If you didn’t read Part I last week, I suggest you do so and you’ll better understand the importance of Part II.

I said it last week and I’m saying it again that everybody seems to want to go to heaven, but, in reality, very few even prepare for it in the physical sense after the spirit leaves the body.

If you didn’t read Part I last week, I suggest you do so and you’ll better understand the importance of Part II.

I said it last week and I’m saying it again that everybody seems to want to go to heaven, but, in reality, very few even prepare for it in the physical sense after the spirit leaves the body.

Let me ask each of you, my readers, a few questions. Anyone reading this article think that they will never die? Anyone reading this article think they will pick their own date, time, and location of where to die? The last question I want to ask is why do some people get an uncomfortable feeling to even prepare for death let alone talk about it to love ones?

This precious mother knew her son was in a gang at nineteen years old.

She knew her son was out on the block pushing rocks, meaning selling drugs. She knew he was attending funerals of his “hommies,” meaning his boys, and that it could have been him shot and killed. She knew and he also knew he was in the fast lane of a dangerous life yet he made it clear to his mother that he’d die for his block and die for his hommies.

She shared this with me and I told her, “instead of worry about this, you’d do yourself a favor if you’d put a life insurance policy on him. She didn’t want to hear what I had to say in that regard and, now… two years later, this same mother is mourning her son and trying to raise money to bury him.

I want each of you to know that pre-planning is not just for senior citizens but, in reality, for each of us wanting to have our way and have our say.

I started this process last week at one of the local funeral homes of my choice. Let me continue this process of my experience with you.

Last week, sitting with the funeral director, I left off on Part A: Charge for Services Selected. In my right mind and feeling great, we continue to move on down the list of expenses.

Under Professional Services, there is the cost for the funeral director and staff. Ok, I see there also is a cost for embalming me.

“Tell me why it costs that much to embalm. I’m already dead?” Is my question!

Laughing, I hear the answer and understand her point.

“Wait a minute,” I ask with another question. “Why does it cost that much to dress me and put me in the coffin?”

Before she could answer, I gave her my own answer, “Hell, I can call somebody right now and ask them if they are around when I die would they come and dress me. I’m sure they will come and put me in the coffin for free.”

Once again, the funeral director laughed saying, “Bishop, we have to do this as professionals but I’ll give you this discount since you’ll be in your bishop’s robe.”

Well that was that as we moved on down the form to the section of Facilities, Equipment & Staff.

“Bishop, do you want your services here at the funeral chapel or at a church? The price depends on where your viewing and funeral services will take place.”

“I’d like to have my viewing and the funeral services at the church” I answered, without even having to think about it.

“I’m a child of God. I have a church home. I don’t need to lay up in a funeral home to be viewed.”

The funeral director responded, “Bishop, you would not believe how many people have a church home but still do everything at the funeral home and I have to ask the question.” Ooowee! This thing was beginning to work my last nerve as I often hear senior citizens say. But, no better person to ask these questions too but to the living and I am yet still alive, trying to have my say to have my way.

“We’re almost finished with this section, Bishop. Then, we’re going to go to the transportation section,” the funeral director stated.

I quickly responded. “Oh, that will be easy. I’ll drive myself.” She reminded me by responding, “Remember, Bishop, you won’t be here.”

Stay tuned to Part III

You can e-mail the bishop at bishopspeaks@aol.com or write him at the church 969 E. 140th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44110. Stop by the church each Sunday 11 a.m. for the Praise Service or call the church (216) 761-7100. The church located off St. Clair 140th, directly across the street from Cleveland Job Corps Campus. Visit Bishop on Facebook under Bishop Prince J. Moultry or the In Touch for Christ Christian Center or the church website at www.intouchforchrist.com.