1 00:00:01,259 --> 00:00:04,377 We welcome you to this special occasion, 2 00:00:04,377 --> 00:00:06,188 this special moment, 3 00:00:06,188 --> 00:00:09,163 as we come to give thanks to God 4 00:00:09,163 --> 00:00:14,348 for the life of Herbert Conrad Murrell 5 00:00:14,348 --> 00:00:16,455 of Bentley, Louisiana. 6 00:00:16,455 --> 00:00:22,287 He was born December 15th, 1928 in Bentley 7 00:00:22,287 --> 00:00:24,235 and went to be with his Lord 8 00:00:24,235 --> 00:00:27,222 February 23rd, 2018 9 00:00:27,222 --> 00:00:32,434 at the age of 89 years, 2 months, and 8 days. 10 00:00:32,434 --> 00:00:35,034 He's survived by his children 11 00:00:35,034 --> 00:00:38,544 Timothy Murrell and his wife Shirley, 12 00:00:38,544 --> 00:00:41,876 James Murrell and Cherry, 13 00:00:41,876 --> 00:00:44,158 Kenneth Murrell and Sylvia, 14 00:00:44,158 --> 00:00:46,095 William Murrell and Brenda, 15 00:00:46,095 --> 00:00:48,905 and Pamela Johnson and Dale. 16 00:00:48,905 --> 00:00:51,483 Step-children, Gary Gatch and Lynn, 17 00:00:51,483 --> 00:00:53,521 David Gatch and Melissa, 18 00:00:53,521 --> 00:00:55,894 Julia Cogan and Christopher, 19 00:00:55,894 --> 00:00:57,923 and Stephanie Holliday; 20 00:00:57,923 --> 00:01:00,229 17 grandchildren, 21 00:01:00,229 --> 00:01:02,507 17 great-grandchildren, 22 00:01:02,507 --> 00:01:04,284 a sister Glenda Landry 23 00:01:04,284 --> 00:01:08,146 and a host of other family members and friends. 24 00:01:08,146 --> 00:01:11,721 He was preceded in death by his first wife Eunice, 25 00:01:11,721 --> 00:01:15,742 his second wife, Grace Owens Gatch Murrell, 26 00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:18,665 his daughter-in-law, Kay Malone Murrell; 27 00:01:18,665 --> 00:01:22,623 his parents Alvin and Era Thompson Murrell, 28 00:01:22,623 --> 00:01:26,957 brothers Kerwin, Fred, and Waynon Murrell, 29 00:01:26,957 --> 00:01:33,383 and a sister, Lila Gayle Willingham. 30 00:01:33,383 --> 00:01:36,761 "Forever with the Lord." 31 00:01:36,761 --> 00:01:39,840 Those were Conrad's words about his father Alvin 32 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,992 when he passed in 1971. 33 00:01:42,992 --> 00:01:44,629 I heard him say it in a sermon 34 00:01:44,629 --> 00:01:47,285 joyfully, powerfully - 35 00:01:47,285 --> 00:01:49,316 "forever with the Lord." 36 00:01:49,316 --> 00:01:52,333 And now it applies to him. 37 00:01:52,333 --> 00:01:54,312 To his father and his mother 38 00:01:54,312 --> 00:01:55,580 and his first wife Eunice 39 00:01:55,580 --> 00:01:57,351 and his second wife Grace, 40 00:01:57,351 --> 00:01:58,711 and now Conrad himself, 41 00:01:58,711 --> 00:02:00,261 forever with the Lord. 42 00:02:00,261 --> 00:02:02,279 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 43 00:02:02,279 --> 00:02:04,517 'write this: Blessed are the dead 44 00:02:04,517 --> 00:02:06,945 who die in the Lord. 45 00:02:06,945 --> 00:02:09,936 From now on, blessed indeed, says the Lord, 46 00:02:09,936 --> 00:02:12,298 that they may rest from their labors 47 00:02:12,298 --> 00:02:15,692 and their works do follow them.'" 48 00:02:15,692 --> 00:02:18,608 "A good name is to be chosen 49 00:02:18,608 --> 00:02:20,721 as better than precious ointment." 50 00:02:20,721 --> 00:02:23,743 So how can one describe Conrad Murrell? 51 00:02:23,743 --> 00:02:27,624 How would you describe what he was to you? 52 00:02:27,624 --> 00:02:31,541 Perhaps a beloved father or grandfather? 53 00:02:31,541 --> 00:02:34,595 A father in the faith? 54 00:02:34,595 --> 00:02:38,078 The greatest influence in your life? 55 00:02:38,078 --> 00:02:41,812 The deepest thinker and preacher you ever heard? 56 00:02:41,812 --> 00:02:44,856 A faithful brother and a true friend? 57 00:02:44,856 --> 00:02:48,335 Or, just a godly, humble man? 58 00:02:48,335 --> 00:02:50,733 He was one who carried the mark 59 00:02:50,733 --> 00:02:53,212 and fragrance of Christlikeness 60 00:02:53,212 --> 00:02:57,438 for over 65 years as a Christian. 61 00:02:57,438 --> 00:03:00,361 Mark LaCour, on his first trip to Bentley 62 00:03:00,361 --> 00:03:03,200 to meet his preacher he had heard of, 63 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,848 said this, "I drove to nowhere 64 00:03:05,848 --> 00:03:09,514 to meet a man no one knew, 65 00:03:09,514 --> 00:03:12,796 who would become my father in the faith. 66 00:03:12,796 --> 00:03:15,452 That day changed everything. 67 00:03:15,452 --> 00:03:17,428 Who I would marry, 68 00:03:17,428 --> 00:03:18,751 what work I would do, 69 00:03:18,751 --> 00:03:20,501 the brethren I would come to love, 70 00:03:20,501 --> 00:03:22,178 how I would minister, 71 00:03:22,178 --> 00:03:24,752 and who this great God is 72 00:03:24,752 --> 00:03:27,026 that I would come to know more fully 73 00:03:27,026 --> 00:03:30,086 because of Conrad Murrell." 74 00:03:30,086 --> 00:03:34,005 (Incomplete thought) 75 00:03:34,005 --> 00:03:37,103 We could stay here till the end of March 76 00:03:37,103 --> 00:03:39,323 sharing memories. 77 00:03:39,323 --> 00:03:41,313 What single greatest memory do you have 78 00:03:41,313 --> 00:03:43,000 of Conrad's life or ministry? 79 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:44,922 Well, the first time I heard him preach 80 00:03:44,922 --> 00:03:47,720 was 1977 on a cassette tape. 81 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,069 A friend gave me a cassette series 82 00:03:50,069 --> 00:03:53,175 called "Faith Cometh." 83 00:03:53,175 --> 00:03:55,268 I was forever changed. 84 00:03:55,268 --> 00:03:57,208 First time I heard him in person 85 00:03:57,208 --> 00:03:59,892 was in Weatherford, Texas, in 1980. 86 00:03:59,892 --> 00:04:02,075 And then the last time I heard him preach 87 00:04:02,075 --> 00:04:04,959 was in St. Louis at his beloved friend 88 00:04:04,959 --> 00:04:11,191 Holmes Morris' conference in April 2013. 89 00:04:11,191 --> 00:04:13,264 I, like many of you, remember 90 00:04:13,264 --> 00:04:16,248 many particular sermons that were life-changing. 91 00:04:16,248 --> 00:04:18,495 The Ruth series; 92 00:04:18,495 --> 00:04:22,583 the Sin of Jeroboam; 93 00:04:22,583 --> 00:04:26,092 the Passover series on redemption from Exodus; 94 00:04:26,092 --> 00:04:29,721 "Paul, a Pattern of Conversion," Acts 26; 95 00:04:29,721 --> 00:04:34,372 the Mysteries of the Kingdom on the parables. 96 00:04:34,372 --> 00:04:36,808 Don Johnson said God gave His church 97 00:04:36,808 --> 00:04:39,917 a great gift when He gave us Conrad Murrell, 98 00:04:39,917 --> 00:04:42,114 with his unique ability to show us 99 00:04:42,114 --> 00:04:46,698 the difference between truth and popular error. 100 00:04:46,698 --> 00:04:49,733 I remember personal times in our home 101 00:04:49,733 --> 00:04:52,492 and his kindness and prayers for our children. 102 00:04:52,492 --> 00:04:54,979 And I remember him distinctly saying 103 00:04:54,979 --> 00:04:56,910 how children grow up too quickly 104 00:04:56,910 --> 00:04:59,329 and are soon gone. 105 00:04:59,329 --> 00:05:01,342 I remember a two-mile walk with him 106 00:05:01,342 --> 00:05:04,977 one morning when he was 84 107 00:05:04,977 --> 00:05:06,214 over here at his house. 108 00:05:06,214 --> 00:05:07,679 He was walking so briskly, 109 00:05:07,679 --> 00:05:10,810 I could hardly keep up with him. 110 00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:13,263 I remember conversations on theology 111 00:05:13,263 --> 00:05:15,120 and sharing some of my views, 112 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,320 hoping he would be impressed, 113 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,369 or at least that he might agree. 114 00:05:19,369 --> 00:05:23,322 He wasn't impressed. 115 00:05:23,322 --> 00:05:27,047 But he would begin graciously sharing 116 00:05:27,047 --> 00:05:29,410 the truth with me more, 117 00:05:29,410 --> 00:05:31,255 and insight and wisdom would flow, 118 00:05:31,255 --> 00:05:33,316 and I realized I had not seen as much 119 00:05:33,316 --> 00:05:35,985 as I had thought I'd seen. 120 00:05:35,985 --> 00:05:38,805 I remember his love for all his churches. 121 00:05:38,805 --> 00:05:40,278 Your churches. 122 00:05:40,278 --> 00:05:42,305 And many others he loved over the years. 123 00:05:42,305 --> 00:05:45,544 He always had his churches on his heart, 124 00:05:45,544 --> 00:05:47,935 and in his mind, and in his prayers. 125 00:05:47,935 --> 00:05:51,095 We all remember how wonderfully 126 00:05:51,095 --> 00:05:53,230 he led the Bentley camps, 127 00:05:53,230 --> 00:05:55,632 and those afternoon Q&A's. 128 00:05:55,632 --> 00:05:59,049 He would try to get you to ask questions 129 00:05:59,049 --> 00:06:02,006 and very few would ask questions, 130 00:06:02,006 --> 00:06:05,539 because they knew he was going to sum up 131 00:06:05,539 --> 00:06:08,496 at the end the things that we had said 132 00:06:08,496 --> 00:06:11,453 that were incorrect. 133 00:06:11,453 --> 00:06:17,009 In two sentences, he could just distill 134 00:06:17,009 --> 00:06:22,489 the gold from the moment. 135 00:06:22,489 --> 00:06:24,352 I, like so many many, 136 00:06:24,352 --> 00:06:26,595 greatly benefitted from his great wisdom 137 00:06:26,595 --> 00:06:27,865 and discernment, 138 00:06:27,865 --> 00:06:30,615 and his ability in giving out counsel. 139 00:06:30,615 --> 00:06:34,837 I once sought his counsel on a major decision in 2017. 140 00:06:34,837 --> 00:06:37,085 Several people affirmed 141 00:06:37,085 --> 00:06:40,882 my considering this choice. 