Funeral Service: Freeman Morgan

Funeral Service: Freeman Lee Morgan, Jr.

Greeting

Family and friends, on behalf of the Morgan family, I want to thank you for being here today. We gather today with the purpose of honoring Christ and Freeman Lee Morgan, Jr. But we also gather to encourage the family and one another at the passing of someone we love.

Prayer

Scripture Reading

King Solomon, who is said to be the wisest man who ever lived, towards the end of his life wrote a book called Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon ponders his life and begins to record the lessons he has learned. In the seventh chapter he says this:

Ecclesiastes 7:1–4 NLT

A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

This evening, those are hard words to wrap our minds around. But as we gather to celebrate Freeman’s life, let’s allow the sadness and the grief that we all feel to have a refining influence on us. Let’s choose tonight to be better people because Freeman was in our life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

You see, for Freeman, there was a time for him...

to born, November 10, 1968.

to get a job, which he held for the last 29 years, since he was 18.

to become a dad to Johnathan and Ashley

He enjoyed coaching their sports teams, taking them fishing, playing football in the backyard, and their annual camping trip to Erie Island Resort.

to become a grandfather to Luke. And to Emma and Bella.

to develop hobbies: Outdoors, fishing!, hiking, Hocking Hills, Marblehead Lighthouse, boating, sports. If it happened outside, Freeman was all about it.

>>> Today, I’m sure that there are many of us that could share stories about the influence that Freeman had on our lives. The family wanted to provide an opportunity for his family and close friends to share.

Memories

IF AVAILABLE, read John & Ashley’s statement

Open opportunity

Obit/Eulogy

OBITUARY

Freeman Lee Morgan, Jr., 49, of Elyria, died Monday, July 23, 2018 at his home after a lengthy illness.

He was born November 10, 1968 in Amherst and had been an Elyria resident for the past 7 years, moving from Vermilion.

Freeman worked for the Lorain County Engineers as a foreman in the Road Department for the past 29 years.

He had attended North Lake Missionary Baptist Church in Amherst.

Freeman enjoyed hunting and was passionate about fishing.

He is survived by his mother, Anna (nee Whited) Morgan of Broadview Hts; son, Johnathan (Megan) Morgan of Vermilion; daughter, Ashley (Marcella) Morgan of Parma; grandson, Luke Morgan; sisters, Suzie DeBolt of Broadview Hts and Mary Fraley of Vermilion; grandmother, Anna Whited of WV; and many nieces, nephews, and cousions.

He was preceded in death by his father, Freeman Morgan Sr. in 2004.

FISHERMAN’S PRAYER

God grant that I may live to fish

For another shining day,

But when my final cast is made

I then most humbly pray,

When nestled in your landing net

As I lay peacefully asleep,

You’ll smile at me and judge

That I’m “good enough to keep.”

Message | Hope for a Sinner

Nahum 1:7 NLT

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.

The text tells us that the Lord is good

Sermon Outlines for Funerals 10. Hope for a Sinner (Nahum 1:7)

1. The text tells us that the Lord is good

a. We sometimes feel that nothing is good

(1) Because of social ills and human wickedness

(2) Because of disappointment in people

(3) Because of disappointment in ourselves

2. God’s Word gives us hope in life

a

We sometimes feel that nothing is good

Sermon Outlines for Funerals 10. Hope for a Sinner (Nahum 1:7)

I. He Shows His Goodness by His Concern

A. Not willing that any should perish—2 Peter 3:9

1. The psalmist said: “No man cared …”—Ps. 142:4

2. Jesus said: “Not one (sparrow) …”—Matt. 10:29

3. Jesus said: “Hairs … numbered”—Matt. 10:30

Because we turn on the news and see a constant stream of tragedy.

Because we experience social ills and human wickedness

Because of disappointment in people

Because of disappointment in ourselves

God’s Word gives us hope in life.

I. He Shows His Goodness by His Concern

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

God is not willing that any should perish.

The psalmist said:

Psalm 142:4 NLT

I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.

Jesus said:

m

Matthew 10:29 NLT

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Matthew 10:29–30 NLT

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

God is concerned about your life. Every single detail.

II. He Shows His Goodness by His Mercy

In Luke, Jesus tells us a story that illustrates a father’s mercy:

Luke 15:11–24 NLT

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The father’s love reached into a far country and welcomed his son back home.

The prophet Isaiah told us:

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

The message of the Gospel is that none of us are beyond God’s mercy.

III. He Shows His Goodness by His Willingness to Receive

John the Apostle, recorded an amazing truth that Jesus declared:

John 6:37 NLT

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

James, the brother of Jesus, proclaimed:

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

This is why we can be confident in the words of the prophet Nahum:

Nahum 1:7 NLT

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.

To know you belong to God is a source of comfort and strength

Our life and death are in our own hands

Revelation 3:20 NLT

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Will you respond to His call? Will you allow the sadness you feel to have a refining influence on you?

A TIME TO DIE

You see, just like there was a time for Freeman to be born, there was also a time for him to die, July 23, 2018.

And here’s the truth, what was true for King Solomon, and for Freeman, is true for you and I. There is a day in the future when we all will face death.

CLOSE

Even in the midst of our pain, God shows us His goodness through His concern, His mercy, and His willingness to receive.