What does our faith really mean?

It's been a while, I know. But I'm back, at least for now anyway, and I'm annoyed. You know, a real West-Indian vex. I probably working myself up, if the truth be told. This is what has my knickers in a twist - hopefully I'll make sense. My gran died a couple of days ago. My ma asked me to take care of arranging the service with the rest of our family. To tell you the truth that part was surprisingly easy. You know how you hear about someone dying, and people losing their minds arguing about "Well, she would have wanted this" or "He told me it should be this way"? We didn't have any of that. This tells me my gran was pretty constant, and that's a neat thing. So we've put together what I think will be a really nice service at gran's home church, and there's a fellow at the church who's trying to rain on my parade. At least it feels that way.

My gran loved herself some Jesus. And you knew it. If you didn't, you hadn't been listening, cuz she didn't keep it a secret. Ask her how she is... "Hanging on by the grace of God". Ask her what you should do about something... "Pray chile, just pray." Mention you don't have something, or you want something... "The Lord will provide." See you tomorrow gran? "God willing, I'll see another day." See what I mean?

Gran was always in church, or singing a hymn, or praying, or just plain being a Godly woman. At least, that's the woman I knew. And she prayed for us, all the time. some of us went astray, but I think it's a testament to her memory, that just about all of us... (I think there's 17 or so of us grand, great-grand, and great-great grandkids)... have a home church and a faith in Jesus and the Resurrection. We are where we are not only because my gran loved us, but because of her firm and unyielding faith. Which brings me to my vex.

Gran believed, I mean she believed, in the Resurrection. It is our hope of glory, that we be made perfect in Christ. Now she's died, and you better believe she's up there dancing with the angels and God Himself. And He is well pleased with her. That's what she believed. That's what I believe. That's what my family believes. So, isn't that reason to be happy? reason to celebrate? Isn't that the whole point of our faith?

So when I mentioned to this gentlemen at the church, the "interface" between the church and us if you will, that we wanted the ceremony to be upbeat, not all mourny and weepy, he balked a bit. Apparently there's some decorum to be followed. Probably a good thing I didn't mention that we want to dance near-naked before the Lord like King David did. Some of the funerals I've been to will near make you hang yourself, they are just so depressing. Well gran wasn't a sad person. Oh yeah, this gent also told me in my first phone call that we were having a full communion service. Granted, it wouldn't have been my first choice, but I don't object. Since communion is one of the deepest forms of worship, if you ask me, why not sing songs of worship at the same time. Well who told me to ask that? And ignore the warning signs that followed immediately thereafter. Cuz I also asked if we could have a tambourine and a drum. I nearly broke my nose on the door that slammed in my face, and this was a phone conversation. My man was NOT happy. Is this a funeral or a party? There are some things that are simply not done in our church. Well excuse me Mister Man, but if we cannot celebrate that those who are dead in Christ are raised in Him, if that's not a born-again Christian, I swear I don't know what is!

I half way feel like we need to go in there and shake this church up... remind these people why they go to church. I mean what is the whole point? What about the prayer my gran and my ma taught me when I was a child... "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Or the well loved hymn, Jesus Loves Me, the last verse - "Gentle Jesus, with me stay, Close beside me all the way, When at last I come to die, Jesus take me home on high." Well, she did, and He did. Now what, the rest of us shrivel up and moan and groan and say Oh Filth, You weren't supposed to take it seriously?

I really thought that if we believed in Him, our reward was a place in Heaven. REWARD!!! Jesus said, in my Father's house are many mansions, and, I go to prepare a place for you. If Jesus is preparing a place for gran, I will promise you it's not an outhouse! Come on!!!!!! Why can't we be happy? Why can't we rejoice at a funeral? It isn't proper my foot! It doesn't mean we don't miss her. I think it means we get it.