J. R. Arnold Service

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Obituary:

(There may be additions)

George Wesley Arnold Jr., 71 of Rector passed from this world on April 22, 2023. He was born in Gideon, Missouri to the late George and Victory (Self) Arnold Sr. George was a man who loved God and his family. He always kept his family laughing with his teasing and joking. He also enjoyed playing the guitar. George was a member of the New Life Christian Center in Rector. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by

his brothers: Doyle Arnold, Grady Arnold and Larry Arnold Sr.,

sisters: Verdie Jarrett and Mary Constance, and

one daughter: Angela Beauregard.

He is survived by:

His loving wife: Mattie (Crayne) Arnold,

His son: Wade and Jessica Herring of Batesville, Arkansas,

his daughters: Sabrina Jones of Florida and Tammy and Robert Case of Paragould,

his grandsons: Jordon Griffis, Jon (Katie) Williams, Stephen (Jessie) Smith, Alston Beauregard, Cameron Herring, his

granddaughters: Kayla (Bryce) Large, Chyan Holifield, Ruby Herring, Rebekah Case, Codi Herring,

great-grandsons: Chase Large, Wesley Holifield, Tommy Smith

and a great-granddaughter: Novah Large,

his sisters: Linda Ash of Monticello, Arkansas, Judy Tracy of Rector and Joann Sanky of Church Hill, Tennessee

along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Prayer

Eulogy

Tenderhearted

Could get teary eyed pretty easily.

Helped anyone

When JR was little he had a friend who didn’t get anything for Christmas. Thinking it was because his family didn’t have a Christmas tree he found one that had been thrown out, brought it home and wanted his mother to decorate it to give them so they could get presents. It just made his Mama cry.

Never met a stranger

Could talk to anyone

Loved His Family

Mattie

Mattie said that in 35 years of marriage she never saw him mad.

Kids

Grands and Greats?

One wrote, “God knew my heart needed a papa like you”… “I hope the angels know what they have”

Liked to Have Fun

He was a worker, welder since he was 16, but he liked to have fun.

When Mattie was sick, he claimed that all he knew how to cook was hot dogs.... :)

Standing in the back of a truck with a chainsaw. Mattie and her sister were supposed to be holding a limb, but they couldn’t hang on and when it swung around it knocked him out of the truck. He never let them live it down. He always said they let go of that limb on purpose.

Loved Music

Guitar - Even the piano some

Singer

Worshiper

Loved when I got excited about what I was preaching about.

Must tell how much Jessica Wilson, the home health nurse is appreciated.

Sermon

1. All of you know that people like that are not replaceable; life just moves on.

At the same time, there is one who moves on with you in the ongoing flow of life.

Jesus is called the God of all comfort.

2. The kindness and encouraging attitude that keeps coming up when remembering JR, puts me in mind of :

Hebrews 12:1–2 KJV

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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The writer instructed, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

The race - Life

Isn’t life an amazing obstacle course!

Yet the instruction is to run, patiently enduring.

What really gets me to thinking is what preceded the instruction to run with patience. It was the reason to run with patience.

“seeing we are also compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses”

Freudian psychologist speak of “basement voices.”

Basement voices are those voices that emanate from the murky mire of another time in ones life.

They tell you what a loser you are, or how lazy, or any number of other negative things.

Just about the time you start moving forward in life, here comes that basement voice flowing back into memory, reminding you of past failures and past mistakes.

These voices drag you back down into thee murk and the mire of the past.

Freudian psychologist also speak of “balcony voices.”

Balcony voices are the witnesses who believe in you.

It is the man or woman in the stands who cheers another on.

JR, you have attested to it, is a balcony person.

3. But there is another insight that is offered in the passage,

something more than the recognition of voices that encourage and sustain.

Something more than the directive to run with patience.

That other directive:

“Lay aside every weight and sin”

Perhaps, even as we remember and celebrate the life of a balcony person, you should assess your own life; is what your doing in life working?

There may well be some weights or sins that need to be put aside.

4. A Final Note Deserves More Attention than I will give.

It is the passage where the writer started his communication with, “Looking unto Jesus”

So, another question, what direction are you looking?

Perhaps your hearing the voice of JR, a dear husband and father, reminding you to charge on through life. Remember that voice.

Let it keep you going in seasons of discouragement, but for the race to really be well run, you have to look to Him.

We have to look to Him!

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Prayer:

FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOUR LOVE WOULD SURROUND EACH AND EVERY FAMILY MEMBER AND FRIEND THAT HAS GATHERED HERE TODAY.

WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD LEAD US IN THE DAYS TO COME.

MAY OUR STEPS BE DIRECTED BY YOUR SPIRIT.

WE LOOSE YOUR COMFORT UPON ALL THOSE THAT MOURN AND MAY A SPIRIT OF JOY FILL EACH AND EVERY HEART.

LET THE MEMORIES BRING SMILES AND NOT SORROW.

MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FILL THEIR HOMES AND STAY WITH EACH OF THEM AND KEEP THEM.

MAY THEIR FAMILIES DRAW CLOSER TO EACH OTHER.

KEEP THEM FROM FEAR AND LET YOUR FAITH FLOW THROUGH THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS.

FATHER BE WITH US ALL WE PRAY. IN JESUS NAME.