142 00:06:40,882 --> 00:06:42,691 He alone said to me, 143 00:06:42,691 --> 00:06:46,149 'Don't do it. I don't think God's in it.' 144 00:06:46,149 --> 00:06:49,723 And he was right. 145 00:06:49,723 --> 00:06:52,946 I was spared a great mistake. 146 00:06:52,946 --> 00:06:55,791 I remember his humility. 147 00:06:55,791 --> 00:06:58,473 His simplicity of life. His honesty. 148 00:06:58,473 --> 00:07:01,804 His no sense of self-importance. 149 00:07:01,804 --> 00:07:03,505 His godliness, his sense of humor, 150 00:07:03,505 --> 00:07:05,881 his love for his wife, 151 00:07:05,881 --> 00:07:08,357 his children, his grandchildren. 152 00:07:08,357 --> 00:07:10,799 And, of course, I remember 153 00:07:10,799 --> 00:07:12,738 the power and the authority 154 00:07:12,738 --> 00:07:15,204 of his preaching. 155 00:07:15,204 --> 00:07:16,580 Gary Gatch said this: 156 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:18,761 "I remember vividly how his messages 157 00:07:18,761 --> 00:07:20,500 fed my soul. 158 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:22,441 I had never experienced that before, 159 00:07:22,441 --> 00:07:23,804 but I had longed for it. 160 00:07:23,804 --> 00:07:25,375 I remember thinking 161 00:07:25,375 --> 00:07:28,962 that is what preaching should be - 162 00:07:28,962 --> 00:07:30,590 the heavenly power, 163 00:07:30,590 --> 00:07:33,264 the solid doctrinal content, 164 00:07:33,264 --> 00:07:35,562 the experiential reality, 165 00:07:35,562 --> 00:07:38,490 the accurate, deep theological understanding, 166 00:07:38,490 --> 00:07:41,568 coming under the anointing of the Holy Spirit 167 00:07:41,568 --> 00:07:45,273 like an irresistible force of awesome truth. 168 00:07:45,273 --> 00:07:47,512 When you heard Conrad preach regularly, 169 00:07:47,514 --> 00:07:49,365 it would hit you, it would slap you, 170 00:07:49,365 --> 00:07:51,471 it would startle you, surprise you, 171 00:07:51,471 --> 00:07:52,734 rattle you, 172 00:07:52,734 --> 00:07:54,336 even confuse you for awhile. 173 00:07:54,336 --> 00:07:55,831 You'd go away saying 174 00:07:55,831 --> 00:07:56,786 now wait a minute. 175 00:07:56,786 --> 00:07:58,369 I thought I knew. 176 00:07:58,369 --> 00:08:00,777 I thought that... 177 00:08:00,777 --> 00:08:03,198 I've always believed... 178 00:08:03,198 --> 00:08:06,165 I've never heard such things before. 179 00:08:06,165 --> 00:08:08,176 That's what his ministry would do to you. 180 00:08:08,176 --> 00:08:10,802 But in the coming days, 181 00:08:10,802 --> 00:08:13,908 a metamorphosis happened supernaturally in your life. 182 00:08:13,908 --> 00:08:17,185 You start being changed by the truth. 183 00:08:17,185 --> 00:08:19,116 You're freed. You're transformed. 184 00:08:19,116 --> 00:08:20,816 You begin to love the Bible more. 185 00:08:20,816 --> 00:08:22,751 You begin to have clarity on doctrines 186 00:08:22,751 --> 00:08:24,870 that you never were clear on before. 187 00:08:24,870 --> 00:08:27,369 You begin to love God's people more. 188 00:08:27,369 --> 00:08:30,037 You begin to see salvation in a way 189 00:08:30,037 --> 00:08:31,402 never seen before. 190 00:08:31,402 --> 00:08:34,017 You begin to see this is a much bigger 191 00:08:34,017 --> 00:08:37,879 and bigger God and more glorious Christ 192 00:08:37,879 --> 00:08:40,379 than you've ever realized. 193 00:08:40,379 --> 00:08:42,232 And you even joyfully begin to realize 194 00:08:42,232 --> 00:08:45,595 the Holy Spirit is real and wonderful. 195 00:08:45,595 --> 00:08:47,767 Conrad's ministry did that 196 00:08:47,767 --> 00:08:49,542 to hundreds, perhaps thousands. 197 00:08:49,542 --> 00:08:52,458 The force of truths by the Spirit 198 00:08:52,458 --> 00:08:55,534 through a man from Bentley. 199 00:08:55,534 --> 00:08:59,710 Unknown and yet well known. 200 00:08:59,710 --> 00:09:01,668 Conrad and his friend Leonard Ravenhill 201 00:09:01,668 --> 00:09:06,653 stood alone in power in preaching 202 00:09:06,653 --> 00:09:09,213 above all others, in my opinion. 203 00:09:09,213 --> 00:09:11,031 And time fails us to share 204 00:09:11,031 --> 00:09:13,611 all that we remember and treasure, 205 00:09:13,611 --> 00:09:16,144 but an old Christian said of a godly friend of his 206 00:09:16,144 --> 00:09:19,977 who passed away, whose example and life 207 00:09:19,977 --> 00:09:22,204 was powerful. He said this. 208 00:09:22,204 --> 00:09:26,227 And I thought this applies to Conrad Murrell. 209 00:09:26,227 --> 00:09:27,751 "In a day of hustle and bustle 210 00:09:27,751 --> 00:09:29,188 and busy activity, 211 00:09:29,188 --> 00:09:32,302 it would do us well to study the life 212 00:09:32,302 --> 00:09:35,910 of one who stood in the midst of this world, 213 00:09:35,910 --> 00:09:38,236 but was not of this world, 214 00:09:38,236 --> 00:09:40,400 was never drawn into it 215 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,395 and spent his life drawing others out of it 216 00:09:44,395 --> 00:09:48,086 into the joy which he himself so fully knew. 217 00:09:48,086 --> 00:09:49,917 In an age of false ideas 218 00:09:49,917 --> 00:09:51,489 and shallow hero worship, 219 00:09:51,489 --> 00:09:53,279 it is good to have seen one 220 00:09:53,279 --> 00:09:56,320 who took at his model the Son of God, 221 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,309 and he knew above most 222 00:09:58,309 --> 00:10:00,376 what intimacy with God means 223 00:10:00,376 --> 00:10:06,112 in producing a true and fragrant life." 224 00:10:06,112 --> 00:10:07,734 His dear friend Holmes Morris 225 00:10:07,734 --> 00:10:10,901 said of Brother Murrell, 226 00:10:10,901 --> 00:10:14,044 "Conrad saw and felt deeply 227 00:10:14,044 --> 00:10:16,483 that which was wrong with modern churches, 228 00:10:16,483 --> 00:10:18,947 and was not afraid to take a stand against error." 229 00:10:18,947 --> 00:10:21,239 Well, that's kind of an understatement. 230 00:10:21,239 --> 00:10:25,813 He writes a tract: "Mourn. God may hate you." 231 00:10:25,813 --> 00:10:28,501 Or I could mention others. 232 00:10:28,501 --> 00:10:31,329 "He was not afraid to take a stand against error. 233 00:10:31,329 --> 00:10:33,644 A man has to have the power of the Spirit of God 234 00:10:33,644 --> 00:10:36,812 upon him to have such a ministry for years." 235 00:10:36,812 --> 00:10:38,897 Holmes Morris says, 236 00:10:38,897 --> 00:10:41,454 "I believe he had special gifts and anointing 237 00:10:41,454 --> 00:10:45,742 which became the key to his entire ministry. 238 00:10:45,742 --> 00:10:48,998 It has been said when a giant tree finally falls, 239 00:10:48,998 --> 00:10:51,662 it leaves an empty space in the sky. 240 00:10:51,662 --> 00:10:53,967 When God finally takes Conrad Murrell 241 00:10:53,967 --> 00:10:56,261 home to glory, it will certainly leave 242 00:10:56,261 --> 00:11:01,455 a huge empty space in our sky." 243 00:11:01,455 --> 00:11:03,736 In the early years of his ministry, 244 00:11:03,736 --> 00:11:05,786 Conrad wrote a weekly column 245 00:11:05,786 --> 00:11:07,628 in the Colfax Chronicle 246 00:11:07,628 --> 00:11:09,733 called "Bread from the Book." 247 00:11:09,733 --> 00:11:12,194 It was just devotional commentary 248 00:11:12,194 --> 00:11:15,099 on Psalms. 249 00:11:15,099 --> 00:11:18,179 And on Psalm 42, Conrad said this: 250 00:11:18,179 --> 00:11:21,391 "It is a terrifying experience to look around you 251 00:11:21,391 --> 00:11:23,654 and find yourself alone 252 00:11:23,654 --> 00:11:26,831 without anyone on earth 253 00:11:26,831 --> 00:11:28,468 to rescue you from peril, 254 00:11:28,468 --> 00:11:29,962 but it is a most wonderful 255 00:11:29,962 --> 00:11:33,651 and blessed reality when you lift your eyes 256 00:11:33,651 --> 00:11:36,825 above the land of the living, 257 00:11:36,825 --> 00:11:41,064 all of whom shall very soon die. 258 00:11:41,064 --> 00:11:43,421 It's a blessed thing to lift your eyes 259 00:11:43,421 --> 00:11:46,300 to the eternal God who ever lives 260 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:48,179 and to find Him to be 261 00:11:48,179 --> 00:11:52,128 your everlasting refuge." 262 00:11:52,128 --> 00:12:01,703 Praise God for our dear brother. 263 00:12:01,703 --> 00:12:03,849 To the children: 264 00:12:03,849 --> 00:12:05,262 Herbert Conrad Murrell. 265 00:12:05,262 --> 00:12:07,017 Do you know him? 266 00:12:07,017 --> 00:12:08,067 Tell me. 267 00:12:08,067 --> 00:12:10,476 His name they did mention. 268 00:12:10,476 --> 00:12:13,861 Among the saints he did labor. 269 00:12:13,861 --> 00:12:17,632 With boisterous voice, he spoke His favor. 270 00:12:17,632 --> 00:12:19,356 I am crucified with Christ, 271 00:12:19,356 --> 00:12:22,897 nevertheless I live. 272 00:12:22,897 --> 00:12:24,325 He stood firm. 273 00:12:24,325 --> 00:12:27,603 His life the Lord did sieve. 274 00:12:27,603 --> 00:12:31,064 You've heard the power in which he did speak. 275 00:12:31,064 --> 00:12:35,957 Christ in His glory, and yet this man weak. 276 00:12:35,957 --> 00:12:39,610 No great man in his own stature. 277 00:12:39,610 --> 00:12:42,800 His Lord, his only pasture. 278 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,112 Tell me you've heard. 279 00:12:44,112 --> 00:12:46,921 He didn't speak his own name. 280 00:12:46,921 --> 00:12:52,264 The faith of the Son of God his only fame. 281 00:12:52,264 --> 00:12:55,923 A man remembered for his God. 282 00:12:55,923 --> 00:12:59,876 A testimony of where our Savior trod. 283 00:12:59,876 --> 00:13:03,376 Tell me they've told you about his great King. 284 00:13:03,376 --> 00:13:07,913 Tell me they've told you His praise to sing. 285 00:13:07,913 --> 00:13:09,225 Tell me they've told you 286 00:13:09,225 --> 00:13:11,761 about the kingdom he'll inherit. 