Celebration of Life Service Pastor Jim “JW”
2017
We have all gathered here today in the Presence of the Lord to celebrate the life and legacy of my very close and dear Friend Pastor Jim whom I affectionately refer to and called "JW".
I want to thank Ann and family for the privilege and honor to be a part of this celebration of life, his accomplishment and his legacy that he has left behind to each one of us here today. Pastor Jim (J.W.) was a very close friend and my best friend in the world a lifetime friend. Truly we were brothers.
Reverend William E. Sweeney
The late Reverend William E. Sweeney when ask what he would say when ask to do a service he reflected, "It was not what I said that helped, but that I went and that by going I showed I cared". As ministers of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we are privileged to bear His comfort to those in sorrow. I want you to know that God cares and loves each one of you here today. Tell them that I love them, that I care about them, that I am with them and I will give them my love, my comfort, my peace and my rest.
My Best Friend JW
JW was a great husband, dad, a grandpa “pawpaw Jim”, a friend, a brother in Christ, a born again Believer, a man of a heart of compassion, enjoyed life, Loved his wife and family very much especially his grandchildren. To me he was a very special friend a lifetime friend a brother of mine. Growing up he loved to eat. (Ring bologna with butter and mustard; and eggs with horseradish) Like the rest of us a little set in his ways, and if we all were honest we all have the same traits as my friend Jim (JW).
JW had the love of Jesus and a very compassionate heart
Ann, his wife, wrote this: "Jim was always very fair and objective about people and situations. He was always the same at home, with people, or at church. His ministry was calling and checking on anyone that missed church or had been sick. He knew who needed prayer and never forgot to pray for them. When he was able he visited ones in the hospital or home."
I want to talk to you a bit about what it means to be a true friend. My friend Jim "JW" was one that you could call a true friend. One whom cared, help in any way that he could, he had words of encouragement, one that would stick with you in the good and the bad times know matter what you may be going through. One that you could trust, he was a man of his word, a man of God, true to his salvation, He Loved God with his whole heart and being.
Best Friend Quotes
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
~ Unknown Author ~
"The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch swing with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've ever had.”
~ Unknown Author ~
Scriptures on Friend
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend
Stories about my friend JW as we were growing up
Blue Angels Club
Horse riding down lover’s lane
Staying many nights with JW and Camping in woods, “popcorn and chocolate fudge” 1950 Chevy truck
Picking butter beans in truck patch for 25 cents a bucket
4H club
Driving truck “coming back way from Modoc, lights went out on truck, JW driving”
Making Hay and coke cola at his grand parents
Finding candy of his grandparents’ house
New Jeans and horse tank to make them fit tighter
God’s Holy Word
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
4A time to weep, “Which we are now going through”
and a time to laugh; “a time we will laugh today of the memories of Pastor Jim (JW)”
a time to mourn, “Then we will go through mourning and missing him”
and a time to dance; “a time of Joy, a time to celebrate his life and to cherish those wonderful times we spent with him”
Shalt Love the Lord thy God, with all thine Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Greater Love Then This “Servant to Friend”
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
A Psalm of David
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 24:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
Psalm 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
In My Father’s House are many Mansions
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Running the Race
I have a picture on our door showing a runner and it says: “the race is not always to the swift but to those that keep on running”.
Scriptures on Running the Race
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
1Corithians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
I will leave you with this scripture that I believe says it best for my friend Pastor Jim (JW)
I Have Fought a Good Fight
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Timothy4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
A True Friend Quote and Poem of a friend
“A True friend will always leave a part of his heart with you forever” by Will Haney
Poem of a friend
"A memory lasts forever
never does it die...
True friends stay together
never do they say goodbye"
~ Author Unknown ~
“INVITATION TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST”
This brings me to the conclusion of the service. Would you please bow your heads? As you pass bye will you say to Jim GOODBYE or I WILL SEE YOU LATER? If by saying you say Goodbye that means you may not see him again; but if you say I will see you later that means you will be with him in everlasting eternal life with God.
The Word of God says that if I have ask the Lord Jesus into my heart and believe that God raised His Son Jesus from the grave and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior then I will have everlasting Life in eternity with Him.
If you have never asked Jesus into your heart let us know and we will pray with you.
HAVE PRAYER “share about the memories”
Know that I love you and care for each one of you, May God Bless You
Song
End of Service
Reverend Will Haney
Our choices and decisions are very important to each one of us. Will you take this day, the time and this very hour to make your choice and or decision? Will you receive God and His Word “AND BE BORN AGAIN INTO HIS KINGDOM”? Below is a prayer to receive Jesus Christ and start a relationship of eternal life with Him.
Prayer to Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior:
Heavenly Father,
I come to you in the Name of Jesus, I repent of my sins and I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and believe He died on the cross and rose on the third day. I ask you to come into my heart. I ask you now to wash me and cleanse me. I give you my spirit, soul and body. I will with your help follow you all the days of my life. I thank you for writing my name in the Lambs Book of life.
Thank you Father, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are from the King James Version of the Bible.