Ej's Celebration of Life

Introduction

James 4:13-14 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Eccl 3:1-4 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

Often it is taught and preached that no man knoweth the day or the hour of the coming of the Lord, but the truth is that we all are appointed a time to die according to Heb 9:27.

For EJ, his death came way before his time. A young man at the age of 22 should have never left his family, but life is as a fleeting wind, a vapour - it last for such a little time.

My Memories of EJ

EJ and I became aquatinted through his Father, Andrew McBrayer. Drew and I were close friends and worked together here at Gateway as fellow ministers.

I knew EJ to be a very talented young man. In his teenage years, he drummed here at Gateway, where I often had the privilege of jamming with him and the praise team on the bass.

Additionally, Andrew and I enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee on Monday nights, where EJ would aways bring his A game.

He always showed respect to the ministry - he would call me Brother Berry even when outside the church out of respect.

Such memories I will forever cherish. Today, my heart is broken - EJ died before his time, but God has a purpose in all things even when we do not understand it.

This doesn’t mean we don’t mourn, but we must understand that His ways are higher than ours

EJ’s Desire for God

I can recall many of altar calls, where EJ would pursue God like many of our other youth today. Even in EJ’s short comings, EJ had a desire for relationship with God.

Today, I believe that is the message we take as family and friends. Even in this tragedy, we can find hope through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

The same message that was preached on the day of Pentecost gives us hope today.

In closing - Ps 145:18-19 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.”