Funeral of Dad Akard

Music: Prelude

It Is Well With My Soul

Sweet Bye and Bye

What A Day That Will Be

While the Ages Roll

Mom’s Talk

My Introduction:

We are here today to celebrate the life and legacy of John Wayne Akard - aka my Father-in-law.

Invocation: Prayer

Mom would like to make some introductory remarks at this time.

Memories

My Memories

First Recollection

Obituary

John Wayne Akard, 80, passed away November 6, 2021, at his home in Great Bend. He was born on March 2, 1941, at Delta County, Texas, to Wayne & Daisy (Simpson) Akard. He married Linda Mudgett on December 27, 1968, at Mesquite, Tex.

A resident of Great Bend for the last 9 years, John was formerly of Arthur City, Tex. and Foley, Mo. He was a Pastor for Bible Holiness Church. He loved performing God's work and his children.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Akard of the home; a son, David Akard of Great Bend; two daughters, Christy Romero and husband Aaron of Cimarron, and Angela Gordon and husband Curtis of Wichita; a brother, Jerry Akard of Paris, Tex.; a sister, Dot Dankowski and husband Herb of Paris, Tex.; five grandchildren, Erica McEnulty, Caleb Romero, Travis Gordon, Corey Gordon, and Eric Gordon; and one great-grandson, Grayson Forrest. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Jessie Cockrum, Jean Hambright, and Greta Easley; and a sister-in-law, Anna Akard.

Memories: Eulogies

Christie

Aaron

Angie

David

Music: What Heaven Means to Me

Memories: Eulogies

Erica

Caleb

Travis

Corey

Eric

Memories: Picture Video

Music: Travis - The Old Rugged Cross

Message: (Funeral Home) He Is Risen

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26

The same one who said that had this happen:

Luke 24:1–6 (KJV 1900)

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

I was drawn to that thought - “He is risen” Now I realize this was speaking of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in a similar way death for a child of God is a transfer or exchange of death to life. To be absent with the body, says the Apostle Paul, is to be present with the Lord.

It was a change point, a highlight in Christ’s life. There are three places like that in Dad’s life I wanted to share with you today:

He rose to walk in newness of life

A little card came in the mail about a revival in Johntown with the evangelist of Bro. Joe Partain. Dad went and was got saved. He rose to walk in newness of life. Changed from a sinner to a saint. No longer following the ways of the world but what Christ wanted him to do.

By God's help, he rose from difficulty and poverty

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 KJV 1900

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

IRS wanted to garnish his wages and take his house

Rough boss - made work so hard and trying - and he prayed God changed the situation and she bought him shoes.

He rose to be with the Lord

I wonder what it was like? I can only use a bit of sanctified speculation, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was something like this: About 1:30 pm November 6th 2021 they began to clear the main street of heaven.

“Another Solider is coming home” you could hear whispered up and down the street. The trumpets began to blow as an angel led him into the city a man who had fought long and hard against Parkinson's now standing tall and straight, no one having to push him in a chair or hold him up or tell him how to take the next step.

John W. Akard the man who was not fond of large crowds or being in front of people now steps in front of the great innumerable host.

Silence fills the halls of heaven the angels step back and fold their wings and in a voice clear, and strong, and in perfect pitch begins “Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.” I know they say there won't be tears in heaven, but Dad was a crying man. when he would feel the presence of the Lord , he may have had to stop a time or two as he rejoiced in God's amazing grace. Holy pandemonium and cheers erupt as Dad finished his song. Then Jesus stepped forward and said the words he had lived many many years to hear “Well done thou good and faithful servant enter into the joys of your Lord.”

We grieve and sorrow but not like those who don’t have hope - one put the idea of what this is like for a Christian -

I am standing on a seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean blue. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to meet each other. Then someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.” Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and just as able to bear her load of living weights to its place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone says, “There she is gone,” on that distant shore there are other eyes watching for her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes,” and such is dying

Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).

Music: Congregation Amazing Gract

Benediction: Prayer

This concludes this part of the service

Message (Gravesite)

Forasmuch as the spirit of the departed hath returned to God who gave it, we, therefore, layaway this body in mother earth. In doing so we sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

Music: The Eastern Gate

1. I will meet you in the morning, Just inside the Eastern Gate; Then be ready, faithful pilgrim, Lest with you, it be too late.

Refrain: I will meet you, I will meet you Just inside the Eastern Gate over there; I will meet you, I will meet you, I will meet you in the morning over there.

2 If you hasten off to glory, Linger near the Eastern Gate, For I’m coming in the morning; So you’ll not have long to wait. [Refrain]

3 Oh, the joys of that glad meeting With the saints who for us wait! What a blessed, happy meeting Just inside the Eastern Gate! [Refrain]