This sermon reflects on the life of a dear friend, Joshua, highlighting his dedication to football, coaching, and his interest in matters of life after death. It emphasizes the importance of reflecting on death and eternity, challenging listeners to consider the purpose of their lives and the reality of what happens after death.

It's going to be tough to get through this without crying. Josh and I, along with some others here, were best friends growing up. The first time I met Josh was in preschool and my wife happened to find this picture here. He used to always make fun of his bowl haircut. He had a black bowl haircut. We were together from preschool all the way through college. In fact, it was Josh that talked me into going to college and we both signed up for criminal justice at Akron U. We played together on many teams and Josh was one heck of a running back. I once saw him in high school once. He broke nine tackles in one play. There were only 11 guys on the defense. I don't think I've ever seen Jim Brown or Barry Sanders break nine tackles in a single play. If he was maybe a few inches taller, he would be in the NFL. He just loved football so much so that he began to coach after high school and talked me into coaching with him. We coached together at Talmadge for years and he was just so dedicated. It wasn't uncommon for him to be up past midnight putting together a game plan. Everything that Josh did, he was so dedicated at. He was also a prankster growing up whether it was sneaking whoopee cushions into a movie theater or late night prank calls. One time after I started a church in Kent in 2001 during the anthrax scare, he came into the church dressed in a hazmat suit and said there was a report of anthrax. He couldn't keep a straight, well he didn't have a face because he had a big thing over his head, but he couldn't keep from laughing too long because we were all, needless to say it was really funny. But one thing that Josh had interest in that's not been mentioned today is in the matters of life after death. Many, many nights we would stay up late discussing Jesus, heaven, hell, salvation and the Bible. The reason I agreed to do this sermon is that I know what Josh would want shared today. Where you see many years ago he came to my church and heard a clear gospel message of salvation. And at the end of the sermon as the invitation went out, he raised his hand in response to the sermon. And what I would like to share just for 15 minutes here is the essence of the message that Josh heard that day. See because it's in times like these that we are forced to think about death and eternity. And why we are here on this earth. For most of us when the funeral is over we will go back to our busy lives. And with all the distractions of this nation, the soberness of this moment with its quiet reflection will be replaced by ringing cell phones and blaring TVs and busy schedules. And some here will go back to a life that does not like to think about what happens after death. Ask yourself this question. Would you rather go to a funeral or a movie? Would you rather go to a funeral or to see a funny comedian? Naturally, we would like to go to entertainment than a funeral. But the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7, a good name is better than fine perfume and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting. For death is the destiny of every man. The living shall take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter.