Lenden Haner Danforth Funeral 10-19-18

I. INTRO (bring up pulpit w/out mic & stand)

    A. Out of respect, pls silence any device that blings, dings, rings or sings

    B. Opening Comments

        a. We gather 2day not only 2 grieve the passing o a beloved family member & friend, Kim Dejesus; but also 2 celebrate her life, & share memories together.

        b. W/that said, we don’t make light o the fact that we have come today shocked, numbed, confused, hurt, & angry

            1. We r looking 2 make sense o this & often times, God gets the blame

                i. May I simply say that God’s shoulders r big enough 4 ur questions, anger, & even your blame!

                    -rather than turn frm Him, however, I encourage u 2 turn TO Him!

    C. Scripture - because, as the psalmist wrote in…

: When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

        a. We’ll remember in these bitter sweet times o tears & smiles that we can lean on the God who’s "consolations cheer our soul."

    D. Prayer

        a. Lord, thanks 4 the day u've given us. 

        b. Please God, this fam maybe feels as though their feet slip, God hold them up according to ur steadfast love

        c. God, their heart is heavy with concern

            1. I ask that u would console them

            2. I pray that even now, the family would feel ur loving arms wrap around them. Amen (pause)

    E. Song:

        a. Let’s reflect as we listen to

            1. "Holes in the floor of heaven"

II. Obituary

Lenden was born on October 22, 2006 & passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018. Lenden was a resident of Pownal, VT at the time of passing. 

Lenden received his education in Pownal & was a member of the 6th grade class at Pownal Elementary School.

    B. Transition 

        a. In a moment & after We enjoy a dance performance in honor o Lenden & I share a few o Lenden's qualities which I’ve recently learned o frm William & Alesha

            1. we r going 2 open it up 4 those who'd like 2 share some memories o their own.

                    -But 1st: song w/ memorial slides: 

III. Song & Memorial Slides: 

    A. "God of the mountain"

IV. Song & Performance: 

    A. To Honor Lenden:

        a. Nathen, Areana, & Olivia will b dancing to the song: "“Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”

V. We Remember (bring up mic & stand)

    A. Our memories r treasures we will cary w/us always

        a. Couple stories William & Alesha shared: 

            1. Lenden was loving & kind

                i. Always told his mama she was pretty 

            2. Very Helpful

                i. Loved helping out side mowing & weeding

                    -Always took the most difficult route... anything to stay outside longer

                ii. Another time Lenden was helpful:

                    - walks in2 the room w/nothing but his pull-up

                    -Said, “Do u wanna marry dad"

                        *Lenden helped William propose to his moma, c, so helpful

            3. Adventurous

                i. Wrestling w & competing bro

                    -Chased bro into dog area...tackled nathen Stuffing bro head in dog poop (yep…brotherly love right there)

                ii. Always wanted to be outdoors 

                    - Enjoyed Kaiaking

                    - Sports: baseball, fishing (even has trophies). 

                iv. William even taught the boys to ride a 4wheeler!

V. Open Mic time

    A. Perhaps these stories have sparked memories of ur own

a. Pls feel free 2 stand & share 1 of ur fav memories o 

    B. As we remember ?

        a. Let’s listen to the song:

            1. Count On Me

VI. Message: Tough Questions, Big God

    A. Maybe during this time you find urself wrestling w/ tough Questions

        a. As we consider the great loss, anger, emptiness, & pain we feel

            1. I’m certain u have questions:

                i. Why did this happen?

                ii. God, if u love me, why would you take Lenden from us?

                iii. How could a just God allow such a tragedy?

        b. Ur not the 1st to ask such tough Questions

            1. I’m drawn to the Prophet Habakkuk

            2. The entire book is a conversation btwn Hab. & God, starting like this: 

    B. Hab.’s conversation

:O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, & you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” & you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see iniquity, & why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction & violence are before me; strife & contention arise.

        a. Hab. Looks around & sees injustice everywhere

            1. The premise: if ur a good & just God, why r u letting this happen?

        b. Bringing it hm

            1. In light of Lenden’s passing, maybe u can relate. 

                i. We look @ the searing, seeming unjust loss o 1 so young & we think, why God!!??

        c. The thing is, my God answers! U see it throughout Hab.

            1. W/that said, answers don’t necessarily come in our timing 

                i. Look @ what Hab. said in the middle o his conversation w/God:

: I will take my stand at my watch post & station myself on the tower, & look out to see what he will say to me, & what I will answer concerning my complaint.

                    -Hab. Wasn’t the last person to ask God tough questions:

    C. Jesus’ tough Question:

        a. After being beaten, & nailed to a cross, look @ what we read about Jesus’s tough questions:

: & at the 9th hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

            1. Maybe 2day ur feeling like this…forsaken by God

                i. Rather than turning from HIM, Jesus turned to His father & asked the tough question “why have u abandoned me?"

        b. (What can we learn frm these men) Turn to God

            1. In this time, may I suggest, rather than turning from God the Father, perhaps u would turn to him Just as Hab. & God the Son Jesus did

                i. May I submit to u that God is big enough for your tough questions

                    -& this big God whom I serve doesn’t want to set back & watch u suffer, 

                        *but instead wants to comfort u in ur suffering.

                        *For the Apostle Paul wrote:

: Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies & God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction,  so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

                    -Besides, who could better relate 2 losing a son than God, who’s son was killed on a cross?

                        *As we consider this, let’s listen to another song:

VII. : 

    A. Dancing in the Sky

VIII. Lyrics for Comfort

    A. Transition:

        a. Earlier we heard the song “God on the Mountain”

            1. & I thought maybe the lyrics might bring u some comfort

Life is easy, when you're up on the mountain

And you've got peace of mind, like you've never known

But things change, when you're down in the valley

Don't lose faith, for you're never alone

For the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley

When things go wrong, He'll make them right

& the God of the good times

Is still God in the bad times

The God of the day is still God in the night

We talk of faith way up on the mountain

Talk comes so easy when life's at its best

Now down in the valleys, of trials & temptations

That's where your faith, is really put to the test

The God of the day, is still God in the night

IX. Closing Prayer