287 00:13:11,761 --> 00:13:13,182 Tell me they've told you, 288 00:13:13,182 --> 00:13:16,136 it's not by his merit. 289 00:13:16,136 --> 00:13:19,223 Tell me they've told you, it should be yours. 290 00:13:19,223 --> 00:13:21,259 Tell me they've told you, 291 00:13:21,259 --> 00:13:24,522 Christ would open the doors. 292 00:13:24,522 --> 00:13:27,842 Tell me they've told you why he did preach. 293 00:13:27,842 --> 00:13:32,489 He could not contain the love he had for each. 294 00:13:32,489 --> 00:13:33,989 Tell me you've heard 295 00:13:33,989 --> 00:13:37,555 of the great God he should soon behold. 296 00:13:37,555 --> 00:13:41,404 Tell me you've heard of the riches he's told. 297 00:13:41,404 --> 00:13:43,778 For his telling is past, 298 00:13:43,778 --> 00:13:45,782 but yours is not. 299 00:13:45,782 --> 00:13:48,796 Abound in what you've heard. 300 00:13:48,796 --> 00:13:51,683 Let it not rot. 301 00:13:51,683 --> 00:13:54,473 Children, speak. 302 00:13:54,473 --> 00:13:57,028 Love others to the end. 303 00:13:57,028 --> 00:14:01,370 For our great God a Savior did send. 304 00:14:01,370 --> 00:14:03,155 Tell me they've told you 305 00:14:03,155 --> 00:14:07,233 the power of obedience and humility. 306 00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:09,436 Tell me they've told you 307 00:14:09,436 --> 00:14:23,466 his peace and victory. 308 00:14:23,466 --> 00:14:27,151 I am the youngest of five children. 309 00:14:27,151 --> 00:14:28,236 I was the baby. 310 00:14:28,236 --> 00:14:30,508 I was kind of apart 311 00:14:30,508 --> 00:14:34,161 from my brothers and sisters growing up. 312 00:14:34,161 --> 00:14:35,649 And I just wanted to share 313 00:14:35,649 --> 00:14:37,772 some of the things that I observed 314 00:14:37,772 --> 00:14:38,841 of my dad. 315 00:14:38,841 --> 00:14:40,223 You may not know. 316 00:14:40,223 --> 00:14:43,715 These are little things; small things. 317 00:14:43,715 --> 00:14:47,978 My dad had a little room. 318 00:14:47,978 --> 00:14:51,078 It was no larger than a small closet. 319 00:14:51,078 --> 00:14:53,895 He could barely fit the little desk in it. 320 00:14:53,895 --> 00:14:56,447 He had some homemade bookshelves. 321 00:14:56,447 --> 00:14:58,398 His library was in that bookshelf. 322 00:14:58,398 --> 00:15:00,999 Spurgeon. 323 00:15:00,999 --> 00:15:03,047 Wesley. 324 00:15:03,047 --> 00:15:05,306 Brainard. 325 00:15:05,306 --> 00:15:06,434 Josephus. 326 00:15:06,434 --> 00:15:08,230 See, those of are some of the books 327 00:15:08,230 --> 00:15:09,297 I remember reading. 328 00:15:09,297 --> 00:15:11,012 Some of the scholarly, 329 00:15:11,012 --> 00:15:13,904 some of the sermons - Spurgeon's sermons, 330 00:15:13,904 --> 00:15:19,664 he studied those very, very deeply. 331 00:15:19,664 --> 00:15:22,773 He was a big fan of the Reformation. 332 00:15:22,773 --> 00:15:30,162 That was the strongest part of his drive; 333 00:15:30,162 --> 00:15:33,124 formed in what occurred 334 00:15:33,124 --> 00:15:35,268 during the Reformation. 335 00:15:35,268 --> 00:15:38,770 A lot of the truths that he discovered, 336 00:15:38,770 --> 00:15:40,065 that God showed him, 337 00:15:40,065 --> 00:15:41,690 came from the teachings 338 00:15:41,690 --> 00:15:43,189 of these great preachers 339 00:15:43,189 --> 00:15:45,279 that taught during these times. 340 00:15:45,279 --> 00:15:47,757 But he would get up in the morning, 341 00:15:47,757 --> 00:15:49,592 and you wouldn't see him. 342 00:15:49,592 --> 00:15:51,622 He would go to that room. 343 00:15:51,622 --> 00:15:53,725 He would not come out. 344 00:15:53,725 --> 00:15:59,991 You could hear him pray. 345 00:15:59,991 --> 00:16:02,051 You could hear him talk to God. 346 00:16:02,051 --> 00:16:03,494 That's how he started his day 347 00:16:03,494 --> 00:16:08,478 every single day. 348 00:16:08,478 --> 00:16:11,164 On Monday's, he didn't eat. 349 00:16:11,164 --> 00:16:14,181 Monday was his fast day. 350 00:16:14,181 --> 00:16:18,212 For most ministers that I've seen, 351 00:16:18,212 --> 00:16:23,267 their focus is on Sunday and Wednesday night, 352 00:16:23,267 --> 00:16:25,736 and maybe some business meetings in the church, 353 00:16:25,736 --> 00:16:32,887 but dad's - what I saw was daily. 354 00:16:32,887 --> 00:16:37,974 I never saw him get mad at something 355 00:16:37,974 --> 00:16:40,046 that he shouldn't have gotten mad at. 356 00:16:40,046 --> 00:16:41,432 He's gotten mad at me. 357 00:16:41,432 --> 00:16:44,990 He got mad at a lot of things. 358 00:16:44,990 --> 00:16:46,624 But I never saw him get mad 359 00:16:46,624 --> 00:16:50,232 at a lot of things that we would have gotten mad at. 360 00:16:50,232 --> 00:16:52,597 Case in point: 361 00:16:52,597 --> 00:16:55,304 We lived on Hanley Loop. 362 00:16:55,304 --> 00:16:57,830 He stuck his hand underneath the lawn mower. 363 00:16:57,830 --> 00:17:04,409 And it split his fingers. 364 00:17:04,409 --> 00:17:09,223 And his vernacular was not extreme. 365 00:17:09,223 --> 00:17:11,708 What he said was not extreme. 366 00:17:11,708 --> 00:17:14,483 He very calmly called me over. 367 00:17:14,483 --> 00:17:16,780 I was seven years old. 368 00:17:16,780 --> 00:17:18,026 Called me over and said, 369 00:17:18,026 --> 00:17:21,043 "Billy, go get your mama." 370 00:17:21,043 --> 00:17:22,756 That was it. Go get your mama. 371 00:17:22,756 --> 00:17:24,320 He knew he needed help. 372 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:28,785 There was no point in saying anything else. 373 00:17:28,785 --> 00:17:35,422 His humor - he was a pragmatist. 374 00:17:35,422 --> 00:17:38,699 He was a sneaky, sneaky pragmatist 375 00:17:38,699 --> 00:17:40,470 when it came to work. 376 00:17:40,470 --> 00:17:43,336 Now, as a young man, I didn't like to work too much. 377 00:17:43,336 --> 00:17:45,801 I worked very hard because my dad made me work, 378 00:17:45,801 --> 00:17:48,960 and I learned to work. He taught me to work. 379 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,979 I remember this one particular time 380 00:17:51,979 --> 00:17:58,227 that I had discovered a few games at school, 381 00:17:58,227 --> 00:18:00,392 and one of them was pick-up-sticks. 382 00:18:00,392 --> 00:18:02,428 You remember pick-up-sticks? 383 00:18:02,428 --> 00:18:04,750 He said, "you want to play pick-up-sticks?" 384 00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:09,790 Yeah! 385 00:18:09,790 --> 00:18:11,744 We all know what happened next. 386 00:18:11,744 --> 00:18:13,730 I'm in the backyard or in the pasture 387 00:18:13,730 --> 00:18:15,983 picking up sticks. 388 00:18:15,983 --> 00:18:20,525 So, his humor was amazing. 389 00:18:20,525 --> 00:18:22,077 He made up words. 390 00:18:22,077 --> 00:18:24,212 He made up words. 391 00:18:24,212 --> 00:18:26,797 But the one word that sticks with me 392 00:18:26,797 --> 00:18:29,252 is "stickability." 393 00:18:29,252 --> 00:18:31,908 Stickability is your ability 394 00:18:31,908 --> 00:18:34,696 to finish whatever you start. 395 00:18:34,696 --> 00:18:38,103 That's meant a lot to me in my life. 396 00:18:38,103 --> 00:18:40,387 I'd like to close with this one thing 397 00:18:40,387 --> 00:18:43,712 that I remember from one of his sermons. 398 00:18:43,712 --> 00:18:45,933 He said as an analogy 399 00:18:45,933 --> 00:18:51,777 to make people realize how small 400 00:18:51,777 --> 00:18:54,382 and insignificant we are in this world; 401 00:18:54,382 --> 00:18:56,552 he said the next time you start thinking 402 00:18:56,552 --> 00:18:57,955 yourself high and mighty; 403 00:18:57,955 --> 00:19:00,341 next time you start thinking well about yourself, 404 00:19:00,341 --> 00:19:02,516 go get a bucket. Fill it with water. 405 00:19:02,516 --> 00:19:05,453 Stick your arm in the bucket. 406 00:19:05,453 --> 00:19:09,503 Slosh that water around as much as you want to 407 00:19:09,503 --> 00:19:11,082 for as long as you want to. 408 00:19:11,082 --> 00:19:13,495 And when you pull your arm out of that bucket, 409 00:19:13,495 --> 00:19:15,447 the hole that you leave in that bucket 410 00:19:15,447 --> 00:19:18,273 is the impact that you left on this world 411 00:19:18,273 --> 00:19:21,195 when you leave. 412 00:19:21,195 --> 00:19:23,869 That's the truth. 413 00:19:23,869 --> 00:19:29,021 My dad's impact was not of his own doing. 414 00:19:29,021 --> 00:19:31,883 It was because he made himself 415 00:19:31,883 --> 00:19:35,533 an instrument. 416 00:19:35,533 --> 00:19:38,622 That's all. 417 00:19:38,622 --> 00:19:42,676 Thank you. 418 00:19:42,676 --> 00:19:50,132 (Incomplete thought) 419 00:19:50,132 --> 00:19:52,553 I haven't had the honor of sitting under 420 00:19:52,553 --> 00:19:55,173 as many of my papa's sermons 421 00:19:55,173 --> 00:19:59,995 as many of you have. 422 00:19:59,995 --> 00:20:02,208 I've sat through some. 423 00:20:02,208 --> 00:20:04,051 But, that is an honor. 424 00:20:04,051 --> 00:20:06,113 Because of papa, 425 00:20:06,113 --> 00:20:10,614 my dad was always a pastor. 