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StillStanding
05-09-2012, 09:34 AM
I attended the funeral of Lamar Sego in Macon, GA yesterday.

My checklist of things I've witnessed at funerals in my lifetime:

Crying *check*
Someone passing out on the floor *check*
Shockamoo *check*
tongues *check*
interpretation *check*

I can now add two new things to my list:

alter call *check*
SOMEONE COMING TO THE ALTER NEXT TO THE CASKET! *check*

I've never witnessed the look of bewilderment quite like the funeral home staff! People flocked over to help pray for the guy who had come forward. It was what you would expect at a Sunday night alter service.

The staff was patient for a time, but then made the family aware that there was a sheriff waiting outside to lead the procession to the gravesite and the cemetery staff was waiting on a hot day for their arrival! Awkwardness was at DEFCON 4. ha!

edit: Let me add that this is exactly how Lamar Sego would have wanted it!

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 09:37 AM
Just wait! The next funeral you go to will have someone "running the isles", or at least running laps around the casket.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 09:39 AM
....which will be all fun, games, and inspirational until the numbskull doing the running accidentally knocks the casket over and the body goes rolling across the floor.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 09:49 AM
Things I would LIKE to see at a funeral:

1) Would love to attend, just once, a classic Viking funeral where the body is floated out onto a lake or the ocean and set ablaze!

2) Someone start playing some island music and watch as the body rises from the coffin and starts slowly dancing to the beat.

3) See the casket suddenly open and a young-ish Sean Connery climb out, adjust his suit, make a spiffy remark and walk off in his search for Mr Big.

4) Be the only person in attendance and have the funeral director come up to me afterwards and say that the stranger laying in front of me is a muli-millionare who left everything to whoever attended his funeral (just me).

StillStanding
05-09-2012, 09:53 AM
Things I would LIKE to see at a funeral:

1) Would love to attend, just once, a classic Viking funeral where the body is floated out onto a lake or the ocean and set ablaze!

2) Someone start playing some island music and watch as the body rises from the coffin and starts slowly dancing to the beat.

3) See the casket suddenly open and a young-ish Sean Connery climb out, adjust his suit, make a spiffy remark and walk off in his search for Mr Big.

4) Be the only person in attendance and have the funeral director come up to me afterwards and say that the stranger laying in front of me is a muli-millionare who left everything to whoever attended his funeral (just me).

LOL! I heard that Steve Munsey once preached an entire sermon from inside a closed casket rolled to the front of the church! At the end, he popped open the lid and crawled out! haha! I would have LOVED to have been there to see that!

Cindy
05-09-2012, 09:55 AM
I was waiting for: and he raised up out of the casket. Is that wrong?

StillStanding
05-09-2012, 09:58 AM
I was waiting for: and he raised up out of the casket. Is that wrong?

:heeheehee

Bro. Robbins
05-09-2012, 10:00 AM
Just wait! The next funeral you go to will have someone "running the isles", or at least running laps around the casket.

I saw all the above mentioned as well as running the isles in funerals growing up in the Independent Baptist Church I was raised in. Was nothing unusual to see altar calls (the casket was usually to the side of the altar so there was access for people to come pray... and full band and choir singing... drums, tamborines, hand clapping... campmeeting preaching... all the above.

I've actually been saddened that in recent years we've moved funerals to funeral homes, don't have church services during them anymore, and these great testimonies to some great saints of God are not represented in their homegoing.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:00 AM
LOL! I heard that Steve Munsey once preached an entire sermon from inside a closed casket rolled to the front of the church! At the end, he popped open the lid and crawled out! haha! I would have LOVED to have been there to see that!

Especially if he went nuts with the makeup!

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4991409671832313&id=41520d4a977a034b3c683eb577fab8bf

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:24 AM
My wife already knows that if I go before her, my ashes are to be poured on one of our favorite hiking trails.

There will be no church service at my funeral.

If there is, I will come back and haunt everyone involved.

Cindy
05-09-2012, 10:30 AM
It should be a celebration, we are going home to be with our Lord and Savior!!

Dordrecht
05-09-2012, 10:31 AM
It should be a celebration, we are going home to be with our Lord and Savior!!

Amen!

MawMaw
05-09-2012, 10:34 AM
It should be a celebration, we are going home to be with our Lord and Savior!!

and my oh my.......then we really WILL be seeing it ALL!! \o/

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:34 AM
It should be a celebration, we are going home to be with our Lord and Savior!!

Perhaps, but there is still something to be said about respecting the wishes (and personality) of the deceased.

The last thing I would want is a church service.

