Griffith Hoel - Celebration of Life

Greeting

Good afternoon, My name is Darrin Brown, Pastor at New Life A/G and on behalf of the family, I would like to thank you for coming as we remember and celebrate the life of Griffith Hoel.

As we begin, let’s ask the Lord’s blessing.

PRAYER

Father thank you for the life of Griff and for the precious memories that will live on forever. Thank you for the way that he touched many lives, those in his family and all those who’ve had the privilege of knowing him as a friend. Jesus, bless this time as we pause to remember and celebrate Griff’s life today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 “54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

We labor in this world but when we labor for this world what we have is temporary. Because when we die, we have nothing to take with us. It’s all going to be left behind for other people to sort through. You never see a u-haul behind a hurst in a funeral procession.

But... our labor in the Lord is not in vain because when we labor in the Lord, we build up an eternal reward… Ultimately when we are done laboring here on earth, when we die, we rest in the Lord.

Right now, we celebrate Griff, a life lived well for the Lord.

OBITUARY

Griffith Hoel, 60, of Coldwater, formerly of Chicago, went to join his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.

He was born July 2, 1962 to David and Pearl (Makofsky) Hoel in Evanston, IL. Griff was a passionate man especially in his service to and spreading of the word of his Lord Jesus Christ. He found his peace and joy in the great outdoors where he liked to fish, camp, and hike. Griffith was outspoken at times, but it was his way of always letting his friends and family know just how much he cherished and valued each of them being a part of his life. He will be dearly missed as a brother, uncle, and friend.

Griffith leaves behind his brother Bradford (Deb) Hoel of Quincy; his nieces and nephews Anna (Mike Morris) Hoel of Grays Lake, IL, Lila Hoel of Quincy, Brandyn (Kenzie) Miller of Grand Rapids; great nephew Tennyson Hoel of Quincy along with his other loving nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews; his best friend Andrew (Brooke) Smith of Cincinnati, OH and his favorite cat Wina.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

TRANSITION & STORIES

Griff’s life was more than a 190 word obituary. We all have wonderful memories, funny stories, life lessons, and milestone celebrations that Griff was a big part of.

Bradford Hoel

Andy Smith

Message

Thank you for sharing all those wonderful memories of Griff. Those memories are often the fuel that keeps us going. As we go though life with a very noticeable void that can never be filled.

Loss is unfortunately a part of life but for those we loose who are in Christ... our loss becomes heaven’s great gain. Paul encourages us in Philippians 1:21

Philippians 1:21 NLT

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

But still loosing someone is painful and often times, at funerals there’s a tendency, by some, to blame God for death. Since we don’t understand everything that God does. It’s Ok.

Jesus is able to handle our questions

It’s OK to ask why.

God why would let my friend, my brother, my uncle die?

Why didn’t you heal him? Why didn’t you answer my prayers?

Listen, we don’t always know why things happen.

You shouldn’t feel guilty for wondering if there was something that God could have done.

Griff went too soon, he went unexpectedly.

We may not understand why things happened the way they happened… But for some reason, in God’s great wisdom and HIS perfect plan HE took Griff home.

The reality is we live in a world that has been damaged by sin. Knowing that, we will all experience the sting of death and loss.

But… Jesus can handle our questions

Jesus is able to handle our pain

God is big enough to handle our emotions… our loss… our hurts… our confusion…

Jesus gives us this invitation in Matthew 11:28

Matthew 11:28 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

God knows what it’s like to feel hurt. Imagine a Father, giving up HIS one and only Son. The hurt and the pain HE felt.

Jesus knows our pain. He doesn’t say, suck it up buttercup.

Jesus is able to handle our pain. In fact, Jesus give the personal invitation for those who are weary… for those who carry heavy burdens. Jesus invites them to them go, give them to HIM and find rest in the presence of Jesus.

Isaiah 61:1–3 “1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (NIV)

Jesus came for those who are poor, brokenhearted, in prison, for those who are mourning, grieving, in despair.

Jesus came to earth to fulfil this passage written 700 years before Jesus walked the earth.

That’s why today at a funeral, we can talk about that good news because Jesus came to fulfill that for us.

Jesus can and wants to take our ashes and make something beautiful. Jesus wants to give us a garment of praise for our spirit of heaviness.

Today, we are here to remember and to celebrate Griff and to say our goodbye one last time but I know that Griff would want nothing less then to give Jesus our full attention. He would want this moment to be all about Jesus.

When Jesus went to the funeral of his dear friend Lazarus, HE encouraged Mary and Martha with these words. John 11:25-26 “25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?””

Jesus has proven that HE is still the resurrection and the life but just like Mary and Martha, we have to believe it ourselves.

Griff has left the land of the dying and is in the land of the living. He closed here eyes here on earth and opened his eyes in heaven to see our resurrected Jesus, in ALL HIS glory, splendor, and majesty, face to face.

In Revelation 21:4 Jesus promises that when we live believing Jesus is the resurrection and the life, we will enjoy everlasting comfort. “4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” Behold, all things are new.

Right now, we hurt, we are grieving but, be comforted knowing that Griff is completely whole and healed, in the perfect presence of Jesus.

Griff would tell you right now… 1 Corinthians 15:58 “58 Brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Closing

[PRAY]