426 00:20:10,614 --> 00:20:12,752 I do remember when I was young 427 00:20:12,752 --> 00:20:15,229 going to some of his revivals 428 00:20:15,229 --> 00:20:17,248 and camp meetings from time to time. 429 00:20:17,248 --> 00:20:19,145 Dad would bring us. 430 00:20:19,145 --> 00:20:20,973 When I was four years old, 431 00:20:20,973 --> 00:20:24,228 the very first song I ever sang in church 432 00:20:24,228 --> 00:20:26,940 was "He's Still Working On Me." 433 00:20:26,940 --> 00:20:29,146 And I know that I never went 434 00:20:29,146 --> 00:20:32,914 to any of my Papa's camp meetings 435 00:20:32,914 --> 00:20:36,813 or revivals that he didn't request 436 00:20:36,813 --> 00:20:39,376 that I sing that song. 437 00:20:39,376 --> 00:20:43,376 And at the time, it was just a childhood song. 438 00:20:43,376 --> 00:20:46,832 I'm not going to say it didn't mean anything to me. It did. 439 00:20:46,832 --> 00:20:49,094 But, you know, you think of it kind of like, 440 00:20:49,094 --> 00:20:50,781 "This Little Light of Mine," 441 00:20:50,781 --> 00:20:53,230 or just a childhood song. 442 00:20:53,230 --> 00:20:56,270 But through the years, it has grown 443 00:20:56,270 --> 00:20:58,497 to mean more and more to me. 444 00:20:58,497 --> 00:21:01,227 And I find that the lyrics are applicable 445 00:21:01,227 --> 00:21:07,880 to any age no matter how young or old. 446 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,122 Because we are a work in progress always. 447 00:21:11,122 --> 00:21:12,570 There's always more growing 448 00:21:12,570 --> 00:21:14,503 that we can do in the Lord. 449 00:21:14,503 --> 00:21:18,076 And I know that that was part of my Papa's message 450 00:21:18,076 --> 00:21:22,230 to all that he shared Jesus with. 451 00:21:22,230 --> 00:21:24,868 And there was never a time - not one - 452 00:21:24,868 --> 00:21:27,037 even as recent as Christmas day 453 00:21:27,037 --> 00:21:30,087 when we sat at the dinner table 454 00:21:30,087 --> 00:21:32,076 and Papa sat to my left 455 00:21:32,076 --> 00:21:35,445 at the head of the table. 456 00:21:35,445 --> 00:21:37,939 He would always say, 457 00:21:37,939 --> 00:21:39,451 "He's still working on me, 458 00:21:39,451 --> 00:21:41,672 is He still working on you?" 459 00:21:41,672 --> 00:21:43,775 Always. Always. 460 00:21:43,775 --> 00:21:47,915 And that was the last time that he said it to me. 461 00:21:47,915 --> 00:21:50,058 And today, the song, 462 00:21:50,058 --> 00:21:52,601 though it began as just a childhood song 463 00:21:52,601 --> 00:21:55,749 means more to me than it ever has before, 464 00:21:55,749 --> 00:22:00,770 and I know that it always will. 465 00:22:00,770 --> 00:22:02,215 I'm not sure of the date, 466 00:22:02,215 --> 00:22:05,265 but it was the day after Christmas 467 00:22:05,265 --> 00:22:08,672 when he was put into the hospital. 468 00:22:08,672 --> 00:22:10,607 In the weeks following, 469 00:22:10,607 --> 00:22:13,562 we went to visit him in the hospital, 470 00:22:13,562 --> 00:22:15,377 and he slept the whole time. 471 00:22:15,377 --> 00:22:18,556 He didn't wake up to visit. 472 00:22:18,556 --> 00:22:20,118 And we were getting ready to go. 473 00:22:20,118 --> 00:22:23,060 Pam was there. My dad was there. 474 00:22:23,060 --> 00:22:25,562 My husband, Kevin, and myself were there. 475 00:22:25,562 --> 00:22:27,962 And we stayed and visited for a little while, 476 00:22:27,962 --> 00:22:30,042 and before we left, 477 00:22:30,042 --> 00:22:32,480 I just felt led to lean over 478 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,343 and to sing it into his ear. 479 00:22:34,343 --> 00:22:36,993 And I asked which was his good ear 480 00:22:36,993 --> 00:22:40,540 and I leaned over and I sang it in his ear. 481 00:22:40,540 --> 00:22:45,239 And he started kind of moving around in the bed. 482 00:22:45,239 --> 00:22:46,534 And he opened his eyes 483 00:22:46,534 --> 00:22:48,143 and they filled up with tears. 484 00:22:48,143 --> 00:22:49,861 Because I think we were questioning 485 00:22:49,861 --> 00:22:52,528 if he was responsive or hearing us. 486 00:22:52,528 --> 00:22:54,371 But he definitely heard it 487 00:22:54,371 --> 00:22:55,923 and he opened his eyes 488 00:22:55,923 --> 00:22:57,965 and they welled up with tears. 489 00:22:57,965 --> 00:23:00,827 And he started moaning as if to say it. 490 00:23:00,827 --> 00:23:02,268 He couldn't get the words out, 491 00:23:02,268 --> 00:23:04,404 but I know that they were there. 492 00:23:04,404 --> 00:23:06,832 So, Kaylee and I are going to sing it today. 493 00:23:06,832 --> 00:23:11,814 If you know it, sing along with us. 494 00:23:11,814 --> 00:23:15,449 I wanted to read a Scripture. 495 00:23:15,449 --> 00:23:17,844 Philippians 1:6 496 00:23:17,844 --> 00:23:20,866 "Being confident of this very thing, 497 00:23:20,866 --> 00:23:25,324 that He which hath begun a good work in you 498 00:23:25,324 --> 00:23:30,338 will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." 499 00:23:30,338 --> 00:23:36,225 Praise the Lord. 500 00:23:36,225 --> 00:23:40,573 On February 23rd, Papa drew his last breath. 501 00:23:40,573 --> 00:23:42,622 And he was complete. 502 00:23:42,622 --> 00:23:44,515 But up until that moment, 503 00:23:44,515 --> 00:23:47,816 he chose to allow Jesus to continue 504 00:23:47,816 --> 00:23:50,391 to work on him throughout his whole life. 505 00:23:50,391 --> 00:23:53,292 And so I challenge all of us, 506 00:23:53,292 --> 00:23:54,470 I know if he was here 507 00:23:54,470 --> 00:23:56,544 and could say one more thing to me, 508 00:23:56,544 --> 00:23:57,967 he would say, 509 00:23:57,967 --> 00:23:59,869 "He's finished with me, 510 00:23:59,869 --> 00:24:07,334 but is He still working on you?" 511 00:24:07,334 --> 00:24:14,175 Let's join our hearts in prayer. 512 00:24:14,175 --> 00:24:18,695 Our gracious God and Father in heaven, 513 00:24:18,695 --> 00:24:21,195 we praise Thy holy name. 514 00:24:21,195 --> 00:24:23,705 And we are very thankful today 515 00:24:23,705 --> 00:24:26,912 for the grace of God 516 00:24:26,912 --> 00:24:29,296 that came to Conrad Murrell 517 00:24:29,296 --> 00:24:32,479 in saving him as a young adult, 518 00:24:32,479 --> 00:24:34,638 so suddenly, so powerfully; 519 00:24:34,638 --> 00:24:37,533 and for calling him into the ministry 520 00:24:37,533 --> 00:24:40,380 of the gospel of the grace of God. 521 00:24:40,380 --> 00:24:42,826 Lord, thank You for the grace that's come 522 00:24:42,826 --> 00:24:44,825 to him and through him, 523 00:24:44,825 --> 00:24:48,780 to his family and to so many. 524 00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:50,406 We're grateful for the life and ministry 525 00:24:50,406 --> 00:24:53,792 of your servant. 526 00:24:53,794 --> 00:24:55,544 Lord, many of us could say 527 00:24:55,544 --> 00:24:56,446 in our own lives, 528 00:24:56,446 --> 00:24:58,171 there's not arisen in all our lives 529 00:24:58,171 --> 00:24:59,795 a prophet like this Moses, 530 00:24:59,795 --> 00:25:02,571 whom the Lord knew so closely. 531 00:25:02,571 --> 00:25:04,244 Or like Elisha, 532 00:25:04,244 --> 00:25:09,005 a holy man who passed by our lives continually. 533 00:25:09,005 --> 00:25:12,009 Like a David who served his own generation 534 00:25:12,009 --> 00:25:13,901 in the will of God. 535 00:25:13,901 --> 00:25:15,985 And now has died in a good old age, 536 00:25:15,985 --> 00:25:18,231 full of days, riches, and honor. 537 00:25:18,231 --> 00:25:21,019 Full of faith and the Holy Spirit. 538 00:25:21,019 --> 00:25:24,715 And like Simeon has now departed 539 00:25:24,715 --> 00:25:27,471 in peace. 540 00:25:27,471 --> 00:25:29,470 Father, Your Word says the day of death 541 00:25:29,470 --> 00:25:33,417 is better than the day of one's birth. 542 00:25:33,417 --> 00:25:35,333 Better to go to the house of mourning 543 00:25:35,333 --> 00:25:36,882 than the house of feasting. 544 00:25:36,882 --> 00:25:40,223 And the living take it to heart. 545 00:25:40,223 --> 00:25:42,432 Far better, said Paul, 546 00:25:42,432 --> 00:25:44,010 to depart and be with Christ, 547 00:25:44,010 --> 00:25:47,463 because that is gain. 548 00:25:47,463 --> 00:25:52,039 So, Lord, today comfort every heart here. 549 00:25:52,039 --> 00:25:54,553 We feel like there will be a deep hole 550 00:25:54,553 --> 00:25:57,303 in our water bucket for a long time. 551 00:25:57,303 --> 00:26:00,896 It's there. A big space in our sky. 552 00:26:00,896 --> 00:26:08,470 This one who's now with You. 553 00:26:08,470 --> 00:26:10,595 Thank You for the fruit that abides. 554 00:26:10,595 --> 00:26:13,125 Thank You for the legacy, for the memories. 555 00:26:13,125 --> 00:26:14,131 Lord, Your Word says 556 00:26:14,131 --> 00:26:15,686 the name of the wicked will rot, 557 00:26:15,686 --> 00:26:18,756 but the memory of the righteous is blessed. 558 00:26:18,756 --> 00:26:20,899 So comfort every heart. 559 00:26:20,899 --> 00:26:22,710 Strengthen every soul. 560 00:26:22,710 --> 00:26:25,228 Touch every tear. 561 00:26:25,228 --> 00:26:28,159 Make us all more faithful Christians, 562 00:26:28,159 --> 00:26:30,141 not only because we had Conrad 563 00:26:30,141 --> 00:26:32,125 touch us in our journey. 564 00:26:32,125 --> 00:26:35,440 Make us more faithful now in his death, 565 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:37,891 more like him, 566 00:26:37,891 --> 00:26:39,513 and ultimately, Lord, 567 00:26:39,513 --> 00:26:42,896 more like our Savior. 568 00:26:42,896 --> 00:26:44,679 We thank You, Lord, 569 00:26:44,679 --> 00:26:48,142 for that pure river of the water of life, 570 00:26:48,142 --> 00:26:49,861 clear as crystal, proceeding out of 571 00:26:49,861 --> 00:26:52,159 the throne of God and of the Lamb. 572 00:26:52,159 --> 00:26:54,236 Lord, in the midst of the street 573 00:26:54,236 --> 00:26:56,722 on either side of the tree of life. 574 00:26:56,722 --> 00:26:59,131 And Lord, we thank You there, 575 00:26:59,131 --> 00:27:00,967 there will be no more curse, 576 00:27:00,967 --> 00:27:02,658 but the throne of God and the Lamb 577 00:27:02,658 --> 00:27:03,788 shall be in it, 578 00:27:03,788 --> 00:27:07,010 and Your servants will serve You. 579 00:27:07,010 --> 00:27:09,845 And they shall see Your face. 580 00:27:09,845 --> 00:27:14,299 And Your name will be on their foreheads. 