....but seeing as how there is little I could do about it at that point, I suppose whatever happens happens. People could even belt out "I'm a Pentecostal!" as part of a typical one hour marathon song service and the most I could do is haunt them in retaliation.

AreYouReady?
05-09-2012, 10:38 AM
LOL! I heard that Steve Munsey once preached an entire sermon from inside a closed casket rolled to the front of the church! At the end, he popped open the lid and crawled out! haha! I would have LOVED to have been there to see that!

That is really weird.

I don't think I would ever go back to that church.

Cindy
05-09-2012, 10:39 AM
Perhaps, but there is still something to be said about respecting the wishes (and personality) of the deceased.

The last thing I would want is a church service.

....but seeing as how there is little I could do about it at that point, I suppose whatever happens happens. People could even belt out "I'm a Pentecostal!" as part of a typical one hour marathon song service and the most I could do is haunt them in retaliation.

Randy, I am sure your wife will respect your wishes. That's why we should plan ahead.

Cindy
05-09-2012, 10:40 AM
and my oh my.......then we really WILL be seeing it ALL!! \o/

Amen! Out of this evil world and being with Jesus is something to rejoice about.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:50 AM
Amen! Out of this evil world and being with Jesus is something to rejoice about.

I wonder why so many people spend so much time praying for "healings"......

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:53 AM
I saw all the above mentioned as well as running the isles in funerals growing up in the Independent Baptist Church I was raised in. Was nothing unusual to see altar calls (the casket was usually to the side of the altar so there was access for people to come pray... and full band and choir singing... drums, tamborines, hand clapping... campmeeting preaching... all the above.

I've actually been saddened that in recent years we've moved funerals to funeral homes, don't have church services during them anymore, and these great testimonies to some great saints of God are not represented in their homegoing.

I'm sure it is strictly a matter of logistics. The embalming is done on site and thus the body doesn't need to be moved more than once. I'm not sure about cremation, which is we plan on having done if we can keep the in-laws from getting involved.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 10:55 AM
I'm hoping this is the guy in charge of my funeral. :)
http://images.wikia.com/headhuntershorrorhouse/images/6/6b/Herman_Munster_001.jpg



But with my luck, I'll get him. :(
http://www.nefariousfilms.com/Images/Monsters/thetallman.jpg

Bro. Robbins
05-09-2012, 11:12 AM
I'm sure it is strictly a matter of logistics. The embalming is done on site and thus the body doesn't need to be moved more than once. I'm not sure about cremation, which is we plan on having done if we can keep the in-laws from getting involved.

Actually it's got a lot to do with cost. I know that in East TN, there are funeral homes in my parents home town that if the visitation and the funeral isn't held back to back at the funeral home it costs money. That's why in East TN now you will see many night time funerals held at funeral homes and then the family just meets at the graveside the next morning for internment.

Even here in Nashville to hold a funeral at a church and not the funeral home costs big time.

And BTW, most funeral homes do not do the embalming on location, unless they are an independent mom and pop. If there are 2 or 3 locations in one geogrpahic area all owned by the same company, they usually only pay to have a full time or two embalmer at one location and bus the bodies back and forth. That's been the case for years. (I've had a lot of church members in the past that were in that line of work).

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 11:24 AM
Actually it's got a lot to do with cost. I know that in East TN, there are funeral homes in my parents home town that if the visitation and the funeral isn't held back to back at the funeral home it costs money. That's why in East TN now you will see many night time funerals held at funeral homes and then the family just meets at the graveside the next morning for internment.

Even here in Nashville to hold a funeral at a church and not the funeral home costs big time.

And BTW, most funeral homes do not do the embalming on location, unless they are an independent mom and pop. If there are 2 or 3 locations in one geogrpahic area all owned by the same company, they usually only pay to have a full time or two embalmer at one location and bus the bodies back and forth. That's been the case for years. (I've had a lot of church members in the past that were in that line of work).

I'm apparently not up on the funeral industry. I always thought the embalming room was in the basement of each and every one. I've only known one person who was ever in the industry and even then it was only selling graveyard plots. All I know is that it is expensive.

Cindy
05-09-2012, 01:18 PM
I wonder why so many people spend so much time praying for "healings"......

Because it's a miracle to be healed in this earthly body. But, we are dying from the second we are born.

Bro. Robbins
05-09-2012, 01:28 PM
Because it's a miracle to be healed in this earthly body. But, we are dying from the second we are born.


For a saint... death is healing... as they are released from this curse of the flesh... but to pray to die, instead of being healed and staying here would be for the saint to forsake their duty to reach the lost here.

