Larry McTaggart Funeral

Opening:

CD Song: Brand New Star by the Oak Ridge Boys

Pastor Crowe - Opening prayer, Obituary

Montrece Hardin Song

Family Thoughts

Read by Amelia’s daughter

CD Song: Angels Among Us (Alabama)

Avita Remarks

Montrece Hardin: song (Oh What A Day That Will Be)

Message

Pastor Parmely

Text: Matthew 18:1-6

Matthew 18:1–6 NASB 2020

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

For the past several months I have been leading our church through a series of Bible studies dealing with the commands of Christ.

Jesus told His followers in Matthew 28:18-20 what ministry was supposed to look like in the days before His return. And make no mistake, the coming of Jesus is very near. Are you ready?

But Jesus said that His followers were supposed to be going into all the nations and making disciples — not converts — disciples. There’s a BIG difference.

We are supposed to baptizing those disciples in water.

And then, we are supposed to be teaching obedience to all the things Jesus commanded.

That’s what EVERYONE who says they are a follower of Jesus — not just preachers — is supposed to be doing.

So, can you hear the commands Jesus gives in the passage I just read from Matthew 18?

Command #1 - To humble ourselves and become like children

I think that at least one of the reasons God sent Larry here to us was to remind us what it looks like to humble ourselves and become like children.

Not become childish, but to become child-like.

To love and trust.

To always be in awe of horses and fish and kittens.

To marvel and laugh with delight at the simple things of life.

Larry reminded us to do those things.

The Second Command that I hear is that the disciples of Jesus are supposed to look out for, to protect, to nurture not just children, but those with a child-like faith in Him.

We can say all day long that we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but if we don’t treat children like they are important and if we don’t protect them and nurture them as much as we can, then I question whether we have a genuine relationship with Jesus.

Larry had to be looked after. He had to be protected. He had to be encouraged and nurtured.

For 47 years that was what Larry’s mom Annette did.

And for the last 5 years that is what Amelia has been doing.

Certainly other family members came alongside Annette and Amelia during Larry’s 52 years, including his big brother Nathan.

And organizations also helped, like Avita and Towns-Union Volunteers.

In so many ways, Larry was very childlike. It was very hard to remember he was a 52 year old man.

He was small of stature, he spoke in a high childlike voice.

He had all the curiosity of a child.

He delighted in the simple things of life.

He loved people and animals.

But for all his childlike qualities, he was a wise soul.

He had put his trust in Jesus.

He loved to be in church worshipping God.

He was always ready to pray and ask for God’s help.

I was there with Larry for a lot of things.

I attended a Christmas party several years ago.

I got to see him at Rib Country where he would roll the flatwear in a paper towel.

I have several photos of him at fellowships we would have at the old church.

My wife, Sandra, and I were at his 50th birthday party at Trackrock Stables 2 years ago.

Speaking of my wife, Larry always wanted to see her more than me.

I would greet him when he and his mom would come in at the old church and if Sandra was downstairs working with the children (as she often does) he would ask : “Where your wife?”

Yes, Sandra and I have been there for quite a few events in Larry’s life — even some of the hard ones.

We helped Larry and Annette move several years ago. I know it was hard fro Larry to understand moving from a big house into a small apartment.

Sandra and I were there when Larry had hip surgery in Athens. I have a picture of him all ready for surgery with that nice hairnet they make you wear.

We were there when his mom died.

That was a hard time for Larry — for all the family.

I am so sorry I was unable to be with him as he went through a really rough time with covid and all the rough the side-effects.

But through everything, good and bad Larry reminded us of what it was to have a childlike faith in our heavenly Father.

That even when we don’t understand — and there were a lot of things Larry didn’t understand — yet we trust in God.

We don’t understand why Larry was taken from us by covid.

Many people get through it with mild symptoms, but it hit Larry hard.

He had a rough time since April.

That’s when we have to have a childlike faith in Jesus.

To trust that He was and is working all things to our good.

Because he had put his faith in Jesus, Larry is in the presence of the Lord.

As the Apostle Paul said in:

2 Corinthians 5:6–9 NASB 2020

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—8 but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

We take comfort in a childlike, uncomplicated faith that says that Larry is not only with Jesus, but he is reunited with his loving mother Annette.

While he was here, we who surrounded Larry, did everything we could to watch over, protect and nurture him.

But now we turn full responsibility for his care over to his loving heavenly Father.

The reality is that Larry has been in the loving hands of his heavenly Father for many years — since he repented of his sins and surrendered control of his life to Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to be reunited with Larry and so many others.

Because I too have repented of my sins and surrendered control of my life to Jesus, I have that hope.

By the way, Christian hope is different that hope outside of relationship with Jesus.

Christian hope is a confident expectation of things not seen.

So, I have a confident expectation of seeing Larry in eternity.

And only with God’s help will I recognize him.

No more disabilities.

He is whole, strong and completely redeemed.

You too can have that confident expectation of things not seen.

Repent of your sins, believe in faith that Jesus paid the penalty your sins deserve and receive forgiveness.

Surrender control of your life to God.

Be led by the Commands of Jesus, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit.

If you have any questions about how to do that, speak to me or to Pastor Crowe.

We would be happy to talk to you and to pray with you.

Closing Prayer (then Funeral director takes charge)

Procession to Cemetery

Graveside Committal

Pastor Crowe