581 00:27:14,299 --> 00:27:15,674 And there's no night there. 582 00:27:15,674 --> 00:27:18,435 No need for candle or light of the sun, 583 00:27:18,435 --> 00:27:21,100 for the Lord God giveth them light, 584 00:27:21,100 --> 00:27:24,378 and they shall reign forever and ever. 585 00:27:24,378 --> 00:27:26,090 And He said these sayings 586 00:27:26,090 --> 00:27:27,347 are faithful and true. 587 00:27:27,347 --> 00:27:28,955 Behold, I come quickly. 588 00:27:28,955 --> 00:27:32,908 Blessed is he who keeps the sayings 589 00:27:32,908 --> 00:27:36,016 of the prophecy of this book. 590 00:27:36,016 --> 00:27:38,942 Lord, we bless Your name this day. 591 00:27:38,942 --> 00:27:42,520 We worship You in this hour. 592 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,121 And we're very, very grateful 593 00:27:45,121 --> 00:27:47,797 from our hearts for all Your mercies 594 00:27:47,797 --> 00:27:49,556 that You've shed abroad 595 00:27:49,556 --> 00:27:51,757 through such a life. 596 00:27:51,757 --> 00:27:54,982 In the sure and mighty name 597 00:27:54,982 --> 00:27:56,710 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 598 00:27:56,710 --> 00:28:02,811 we pray. Amen. 599 00:28:02,811 --> 00:28:04,618 There's an old saying 600 00:28:04,618 --> 00:28:06,736 that God buries His workers, 601 00:28:06,736 --> 00:28:09,597 but doesn't bury His work. 602 00:28:09,597 --> 00:28:12,265 But a work that is never buried 603 00:28:12,265 --> 00:28:13,766 works off of the memory 604 00:28:13,766 --> 00:28:16,957 of the workers that are. 605 00:28:16,957 --> 00:28:18,536 And one of those such workers 606 00:28:18,536 --> 00:28:21,110 is H. Conrad Murrell. 607 00:28:21,110 --> 00:28:22,921 In Ecclesiastes 7, 608 00:28:22,921 --> 00:28:25,347 we've referred to it a few times already, 609 00:28:25,347 --> 00:28:27,538 it says in v. 1, "A good name is better 610 00:28:27,538 --> 00:28:29,301 than a good ointment, 611 00:28:29,301 --> 00:28:31,198 and the day of one's death is better 612 00:28:31,198 --> 00:28:34,138 than the day of one's birth. 613 00:28:34,138 --> 00:28:36,148 It is better to go to a house of mourning, 614 00:28:36,148 --> 00:28:37,326 (here) 615 00:28:37,326 --> 00:28:39,037 than to go to a house of feasting 616 00:28:39,037 --> 00:28:41,042 because that is the end of every man 617 00:28:41,042 --> 00:28:44,448 and the living takes it to heart. 618 00:28:44,448 --> 00:28:45,931 Sorrow is better than laughter, 619 00:28:45,931 --> 00:28:47,372 for when a face is sad, 620 00:28:47,372 --> 00:28:49,437 a heart may be happy. 621 00:28:49,437 --> 00:28:53,461 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, 622 00:28:53,461 --> 00:28:55,245 while the mind of fools 623 00:28:55,245 --> 00:29:00,504 is in the house of pleasure." 624 00:29:00,504 --> 00:29:02,297 Verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 7 625 00:29:02,297 --> 00:29:04,118 talks about a good name, 626 00:29:04,118 --> 00:29:05,698 and how a good name is better 627 00:29:05,698 --> 00:29:07,853 than a precious ointment. 628 00:29:07,853 --> 00:29:09,687 And of course, you kind of wonder why 629 00:29:09,687 --> 00:29:11,983 there's a comparison between an ointment 630 00:29:11,983 --> 00:29:14,425 and a good name. 631 00:29:14,425 --> 00:29:16,212 And of course, back in the day, 632 00:29:16,212 --> 00:29:17,856 when a baby was born, 633 00:29:17,856 --> 00:29:19,888 depending on the wealth of the family, 634 00:29:19,888 --> 00:29:22,837 they would anoint the baby with ointment. 635 00:29:22,837 --> 00:29:25,608 And so, as he's making this comparison - 636 00:29:25,608 --> 00:29:27,458 Solomon here writing Ecclesiastes - 637 00:29:27,458 --> 00:29:28,935 he's drawing these contrasts 638 00:29:28,935 --> 00:29:30,191 when it comes to wisdom 639 00:29:30,191 --> 00:29:32,939 it isn't always found in the conventional kind of way. 640 00:29:32,939 --> 00:29:34,952 Many times, it's found in contrasts 641 00:29:34,952 --> 00:29:36,759 where you have a good name - 642 00:29:36,759 --> 00:29:38,491 a good name - 643 00:29:38,491 --> 00:29:40,347 not just a name you're given at birth, 644 00:29:40,347 --> 00:29:42,364 but a good name. 645 00:29:42,364 --> 00:29:44,016 And it's better than that ointment 646 00:29:44,016 --> 00:29:45,658 that you were given at birth. 647 00:29:45,658 --> 00:29:48,343 And that's why he says a little bit later on in v. 1 648 00:29:48,343 --> 00:29:52,180 that a good name translates also 649 00:29:52,180 --> 00:29:56,081 into pleasant expiration dates. 650 00:29:56,081 --> 00:29:58,461 They go together. 651 00:29:58,461 --> 00:30:02,659 So December 15th, 1928 652 00:30:02,659 --> 00:30:05,989 was the day Conrad was born. 653 00:30:05,989 --> 00:30:09,991 According to Ecclesiastes 7, 654 00:30:09,991 --> 00:30:15,143 February 23rd, 2018 is a better day. 655 00:30:15,143 --> 00:30:19,502 In fact, he celebrated that birthday 89 times 656 00:30:19,502 --> 00:30:21,480 and that one day in February 657 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:28,625 is worth all the more than that one day in December combined. 658 00:30:28,625 --> 00:30:31,259 Because that's what the text says. 659 00:30:31,259 --> 00:30:32,947 They don't compare in value. 660 00:30:32,947 --> 00:30:35,536 So what makes the day of one's death 661 00:30:35,536 --> 00:30:37,485 a better day? 662 00:30:37,485 --> 00:30:39,595 You've got to be asking the question 663 00:30:39,595 --> 00:30:41,030 to yourself as you sit here 664 00:30:41,030 --> 00:30:43,286 in the classroom, God says, 665 00:30:43,286 --> 00:30:44,503 in Ecclesiastes 7, 666 00:30:44,503 --> 00:30:49,014 which is the house of mourning. 667 00:30:49,014 --> 00:30:54,649 Will my day of death be better than my birthday? 668 00:30:54,649 --> 00:30:57,459 Really, the only way you can answer that question 669 00:30:57,459 --> 00:30:59,109 is the first part of the verse: 670 00:30:59,109 --> 00:31:01,414 Do I have a good name? 671 00:31:01,414 --> 00:31:03,391 We don't really care about the ointment 672 00:31:03,391 --> 00:31:05,618 you might be having in your storage pantry. 673 00:31:05,618 --> 00:31:07,906 It's the good name. 674 00:31:07,906 --> 00:31:11,881 So what makes February 23rd, 2018 675 00:31:11,881 --> 00:31:18,679 a better day than December 15th, 1928? 676 00:31:18,679 --> 00:31:20,240 Well, there's a few things 677 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:24,124 according to the text. 678 00:31:24,124 --> 00:31:25,988 For starters, not everybody has 679 00:31:25,988 --> 00:31:28,094 a better day on the day of their death. 680 00:31:28,094 --> 00:31:31,107 I think you know that. 681 00:31:31,107 --> 00:31:32,288 On that day in December, 682 00:31:32,288 --> 00:31:33,753 when Conrad was given his name 683 00:31:33,753 --> 00:31:36,567 by his mom and dad, 684 00:31:36,567 --> 00:31:38,080 Adolf Hitler was given a name 685 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:39,995 on the day of his birth. 686 00:31:39,995 --> 00:31:43,611 Everything being equal, 687 00:31:43,611 --> 00:31:46,697 on the day of their deaths, 688 00:31:46,697 --> 00:31:49,071 something has taken a shift, hasn't it? 689 00:31:49,071 --> 00:31:52,081 Because your name identifies you 690 00:31:52,081 --> 00:31:53,989 with your character 691 00:31:53,989 --> 00:31:56,519 and what you have done 692 00:31:56,519 --> 00:31:59,289 or what you haven't done. 693 00:31:59,289 --> 00:32:03,376 A good name isn't a catchy name. 694 00:32:03,376 --> 00:32:04,560 You've got people today 695 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,567 that try to name their kids in such a way 696 00:32:06,567 --> 00:32:07,979 that they stand out. 697 00:32:07,979 --> 00:32:12,163 Like Mr. and Mrs. Aire who named their son "Billion." 698 00:32:12,163 --> 00:32:14,175 We want our son to stand out. 699 00:32:14,175 --> 00:32:15,988 We're going to name him Billion. 700 00:32:15,988 --> 00:32:19,028 Oh, he'll stand out all right. 701 00:32:19,028 --> 00:32:21,077 So it's not just a catchy name. 702 00:32:21,077 --> 00:32:22,807 But it's not even a great name. 703 00:32:22,807 --> 00:32:24,292 He doesn't say "a great name." 704 00:32:24,292 --> 00:32:25,946 He says, "a good name." 705 00:32:25,946 --> 00:32:28,010 You've got a lot of great names out there 706 00:32:28,010 --> 00:32:32,827 that won't be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. 707 00:32:32,827 --> 00:32:36,292 Thomas Edison had a great name. 708 00:32:36,292 --> 00:32:39,145 In fact, he was called "America's inventor." 709 00:32:39,145 --> 00:32:41,674 The greatest inventor America had. 710 00:32:41,674 --> 00:32:45,845 But he was a naturalist. 711 00:32:45,845 --> 00:32:50,175 Einstein. Everybody knows who Einstein is. 712 00:32:50,175 --> 00:32:53,171 And he worshiped the god of Spinosa the philosopher. 713 00:32:53,171 --> 00:32:56,066 He doesn't have a good name. 714 00:32:56,066 --> 00:32:58,435 A great one among men. 715 00:32:58,435 --> 00:33:00,419 Among scientists. 716 00:33:00,419 --> 00:33:03,289 Among philosophers. 717 00:33:03,289 --> 00:33:07,756 But the day of his death is not better 718 00:33:07,756 --> 00:33:10,214 than the day of his birth. 719 00:33:10,214 --> 00:33:15,145 Because it's not a good name. 720 00:33:15,145 --> 00:33:17,913 Proverbs 10:7 says, 721 00:33:17,913 --> 00:33:22,886 "The memory of the righteous is a blessing." 