Kirby Norman Celebration of Life

Message of Hope

Couple things I’m going to miss:

Getting the back of my head slapped when we went out to lunch

That I didn’t find out until just now he was known as Marshmallow

This big, burly tough guy was actually very tender, loved his family deeply

I’m gonna miss bein asked “You doin alright preacher”

I’m gonna miss a man who over the past few years became a friend

As I got to know Kirby the last few years I learned he was a man that had some unique but GOOD perspectives.

He was a man that had a perspective of a good sense of humor

Proverbs 17:22 “22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Proverbs 14:13 “13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.”

“The problem with our country is we’ve lost our daggum sense of humor.”

(He Might have used a different word)

I’m gonna miss being teased about the Buckeyes and their ups and downs (I didnt’ really want to make the lights orange and blue today, but the things you do for a friend.)

One time he even called when I was up in Ohio with the family to see if my head was cold

He was a man that had a perspective that hard work/good work ethic matters

Many of you know, he didn’t come up in the best circumstances

He worked hard for everything he had and he tried to pass that along to those around him

Family said he recieved letters from guys in jail saying they understood now things he was trying to tell/teach them.

Proverbs 13:4 “4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

Family said Kirby wasn’t a guy who would want a big deal made about him, so in respect for him, I want to end by making a big deal about Jesus today!

Jeff called and said we need to go see Kirby as we were driving over he said how worried he was at how bad Kirby was the last he had visited with him

Went over and visited

Put my hand on his leg and said I need to ask if you’ve ever trusted in Jesus as you Lord and Savior - No

Would you want to do that

He sat quiet, teared up and said yes. (Debbie told me the other day, Kirby wasnt going to do something if he didn’t want to)

I believe that Kirby was genuine and sincere

On that night in his living room Kirby experienced true healing

On that night Kirby experienced TRUE LIFE

On that night Kirby was freed from the consequences and outcomes of cancer

On that night Kirby surrendered his will and ways and experienced a right relationship with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ

ON THAT NIGHTKirby was a man that made a decision in his life related to an eternal perspective.

Remember how I told you I was gonna miss things about Kirby and how I would miss him as a friend? I won’t miss him forever because of the decision he made to put his faith and Trust In Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I will see him again.

Kirby was a good man (not perfect, because only one man is), but he realized being good wasn’t enough, all the good we could ever do doesn’t bring about a right relationship with God, it’s only through the work of Jesus Christ can we have a right relationship

Don’t seek salvation because you want to see Kirby, seek salvation so you can have a restored relationship with God through what Jesus Christ has done.

Family asked if I would sing a special song at some point durning the service, the second they asked I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to sing a song that is extremely popular, it’s actually a song that the artist wrote after he lost his father to cancer

As you listen, as you see the words on the screen, I want you to ask yourself, Can you imagine? Can you imagine heaven? Will you be there? Don’t wait, live your best life NOW

After the song, if you’ve never made a decision to follow Christ will you come up at let’s talk together?

Pray then

I Can Only Imagine