On Saturday, October 12th, a celebration of life service took place for a friend, John. We reflected on his outdoors at our church’s beautiful memorial garden. From the family reflections to the message, the theme of “hope” and “optimism” flowed throughout the service.
Every participant on Saturday remembered, celebrated and laughed around the life of a believer. It was inspiring, uplifting and focused on God, gratitude and good memories.
A high point aside from the message delivered by a colleague – John’s wife Carol singing “I’ll Be Seeing You.” With no instruments, just her voice, it was perfect.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
2 Corinthians 13:5
Believers celebrate the saints while anchored in the truth – the best of Christ in us lives on. And Paul asks a question to the Corinthians, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?” He couples the question with a directive, “Test yourselves.”
We are all being “tested” by a variety of pressures, stressors, and crisis points. Test yourself and consider, “Am I a beacon of hope in Christ?”
So I knew a saint, John Kassar, who lived with optimism, positivity and an unrelenting conviction to hope-in-all-circumstances while encouraging folks to do their best. John was a husband, father, and friend to many – never afraid to stand against the winds of opposition, gossip, and negativity.
May you see the saints who have came before you in all the old familiar places.
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Thank you Pastor Bryan for your sentiments about John, he was truly a gift to us all, and I am so happy that so many of us got to know him and “thrive” on his optimism and his upbeat personality – a treasure for sure…God has a great helper in Heaven, but he will need to get a large set of wings for John!