A warning in advance … if you were close to Char Kloster and her family … you might want to wait to read this until you are in a place of privacy.  I cried as I formed it, I cried as I wrote it, and I cried when I re-read it.

From November 3, 1932 – April 2, 2023, Char “Chuckie” Kloster lived on this earth.  She will be dearly missed by many.  And yesterday, April 25, 2023, her family and friends did a wonderful job celebrating her.

Char’s life was summed up beautifully, and, as with all who live on this earth, her 11/3/1932 – 4/2/2023 were important dates.  But they were not nearly as important as that – (dash) in between them.  Char lived out “her dash” to the fullest extent.

Appropriately summed up by the verse,

2 Timothy 4  7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Char FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.  She was “all day long tough”, she showed up for work and for family, she was loyal, and loving, and blunt.  When she said something she was honest and straightforward.  And you knew where you stood with her.

Her legacy lives in her family and those she influenced.  Because they carry it with honor and grace and strength.  It shows up in her children and her grandchildren and her friends.  And thank God that it does, because she carried traits what we would all aspire to have:

Courage

Integrity

Toughness

Loyalty

Brutal Honesty

Sticktoitiveness

But more than any of those …

She carried a Faith in Jesus Christ.

And today, we will talk about that … that ultra important Faith in Jesus.

I can remember when my dad died I could not stop crying.  The grief I felt was overwhelming.

And then … at the back of church one Sunday … God presented me with a picture of him.  He was young, he was healthy, and he was happy.  In a moment … my sting was gone.

This gospel I preach is not an old-time story.

It is not a plate glass window.

It is not a tradition.

It is not a time-waster of our Sundays.

This gospel is in front of us because a man named Jesus hung on a cross ON OUR BEHALF and paid a penalty that was supposed to be OUR BURDEN.

Our very date … 2023 … is BECAUSE OF HIM.  We are 2023 AD.

The men and women who delivered us this gospel paid a hefty price to get it to us.  They gave up standing and popularity and money and … they gave up their very lives so that we could read John 3:16 and decide whether it was for us or not.  It is truly our individual choice.

He … He (Jesus) has a prepared a place of us (John 14:3).  So just as He loves Char and has given her an eternal home, He also wants to offer one to you.  In this home, there will be no rust.  There will be no tears.  And we will truly experience what freedom truly looks like.

And so I say to you today:  Meet Me At Char’s House.

Not the one over on 1711 Collyer.

Meet me at the one in John 14:3.  And bring your friends with you.

As I was writing this this morning I kept finding and playing the perfect song to go with it.  Again and again and again.

I encourage you take the time and listen to all of them.  They all speak to her life and this very issue.  And they are all worthwhile songs to worship God.

Shout To The Lord by Darlene Zschech

“Nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU”

Well Done by The Afters

“Well done well done my good and faithful one … welcome to the place where you belong.”

How Far by Tasha Layton

“A million miles of my mistakes … they couldn’t keep your love away … “

Meet Me At Char’s House!

In The Name of the Father and the 

Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

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Coach J