722 00:33:22,886 --> 00:33:26,394 It's a blessing to us. 723 00:33:26,394 --> 00:33:27,973 Knowing who Conrad was, 724 00:33:27,973 --> 00:33:29,459 reading his books, 725 00:33:29,459 --> 00:33:31,910 listening to his sermons, 726 00:33:31,910 --> 00:33:35,152 seeing pictures, telling stories - 727 00:33:35,152 --> 00:33:36,749 they're meant to encourage us. 728 00:33:36,749 --> 00:33:39,041 And they do. 729 00:33:39,041 --> 00:33:43,334 As they all focus toward that name above every name, 730 00:33:43,334 --> 00:33:45,024 Jesus Christ. 731 00:33:45,024 --> 00:33:47,090 See, if your name doesn't dovetail 732 00:33:47,090 --> 00:33:49,726 into that direction, 733 00:33:49,726 --> 00:33:52,868 you don't have a good name. 734 00:33:52,868 --> 00:33:55,768 And it's not going to be a good day 735 00:33:55,768 --> 00:33:58,497 when the expiration date comes for you. 736 00:33:58,497 --> 00:34:00,609 Now, this is just what the text says. 737 00:34:00,609 --> 00:34:02,362 Do you ever wonder why you're even 738 00:34:02,362 --> 00:34:04,031 given a name in the first place? 739 00:34:04,031 --> 00:34:05,348 A name identifies you. 740 00:34:05,348 --> 00:34:06,921 It makes you part of a society. 741 00:34:06,921 --> 00:34:08,714 It tells the community around you 742 00:34:08,714 --> 00:34:13,887 that you exist and you're an individual. 743 00:34:13,887 --> 00:34:16,205 You give babies names. 744 00:34:16,205 --> 00:34:18,169 They don't want you naming fetuses, 745 00:34:18,169 --> 00:34:22,010 because that would make them valuable. 746 00:34:22,010 --> 00:34:23,685 That would make them a person. 747 00:34:23,685 --> 00:34:25,255 That would give them rights. 748 00:34:25,255 --> 00:34:27,149 That would somehow elevate them 749 00:34:27,149 --> 00:34:32,661 into the community. 750 00:34:32,661 --> 00:34:34,971 But we're all given names. 751 00:34:34,971 --> 00:34:36,818 We're given names for a reason. 752 00:34:36,818 --> 00:34:40,079 And God calls us by name. 753 00:34:40,079 --> 00:34:43,181 The very essence of what it means to be human 754 00:34:43,181 --> 00:34:45,427 means that we have this naming function 755 00:34:45,427 --> 00:34:48,220 that we see in Adam in the garden, for example. 756 00:34:48,220 --> 00:34:50,193 He names the animals. 757 00:34:50,193 --> 00:34:53,415 He names them because that's what they are 758 00:34:53,415 --> 00:34:55,453 and God says, "name the animals." 759 00:34:55,453 --> 00:34:57,402 Because God's given him a name. 760 00:34:57,402 --> 00:34:58,784 That's how he can name Eve 761 00:34:58,784 --> 00:34:59,816 and say who she is. 762 00:34:59,816 --> 00:35:01,441 Not just a proper name, "Eve," 763 00:35:01,441 --> 00:35:03,785 but her function and her identity. 764 00:35:03,785 --> 00:35:04,750 We do that. 765 00:35:04,750 --> 00:35:06,129 It's called dominion. 766 00:35:06,129 --> 00:35:08,416 And you have a name. 767 00:35:08,416 --> 00:35:10,111 But the question this morning 768 00:35:10,111 --> 00:35:12,328 is will it be a good name? 769 00:35:12,328 --> 00:35:13,904 We celebrate Conrad's life 770 00:35:13,904 --> 00:35:16,961 because he had a good name. 771 00:35:16,961 --> 00:35:20,727 His name's found in the Lamb's Book of Life. 772 00:35:20,727 --> 00:35:21,908 There are many names, 773 00:35:21,908 --> 00:35:23,392 names that you know, 774 00:35:23,392 --> 00:35:27,865 that will not be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. 775 00:35:27,865 --> 00:35:29,423 Well, if you need an example, 776 00:35:29,423 --> 00:35:32,991 Caitlin Jenner will not be found in the Lamb's Book of Life. 777 00:35:32,991 --> 00:35:36,440 Bruce Jenner might be. 778 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:39,929 That's just an example. It's not a good name. 779 00:35:39,929 --> 00:35:41,691 You can change it. 780 00:35:41,691 --> 00:35:44,200 You can nickname it. 781 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,122 You can make it catchy. 782 00:35:46,122 --> 00:35:47,827 You can do something among men 783 00:35:47,827 --> 00:35:52,831 and be great, but if it isn't good, 784 00:35:52,831 --> 00:35:56,651 and the righteous are blessed by it, 785 00:35:56,651 --> 00:36:01,887 and Christ is glorified in it, 786 00:36:01,887 --> 00:36:03,737 it's not a good name. 787 00:36:03,737 --> 00:36:05,463 And the day of one's death is not 788 00:36:05,463 --> 00:36:08,572 going to be better than the day of one's birth. 789 00:36:08,572 --> 00:36:12,268 So how is this day, February 23rd, 790 00:36:12,268 --> 00:36:17,049 a better day than the day of Conrad's birth 791 00:36:17,049 --> 00:36:18,566 celebrated 89 times? 792 00:36:18,566 --> 00:36:20,831 Well, the most obvious way it's better - 793 00:36:20,831 --> 00:36:24,439 it's better for Conrad. 794 00:36:24,439 --> 00:36:26,696 Think about what that day meant for him. 795 00:36:26,696 --> 00:36:28,341 It wasn't like a birthday party 796 00:36:28,341 --> 00:36:30,345 and celebrating and blowing out candles 797 00:36:30,345 --> 00:36:34,954 and opening up a few presents. 798 00:36:34,954 --> 00:36:38,861 Think about how Conrad entered the world 799 00:36:38,861 --> 00:36:40,002 on the day of his birth. 800 00:36:40,002 --> 00:36:41,577 Let's compare the two days. 801 00:36:41,577 --> 00:36:43,806 On December 15th, he entered the world 802 00:36:43,806 --> 00:36:45,431 under the wrath of God 803 00:36:45,431 --> 00:36:47,507 according to Ephesians 2. 804 00:36:47,507 --> 00:36:49,566 He entered heaven under the grace of God 805 00:36:49,566 --> 00:36:52,790 in nothing but praise and worship to the Lamb. 806 00:36:52,790 --> 00:36:56,887 I think that's a better day. 807 00:36:56,887 --> 00:37:02,728 He comes in crying. He goes out praising. 808 00:37:02,728 --> 00:37:04,557 Surrounded by sinners 809 00:37:04,557 --> 00:37:06,484 and a world of demons and depravity, 810 00:37:06,484 --> 00:37:10,240 and according to Romans 8, futility. 811 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:12,974 And he enters a world of completion, 812 00:37:12,974 --> 00:37:16,640 inheritance. 813 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:21,288 That work, we heard sung, in Philippians 1:6 is done. 814 00:37:21,288 --> 00:37:24,554 It's completed. 815 00:37:24,554 --> 00:37:25,378 He's complete. 816 00:37:25,378 --> 00:37:27,041 He's entered into his inheritance. 817 00:37:27,041 --> 00:37:31,340 That's a good day. 818 00:37:31,340 --> 00:37:33,780 The book he writes, "Faith Cometh," 819 00:37:33,780 --> 00:37:36,727 it's sight cometh. 820 00:37:36,727 --> 00:37:38,305 There's no more salvation when, 821 00:37:38,305 --> 00:37:41,217 it's salvation now. 822 00:37:41,217 --> 00:37:43,231 These are realities that our brother 823 00:37:43,231 --> 00:37:45,116 not just has experienced on that day, 824 00:37:45,116 --> 00:37:46,945 but that's for all of us 825 00:37:46,945 --> 00:37:50,982 who have a good name. 826 00:37:50,982 --> 00:37:52,544 His fight ended. 827 00:37:52,544 --> 00:37:54,453 His race concluded. 828 00:37:54,453 --> 00:37:59,052 His cross exchanged. 829 00:37:59,052 --> 00:38:00,881 A name that was written 830 00:38:00,881 --> 00:38:03,702 on the Savior's hand - 831 00:38:03,702 --> 00:38:06,297 Isaiah 49:16. 832 00:38:06,297 --> 00:38:10,800 Inscribed in the palm of His hand it says. 833 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,542 Inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life. 834 00:38:14,542 --> 00:38:17,783 He's now one with the name above all names. 835 00:38:17,783 --> 00:38:20,247 He's one with his Savior. 836 00:38:20,247 --> 00:38:22,173 So it's not only better for Conrad, 837 00:38:22,173 --> 00:38:23,769 it's also better for us. 838 00:38:23,769 --> 00:38:24,583 Better for us. 839 00:38:24,583 --> 00:38:26,884 Wait a minute. That doesn't make a lot of sense. 840 00:38:26,884 --> 00:38:29,742 I mean, I thought we were praying that he would live on. 841 00:38:29,742 --> 00:38:32,492 You pray for your loved ones. You don't want to see them die 842 00:38:32,492 --> 00:38:35,000 and leave and depart from you, but it's better. 843 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:36,824 Even for us left behind. 844 00:38:36,824 --> 00:38:39,563 How is it better for us? 845 00:38:39,563 --> 00:38:44,205 Being sad isn't the same thing as being worse off. 846 00:38:44,205 --> 00:38:46,418 The heart can be sad, it says, 847 00:38:46,418 --> 00:38:49,694 and there can be laughter in the heart. 848 00:38:49,694 --> 00:38:51,093 We don't mourn like the world 849 00:38:51,093 --> 00:38:54,174 who has no hope. 850 00:38:54,174 --> 00:38:55,794 It's better for us because, 851 00:38:55,794 --> 00:38:57,676 as it says in Hebrews 13, 852 00:38:57,676 --> 00:39:00,792 we can follow his conduct, 853 00:39:00,792 --> 00:39:03,444 imitate his faith - leaders among us, 854 00:39:03,444 --> 00:39:04,689 the writer tells us. 855 00:39:04,689 --> 00:39:06,642 Observe their conduct. 856 00:39:06,642 --> 00:39:09,076 Imitate their faith. 857 00:39:09,076 --> 00:39:11,315 Well, his conduct all the way 858 00:39:11,315 --> 00:39:13,610 till the day he died was faithfulness. 859 00:39:13,610 --> 00:39:16,021 You need to imitate that kind of faith. 860 00:39:16,021 --> 00:39:18,152 That's better for us. 861 00:39:18,152 --> 00:39:19,665 He didn't back out at the last 862 00:39:19,665 --> 00:39:22,814 hundred yards of the marathon. 863 00:39:22,814 --> 00:39:25,315 That's a testimony for us. 864 00:39:25,315 --> 00:39:27,105 It's a testimony knowing that God 865 00:39:27,105 --> 00:39:30,194 can take a man made out of clay like us, 866 00:39:30,194 --> 00:39:32,388 same frailties and weakness, 867 00:39:32,388 --> 00:39:34,480 and bring him across Jordan. 