter a new chapter. Yet as they do so, God remind them of their need for you. Remind them that life isn’t worth living if you are not the main character. For the parents, we ask that you give them the strength and wisdom to help their seniors in this new chapter. Thanks again for the opportunity to stand here and to talk to this group. Use them in mighty ways to enrich and bring depth to your story.

This coming Sunday, EPIC is doing a service project for families with special needs children.  Here is the info:

When: November 22, 2009

Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Where:  Grace Point Community Church (2393 Peachblow Road Lewis Center, OH 43035)

Who: Individuals with disabilities and their siblings.

What is it: Parent’s Night Out is a youth sponsored event that allows caregivers to drop off individuals and their siblings at Grace Point Community Church to be cared for and engaged in a fun-filled evening of activities.

Cost: FREE! This is a service of the Student Ministry at Grace Point Community Church

Please call 740.548.7718 by November 20th to reserve your spot