Family Enters and is Seated
Be with Me Lord
I Stand in Awe
Welcome by Perry Greene
We were all shocked to hear of the passing of AJ Clements. We have gathered here, as is our custom, to conduct a service to remember AJ; to comfort his family; and ultimately honor God.
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11.25-26
A question we might ask is, "Do we believe this?"
Patty asked that we do some important things in this service.
1. We Glorify God
2. We preach the gospel and use some of the qualities of AJ's life to do it
Our songs and our words are intended to honor God; to honor AJ; and to remind us of the eternal realities that we each face. As hard as it is, we all must face the reality of our own passing. One day it will be our turn to go into eternity. Not only do we ask, "What will people say about us?" we ask, "What will GOD say?"
We will continue our service with a song and during the service; Patty has asked that we sing some songs congregationally. BTW, this service is designed to be orderly and efficient as AJ would have wanted.
Song: Let the Lower Lights Be Burning
Obituary by Joe W.(close with Prayer)
Song : Sing and Be Happy (congregationally)
Family Thoughts Read by Kim B.
Song : Jesus Is Lord (congregationally)
Eulogy by Perry Greene (close with Prayer)
"AJ was one of a kind." -- repeated more times than I can count in the last few days.
A master chef knows how to prepare a meal and how to use spices and salt to enhance the flavor of the food. Our God creates communities of people with various gifts and abilities. Then, he will add to the mix people who really bring out the flavor of others. They are that salt and spice that does not overpower but enhances the rest. AJ Clements was that kind of person in the South Yukon Church of Christ; in the Yukon community; and within his family.
I. AJ Embraced Life
* AJ was Busy and Active in his Life -- before and after retirement
Patty said that AJ went out as he lived -- being himself
* He understood the Brevity of Life -- You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4.14
* He understood the source of Real Life [section he marked about the Good Shepherd -- John 10.10]
* He understood that the last two years were a "gift" in which he took relationships even more seriously
o Patty
o Family
o God -- increased spirituality
Envy or arrogant and wicked:
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end. Psalm 73.17
Prayer -- But I call to God,
and the LORD will save me. Psalm 55.16
* There are blessings in Trials -- James 1.2-4 [patience = endurance]
The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
II. AJ Loved People
* A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17.17
* 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13.34-35
ALL of us have AJ stories we could share -- the reason we do not have an open mic
* Bus Trips -- AJ would visit with some of the older ladies who may have been traveling alone. He got to know them and shared stories with them. Patty said at the end of the trip they may not have known Patty was on the trip but they knew AJ had been.
* Generally AJ and Patty would camp with friends. However, on one occasion, it was AJ and Patty camping. She said it drove him crazy that it was just the two of them; so, he walked their dog in order to meet people (I think it was because Patty knew all of his stories).
* AJ Loved Children and wanted to Make a Difference in their Lives
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127.3
At a recent school lunch (SY generally provides lunch once/week for students who can leave campus) -- AJ was joking with the students as they went through the line, asking if they wanted dessert first -- "You only live once," he said.
He often told stories to young people and made some good teaching points as he did.
* AJ was Generous towards people
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22.9
o Generous with his time -- teaching skills
o Generous with his money -- providing jobs, especially for the young people -- Janitorial service; Consulting service
o Offered jobs to people in financial need -- not just a handout -- gave dignity
o Better is a neighbor who is near
than a brother who is far away. Proverbs 27.10b
III. AJ Had a Servant's Heart (brought Glory to God)
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10.45
Mark 16.15-16
AJ was baptized on Patty's 40th birthday (they shared a birthday and a new birthday); then went on to serve God by serving people.
"Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." Francis of Assisi
AJ may have had problems with his physical heart; he did not with his spiritual heart -- the core of who he was.
* He expressed Humility before God -- James 4.6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
* He was a dynamic servant to:
o His family
o Community -- Civilian Police Academy
o Church
Security Team Leader -- he went the second mile in his service
Funeral lunches
School lunches
Sunday PM services
* Prayerful
o Model Prayer -- Matthew 6
o Jesus' Great Prayer -- John 17
Disciples imitate their teachers -- AJ was imitating Jesus by his love and devotion to others
Conclusion
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6.19-20
Patty found a commentary on these verses. In the second century, when large ships approached a harbor in a storm, they would not be able to enter. So, smaller ships would haul their anchors and drop them in the harbor, assuring the large ships of entrance. The small ships were their "forerunners."
AJ has his place in the presence of God -- not by his own abilities, as good a man as he was -- but by the merits and work of Jesus, the forerunner for all of us. Because of him, we have a place in eternity with God.
I wonder what AJ would say to us?
* Be serious with God -- no playing with discipleship
* Serve God by serving others
* Love your family
* Love your friends
* Engage in your community
Trick or Treat? AJ was born on Halloween. He said that he was a "treat" according to his mother. We would too.
Prayer
Video
Exiting
In Christ Alone
How Deep the Father's Love
Great Are You Lord
The Dash by Linda Ellis copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars...the house...the cash
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?
Psalm 37.1-11
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