868 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:36,396 That's a good thing. 869 00:39:36,396 --> 00:39:38,838 He can turn around and say I'm about to die. 870 00:39:38,838 --> 00:39:40,163 You watch me die 871 00:39:40,163 --> 00:39:42,777 and you follow my example. 872 00:39:42,777 --> 00:39:45,345 You need me to die, 873 00:39:45,345 --> 00:39:48,105 so you can follow my example. 874 00:39:48,105 --> 00:39:51,061 Now that's a leader. 875 00:39:51,061 --> 00:39:52,623 Reminds me of Bob Jennings 876 00:39:52,623 --> 00:39:56,313 making his own coffin. 877 00:39:56,313 --> 00:39:58,660 Constructing it. Who does that? 878 00:39:58,660 --> 00:40:01,103 Leaders saying I'm ready to go. 879 00:40:01,103 --> 00:40:03,472 You watch me make this. 880 00:40:03,472 --> 00:40:05,539 You learn from me. 881 00:40:05,539 --> 00:40:08,601 Like Paul would say, "follow my example." 882 00:40:08,601 --> 00:40:10,433 We need leaders like that 883 00:40:10,433 --> 00:40:11,567 who can face death; 884 00:40:11,567 --> 00:40:13,919 that have no fear of death, as it says. 885 00:40:13,919 --> 00:40:17,153 We're not enslaved as it says in Romans 8. 886 00:40:17,153 --> 00:40:18,347 You cry, "Abba, Father;" 887 00:40:18,347 --> 00:40:23,134 you can't cry "scary, scary" when it comes to death. 888 00:40:23,134 --> 00:40:26,066 No. That's the testimony. 889 00:40:26,066 --> 00:40:29,058 So it's better for us 890 00:40:29,058 --> 00:40:30,913 that Conrad leaves us richer 891 00:40:30,913 --> 00:40:33,539 because of these things. 892 00:40:33,539 --> 00:40:36,330 Remember his legacy of how he freely gave. 893 00:40:36,330 --> 00:40:39,070 How he judiciously spoke. 894 00:40:39,070 --> 00:40:41,363 Sometimes you couldn't pry a word out of him. 895 00:40:41,363 --> 00:40:42,960 Sometimes. 896 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:46,509 But that's a testimony that he leaves behind. 897 00:40:46,509 --> 00:40:49,000 He passionately preached, 898 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,857 and he unconditionally loved. 899 00:40:51,857 --> 00:40:55,399 But lastly, it's not only a better day for Conrad, 900 00:40:55,399 --> 00:40:56,831 and a better day for us, 901 00:40:56,831 --> 00:40:59,994 ironically, it's a better day for God. 902 00:40:59,994 --> 00:41:02,399 Wait, how can it be a better day for God? 903 00:41:02,399 --> 00:41:04,793 There's no better and worse for God. 904 00:41:04,793 --> 00:41:06,561 He's perfect, right? 905 00:41:06,561 --> 00:41:08,374 Exactly. We know that. 906 00:41:08,374 --> 00:41:12,124 But God says in Psalm 116:15, 907 00:41:12,124 --> 00:41:15,987 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." 908 00:41:15,987 --> 00:41:18,418 God says last Friday, 909 00:41:18,418 --> 00:41:22,323 He had a precious moment. 910 00:41:22,323 --> 00:41:23,837 Friday. 911 00:41:23,837 --> 00:41:26,570 That was God's precious moment. 912 00:41:26,570 --> 00:41:27,532 He says that. 913 00:41:27,532 --> 00:41:31,205 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. 914 00:41:31,205 --> 00:41:35,460 Something changed on the part of God and Conrad 915 00:41:35,460 --> 00:41:37,666 last Friday, 916 00:41:37,666 --> 00:41:40,560 that will change with you on the day of your death. 917 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:44,181 The intercession of Christ is complete 918 00:41:44,181 --> 00:41:47,389 for our brother in the earthly body. 919 00:41:47,389 --> 00:41:50,260 He enters into the joy of his Master. 920 00:41:50,260 --> 00:41:52,231 Our sympathetic High Priest - 921 00:41:52,231 --> 00:41:55,295 there's no sympathy anymore with Conrad there. 922 00:41:55,295 --> 00:41:57,967 He's perfect and complete. 923 00:41:57,967 --> 00:42:01,267 He's not entering into that type 924 00:42:01,267 --> 00:42:03,582 of necessity from the High Priest 925 00:42:03,582 --> 00:42:08,850 in the earthly body. 926 00:42:08,850 --> 00:42:10,723 It was the testimony 927 00:42:10,723 --> 00:42:13,012 of what Christ did on the cross 928 00:42:13,012 --> 00:42:15,902 with Conrad's sins in taking them away 929 00:42:15,902 --> 00:42:17,765 and taking away in propitiation 930 00:42:17,765 --> 00:42:19,136 the wrath of God, 931 00:42:19,136 --> 00:42:21,183 and God making those promises 932 00:42:21,183 --> 00:42:23,090 to be faithful to the end, 933 00:42:23,090 --> 00:42:25,387 God was vindicated on that day. 934 00:42:25,387 --> 00:42:27,568 I was faithful to the end with My own. 935 00:42:27,568 --> 00:42:29,370 I kept My own to the end, 936 00:42:29,370 --> 00:42:31,346 as Christ prays in John 17. 937 00:42:31,346 --> 00:42:33,386 I kept this one till the end. 938 00:42:33,386 --> 00:42:35,737 And I am testifying to all the world 939 00:42:35,737 --> 00:42:37,532 that I kept him till the end. 940 00:42:37,532 --> 00:42:39,423 That was a better day for God. 941 00:42:39,423 --> 00:42:41,655 He certifies He's faithful 942 00:42:41,655 --> 00:42:44,317 to His own people for His own purposes 943 00:42:44,317 --> 00:42:46,047 and for His own cause. 944 00:42:46,047 --> 00:42:49,196 Better for Conrad, better for us, 945 00:42:49,196 --> 00:42:52,896 better for God. 946 00:42:52,896 --> 00:42:55,922 If you don't have a good name, 947 00:42:55,922 --> 00:42:58,514 I guess you better hope you had a good ointment. 948 00:42:58,514 --> 00:43:00,260 Which isn't going to prove effectual 949 00:43:00,260 --> 00:43:05,350 on that day. 950 00:43:05,350 --> 00:43:08,251 Jesus had a name at birth. 951 00:43:08,251 --> 00:43:09,997 "You shall call His name Jesus 952 00:43:09,997 --> 00:43:12,926 for He will save His people from their sins." 953 00:43:12,926 --> 00:43:16,125 The baby in the manger didn't save anybody. 954 00:43:16,125 --> 00:43:18,192 Not yet. 955 00:43:18,192 --> 00:43:20,148 You know how many Jesus's there were 956 00:43:20,148 --> 00:43:22,274 running around in Israel in those days? 957 00:43:22,274 --> 00:43:23,472 It was a common name. 958 00:43:23,472 --> 00:43:26,885 It's a derivative of Joshua. 959 00:43:26,885 --> 00:43:29,912 Hundreds of Jewish children named Jesus. 960 00:43:29,912 --> 00:43:34,567 But at the end of His life, 961 00:43:34,567 --> 00:43:38,008 He had a name no one else had: 962 00:43:38,008 --> 00:43:40,526 Jesus Christ. 963 00:43:40,526 --> 00:43:42,815 The Messiah. 964 00:43:42,815 --> 00:43:44,506 He had to learn to become 965 00:43:44,506 --> 00:43:47,396 that faithful High Priest. 966 00:43:47,396 --> 00:43:49,311 You don't become that in the manger. 967 00:43:49,311 --> 00:43:51,971 You do earn those stripes when you say, 968 00:43:51,971 --> 00:43:54,132 "It is finished," at the cross. 969 00:43:54,132 --> 00:43:55,916 That's a good name. 970 00:43:55,916 --> 00:43:57,954 The name above all names. 971 00:43:57,954 --> 00:44:01,994 At the name of Jesus Christ, men are saved. 972 00:44:01,994 --> 00:44:05,274 They call upon the name of the Lord and are saved. 973 00:44:05,274 --> 00:44:07,978 What kind of power does a name like that have? 974 00:44:07,978 --> 00:44:10,586 The name of Jesus Christ. 975 00:44:10,586 --> 00:44:12,753 That's a good name. 976 00:44:12,753 --> 00:44:16,196 A name that demons fear. 977 00:44:16,196 --> 00:44:18,306 A name above every name. 978 00:44:18,306 --> 00:44:19,887 So, I close with this. 979 00:44:19,887 --> 00:44:23,564 Do you have a good name? 980 00:44:23,564 --> 00:44:26,024 Good names also have 981 00:44:26,024 --> 00:44:29,545 good reservations in heaven already made. 982 00:44:29,545 --> 00:44:31,788 Made in the Lamb's Book of Life. 983 00:44:31,788 --> 00:44:34,331 If the only place your name is recorded 984 00:44:34,331 --> 00:44:39,357 is on your birth certificate, 985 00:44:39,357 --> 00:44:42,089 your name will not be found on that day. 986 00:44:42,089 --> 00:44:43,634 Because on that day as it says 987 00:44:43,634 --> 00:44:45,345 in Revelation 20, "And they looked, 988 00:44:45,345 --> 00:44:48,075 and his name was not recorded 989 00:44:48,075 --> 00:44:49,756 in the Lamb's Book of Life." 990 00:44:49,756 --> 00:44:51,407 Or, his name was recorded 991 00:44:51,407 --> 00:44:52,783 in the Lamb's Book of Life. 992 00:44:52,783 --> 00:44:56,520 Your name. It identifies who you are. 993 00:44:56,520 --> 00:44:58,195 It doesn't have to be catchy, 994 00:44:58,195 --> 00:44:59,897 and it doesn't have to be great. 995 00:44:59,897 --> 00:45:02,003 But it has to be tied and surrounded 996 00:45:02,003 --> 00:45:05,363 and dovetailed into the name above all names - 997 00:45:05,363 --> 00:45:06,782 Jesus Christ - 998 00:45:06,782 --> 00:45:08,113 for it to be a good name. 999 00:45:08,113 --> 00:45:11,160 And you know when it's a good name, 1000 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:13,589 it says in Revelation 2, 1001 00:45:13,589 --> 00:45:16,714 He'll give you a new name. 1002 00:45:16,714 --> 00:45:17,952 Imagine that. 1003 00:45:17,952 --> 00:45:19,896 A new name. 1004 00:45:19,896 --> 00:45:21,753 And it won't have a last name 1005 00:45:21,753 --> 00:45:24,629 that identifies me with the tribe of LaCour, 1006 00:45:24,629 --> 00:45:27,463 and identifies me specifically out of the tribe of LeCour - Mark. 1007 00:45:27,463 --> 00:45:29,069 And I've got a middle name to make sure 1008 00:45:29,069 --> 00:45:30,560 in case there's two Mark's, 1009 00:45:30,560 --> 00:45:31,837 I'm Mark Keith LaCour. 1010 00:45:31,837 --> 00:45:33,250 No, it won't be like that. 1011 00:45:33,250 --> 00:45:34,381 It will be a new name. 1012 00:45:34,381 --> 00:45:37,077 A new name that He gives to His own. 1013 00:45:37,077 --> 00:45:39,426 His own children. 