Funeral Gregory G. Edwards

Amazing Grace

Prayer

O God, giver of life and conqueror of death, our help in every time of trouble, we trust that you do not willingly grieve or afflict us.Comfort us who mourn;   and give us grace, in the presence of death, to worship you, that we may have sure hope of eternal life     and be enabled to put our whole trust in your goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Welcome

Dying, Christ destroyed our death.

Rising, Christ restored our life.

Christ will come again in glory.

Here and now, dear friends, we are God's children.

What we shall be has not yet been revealed; but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Those who have this hope purify themselves as Christ is pure.

Words of Hope

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life.

Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Eulogy

Gregory G. Edwards, age 70, of Jackson, Ohio passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born February 22nd, 1953, in Columbus, Ohio.

Greg loved this family. And Greg was able to see beauty where others saw junk. He enjoyed taking old bike parts and giving them new life. He appreciated putting a bike back into service.

Greg loved to meet new people. He believed that he could learn something from each person he meets.

He also stood up for the people who were being bullied. He did not care about race, he liked you for who you were. I did not try to make you into someone you were not.

Greg will be missed by his family and friends.

Greg was survived by his wife, Linda Edwards; his children, Sarah Edwards and Lyman Edwards; nephew, Michael Meadows; niece, Stephanie (Paul) Fisher; nephew, Saul Fisher; mother-in-law, Judith Martin; and several other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ida Edwards; sister, Connie Koch; grandmother, Hazel Yerian; grandfather, Walter Yerian; and father-in-law, Carl Martin.

Greg enjoyed sitting on the porch and collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends.

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The Appointment

Today gather in this place and we come face to face again with death. Death is the great equalizer, you can not be rich enough to buy your way out of the death, you can not be educated enough to reason your way out of death, and you can not be good looking enough to cheat your way out of death. Death comes to us all. The appointment with the grim reaper is unavoidable.

Hebrews 9:27 NASB95

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

Since you and I have an appointment with death that we cannot cancel, postpone, or escape, it might be helpful to see how to prepare for it. Jesus tells us how to take the necessary steps to get ready for this appointment.

John 14:1–6 NASB95

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The First Necessary Step is to Believe in Jesus.

Jesus said, “You Believe in God, Believe also in me.” This belief causes us to put our faith and trust in Jesus. Listen to Jesus’ words again,

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus also said,

John 1:12 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Putting our faith and trust in Jesus is the First necessary step to prepare for our meeting with death.

Michael took this step about three years ago, when he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ. This is the first step we all need to take to believe in Jesus, because, “no one comes to the Father except through him.”

The Second Necessary Step is to Believe in Heaven.

John 14:2 NASB95

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. What do you know about this place?

Look at Rev. chapter 7

Revelation 7:16–17 NASB95

“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

The Artist and Song writer Jim Reeves put it this way.

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

The first necessary step is to believe in Jesus, the second is to believe in heaven.

The Third Necessary Step is to Believe we can Go to Heaven.

Listen again to the words of Jesus

John 14:3 NASB95

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Did you hear the promise, “I will come back and take you to be with me.” What a promise! Jesus did not say, You have to find your own way, he did not say, I send one of my assistances, he did not say, my schedule is to full to come, he said, “I will come back.” “I”will come back.

That is why Jesus said

Authorized Version Chapter 6

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Paul wrote it like this:

1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB95

but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Jim Reeve said it best when he wrote:

Just over in gloryland We'll live eternally The saints on every hand are shouting victory Their songs of sweetest praise Drift back from heaven's shore And I can't feel at home In this world anymore

Prayer

O Jesus Christ our risen Lord, you have gone before us in death.Grant us the assurance of your presence,     that we who are anxious and fearful in the face of death       may confidently face the future,     in the knowledge that you have prepared a place for all who love you. Amen.

Dinner at the church

Benediction

The peace of God which passes all understanding     keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,       and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.And the blessing of God Almighty,     the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,  be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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