Addison DeAllie Funeral

Curtis Gordon

Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Joshua 3:4

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Transcript

Prelude: Sweet Hour of Prayer

Opening:

Introduction: INTRODUCE MYSELF AS ADDISON’S PASTOR!!!

On behalf of the DeAllie Family thank everyone for being there, joining online, for cards, texts, calls, care, concern & support.

Read Psalm 23

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.

PRAYER:

SONG: A Child of the King

[Explain where lyrics are and that we will sing verses 1&2 together now]

A Child of The King (verse 1-2)

Eulogy:Reading

Song & Reading:

Touch of the Master’s Hand / He Touched Me (verse & chorus)

Memories: Announce that later there will be an open floor for anyone who wishes to share memories.

Read these MEMORIES FROM ADDISON’S FAMILY:

Memories of Addison

As we each follow life's path, distance and time often overshadow memories, but when a loved one passes, it is amazing how that certain chord that connected us starts to tug and memories unearth themselves, to allow us to find some comfort and solace to ease that unbearable pain of loss.

Addison , from the time you were hospitalized, each of us in our own way , prayed and begged for a little more time so we can meet as we had hoped in Grenada , this was not to be . So we had to find the memories, the ones that we all appeared to have hung on too and the similarities are just incredible.

Your faith in God was unshakable and you influenced many to follow in your steps. A picture of you with your Bible is etched in some minds. Your musical talents (lovely voice and self-taught guitar, accordion, mouth organ and whistling too) so appreciated by family and friends alike. There is a line in one of your favourite Country songs "where never a disparaging word was heard" (Home on the Range) was exactly what you practiced, non judgemental, encouraging , kindness and humility often humbled many of us. Your love of the land and work ethics, your bright mind, your neatness of dress are all things stored in memories.

But, you did also have a sense of humor and pranks were not beyond you. Indeed Your favourite brother Lloyd says he will be lost without the daily phone call, but will treasure the conversations, the jokes , the shared pranks and time spent with you. He remembers in particular how aunt Jane had to ensure that she saved a dollar bill for you for church collection, as you did not want coins, even if they added up to $1.00.

To date, Leah and Kathlyn call you Adda, as they were too young and unable to say your full name. And all the little gifts and tokens you brought us over the years and the support that you offered are still remembered with gratitude.

Finally, we must mention that we thought you belonged to us, but when Addia came along, we realized that we had to 'give 'you up, when we saw the love you had for your daughter and later the pride in her achievements. We want Addia, Claudia, and all of your children to know that they too are an extension of Memories of you, and we will be here for them, as much as possible.

Addison, we love you and shall miss you dearly, but will cling to precious memories .

{Here are a copy of your memories - if you are to give them later they are listed below as well:}

My Memories:

I had heard about Addison all my life but hadn’t met him until I came to Wichita - first memory is of him and family singing “He’s All I Need” and how the glory fell that morning.

I remember he liked to give me tips and advice on preaching - he had done a fair amount of preaching himself - one particular incident he came to me after one of my messages where he thought I went a little bit longer than I should have (which he was right) I’ll never forget what he told me - “Curtis when you are downtown trying to find a parking spot - you don’t just keep driving around - when you find a parking spot you pull in and park” So now when I feel like “I don’t know how to end this now” I remember what he said and just park...

Werther’s Candy & Eric: Eric my youngest son was born after we moved to Wichita, and so soon stole the hearts of the people. A couple of years ago - he somehow in a discussion with Addison told him that his favorite candy was Werther’s candy and for a while after that Addison would slip him a piece and tell him he couldn’t tell anyone.

Song & Reading:

Heaven’s Grocery Store / Jesus Paid it All [Sing chorus only]

Open Floor Memories:

My Memories:

I had heard about Addison all my life but hadn’t met him until I came to Wichita - first memory is of him and family singing “He’s All I Need” and how the glory fell that morning.

Sermon:

Read: Joshua 3:3-4

Joshua 3:3–4 KJV 1900

3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

I want us to focus on that last phrase: “For ye have not passed this way heretofore”

Now that word “heretofore” is an old English word that means “before”

“You have not passed this way before”

You may hear those words and say - “Those are strange words for a funeral” and I agree except this is the something Addison and I talked about.

About a week before his passing I was privileged to spend about an hour with him in the hospital.

We talked and prayed and shared different things and felt the presence of the Lord. - I didn’t realize then just how special a time it was -just how important it would be.

