1 Corinthians 15:35-55.It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Choosing a Minister
If your loved one was a member of a church, they would most likely want you to ask a pastor or minister from their church to officiate the service. If you are working with a funeral home, let them contact the minister of your choice. If the deceased had no contact with a church, you may want to rely on the funeral home to recommend a minister, or ask family members to help decide on a minister. The person you choose to officiate will have a large part in shaping the overall dynamics of the funeral service.
Offer Hope
As a Christian keep in mind this important detail when planning the funeral service. Funerals are one of the rare times in life when non-Christians stop to think about eternity. A funeral is the perfect opportunity for a Christian family to share their faith and the hope for eternity with non-believing family and friends. If you wish to clearly present the Gospel and offer the hope of salvation in Christ, be sure to ask the minister to include this in his message. A great time to take an alter call.
· Any special songs or music you would like to include.
· Any poems, stories, Bible Verses, or readings you would like to include.
· Any special speakers or singers you would like to participate.
· Any specific photos of your loved one or family you would like displayed.
A table is often provided for the family to place special remembrances, photographs and other memorabilia during the service. Be sure to think about what you might want to display. Take some time to gather these items and make arrangements with the funeral coordinator.
Service Handout
Because most memorial services are planned in a relatively short period of time, this detail is often overlooked. If you would like the guests to have a memento or remembrance, you can provide a special printed handout or bookmark. This can be as simple as a picture of your loved one with their birth and death dates, the order of service and a cherished Bible verse. Check with the funeral home or coordinator, as they may provide this for you upon request.
Guest Book
This record of attendance is usually very meaningful to family members, so ask someone to be responsible to bring a guest book and a nice pen.
Length of Service
The entire length of the funeral service often depends on the number of guests. Time should be allow either before or after the service to greet your guests and give them a moment to say their good byes to the deceased. It is recommended to keep the actual service length anywhere between 30-60 minutes.
My Conclusion
Although if you are burnt in a fire, your remains can still be buried, the fact is that Most of the key people in the Old Testament were buried, Jesus was put in a tomb. The Bible says in:
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory.
That's good enough for me. Being Cremated is symbolic of Hell. Another thing is that if your ashes are spread around, is it going to come together on resurrection day?
Closed casket, Amazing Grace and Old rugged cross. Next to my wife. You can visit us at the same time, save on gas.
http://www.vimeo.com/12348372http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfx2GSlKU...