Grave side Funeral for Bob Murin - 16 Minutes

2/17/21

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Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life.

Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death.

Because I live, you shall live also.

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We have gathered here today in God's presence as family and friends,,, to praise God and to witness to our faith,,, as we celebrate the life of Robert Allen Murin, 74, of Seminary, MS.

He passed from this life,,, to life eternal,,, Friday, Feb 12, 2021.

He was born on October 13, 1946, in Vicksburg to Charles Steven Murin and Virgie Marie Graham Murin.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard and was a Client Coordinator for Brandi's Hope Community Services.

He was a member of the Seminary United Methodist Church.

Bob was long known for his love of animals and for reaching out to help the homeless and needy wherever he encountered them.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and a daughter-in-law, Angie Murin.

Survivors include his son,,, Andrew “Andy” Murin of Oklahoma City, OK; 2 granddaughters, Bailey Murin and Avery Murin; 2 step-granddaughters, Malorie Ainette and Amanda Ainette; 2 brothers, Charles Murin (Debbie) of Hattiesburg and David Murin (Knok) of Carlton, TX; 1 aunt, Tressie Mangum of Seminary; and a number of cousins including Shirley Blackledge, Ray and Faye; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

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We also come together in grief this afternoon,,, acknowledging our human loss.

May God grant us grace,,, that in pain we may find comfort,,, in sorrow,,, we find hope,,, and in death,,, we have the promise of resurrection.

Prayer - Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,,, As we come before you this afternoon,,, we thank you for our many blessings. At the same time,,, we ask for comfort for all of us,,, the family and friends gathered here today. Help us through this service this afternoon Lord as only You can,,, in Jesus' precious name we pray,,, Amen

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Bob has been someone that was always going out of his way to take care of any need that he knew about.

If there was any hint of a need that he could take care of,,, he was going to take care of that need.

When Jesus gave the command to love your neighbor,,, no better example could ever be found today,,, than the way that Bob lived his life.

I could spend several minutes telling you about things that I know that Bob has done to take care of others that you might not know about but it's too cold and there are too many to tell.

He was faithful to the church,,, faithful to help Kaye and I at any time that he thought we needed it,,, helped several others that I know about and I'm sure there are times that I know nothing about.

Just rest assured that Bob set a high bar for us to follow if we are going to try to copy his Christian example.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 of the KJV it says: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him

Bob is experiencing these things at this time,,, and seeing all that we can never imagine!

All of Bob's earthly troubles from sickness,,, or disease,,, or anything else that might have been bothering him,,, are over and from here on,,, there's nothing but joy for him!

Jesus said, "13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

Bob found it.

Bob chose the correct path to follow,,, and made the right choices while he was here.

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Bobs path in leaving this world has been taken!

But for all of us that are left,,, we must be sure that we are on the right path so that we can spend eternity in heaven.

That's why I feel like this scripture is appropriate for today.

John Chapter 14 verses 1 through 6

I'll be reading from the King James Bible.

14 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. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If we are Christians today,,, our hearts should not be troubled because Jesus gave us this reassurance while He was teaching His disciples the night before He was arrested and,,, we also have 2 Corinthians 5:8,,, where Paul says: 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.

For those of you that are Christians,,, days like today aren't the end.

They really should be a day of celebration,,, since their troubles on earth are over.

But I know from experience that we don't really want our loved ones to leave us so I know there is always sadness associated with death.

But it's a sadness that can be overtaken by the knowledge that our loved ones are at peace with Jesus now even though we miss them terribly.

That's why a lot of times so much emphasis is put on the ones that are in attendance.

And I'm sure that if he could get word back to us today,,, he would want us to be sure that we have made our commitment to Jesus Christ.

That's why that I thought that we should look at this scripture briefly today.

We have these words from Jesus that He gave to His disciples,,, that were intending to comfort them through the trials that He knew was coming for them,,, (and through Bible reading and study,,, they are written to comfort us today through the loss of our loved ones).

But if you don't have Jesus as your personal Savior,,, times like these can be very hard to understand.

How can we have peace while at the same time we are sad that our loved ones have gone on ahead of us?

That's what Jesus is trying to explain to His disciples in the scripture I just read.

With the confidence that God's word is true,,, we know that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and He has said that He is coming back again.

We as Christians know that there is only one way to heaven and Jesus gives us the road map in verse 6 where He says that “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"

Again,,, if you don't know Jesus,,, this may be hard to understand,,, but like Thomas,,, you just have to ask,,, and really be sincere,,, and you will receive an answer through the Holy Spirit that you can understand.

The Spirit will keep nudging you and guiding you into a right relationship with God that will give you the peace of God that will help you to get through any problem that this world throws at you!

That's one of the most wonderful things about our Savior,,, is the fact that He is always trying to get our attention and make us realize that we need Him to fully have peace in this world today.

God wants all to live in eternity in heaven with Him,,, but it's up to us to decide,,, no-one can make that decision for us.

That's why that I know he would tell us today,,, to be sure that we are making the right choices.

Choices that will change our life forever!

Choices that usually we don't think about,,, but the loss of a loved one can make us realize that our time on earth is short.

A choice that decides whether your eternity is spent in heaven or hell.

He would tell you your choice should be,,, to put your trust in Jesus,,, confess your sins and ask for forgiveness,,, ask Him to come into your heart and live for Him,,, because it's only through Jesus that we will ever see heaven.

Because Jesus said that: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"

And that's all the directions,,, we should ever need!

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Let's bow our heads in our closing prayer,,, and as I end the first part of the prayer,,, please join me as we end with the Lord's prayer together.

Almighty God, as you once called our brother Bob Murin into this life,,, so now you have called him into life everlasting.

We therefore commit him to the elements. In the hope of resurrection unto eternal life, through the promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we faithfully and victoriously give him over to your blessed care.

You have shared with us the life of Bob - Before he was ours,,, he is yours. For all that Bob has given us to make us what we are,,, for that of him which lives and grows in each of us,,, and for his life that in your love will never end,,, we give you thanks. As now we offer Bob back into your arms,,, comfort us in our loneliness,,, strengthen us in our weakness,,, and give us courage to face the future unafraid. Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another,,, make us faithful to serve one another,,, and give us to know that peace and joy,,, which is eternal life,,, We ask these things in Jesus's name,,, who taught us to pray, by saying together:

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.

Prayer of dismissal:

Now to the One who is able to keep you from falling,,, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of God's glory with rejoicing,,, to the only God our Savior,,, through Jesus Christ our Lord,,, be glory,,, majesty,,, power,,, and authority,,, before all time and now and forever. Amen