Not To Us O Lord

We celebrated the life of Denny Ferry today. I was reminded all over again that a life well-lived is a beautiful thing. Denny lived a life that was beautifully simple - he loved God and he loved people. This simple phrase summed up his entire life. Well, he also loved music, and Karen and his family and ..... I think you get the point!

Ah yes, music. There was music everywhere! The choir started us off with "Not To Us O Lord." It was majestic! Karen even left her seat to join them in singing the anthem! There were three soloists, we had four congregational songs and we ended with a men's quartet. In addition, three more songs accompanied the Tribute to Life slide show at the end of the service. And at the graveside? Jim Jenkins played the bagpipes as we sang Wild Irish Rose and Amazing Grace!

The thoughts that I shared at the service follow.

Denny requested that this passage of Scripture be read at his Celebration of Life Service. Denny felt strongly that a person who called themselves a Christian should live like one.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:8-20

I first met Denny when I candidated at New Covenant in 1991. Denny was serving on the Deacon Board in our worship ministry. We hit it off right away as we were both born in the Tama/Toledo area. I've never met someone who was so excited about being from Tama, Iowa!

Denny lived the Ephesians passage out. He was careful how he lived. Three words come to mind when I think of Denny.

The first word is sing. Denny loved to sing. As you can gather from the ceremony today, Denny loved music. He was in various music groups and ensembles including our choir.

The second word is smile. Denny always had a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face and a good word for everyone he met. He loved to laugh and have fun. Maybe that came from all the ribbing he had to take from his nine brothers and sisters!

The third word is servant. Denny chose to live as a servant, always looking for ways to serve the needs of others. He had a special place in his heart for children. And of course, Denny also served here at New Covenant.

As I mentioned before, Denny served as Deacon of Worship here at New Covenant from 1991 to 1995. When one of our Elders or Deacons finish their term of service, we acknowledge them by giving them this framed Timothy Botts print at our spring retreat. It’s a beautiful print of Colossians 1:28. Denny and Karen had this print hanging in the bed room.

But the thing that makes this print valuable is the words that are written on the back. All of the other Elders, Deacons and staff write words of thanks and appreciation. I would like to read a few of the remarks on the back of Denny’s print.

Today we grieve the passing of a husband, brother, father, grandfather, family member, and friend. But our loss is Denny’s gain. Today Denny is in his Saviors presence, with a new song on his lips, a smile on his face, serving His Jesus forever.

Once Upon A Time

The word that comes to mind when I think of Michelle is creative. Michelle looked at all of life through a unique perspective. Whether producing a graphic design project, or creating her famous one-of-a-kind greeting cards, or recording personal reflections in her journal, Michelle did it with passion and creativity.

The reason so many of you are here today is because your lives have been impacted by Michelle's in a profound and personal way. Everything about Michelle was unique and authentic. The care she demonstrated for her family and friends was personal and heart-felt. A hand-made note, a personal conversation, dropping her own project to help a friend in need, these were all common place for Michelle.

Michelle loved to create, she loved people, she loved her family, and she loved her God. Michelle trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior as a small girl, but it was in middle-school years that Michelle's faith was put to the test.

Michelle shared with me how she struggled during her early teens to fit in, to have the right friends, to be popular and to have the right look. She found herself being influenced by and conforming to the opinions of others. During this key time in her young life, Michelle said she made the decision that she wanted to live her life to please Christ alone. That God's opinion of her was more important than what others thought.

Michelle decision to follow Christ began to shape and define who she was to become. If there is anything I would like people to hear today, it is this: That a relationship with Christ is not about conforminging behavior and rule keeping. Rather a relationship with Christ is about being becoming fully human, being transformed into a life full of possibility, and creativity. A life that is beyond our imagination and dreams.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!

God began to transform Michelle into a one-of-a-kind, not to be duplicated young woman. His unique fingerprints were all over her life. Her passion for life was a reflection of His passion. Her love for people was an expression of His love. Her creative imagination was a reflection of His creativity. Her passion was to use her artistic talents to create children's books that would inspire and transform lives. Michelle didn't want an ordinary life, she wanted to make a difference.

The transformation that occurred in Michelle's life is reflected in this short journal entry. "I like writing the number four with the top open. I used to write my four with a closed top, but fours shouldn't try to impersonate a nine. Fours need to learn how to celebrate their four-ness."

Michelle learned to celebrate her 4-ness. She decided to quit impersonating a 9 and in the process became all that God had created her to be in Christ. I know I speak for so many of you when I say, my life has been enriched by knowing Michelle. In becoming who God designed her to be, she became a precious gift to us all. Thank you Michelle for deciding to follow Jesus.
Today we grieve our loss but we celebrate Michelle's gain. Today, Michelle is in heaven, exploring, creating, discovering, writing, and imagining. She has more colors to work with and more projects to create.

Today a new story is being written in heaven. It's a story within a larger love story about a king who loved his people so much that he sent His only Son to die a cruel death for our sin. And best of all, it's a story without end, that will continue on forever. You see, once upon a time there was a girl named Michelle who put her child-like faith in Jesus.

You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of Michelle's art work. You can also visit the Cedar Memorial website to read Michelle's guest book entries.

Beautiful

Joanne Just

We had Joanne Just's funeral service today. We met at the graveside and then gathered at New Covenant for a Celebration of Life service. Here is what I shared today at the service.

The word that comes to mind when I think of Joanne is the word beauty. Joanne loved to decorate, to arrange, to entertain. She loved the beauty of God’s creation and she took pleasure in creating beauty for others to enjoy.

Joanne took delight in discovering beauty, even in the ordinary. Perhaps it was her quest for beauty that drew her into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In Psalms 27:4 David says:

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Today we can take comfort that Joanne is in the presence of her Savior, enjoying his beauty forever.

Joanne also understood that true beauty is not merely external, but rather emanates from a persons character. Proverbs 31:10 says:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Joanne knew the secret of true beauty. Her warm smile and twinkle in her eyes immediately drew people to her. Her beauty was more that cosmetic, it came from deep within, from a heart that was yielded to her God and His purposes for her life.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says:
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Because Joanne attended to her inner world and nourished her relationship with Christ, at the end of her life she was as beautiful as the day Steve first met her. Her beauty was unfading, emanating from a heart that was at rest. And it was this inner beauty that Joanne possessed that drew many of you to her. You felt better just being around her.

Our modern culture worships youth and beauty. We seek image make overs in our quest for the perfect look. Joanne aspired to a different kind of beauty. An inner beauty that transcended time. An eternal beauty that is greatly valued in God’s sight. She sought a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today we grieve our loss, but we rejoice in Joanne’s gain. Today Joanne is reunited with the God she loved, being transformed into the image of Christ. Today as Joanne gazes into her Saviors face, she has never been more beautiful.