(Note: Last names have been intentionally deleted from the text of this message.)

Solo Selection: "Home Where I Belong"

Scripture: Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for a special awareness of your presence as we gather here today to remember the life of this loved one. Please, we pray for your comfort and strength as we reflect. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Obituary:

Jacob ______  was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of John and Emma _________, on October 22, 1916. He departed from this world to be with his Lord on April 8, 2000. He was 83.

Jake married Lucille ________on July 18, 1935 in Minneapolis. The couple moved to Oregon in 1947. Lucille preceded him in death in 1980.

Jake began his work in Oregon for Willamette Industries. He worked as a timber faller for 30 years, employed by a number of different companies, ultimately retiring from Crown Zellerback Company.

In recent years he lived in Portland and Seaside, Oregon.

Jake was a member of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ and the Portland Eagles Lodge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, and writing poetry.

There are 27 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Jake is survived by sons Thomas __________ of Sweet Home, Larry __________ of Portland, and Steven _________ of Gregory, South Dakota, daughters Emma_________ of Seaside, Lilly __________ of Springfield, Nancy _________ of Anaheim, California, and Shirley ___________  of Seaside, brother Lewis _________ and sister Irene __________, both of Minneapolis.

Jake is preceded in death by daughter Helen __________ , son Jacob _________ Jr., brothers James _________, Howard __________, and Johnnie ___________, and sisters Lillian __________, Millie _________, Violet _______ and Verna __________.

Personal Remarks:

Though I didn’t know Jake personally, after talking with family members yesterday, I feel as though I did know him. Listening to those of you who shared with me, I realized that he was a man of many unique experiences, most of them centered around his family. I heard stories of family camping trips, hikes into remote wilderness areas, hunting, fishing, backyard family gatherings, and picnics. I heard you describe a harmonica playing man with a great sense of humor, a man who laughed a lot, though he could be a bit shy – a man for whom family always came first - a man who always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye.

I heard the story of his and Lucille’s first trip to Oregon during the Great Depression. The couple, Lucille pregnant with their firstborn, Helen, daringly came west by riding the rails – hopping freight trains.

I heard Tom speak of how his dad taught you all to love the great outdoors and how he had a nickname for each of his children.

I heard Steve speak of a special 10 mile hike he remembers into Ten Lake Basin. Steve, who was just a little boy at the time, still remembers the mosquitoes and how tired he was when his father put him up on his shoulders and carried him all the way out. Steve recalled times when he met his father at the "crummy" (loggers' transportation vehicle) after work and carried his lunch box for him. Jake would pay the little boy 25 cents to rub his aching feet.

I heard Larry reiterate what Tom said about their father teaching you all to love the outdoors, but then he added that Jake taught you how to do many things. Larry spoke of a certain 1937 Ford station wagon full of children that Jake called his "covered wagon." He spoke of the time when the whole family lived in a tent for the entire summer in order to be able to save enough money for their place.

The family was unanimous that Jake was a good provider, always managing food and shelter for his growing family. You all spoke of his teaching you the value of hard work as you labored together picking fruit and vegetables in the fields.

I also heard fond memories of Jake’s first involvement with the church back in 1950, the result of the efforts of Claude ________, Johnny _______-, and Wes __________ – an involvement that has just begun to pay its great dividends for Jake as he has now entered eternity.

I heard the story of the coffee can containing $13 that Jake hid beneath a stump when he was just a lad of 13 years – a story that he told and retold his children – and how someday he was going to return to see if that money was still there.

I heard the story of Karen’s dog Dobie who apparently sort of adopted Jake when he became jealous of their firstborn and of the time when Dobie bit the bottom out of the nail sack Jake was carrying, spilling nails out all over the road.

I also heard about Jake’s great love for Lucille and how much he missed her after her death – a grief that never fully went away – and the trips to her grave to bring flowers.

My life is a bit richer because of what you shared with me.

Folks, these are the things life is really made of. When we pause to reflect and look back, it’s not the cars we have owned or the houses and land we have bought that count. It is love and the laughter and the joys of the family circle. It’s the memorable mischief we managed to get away with and the little deeds done out of genuine affection for each other. It’s the sense of belonging to a group of people who love us without conditions. Your family is rich indeed for the many things you have had the opportunity to experience.

I’ll have a few more words to say in just a moment, but first we’ll hear another song.

Solo Selection: "Go Rest High on that Mountain"

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Jake __________  was a Christian. Because of that you and I need to know that his life goes on beyond this grave.

Some people misunderstand the reason for being Christians. They think we’re just prudes or holy Joe’s or goody-two-shoes people who, for some strange reason, can’t laugh at a dirty joke or turn the air blue with our language like other people. But when they think this they miss the whole point. People are Christians not because they want to be members of a do-gooder’s club, but because they know that Jesus is the only one who offers a reasonable hope beyond this graveyard. Our gathering here is the whole point, my friends. This is what it all comes down to – for all of us. The big question is, "Is there anything beyond this grave or not?" and no matter how you choose to deal with it, you’ll have to ask it - sooner or later.

Jake was baptized into Christ many years ago, putting his faith and trust in this hope I speak of. Later in life he fell away from that commitment for a time. Then, not too long ago he realized his need once again and rededicated himself to serving the Savior. Dedication to Christ and the things He taught are what assure the Christian that he or she will live a worthwhile life beyond this casket and beyond this grave.

As a Christian, Jake is "with the Lord" according to the verses I just read. His fully conscious spirit will return with Christ at the Second Coming. This grave that we seal here today will on that day be torn open and this body we leave here today will be resurrected from this spot where we stand. It will be changed into something recognizable that will no longer decay. Then it will be reunited with his spirit and he will live forever in his resurrected body in the presence of his Lord. This is what the Bible teaches is in store for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus put it this way long ago as He stood and wept beside the grave of a personal friend who had been dead four days. "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die." After speaking these words He raised His friend, Lazarus from the dead. When He spoke of never dying, he was not talking about physical death. We all must die physically. He said, "He shall live even if he dies… ." He was speaking of eternal life, the prime aim of every true Christian.

I hope this is your aim today. If you have not done so, I encourage you to commit your life to Jesus Christ while the opportunity lasts. Jake did, and he now has eternity to be glad about it.

May God bless you with your good memories of Jake and the great family circle you seem to have. Shall we pray?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for providing for us a way to go beyond this grave through Jesus Christ. Thank you for this life we remember here today, both its length and breadth. I ask for Your strength for these who grieve here today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Solo Selection: "One Day at a Time"

Congregational Selection: "This World is not My Home"

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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