BJ KIRK FUNERAL

BJ Kirk CELEBRATION OF LIFE.

(START BUT CLAPPING AND RUBBING HANDS TOGETHER.)

I’M TOLLD THAT THIS IS HOW WERE SUPPOSED TO GET IT STARTED.

We’re here today to celebrate the life of BJ Kirk. We’re also her to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians for 2,000 have taken comfort in the words of Christ when He said “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” We know that BJ placed his trust in Christ several years ago and we too can take comfort that as we trust in Christ, we too will spend our eternity with Him.

Let’s pray

BJ Kirk went home to be with our Lord and Savior on this past Monday, August 15th. After dealing with a cardiac episode the week before.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE MAGGIE, OF 24 YEARS (WHO HE CALLED GORGEOUS), HIS CHILDREN KOBE, MIKE, KYLE, KEEGAN, LANDON AND PAT THE SONS FROM ANOTHER, HIS MOTHER SUE, AS WELL AS SHERRI AND HER HUSBAND KLIFF AND THEY’RE DAUGHTER HALEY, AND ALSO AMY AND HER HUSBAND BOBBI, AND THEIR CHILDREN DILON AND ZANDER, UNCLE BILL AUNT GAIL AUNT JEAN UNCLE FLOYD, COUSIN TIFFANY, MEGAN, JACOB AND MORE FAMLY THAN WE CAN MENTION.

You see, for many of us this morning who had the privilege of KNOWNING BJ… We know the type of man, father, husband, and family member that he was. But because of that, we also know, that we want to do this right this morning. And so. In true Ohio state fashion. Let me get an OH – IO. OH – IO.

Alright now we can really get started.

When we think about BJ this morning, there are a few things that we know.

1. He Was a PRANKTER, was he not?

You see, BJ was born IN KENTON on JUNE 30, 1975. TO SUE AND WILLIAM KIRK. And from a young age, his mom and dad sue and William had there hands full. Sue told me earlier this week, that he would be walking through the house and well… put his finger in all the flower pots and push a hole right in them. And the grocery stores, well they were free game too. Beej would make his way down through the meat department and one by one, poke holes in all the meats, and his mom would say, “man, he was rotten, just rotten!” His older and younger sisters knew it too as a common statement they would always use was: “NO, DON’T TOUCH THAT!…”

2. We also see that Beege LIKED TO SPIN THE TRUTH a little did he not? There was a time where everyone was over at uncle Bills house, and Jacob and matthew and bj was always together. And during one particular back yard camp fire, he had had matthew and Jacob believing there was an Indian burial ground justoutside behind the house. And during this particular night, Kenton Football just so happened to have a football game going on that night, and wouldn’t you know, that as BJ told of this Indian burial sight…. The drums from the marching band started to bam bam bam.

** take away?** And then there was the time where at another particular fire, which by the way, you had to jump these fires as sort of a right of passage. But ANYWAY, ONE NIGHT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE OUTSIDE TO uncle Bills. And BEFORE THE FIRE, BILL TOLD BJ THAT AT ONE POINT… WOODY HAYES HAD CAME TO KENTON AND WAS REQUITING A PLAYER… WELL BJ TOOK THIS STORY, AND IT WASN’T JUST ANY PLAYER… NO, BJ DECIDED THAT WOODY HAYES WAS RECRUITING UNLCE BILL TO BE THE NEXT KICKER FOR THE BUCKEYES.

3. Food.

We also know this… BeeJ liked his food. He was a food. He could tell you the best places to go eat. The best road side dinners. The local hot spots in different cities. But his cuisine didn’t stop there. You see he loved to grill. He would wipe up his favorite concossions. Including his bacon wrapped shrimp steak… where the bacon was nice and crispy but the shrimp came out just right. And he would make all the sides to go with it too. But it didn’t stop there. Sheri reminded us this last week of his favorite Cheeto recipe. You see, there was a time where they were all at the campground, and wouldn’t you know there was a bag of Cheetos there. We’ll beej got the idea, that hey… there’s fires, and there’s Cheetos… So he turned to sheeri and said asked if she tried the latest, crispy Cheetos? Needless to say, he fired one of those Cheetos up for Sheri and said: “here you’ll try it, you’ll do it?” and while he promised it would be brown, and crunchy and delicious… he may have been stretching the truth a little bit.

4. Family.

But aside from being a bit of a prankster, and having food, aside from his love for food, football, or sports. Beej was someone who had a fierce kind of love for Maggie and a deep, deep love for his children.

You see, it all started 24 years ago, when he met Maggie. And even though he was a few years older than her and he had graduated high school. He knew he loved her like nothing else. In time, Beej and Mag would get married, on valentines day, at Kroger no less because they won a contest sponsored by Kroger. BJ would write on facebook:

Kroger means something a little different to Maggie and I. Our story started here over 22 years ago. I asked Maggie to marry me on Christmas Eve of 1997. About a week later we learned that we won a wedding curtesy of Kroger with the catch being we had to get married at the store, and on Valentine’s Day. I can’t imagine what the people in our circle at the time thought about this… but to us it was no big deal. Through the years I’ve been able to look back on it and realize that it made no sense (he writes laugh out load). I would never let my kids get married at a Kroger. But I also realize that it was totally a “B.J. And Maggie” thing to do. It fits us perfectly. We’re a little off, a little unconventional and a lot lucky. (he writes) Thank you #Krogerfor being in our story. We’ll miss you and won’t ever forget the incredible start that you gave us.

