The Dash

Announcements

Good evening everyone I hope you are doing well, Tonight is going to be a little different in a few different ways. First Im going to do the announcements right now instead of later in the evening.

Tubing Deadline Tonight!!!! Time change. Leaving at 4 PM eating dinner on the way home return around 8:30PM

Kevins Passing and Funeral: Just before noon on monday we got word that Kevin Huber 9th&10th grade boys leader passed away. Unfortunately there was more going on that the doctors did not realize last week, and they were unable to repair the damage to his heart.

Visitation Thurs 6-8PM Fri 10-11AM Baliff Funeral home in Spencerville. Funeral 11 AM on Friday also at Baliff Funeral home

I know Kevins death may come to a shock to many of you as just last week we said He was doing better, and at that point we thought he was. But tonight we want to do things differently to try to remember Kevin, and the man that he was, the leader that he was, but most importantly the Christ follower that he was.

So with that in mind one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think about Kevin was he loved to worship and now he gets to worship Jesus right at his feet. So please if you could join me in worshipping our Lord and Savior.

Kevin

There are so many different things that could be said about Kevin, and Im going to give each of you an opportunity to say something about what you remember of him or that he taught you. But when I think of Kevin I think of someone who loved God more than anyone in the whole world. It reminds me of a poem that Im going to try my best to get through.

The Dash Poem by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted first came the date of the birth and spoke the following date with tears. But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.

For that dash represents all the time that they spent life on Earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.

Be less quick to anger and show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

Kevin lived his life in a way that Kevin can be proud of his dash. Now he wasnt proud of everything that he did, and he would be the first to tell you that he made some poor decisions as he was younger, but the man that you know as Kevin was a man that despite his faults loved God with everything that he had.

I met with some of the Highschool boys on Monday after we found out, and there are a few things that I said to them that I think Kevin would want us to remember.

1st: I know that kevin was a good and faithful servant.

Matthew 25:21 NIV

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Now this passage is a parable of the bags of Gold, where the master goes away and expects his laborers to do something with what they were entrusted. Kevin did his best to do well with what he was entrusted, and if he were here right now he would tell you to not take life for granted. Just like Kevin didnt know when he went to the doctor a week and a half ago that was going to be the last time he was going to be able to interract with anyone. We dont know what tomorrow will bring, so we must make sure that we are always faithful today. And in order to make sure that we stay faithful, Kevin would expect us to keep being servants of those around us.

Secondly: Kevin would expect us to keep the faith, and keep trusting in Jesus.

Gods word makes us a promise, and its honestly my least favorite promise in the whole Bible. I dont know if we are supposed to have least favorites but this one is mine.

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The part that I hate about this promise is the first part. In this world we will have trouble. Alot of us in this room are hurting, for many different reasons tonight. And I wish that I could tell you that tomorrow everything will be better, but I cant. But what I can tell you is what Kevin would have agreed with, Lean into Jesus. Cry out to Jesus and trust that He has over come the world. Im gonna play a song that I think fits what most of us are thinking tonight. Once that video plays ill invite you to share something if you would like.

Play Cry out to Jesus

Game

Fruit basket turnover (Change seats if)

Whos in charge here?

Perfect for medium to large sized groups, “Who’s in Charge Here?” involves one “Guesser” leaving the room while the other players form a circle and choose a “Leader”.

The Leader will begin some sort of repeating action for the others to imitate. For example, patting their head or rubbing their belly. They’ll start before the Guesser comes back in and steps into the circle. Then, they study the players in hope of catching the Leader as they constantly change actions for the others to copy.