Brandon Berumen Funeral
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Celebrating Memories
Time change entrance
Brandon always had questions
He would call me, or
He would go to his Bible, which
led to more questions!
On one occasion we had met at the church when we were still on 11th St
I talked to Brandon about the Gospel
Brandon prayed with me to accept Christ as his Savior
It is no secret that he had his struggles with addiction
But Brandon also had another side
He was one of the hardest working people I knew
He was gifted in restoring and painting cars
When my oldest daughter was married, Brandon drove them from the church in a beautifully restored antique car.
He was persistent in prayer and honest about his weaknesses
He love his family and desired to be a better man for them
Brandon was a friend. One time we were out at my place and he asked me, “Am I your friend? I need to know that I’m not just a project but I’m your friend.”
I thought about it and realized that there were times I just wanted to fix him, but more importantly I did see him as a friend and I yearned for him to see himself as I saw him.
Life is a struggle!
Not just sometimes...
Not just for some people...
Not just in some situations...
Life is a struggle because of the enemies both within and outside of all of us.
The Enemy Within
The Enemy Within
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
The Enemy from the Outside
The Enemy from the Outside
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
How do We Overcome in the Struggle?
How do We Overcome in the Struggle?
Jesus has come as our Savior - Titus 3:4-5
Jesus has come as our Savior - Titus 3:4-5
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Washing, we need cleansing
Renewal, we need to be restored
Our salvation does not depend on us - Eph 2:8-9
Our salvation does not depend on us - Eph 2:8-9
God knows we would boast
God knows we would boast
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
God also knows that we would the judge others
God also knows that we would the judge others
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
We must admit our helplessness in the struggle - 1 Peter 5:6-7
We must admit our helplessness in the struggle - 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
As we draw near to God, we must resist the attacks of our enemies, both within and outside. - James 4:7-8
As we draw near to God, we must resist the attacks of our enemies, both within and outside. - James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
We must first submit ourselves to God
Then we can resist the devil
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
The enemy within must also be resisted - Jas 1:13-14
The enemy within must also be resisted - Jas 1:13-14
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
No temptation is ever impossible to resist
No temptation is ever impossible to resist
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
