Today my friend Jeagher would have been twenty years old. He was born on December 22nd, 1990. I am reminder first just how much I miss my friend. I miss laughing with him ... I miss laughing at him. I miss having profound talks that don't happen often enough but move mountains when they do take place. I miss my friend Jeagher LaFountaine. I will remember him forever and look forward to one day seeing him again.

I was honored to share a few words at Jeagher's memorial service. I ran across my notes from the service recently and thought that Jeagher's birthday, today, would be a great day to share these words with all of you:

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Scott Parkinson and I am with PanicREV Ministries. I met Jeagher 5 or 6 years ago while doing ministry at the race track. Over the past couple years I have gotten to know Jeagher a lot better. In addition to our time hanging out at the track, Jeagher started coming to our weekly Bible study. I know I am going to miss him so much!

Since learning what happened to Jeagher, I have gone through an array of emotions; I have been hurt, confused, angry, sad, and mad. I have cried and I have missed Jeagher more than I can put into words; however, no matter what emotion my memory begins with I am almost always brought back to a place of smiles and laughter. Jeagher was such a special kid and was always doing something off the wall to make us laugh or make us take a step back and think. I am so thankful for all those wonderful memories. I am so thankful for the 18 years we did have with Jeagher.

In talking with Jeagher, and now with talking with his family over the last few days, it is clear that something was different with Jeagher over the last few months. One of the things that was different was he was really seeking to take ownership of his faith. In a few minutes you will meet Jeff as he plays a song for us in honor of Jeagher, but not too long ago Jeagher hit Jeff up late one night talking about life and talking about God. Jeagher had come to a place where he felt it was really time to put God first in his life. That conversation and that thought is what Jeagher left us with. It really got me thinking and brought to mind Mark 12: 30-31 where Jesus says the greatest of all the commandments is this, "³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

This weekend I was really blessed to spend some time with Josh at Glen Helen. I was even more blessed to see Josh running around, working on bikes, getting his friends dialed in for their motos. Even in the midst of his loss, he was loving others just as Jesus instructs us to do. It got me thinking and I am convinced that is exactly what Jeagher would want us to do. If we want to honor him, I know he would want us to love God with all that we are and love one another.

On a final note I wanted to share a verse with you all that Carol shared with me a few months back. It is John 14:1-3, Jesus speaking, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

I want to encourage everyone that while we are going to miss him, Jeagher finished his journey here on earth and went into eternity where he is waiting for us to join him. It isn't good bye; it's I will see you soon in that next step in our own personal journey towards eternity.

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