The next day was New Year’s Sunday and shortly before I was to leave he asked me, “What are you preaching tomorrow?”

Well I told him, and he said, “That sounds nice that’s a good sermon… but I want you develop a sermon around “For ye have not passed this way before” I preached a sermon on that one time and I want you to.”

Well I gave it some thought and felt like the Lord helped me to prepare something and when Sunday came I was torn between the message I had already prepared or the text Addison gave me and I felt impressed to give the latter which I did.

Little did I know that a short time later I would be preparing a sermon for his funeral...

I had not passed that way before - But I found that God has been with me.

Addison encountered many things in his life some he shared with me and some he did not.

But I know of several times He found this passage to be true.

The Student - When Addison first came to the US he came as a student to Independence Bible School. When he arrived they told him that the school he was attending was not registered for international students and were about to revoke his visa (as I understand it) but he prayed and one person understood his plight and told him to go on ahead but to have the school get registered which they did according to him - He found out that when we are following the Lord that means we are behind the Lord - the Lord is going in front of us— just like in the reading before the Children of Israel went the Ark of the Covenant a symbol of God’s presence

Addison had not passed that way before - but he found out that God had already been there and helped him through it.

The Serpent - Before Addison came to the States he was riding with some of the Missionaries in Greneda. I believe Bro. Baber was one of them but not positive. They had a “thing” they did there - when they would come across a serpent or a snake hanging in one of the trees by the road they would get a stick or something and knock it down and then run over it and kill it. On this particular occasion they saw a pretty large one up in a tree and they stopped on a bridge so Addison could get a stick and knock it down. Addison told several times how he got out of the car, found a stick, went over to the side of the bridge and since he couldn’t reach it leaned on a guardrail and stretched way out to get the serpent. He knocked it down into the road they ran over it and went on their way.

a few days later Addison crossed this same bridge and to his horror and amazement - he saw there was no guardrail. And it was a long fall donw - There was nothing to hold him up - but something did....

He had never passed this way before -but he found that God

The Eternal God who promised to be his refuge - did have his everlasting arms underneath him. Deut. 33:27

The Song Addison wasn’t one that showed discouragement or depression publicly. But he used to testify of one occassion where he got in a pretty bad pit. It was dark and gloomy and despair. He was working for the Wares some then and he used to tell how one evening he went and looked out over a fence at a field and the song came to him:

“Too many miles behind me Too many trials are through Too many tears help me remember There’s just too much to gain to lose.

Too many sunsets lie behind the mountain Too many rivers my feet have walked through Too many treasures are waiting over yonder There’s just too much to gain to lose.

I’ve crossed the hot burning desert Struggling the right road to choose But somewhere up ahead, there’s cool, clear water And defeat is one word I don’t use.

Addison discovered that: He may not have been this way before but God had and had a path for him to walk where His presence still lingered and lightened the load.

The Sailing - As I spend some time with Addison that Saturday I knew I had to do the uncomfortable. I have made it my practice over the years, when I visit people in the hospital to kindly ask them how things are between them and the Lord. While I thought I knew the answer I wanted to make sure: His answer reassured my mind and then I sensed the presence of the Lord witnessing to what he said reassuring my spirit.

When I received the call that he was passing and then shortly thereafter that he had I was preparing to go - as I stood there with Claudia and Addia our minds still reeling from shock and numb from the facts Addia asked if I would sing “I’m A Child of the King” we have sung that today - that was a song I’ve heard him sing many many times along with the poem of the old ditch digger

As I stood there my mind blank the verse we will sing in a moment began to fill my mind:

“A tent or a cottage why should I care

They’re building a palace for me over there

Though exiled from home yet still I can sing

All glory to God I’m a child of the King.”

And it dawned on me While we were singing here - He was discovering that the One who helped him when he passed by the Student path - the one who helped him as he passed by the serpent and was the guardrail - The one who was with him in the slough of despond, the one who was with him all though his life was there when he passed through the valley of the Shadow of death

And He didn’t have to fear any evil for HE WAS WITH HIM!!!

He had not passed that way before - but he found out God was already there!!!

I just want to briefly remind the family - we have not been here before - Addison has been there Dad, Husband, Friend, Supporter -

And now he’s not - we have not passed this way before -

But I think Addison would want me to tell you - the Same God who was with Addison and helped him everywhere he went is the same God who will help and comfort you as you go through this place you have never passed before.

Do you know Him? Does He abide in your heart? If not let Him in today.

Let us pray:

Prayer

Song - I’m A Child of the King (Last two verses)

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