Our Town not like Heaven

Often in a comfortable, safe, prosperous culture we don't spend much time thinking about heaven, longing for a different place. However, recently, I've been reflecting on how Heaven will be different from our town. In Heven there will be no:
- Cemteteries because there will be no death
- Hospitals because there will be no sickness
- Prisons because there will be no crime
- Nursing homes because we will never grow old
- Funeral homes because there will be no need to mourn
- Street lights because we will be in the precesnce of Light
- Housing projects because there will be no poverty
- Fire stations because there will be no emergencies
- Police stations because we will all be safe
- Court houses because there will be no lawsuits or paperwork
- Pharmacies because there will be no pain
- Orphanages because we will all have family and a home
- Church Buildings because we will be worshipping always in the presence of God

(Heb 11:16 NIV) Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

What do you see as you drive down the road that will be missing in Heaven?

Nighttime Struggle

My son is discovering, for the first time, fear. We are careful about what we let our children, watch, but "scary things" are inevitable. Corban recently used a b-day gift card to purchase a Buzz-lightyear with a lazer beam that also casts an image of Zurg (Buzz lightyear's evil nemesis from Toy Story) on the wall. Corban carefully places Buzz just outside his bedroom door before going to bed each night. He must sleep with a book in his bed. However, he will not sleep with a book with the word "monster" or a picture of a scary person anywhere in the book. He can't read, but he can tell you which books contain the "scary" words or pictures. Corban's strangest fear is a fear of the sun coming up. Rachael and I haven't figured out where the fear is in that yet. But it is evident that he is well aware that there are some things in life that cause fear.

I fear this trend of realization will never cease. However, I know from experience what Corban does not: that some things are not worth fearing. In Mark 4 the Apostles are stranded in the middle of a storm with Jesus. The waves are threatening, boat is small, Jesus is asleep, Apostles are afraid. They wake Jesus and voice in v. 38 their dread of drowning. Jesus rebukes the storm, and then he rebukes his apostles. "Why are you so afraid?" You see, they feared creation and Jesus has that under control. What gets me is that in v. 41 the apostles had been afraid of the storm, but now they are "terrified" of Jesus, the creator. First, they feared what was not worth their concern. Then they learned a Godly fear. And with that kind of fear, we don't have to be afraid.

What do you fear?

Why are you afraid?

Images of God

My wife and I recently experienced a revelation from our 1-year-old daughter, Anna. She has been calling her pacifier "sea-saw." We thought this was just a cute mispronunciation of pacifier. However, while recently teaching her how to pray we have realized that her word for Jesus is likewise "Sea-saw!" What have we done? How did this connection between Jesus and a pacifier occur?
Before bed each night, Rachael and I sing a personal lullaby I have written for each of our children. Anna's song begins with the words "Anna look to Jesus, never will he fail you." We realized that the last thing we do before singing this song is give Anna her bear and pacifier. Then we sing about looking to Jesus. To confirm this connection we asked Anna before bed what her teddy bear was called - she said "sea saw."
At first I thought about how we could undo this grave misunderstanding. Then I thought of Matthew 11:28. Jesus says "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest..." Her teddy bear and pacifier are the most comforting things Anna understands. When all is going wrong, when her black and white world is spinning around her little toddling body, her weary eyes become heavy, and she just needs some familiar comfort, she turns to sea-saw.
In time we will augment her understanding of Our Lord. However, I think for now we will allow our little girl to receive comfort from her Sea-Saw.

Revolutionary Parenting

Participating in specific ministries at every age level, one lesson has been reconfirmed many times; life is a process that cannot be properly divided into clear-cut stages (even though this is necessary at times). However, I want to spend a few minutes discussing one of these "stages": parenting.

Parenting education is a huge need in our churches for many reasons. Here are a few: First, adults who have been raised according to Godly principles tend to be more involved in Kingdom work during later stages of life. And the most effective place to lay a solid Christian foundation for our children is at home (and church secondarily). Second, our mobile society has taken us, in many cases, away from the family in which we were raised. Daily connection is most-often lost with those who have raised us. Third, there are so many differing sets of parenting advice machines that it is difficult to discern which is best. Fourth, effective, Biblical, parenting education helps disciple parents into a discipling ministry with their children. This serves to develop "discipling disciples". Fifth, effective, Biblical, parenting ed. stresses the importance of the parents' personal spiritual development. Becoming an effective parent may be helpful motivation for jumpstarting one's own Spiritual awaking.

George Barna's Revolutionary Parenting is a unique book that presents facts from parents who have been successful in raising what Barna terms "spiritual champions." In it he reinforces the wisdom that raising children on Biblical principles is truly (and statistically) effective. I highly encourage anyone who works with parents and/or children to secure a copy of this brief (158 pages) book on effective Christian Parenting. His insights are timely, biblically and statistically based, and helpful for parents who want to develop a well-rounded, intentional parenting strategy.

May God bless you in this sacred task!