1014 00:45:39,426 --> 00:45:43,228 A name that incorporates His name with it. 1015 00:45:43,228 --> 00:45:46,462 Abram wasn't always going to stay Abram, right? 1016 00:45:46,462 --> 00:45:48,785 He was going to be called "Abraham." 1017 00:45:48,785 --> 00:45:51,574 And the "-ham" part is part of Yahweh 1018 00:45:51,574 --> 00:45:53,478 when you pronounce it in the Hebrew. 1019 00:45:53,478 --> 00:45:56,202 And God says you're going to take in part of My name. 1020 00:45:56,202 --> 00:45:58,517 And you're going to walk the rest of your life - 1021 00:45:58,517 --> 00:46:00,131 this is what you're going to be called. 1022 00:46:00,131 --> 00:46:03,201 No, you're not going to be called Saul. You're going to be called Paul. 1023 00:46:03,201 --> 00:46:05,607 No, Cephas, you're going to be called Peter. 1024 00:46:05,607 --> 00:46:07,197 What are they going to call you? 1025 00:46:07,197 --> 00:46:09,810 What is that new name going to be? 1026 00:46:09,810 --> 00:46:10,919 Do you have one? 1027 00:46:10,919 --> 00:46:12,069 You can't get a new one, 1028 00:46:12,069 --> 00:46:13,831 unless you have a good one. 1029 00:46:13,831 --> 00:46:15,521 And good ones are found recorded 1030 00:46:15,521 --> 00:46:17,519 in the Lamb's Book of Life by the Lamb. 1031 00:46:17,519 --> 00:46:21,298 Conrad Murrell had a good name. 1032 00:46:21,298 --> 00:46:25,060 He wore many hats, but it's that name. 1033 00:46:25,060 --> 00:46:26,964 Will that name be remembered? 1034 00:46:26,964 --> 00:46:30,176 Of course. Will yours be remembered? 1035 00:46:30,176 --> 00:46:31,883 Let's ask the Lord and pray. 1036 00:46:31,883 --> 00:46:34,644 Father, we ask, help us in this, Lord, 1037 00:46:34,644 --> 00:46:38,880 in Your Word. 1038 00:46:38,880 --> 00:46:43,466 We seek to lift up Jesus Christ. 1039 00:46:43,466 --> 00:46:45,702 We ask Father, that You would 1040 00:46:45,702 --> 00:46:49,095 bring Your Word to bear. 1041 00:46:49,095 --> 00:46:53,989 Cause us, Father, to have a good name. 1042 00:46:53,989 --> 00:46:55,335 Not just simply the names 1043 00:46:55,335 --> 00:46:56,961 our parents gave us, 1044 00:46:56,961 --> 00:46:59,020 but the name You give us. 1045 00:46:59,020 --> 00:47:01,217 One of Your own. 1046 00:47:01,217 --> 00:47:09,114 One of the Lamb's elect. 1047 00:47:09,114 --> 00:47:10,822 He died on the cross for our sins. 1048 00:47:10,822 --> 00:47:12,306 We love You and we thank You. 1049 00:47:12,306 --> 00:47:19,523 In Christ's great name we pray, Amen. 1050 00:47:19,523 --> 00:47:22,586 I want to read a passage 1051 00:47:22,586 --> 00:47:34,864 out of 2 Timothy. 1052 00:47:34,864 --> 00:47:41,737 We want to listen close to the words. 1053 00:47:41,737 --> 00:47:45,531 And as we read this, 1054 00:47:45,531 --> 00:47:48,537 it is Paul. 1055 00:47:48,537 --> 00:47:52,510 But I think it's worthy that Conrad Murrell 1056 00:47:52,510 --> 00:47:56,437 can say these words. 1057 00:47:56,437 --> 00:48:00,049 At that time while he was still waiting 1058 00:48:00,049 --> 00:48:03,824 his time. 1059 00:48:03,824 --> 00:48:06,291 He says here: 1060 00:48:06,291 --> 00:48:12,407 "For I am now ready..." 1061 00:48:12,407 --> 00:48:15,012 I am ready. 1062 00:48:15,012 --> 00:48:18,627 And he'd want to know, are we ready? 1063 00:48:18,627 --> 00:48:20,542 Now remember, one time he said, 1064 00:48:20,542 --> 00:48:23,030 pulled between two - whether to stay or not stay, 1065 00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:24,500 it'd be better to be there than here, 1066 00:48:24,500 --> 00:48:27,020 but he stayed because God still wanted him here. 1067 00:48:27,020 --> 00:48:29,862 We should be content with the will of God 1068 00:48:29,862 --> 00:48:32,823 to be here as long as God wants us. 1069 00:48:32,823 --> 00:48:36,143 And Brother Conrad was still blessing my heart 1070 00:48:36,143 --> 00:48:39,428 even when he could hardly get out of the house. 1071 00:48:39,428 --> 00:48:41,228 Why? God didn't leave him here 1072 00:48:41,228 --> 00:48:42,553 just for a trophy. 1073 00:48:42,553 --> 00:48:44,844 He left him here still a treasure 1074 00:48:44,844 --> 00:48:47,022 that is rich if you could sit at his feet 1075 00:48:47,022 --> 00:48:50,109 and just begin to listen to his few words. 1076 00:48:50,109 --> 00:48:52,017 He would embrace you 1077 00:48:52,017 --> 00:48:55,350 with the love and grace of God. 1078 00:48:55,350 --> 00:48:59,986 Alright, now. 1079 00:48:59,986 --> 00:49:03,412 "I'm now ready to be offered." 1080 00:49:03,412 --> 00:49:06,425 Now this is a continuing thing here. 1081 00:49:06,425 --> 00:49:14,280 (unintelligible) 1082 00:49:14,280 --> 00:49:16,622 Many times rejected by some. 1083 00:49:16,622 --> 00:49:18,296 But loved by the many that are here 1084 00:49:18,296 --> 00:49:20,465 on this day now. 1085 00:49:20,465 --> 00:49:22,898 He says, "the time is at hand, 1086 00:49:22,898 --> 00:49:24,560 I have fought a good fight. 1087 00:49:24,560 --> 00:49:26,155 I have finished my course." 1088 00:49:26,155 --> 00:49:29,004 Not somebody else's. 1089 00:49:29,004 --> 00:49:31,684 He didn't come off an assembly line. 1090 00:49:31,684 --> 00:49:34,569 But from the throne and the heart of God, 1091 00:49:34,569 --> 00:49:38,066 to minister to you and I. 1092 00:49:38,066 --> 00:49:39,600 "I have kept the faith. 1093 00:49:39,600 --> 00:49:42,400 Henceforth, there is laid up for me 1094 00:49:42,400 --> 00:49:45,891 a crown of righteousness." 1095 00:49:45,891 --> 00:49:52,476 One thing we see that is missing 1096 00:49:52,476 --> 00:49:55,338 in the language - it's not really missing, 1097 00:49:55,338 --> 00:50:00,495 but it's not there. 1098 00:50:00,495 --> 00:50:03,042 He's ready to be offered. 1099 00:50:03,042 --> 00:50:06,580 He didn't say or use the word "death." 1100 00:50:06,580 --> 00:50:08,092 Do we get it? 1101 00:50:08,092 --> 00:50:11,135 That's right. It's not in that passage. 1102 00:50:11,135 --> 00:50:13,699 Though it was in knowing it would be so, 1103 00:50:13,699 --> 00:50:16,103 and I wasn't there at the death 1104 00:50:16,103 --> 00:50:18,095 with the rest of the family, 1105 00:50:18,095 --> 00:50:22,496 but I don't think he had a fear of death. 1106 00:50:22,496 --> 00:50:28,952 (unintelligible) 1107 00:50:28,952 --> 00:50:31,123 It's been conquered in Christ. 1108 00:50:31,123 --> 00:50:34,726 And his life was to the end, the Apostle Paul, 1109 00:50:34,726 --> 00:50:36,180 was to be offered. 1110 00:50:36,180 --> 00:50:38,073 He was still going on. 1111 00:50:38,073 --> 00:50:39,966 (unintelligible) 1112 00:50:39,966 --> 00:50:42,539 He said have those bring my cloak. 1113 00:50:42,539 --> 00:50:45,688 He didn't know when, but he knew it was at hand. 1114 00:50:45,688 --> 00:50:48,369 And our brother knew his was at hand, 1115 00:50:48,369 --> 00:50:52,640 and he was ready to be offered. 1116 00:50:52,640 --> 00:50:55,353 And I would say you never heard him 1117 00:50:55,353 --> 00:50:57,524 in fear of death, did you? 1118 00:50:57,524 --> 00:51:02,054 No. 1119 00:51:02,054 --> 00:51:03,555 We misunderstand sometimes 1120 00:51:03,555 --> 00:51:05,089 like the disciples. 1121 00:51:05,089 --> 00:51:07,850 Lord, if Lazarus is just asleep... 1122 00:51:07,850 --> 00:51:09,536 He said I'm going to have to speak 1123 00:51:09,536 --> 00:51:15,259 on your level, your terms - he's dead. 1124 00:51:15,259 --> 00:51:18,144 But here the Apostle Paul 1125 00:51:18,144 --> 00:51:20,346 and our brother Conrad, 1126 00:51:20,346 --> 00:51:25,309 he didn't talk about these things. 1127 00:51:25,309 --> 00:51:29,931 Men, for each of us, 1128 00:51:29,931 --> 00:51:33,346 the greatest fear on the face of this earth 1129 00:51:33,346 --> 00:51:41,846 is death. 1130 00:51:41,846 --> 00:51:44,399 Just rest in the Lord. 1131 00:51:44,399 --> 00:51:46,898 Just trust Him. 1132 00:51:46,898 --> 00:51:48,930 Nothing to fear. 1133 00:51:48,930 --> 00:51:50,708 Before my wife sings this song 1134 00:51:50,708 --> 00:51:52,265 that Conrad always loved 1135 00:51:52,265 --> 00:51:56,147 and wanted to hear her sing, 1136 00:51:56,147 --> 00:51:57,956 I've been thinking about some words 1137 00:51:57,956 --> 00:51:59,617 that Conrad penned - 1138 00:51:59,617 --> 00:52:02,499 first preached and then penned in his book "Faith Cometh." 1139 00:52:02,499 --> 00:52:06,714 He said, "Faith is not a state of mind. 1140 00:52:06,714 --> 00:52:09,855 Faith is not conviction. 1141 00:52:09,855 --> 00:52:12,048 It is not assurance. 1142 00:52:12,048 --> 00:52:14,375 Faith is something you do 1143 00:52:14,375 --> 00:52:16,376 in light of who God is 1144 00:52:16,376 --> 00:52:19,158 and what God has said." 1145 00:52:19,158 --> 00:52:21,275 And I saw that in our dear brother, 1146 00:52:21,275 --> 00:52:23,513 an abiding faith 1147 00:52:23,513 --> 00:52:25,239 and just a rest in Christ. 1148 00:52:25,239 --> 00:52:28,935 And this song, I think, captured 1149 00:52:28,935 --> 00:52:31,954 that restfulness of his spirit in the Lord. 1150 00:52:31,954 --> 00:52:34,001 No matter what the Lord gave, 1151 00:52:34,001 --> 00:52:35,559 it was alright with our brother 1152 00:52:35,559 --> 00:52:37,532 and should be alright with us. 1153 00:52:37,532 --> 00:52:46,765 Our God is good. 1154 00:52:46,765 --> 00:52:49,103 He would really shout loud too. 1155 00:52:49,103 --> 00:52:51,972 Consider the lilies, 1156 00:52:51,972 --> 00:52:56,245 they don't toil, nor spin. 1157 00:52:56,245 --> 00:52:59,730 And there's not a king 1158 00:52:59,730 --> 00:53:05,643 with more splendor than them.