Funeral Remarks: Jerry E. Cantrell

Welcome and Prayer

On behalf of my Mother Nancy, my Brother Jeremy, his Wife Jennifer, my Nephews Jackson, and Jacob, My Wife Jennifer our Daughter Caroline, and the rest of our family I would like to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has gathered here today to honor the life of my Father Jerry Cantrell.

Almighty God, you are the one who gives life to our lifeless bodies and are the one who receives us again in death, we thank you for your abiding presence and for the grace provided in Christ Jesus. In our frailty we look to you for strength and in our sorrow for comfort. Help us in this hour to put our trust in you that we may receive light and understanding and a new and fresh experience of your grace unto eternal hope, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Remarks

As I sat during this week looking back on the life of my father I thought of so many great memories and stories I could have told but it just never sat well in my Soul that it was what I was suppose to do.

My father gave our family something fare more precious than just great memories and stores to tell.

He gave us a legacy not of wealth or fame but of faith.

I stand here today able to say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I know where he is and who He is with.

Today he is sitting at the feet of Jesus not because of good works, not because of being a good person, but because of his relationship with Christ.

It is not mans word we stand on here today but the word of God. Romans 8:35-39

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See there is nothing on this planet that is a more stark reminder of just how frail we are and just how quick life can end weather we are ready for it to or not than that of facing a death of a loved one.

But today based off what I just read from romans 8 we know that my dad is with the Lord and savior because of his relationship with Christ.

It was through his relationship with Christ that he was able to be an example of Christ for us to follow to our own relationships with Christ.

We did not have to look beyond our home for that example because he lived it for us everyday.

working 2 jobs but never missed chruch.

one of His biggest regrets was when his health declined he was not able to come to chruch like he wanted.

His relationship with Christ was rooted in one simple verse: John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

See salvation is open to all people: regardless of color, creed, race, or financial standing.

In the end when we breath our last breath and we stand before our perfect and Holy God and we are measured by the perfect standard of God, all we have to allow us to stand there is being covered by the blood of Christ.

We must have that relationship with Christ our we have nothing, it is something that can never be bought, earned or willed. Each person sitting here today is responsible for their own salvation and if you put it in anything other than Christ then you are putting it in the wrong thing!!!

The way to have that relationship with Christ is simple James 4:8-10

James 4:8–10 ESV

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

its as simple as A B C

Admit that you are a sinner

Believe that Jesus died for your sins

Confess Him as your Lord and savior.

I can think of no better way to honor the legacy of my father than for someone to say here today that I am lost and its time for me to start my own legacy.

One last thought there is coming a time when death will be defeated.

Isaiah 25:7–9 ESV

7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Amen

Graveside

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.