You see, BJ and Maggie, truly had an incredible start. They were meant to be together, through thick and thin. You see, in time. BJ was diagnosed with testical cancer. And there was the question of if they would ever be able to have children, But wouldn’t you know that a few years later, they had their first child, Kyle, then Kolby, and then soon after they had keegan. Not to mention the 3 kids they adopted and so many other lives that they impacted.

Deej was a dad that loved his kids so much. He enjoyed video games, and sports and soccer and he would go out of his way to connect with his boys. He also had a deep love for his daughter and he wanted to make sure that she had the best of everything. He took her to ulta and bought her the top best make up and the best things, as this was daddy’s girl.

HE WAS PROTECTIVE HIS FAMILY, OF MAG AND THE KIDS AS WELL AS MOM. AND HE WAS ALSO A CARE TAKER. In February of this year as, Maggie had JUST FINISHED beating BREAST CANCER. BJ was there the entire time, he was there as a husband, and as a father. BJ WAS HUMBLE. He DIDN’T WANT SPOTLIGHT and yet he was always available.

5. Soccer. We also, for many of us… know him as coach.

You see, as Bj’s kids would go on to play the game of Soccer. BJ found the game to be a way to use this to connect with his kids and the community. BJ was passionate about coaching and would help with club league and indoor soccer. He was there for coach Jamie when he needed him and BJ was dependable.

But it wasn’t just coaching on the field, it was, more than anything the relationships and role-modeling that he lead for so many. BJ and Mag Opened would go on to open their home to the entire soccer team. There place was the place to be on Friday night. And because of this, they Saved a lot of kids. They always made sure that the pantry was full, they went out and bought a special refrigetorar that was always packed full of pop and juice. But just make sure it’s got your name on it, otherwise it’s free game.

But for many of you teammates, and friends this morning, you know the type of impact that he had on your life.

You see, BJ was the kind of guy, that would give the shirt off his back, even if it was his last shirt. He would do anything for anyone. And yet, why is that this morning?

5. Friends, the other thing and most important thing that you need to know about BJ this morning is his strong love and his relationship with Jesus Christ

You see, BJ had a love for the Lord. He was BAPTIZED BY HIS UNCLE BILL WHEN HE WAS A 14 OR 15 years old and this took place shortly right around the same time that he accepted Christ as his savior. In fact AT ONE POINT Bj, WANTED TO GO TO SEMINARY and serve in the ministry in some capacity. BJ would always talk with his kids about character, and being humble and the way they lived. And with Maggie, BJ would drive to their work over at honda, where he for ½ HOUR EACH WAY FROM KENTON TO HONDA, they would have TIME TO TALK ABOUT LIFE, AND have a time of quiet and devotion with the Lord.

Even up till the time that he passed away. He was still giving. You see BJ was an orgon donor. And, on Tuesday of the episode. his daughter Keegan who he loved so much, quickly responded and called ems, and her quick actions that day really bought time for the everyone to say goodbye and also for BJ to be an orgon doner.

But ultimatly BJ gave of But when we think about BJ This morning. And We think about the giving of a loving father, that would do anything for his family. That had a fierce love for them… what’s true is that BJ was ultimately a reflection of the Heavenly father.

I want to show us scripture this morning, that I think is truly a reflection of the type of Person that BJ was.

In John 14:1-6, Jesus is speaking to his disciples. And he knew that it was ultimately better for him to Go and be with the father so that he could prepare a place for us. We’re told:

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Friends for those of us who have made Jesus the Lord and savior of our lives, we can have confidence this morning because of what lies ahead. A place with no more sorrow, no more tears, no more sadness and no more pain.

Our Father has gone and prepared a place for those of us who have made Christ the Lord of our lives. How marvelous it will be for us friends to walk the streets of Gold, to sit and dine with our Father and to be made in his glorious image where we will be given a new body.

Friends, this is our hope this morning… This is what we have to look forward to. Oh, what joy we do share in meeting our Creator face to face and walking with him each day.

I’m reminded of Jesus, even up until the day that he died, he was a servant of others. The night before he would be killed, Jesus is with his disciples, and he pours out himself on their behalf. John 13 tells us of this night, and it reads: JOHN:1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Friends, this morning… BJ knew that it was only in Jesus washing away his sins that he would have an eternity with the father.

But in addition to that, BJ made it his life to meet the needs of others, to take care of their needs. To be the coach, and to be the friend and the mentor that so many needed.

Jesus would said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Friends, this morning, I’m pleased to say that this was the person that BJ was. He was committed to his wife, he was committed to his children, he was committed to his family, he was committed to this entire community. And so many, have in one way or another been impacted by BJ this morning.

This morning God also extends his love to us for as the bible says:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This morning friends, we too can walk in the footsteps of BJ. but it must begin with God.

Friends, this afternoon, we too can join BJ —not by just believing there is a God—but by believing through faith that he loves you—that he sent his son Jesus to die for you—so your sins could be forgiven—and when we do that we are told—we are saved—from eternal damnation—there’s more to life than just this short life we live—everything and everybody has a purpose. Romans 10:9-11

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a]

This is what BJ would want us to know that we too can have this hope of salvation. That we too can be in the presence of our Lord, and friends, BJ would also want us to love one another deeply with all that we say and day.

Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[f] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no commandment greater than these.”

Would you Pray with me?

At this time, we’re going to open the service for friends and family to come share about the impact of BJ on their lives.