For me, my healing prayers are so that I might be more effective for the sake of the ministry. That I might be able to make a difference.... I'd much rather be in eternity... but I have lost loved ones that I still want to reach....and wanna be healthy enough to do it :nod

Cindy
05-09-2012, 01:49 PM
For a saint... death is healing... as they are released from this curse of the flesh... but to pray to die, instead of being healed and staying here would be for the saint to forsake their duty to reach the lost here.

For me, my healing prayers are so that I might be more effective for the sake of the ministry. That I might be able to make a difference.... I'd much rather be in eternity... but I have lost loved ones that I still want to reach....and wanna be healthy enough to do it :nod

:thumbsup

AreYouReady?
05-09-2012, 02:04 PM
They are starting to do visitation/funerals on the same day here too. One stop shop here. From Parlor to Chapel and no funeral procession. Just pallbearers carrying the deceased to the grave while a wake is held.

Bro. Robbins
05-09-2012, 02:16 PM
They are starting to do visitation/funerals on the same day here too. One stop shop here. From Parlor to Chapel and no funeral procession. Just pallbearers carrying the deceased to the grave while a wake is held.

and get ready for that night time mess too. All for the convenience of folks.... I got news for them... I plan to only die once (if that), and if that one death makes you have to take off half a day at work, so be it.

There will be a lot of people who will not like it when we bury my mom and dad, including some family. Since that part of the country does all visitations and funerals at night and at the funeral home.

We're going to do it the way I was raised, and mom and dad agree. Visitation the night before at the funeral home. Then a procession the next day to the church, either at 10am or 2pm. Then, we're going to have church at the funeral. Singing, preaching, clapping.... and then a procession to a cemetery out in the country led by a sheriff's car. I don't care what it costs, when my parents go, it won't be like it's just another event to place in my schedule.

Life for us will stop for a few days, for a few hours... and we will have every focus on honoring them... and their lives.... and do it in style and right.

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 02:34 PM
and get ready for that night time mess too. All for the convenience of folks.... I got news for them... I plan to only die once (if that), and if that one death makes you have to take off half a day at work, so be it.

There will be a lot of people who will not like it when we bury my mom and dad, including some family. Since that part of the country does all visitations and funerals at night and at the funeral home.

We're going to do it the way I was raised, and mom and dad agree. Visitation the night before at the funeral home. Then a procession the next day to the church, either at 10am or 2pm. Then, we're going to have church at the funeral. Singing, preaching, clapping.... and then a procession to a cemetery out in the country led by a sheriff's car. I don't care what it costs, when my parents go, it won't be like it's just another event to place in my schedule.

Life for us will stop for a few days, for a few hours... and we will have every focus on honoring them... and their lives.... and do it in style and right.

You SHOULD honor your parents wishes (and the deceased in general). The whole funeral thing is a major sore spot between my wife's dad and us. Now in all likely hood he will die long before her but should an accident happen there WILL be a major battle between me and him as to where she is buried and I already know I'll be legally challenged by him for following HER (and mine) wish to be turned into a pile of ashes and having those ashes spread over someplace meaningful for both of us.

Again, if the deads wishes are not followed their only recourse is to come back and haunt the living.

StillStanding
05-09-2012, 02:36 PM
and get ready for that night time mess too. All for the convenience of folks.... I got news for them... I plan to only die once (if that), and if that one death makes you have to take off half a day at work, so be it.

There will be a lot of people who will not like it when we bury my mom and dad, including some family. Since that part of the country does all visitations and funerals at night and at the funeral home.

We're going to do it the way I was raised, and mom and dad agree. Visitation the night before at the funeral home. Then a procession the next day to the church, either at 10am or 2pm. Then, we're going to have church at the funeral. Singing, preaching, clapping.... and then a procession to a cemetery out in the country led by a sheriff's car. I don't care what it costs, when my parents go, it won't be like it's just another event to place in my schedule.

Life for us will stop for a few days, for a few hours... and we will have every focus on honoring them... and their lives.... and do it in style and right.

:thumbsup

Scott Hutchinson
05-09-2012, 03:43 PM
Did anybody pray through at the funeral ?

StillStanding
05-09-2012, 04:24 PM
Did anybody pray through at the funeral ?

The guy who went to the alter did!:)

AreYouReady?
05-09-2012, 05:45 PM
Again, if the deads wishes are not followed their only recourse is to come back and haunt the living.

Randy....just wonderin....how ya gonna do that?

:toofunny

Do you think God is gonna let you do that?

RandyWayne
05-09-2012, 08:00 PM
Randy....just wonderin....how ya gonna do that?

:toofunny

Do you think God is gonna let you do that?

Iz gots a plan!