Funeral of Jim Leslie

Introduction

I come to you today as a comourner. Every church member that has ever passed away leaves a special place, but I would be less than honest to say that today is not a little different. Jim was just…different. There is no other word that encapsulates him. The more I think about him the more I confirm this reality. What was it that made Jim different? We might point to a lot of things but the reality is that what made Jim different was not just a twist of personality. It was the indweeling power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–25 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If we know Jesus there is fruit to be observed

You see when I think about Jim I smile. He was someone that brought joy.

-He was a greeter extraordinairre

-Why? because in most every interaction I had with him I left more joyful than I was before.

-Jim had joy

-this didnt mean that he was slaphappy silly all the time

-joy comes from a deeper place

-of course he liked to just cut up and have fun but there was a real sense to me that in his unique way Jim was trying to spread the joy of the Lord to others

-His humor was legendary, but he was far from a silly man

-his joy came from the only place true joy can come from

-it came from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit