Funeral | Jim Svadbik

Invocation This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it, even in the midst of our sorrow and questions and grief, because our God promised long ago to always meet us not only in our joys but also in our deepest pains. I want to welcome everyone here tonight - those of you here in person at Christ Journey Church in Coral Gables, FL, along with those joining us online from around the country, including friends and family from Chicago, Indiana, Oklahoma, Navy shipmates from around the world. I want to being by setting the expectations for this evening: at various points during this evening, you might feel sad, you might feel confused, you might feel joyful - you might want to laugh, you might want to cry - whatever you feel like you need to do, I want you to feel free to to feel whatever you need to feel. Tonight, this space is yours - whether in person or online - this space and this time is yours. It’s a safe space without judgment or shame, so please live into this space and feel free to be yourself. May God’s Spirit meet us in this space here or wherever you may be joining us, and touch our hearts with his hand of peace and love. Prayer 1 Will you please pray with me? Lord, we invite your Spirit of peace to fill this place. May your love warms our hearts and comfort our spirit. Lord, we ask you to remove whatever doesn’t belong here - fear, worry, doubt - and instead, bring us your joy, hope, and truth! Lord, we need you, fall fresh on us now, 1 of 15

as we make this prayer in the holy name of your son, Jesus Christ! Amen! Scripture 1 - Psalm 34:1-18 1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. 12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! 14 Turn away from evil and do good. 2 of 15

Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. 16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. 17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Now, I’d like to turn your attention to the screens... Jim’s Video 1 At this time, on behalf of Jim’s family, I would like to invite you to stand as we enter into a time of worship through song. Please feel free to sing, if you would like, or reflect on the words of the next three songs... Worship Video 1 - So Will I Worship Video 2 - Build My Life Worship Video 3 - King of Kings At this time, I’d like to invite Jim’s youngest sister, Julie Pena, to share a few words... Slice of Life 1 - Julie Pena - will introduce Joie Slice of Life 2 - Joie Correa 3 of 15

At this time, I’d like to welcome Jim’s niece, Kaitlin Pena, to share a poem that she wrote in her uncle’s honor. Slice of Life 3 - Katlin Pena - poem reading I’d like to invite Jim’s nieces, Krisalyn and Tiffany Pena, to share a few words in honor of their uncle... Slice of Life 4 - Krisalyn and Tiffany Pena At this time, I’d like to welcome one of Jim’s sons, George MacDonald, to share a few thoughts about his father... Slice of Life 5 - Son, George MacDonald And last, but not least, I would like to welcome Jim’s daughter, Jennie Tew, to share a few words about her dad Slice of Life 6 - Daughter, Jennie Tew Please direct your attention to the screens for a video in honor of Jim’s life and legacy... Jim’s Video 2 Scripture 2 - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our 4 of 15

troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. Prayer 2 Will you please pray with me? Lord, you are the living God among us, providing life for us now and forever through your son, Jesus Christ. Father, we thank you for giving us Jim’s life, a man in many ways larger than life and called to lead and defend the very freedom that allows us to gather and worship you without the fear of harm. Lord, what a gift you gave to all of us in Jim. As his family, friends, and colleagues, he touched all of our lives with love, humor, and strength. Lord, please help us work through our questions of doubt, anger, and sorrow for why Jim’s life ended so soon. We need understanding coupled with the kind of peace that only you provide. At times, this grief even seems too much to bear, but your love bears all things, so Lord help us bear this. The kind of love you provide to us “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7, NLT). We need your love now to help us endure through this tough dark night. Lord, draw us to you and help us. We make this prayer in the holy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen! Message I heard through the grapevine that Jim enjoyed a good M&M McFlurry. I want you to close your eyes for a moment and imagine sharing your favorite McFlurry with Jim, hearing his laugh, seeing his smile, talking about the Bears, sharing a Navy story, catching geese by the lake... 5 of 15

I want you to close your eyes and imagine tasting that sweet McFlurry with Jim and enjoying the sweetness of the moment. Do you have that moment with Jim? Perhaps it was in childhood? Perhaps it was just a few months ago? I want you to take a mental snapshot of that moment, and freeze frame it. Gaze upon his smile, listen to his laugh, and feel the tenderness of that moment shared between the two of you. I want you to hold onto that moment and keep it tucked close to your heart. Remember it during those certain difficult moments ahead of you. Moments like these flee quickly in this life. They melt away as quickly as the sweetness of this dessert. In fact, one passage in the Bible refers to life as a mist: here one moment and gone the next. As full and fast and free as Jim lived, his life ended way too soon because of circumstances beyond his control and yours. And yet, that same reality also exists for us. Before we know it, the mist of our life will evaporate and will eventually pass away. So my question for you tonight is: what does life after this life mean for you? Earlier this week, Julie mentioned to me that as a younger man, Jim read through the Bible cover to cover. When she told me this, I 6 of 15

thought to myself, what an amazing feat. Hearing this reminded me of a passage that reads, 10 The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:10–11. In the same way that rain gives life to the land, God’s word brings life to life! I believe Jim knew this, and as a result, his life now resides with Jesus and continues with him forever. So what does life after this life mean for you? [[[pause]]] One day, Jesus received word that one of his closest friends, a man named Lazarus, fell ill and needed a miracle to survive. When Jesus heard this, he said to one his followers: 4 “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 7 of 15

After more than a week, Jesus finally arrived at his friend’s home. When he got there, His sisters met him on the road and told him that not only had Lazarus already died from his illness, but he had been entombed. What more could be done, his family thought? His sisters grieved. In fact, they scolded Jesus for taking so long to arrive after receiving their message. Lazarus’ sisters trusted in Jesus as the Son of God. They believed that Jesus alone could save their brother, one of Jesus’ closest friends, but through their eyes, he didn’t show up on time. In the eyes of Lazarus’ sisters, he ignored them and gave priority to matters other than their dying brother. It would not surprise me if some of you felt the same way about Jesus right now. Jesus, I prayed everyday asking you to heal my brother, Jim... I asked others to join me in prayer... I trusted in you to heal, Jim, but you didn’t. Some of you might be asking these questions, shaking your fist, and doubting the presence of Jesus in your life because of Jim’s untimely death - or maybe due to some other circumstance! If you feel this way, then may I say that you sit in good company with Jesus’ closest friends and followers who also felt the very same way. Read John chapter 11, Lazarus’ sister, Martha, the same Martha who supported Jesus financially, met him on the street and took him to task for arriving too late to save her brother. 8 of 15

If you feel angry at God because he did not save Jim, then the witness of this passage says, tell him. From what we read in his word, God not only hears your prayers of sadness and pain, but also wants them. God desires them. In fact, in the book of Revelation chapter 8, written by the same author who wrote the Gospel of John, God revealed a small glimpse into Heaven and showed us in this letter that our prayers come to God like beautiful incense, which means that God knows you, God hears you, and God experiences your prayers. Whether your prayer goes to God from a place of joy, hurt, sadness, hope, or whatever, God always hears your prayer and makes good on his promise to provide you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. God gives these good gifts to us in this life so that we may taste and see the goodness of God in this life here and now. After Martha finished giving Jesus a piece of her mind, Jesus gave Martha a piece of his mind. 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Jesus doesn’t raise people from the dead like he does with Lazarus later in this account, but Jesus does give life after this life ends. Meaning: Death does not pronounce the final word over you. For those who place their trust in only what they can see and experience through their senses, assuming that this life is all there is, believe that death places a period at the end of your life. Full stop! Done! 9 of 15

But Jesus doesn’t make this claim. Jesus says that whoever trusts in him, lives. Lives right now, lives tomorrow, and lives forever. Life begins and never ends with Jesus! 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” Friends, do you believe this? Perhaps the greatest celebration of Jim’s life and maybe even his most significant legacy could be how you choose to answer this question: Do you believe this? Do you believe that God loves you... and you... and you... and Jim... so much that he gave us Jesus in order to redeem us from our sinful selves and make our relationship with God right and true? [[[Pause]]] After he said this to Martha, Lazarus’ other sister, Mary, arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. John 11:32-33. Not an anger toward Mary or Martha or anyone else, but Jesus felt angry and troubled because of death. Death angered Jesus: the death of his friend, death in general. 10 of 15

11 of 15 In fact, in the very next verse, the shortest verse in the whole Bible, simply reads: Jesus wept. John 11:35 Death broke Jesus’ heart because God never intended for any one of us to ever experience death and separation from him. Did you know that? In the opening chapters of the first book of the Bible, a book called Genesis, the author described creation as an everlasting, harmonious place where God and humanity would live together in a perfect relationship full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. But the result of sin broke our union with God, and our pride continues to keep us apart from God. I believe that right now, as we remember and celebrate Jim’s life, Jesus weeps with us over Jim’s death because God never intended for us to experience death. Rather, God desires for us to live life to the full now and forever, which gives meaning to Jesus’ own words when he said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. “ John 11:25 Weeping over his friend and angered by death, Jesus walked to Lazarus’ tomb. After some men rolled away the stone, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent

me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:41-45 What Jesus did here for Lazarus serves as an example for what Jesus promised to do for every single one of us. On the cross, Jesus offered his life in order to remove our grave clothes and live in freedom and joy now and forever with Jesus in Heaven! Right now, as Jim lives free from illness and alive with his Savior, he would want you to know this truth and stake your life on it. Jesus didn’t show up too late for Lazarus, nor did he show up too late for Jim. Rather, Jesus made a way for Jim and for all of us to experience life forever with God—in the way that God always intended for us to live it—with laughter and peace. One night a couple of years ago, I was laying in bed with my daughter, Hannah, who asked me to describe heaven. I started to describe it, but she quickly said, I don’t understand what you mean. And so I thought about it for a moment and said, “Heaven is the no tears place. Tears don’t exist in heaven. Only happiness.” She smiled and said, that sounds great! Jim is in that place. No tears, only love. And for those of you who place your trust in Jesus, that same no tears place is promised to you, as well. 12 of 15

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Romans 10:9-11 May your celebration of Jim’s life and hope for the future be found in God’s grace. And like Jim, may you enjoy every sweet taste of this life now and life after this life! Prayer 2 I want to invite us now into a moment of prayer and thanksgiving for Jim’s life. Will you please pray with me? Lord, we need you. We need your spirit of life and truth to be made known to us... In your name we make our prayer... with heads still bowed, if anyone joining us tonight would like to place their trust in Jesus and know without any doubt that life goes on after this life, then will you join me in this prayer? Lord, I receive your forgiveness and gift of salvation. Tonight, I am turning from my way to yours, and I am placing my life in your hands. Lord, help me and lead me into a growing relationship with you, beginning now and forever with you in Heaven. I make this prayer in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen. 13 of 15

If you prayed this prayer, then will you simply raise your hand? No one’s watching. Just you and me. Lord, for every hand raised, we give thanks and invite your Spirit of life to fill them now with your love. Hear our prayer, Lord, and comfort our broken hearts, as we make this prayer in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen! Scripture 3 - Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. On behalf of the family, please stand for our closing songs of worship... Worship Video 4 - How Great Thou Art Worship Video 5 - Lord I Need You Closing Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26 24 May the Lord bless you and protect you. 25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the Lord show you his favor 14 of 15

and give you his peace. Number 6:24-26 Closing Words: For those of you joining us online, Julie would like to share a few words with all of you privately, so please remain on zoom. For those of you here, this concludes our celebration of life service. Please feel free to hang around for a few moments, if you would like, and I pray that all of you leave in peace this evening. Goodnight. 15 of 15