BRENDAN MUIR MEMORIAL

WELCOME AND PRAYER

On behalf of Brenda, and the entire family, thank you so much for being here today. Your presence and support with the passing of Brendan “Buc” Muir is a strength and encouragement. Our prayer for you is that God would comfort you as you grieve the loss of a wonderful Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Friend, and so much more.

Would you join me in prayer.

SCRIPTURE READING

It has been a privilege to get to know Buc over the past few years. He was a wonderful man. What made him even more wonderful was the fact of his salvation just a couple years ago.

For the believer, God reveals some incredible truths about this life and the next. Though today we grieve because someone who has made a powerful impact in our lives has passed away, we grieve as those who have hope and not as those who have no hope.

According to the Word of God, Buc is alive and well in glory. A place the Bible calls heaven.

God’s Word declares in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8,

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 KJV 1900

6 … we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

When a born-again believer dies, their soul goes immediately into the presence of the Lord. There, the soul consciously awaits the resurrection of the body.

In response to the disciples fear and worry about Jesus departing them, He spoke this words in John 14,

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And today, we have the confident assurance that those who accept the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ will once again be reunited with Buc. God tells us this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Oh my friends, one of the greatest truths contained in the Word of God is that everyone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary is given the free gift of eternal life.

John 1:12 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

The greatest comfort I can speak to you today is to know that Buc is in heaven, not because of his good works, but because of what Jesus accomplished for him, and his faith in Him.

MICHAEL SAW

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING

HOW GREAT THOU ART

EULOGY

Buc was born April 11, 1946 and peacefully passed into the presence of His Lord surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, November 18th.

Buc was a man who was passionate in how he lived. He loved hunting, fishing, and adventure. Rarely was he not doing something.

When Buc was diagnosed with diabetes, Brenda knew he needed to work out and get active. He partnered up with his son, Ryan, and they hit the gym three days a week. At 72 years of age, Buc was able to bench press over 300 lbs.

Truly, Buc was different in so many good ways. Buc grew up in the aftermath of WWII and had the challenging privilege of serving in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. It wasn’t the war that made Buc who he was, he was such a great man, who answered the call and rose to the challenge.

Buc truly made an impact in so many people and our lives were shaped and bettered because of his influence in our lives. Today, as we remember Buc, I want us to consider a few of Buc’s best character traits and allow those traits to be formed in our lives. In this way, though Buc’s life on this side of eternity has ended, his testimony and influence can live on through us.

LIVED AND LOVED LIFE

One area we can learn from Buc is that is living and loving life.

I remember shortly after I first met Buc, he and Brenda were getting ready to go to the Upper Peninsula, but he wanted to get me a gift, just because. He asked me if I liked cream horns and honestly I had never had one, but I am a sweet-a-holic and so said yes, because I was sure I would enjoy one.

Well, the next day, he stopped in my office and had a couple of cream horns. And these were his words. I got you two, one for you and one for your wife, but if your wife doesn’t know I stopped by and you eat both, that’s okay as well.

God’s Word reminds us that God…

1 Timothy 6:17 KJV 1900

17 …giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Buc lived as if every day were a gift from God. Whether traveling, hunting, working out, or simply sharing a cream horn, he embraced life with gratitude and joy. Buc reminds us that God did not create life to be endured, but to be enjoyed with thankful hearts. His joy was contagious, and he shared it freely.

INVESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE

Additionally, Buc lived and invested in other people. His life was not just about himself, but others. He lived the principle found in Philippians 2:4,

Philippians 2:4 KJV 1900

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

He constantly sought out others to pour into them. When talking with people he would find out what interested them and then connect ith them in those areas.

Buc’s life consistently pointed outward. He sought to understand people, learn their interests, and find ways to encourage them. He wasn’t content to live for himself; he chose to pour into others. His investment in people modeled Christlike selflessness, reminding us that the one of the greatest legacies we can leave is how we love others.

LISTENER

And then Buc was an avid listener. In part, this is what made him so knowledgable in so many things. Part of Buc’s wisdom came from how well he listened. He didn’t listen with impatience, waiting for his turn to speak; he listened to understand. That kind of listening is rare. It’s also deeply biblical.

We read in James 1:19,

James 1:19 KJV 1900

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Buc’s ability to truly hear people made them feel valued and helped him grow in knowledge and compassion.

COMMITTED TO HIS PEOPLE

Buc was also committed to his people. When Buc chose you, he chose you fully. His commitment to Brenda, his Honey Bun, to his family, and to friends he treated like family, was one of his defining traits. He stayed faithful, dependable, and loyal. Buc lived out what true friendship and family devotion look like, reminding us of the steadfast love we are called to show one another.

Proverbs reminds us in Proverbs 17:17,

Proverbs 17:17 KJV 1900

17 A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

It didn’t matter to Buc whether you were his blood or not, when he chose you, he committed himself fully.

WILLING TO CHANGE WHEN HE KNEW HE WAS WRONG

And lastly, there was the aspect of Buc in that he was willing to change when he knew he was wrong. Proverbs 12:15 tells us,

Proverbs 12:15 KJV 1900

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

This was one of Buc’s greatest strengths. Whether switching from cheering for Michigan to cheering for Ohio State, or seeking answers about faith, Buc wasn’t stubborn. He was sincere. When truth confronted him, he adjusted. That humility prepared him for the most important change of his life—receiving Jesus Christ as his Savior.

But then there is a serious side of this. Buc was raised Catholic. He knew the God of the Bible. He understood God sent His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the whole world. Buc understood and accepted that the Bible was God’s Word. But he struggled with accepting Jesus as His Savior. This was due in part to some struggles he had with the Catholic church, but also Buc’s personality and desire for knowledge. To Buc, it had to make sense; he had to search out a matter. And this he did. He didn’t want to throw away religion, God, and Jesus because of some bad apples. And so, he began to attend church with Ryan. And then, Brenda found our church and soon enough Buc began to come to our church.

Buc had been searching for the truth of eternal life through Jesus Christ for a while. Ultimately, God used a man to put it plainly and bluntly to Buc. Buc knew who the God of the universe was. Buc understood Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of mankind. There were not debates to Buc. But he was lacking in one area. He had never received Jesus Christ into His life. The friend just put it plainly, “Buc I entered into your home today, because when I knocked on the door, you answered, and opened your home and invited me in.” He said, “I would have never entered your home if you did not invite me in.” And then he connected the dots in Buc’s mind.

He said, Jesus is standing at the door of your heart and life and is knocking. You know all about Him, but currently you have not opened the door and invited Him in. That’s all it took for Buc. He knew what was missing and it all made sense. His words were simple, “Well, I guess I better do that then.”

It wasn’t a prayer that saved Buc, it was his faith in Jesus Christ and what He had done on the cross for Buc. Buc simply accepted what God’s Word declares in John 1:12,

John 1:12 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

That day Buc received Jesus. He opened the door and let Him in. From that moment, Buc’s eternal life was secured in Jesus. And today, I know without a doubt, Buc would want you to know Jesus as well.

Perhaps you are like Buc, and truly many others, who understand the God of the Bible and Jesus. You know about His death and resurrection, but you’ve never invited Him in. You know that He is wiling to forgive you and give you the gift of eternal life. But, you’ve never opened your heart and said, Jesus I believe in you and accept what your word says. I call on you to save me and cleanse me.

You know, my friends, as simply as Buc did, you can. It is not a religious ceremony, but a simple prayer to the God of the universe acknowledging who He is and who you are and that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again and offers the gift of eternal life to all who will believe.

CLOSING PRAYER

GRAVESIDE

Thank you for gathering at Buc’s final resting place until our Savior steps out at cloud level and that trumpet sounds. I’d like to share a brief Scripture passage with you and pray one final time.

SCRIPTURE READING

Psalm 23 KJV 1900

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 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.

CLOSING PRAYER

MILITARY HONORS