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Published: 26 February 2015

The grandchildren are at that stage. Questions are coming with machine-gun rapidity. I forgot how amusing and annoying this stage of life can be. It is a somewhat predictable human behavior; after we've done anything for a while we take it for granted. We think "everybody knows this" and we move on to curiosity about other things in life. This is true with church and spiritual matters too. While some people are debating the timing of Jesus' return and discussing the finer points of Tribulation eschatology, we have others who have never witnessed a baptism. They cannot imagine why a church would put a water tank indoors and not use it for a Jacuzzi. I'll just let the reader of this blog, who may also happen to be a listener to my Sunday sermons know this now, I'm going to speak to the people who have basic questions this week. There will be nothing novel. There will be no dazzling exegesis. There will be no funny stories. There will be no "meat." Chances are you will "not be fed." There will be no Power Point. What there will be (God willing), are the testimonies of three believers and the opportunity to witness their confession of faith through immersion. There will be the reminder of death, burial and resurrection. There will be the reminder that the follower of Jesus IS all in and should go ALL IN. There will be bread and cup and fellowship around the Table of Remembrance with the Lord Jesus and fellow saints. There will be giving and praying and singing and hugging and crying and clapping. There will be people who are bored, and people who are seeking and people who were dragged in who do not want to be there. And, angels will be observing and Heaven and Hell are awaiting the response of immortal beings to an amazing offer of life from the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Why do we do these things? Come and see.

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Published: 19 February 2015

I grew up in church, the First Baptist Church of Cass City, Michigan. For as long as I can remember church has been a central part of my life. Overall, I'm extremely thankful for this reality. One of the highlights of the church gatherings that I recall were the "hymn sings." People would just yell out a number and we'd sing a few lines and then do another. Two of my favorites were "Dwelling in Beulah Land" and "Heaven Came Down." They both have some "spunk" to them and they are happy songs. I'm pretty sure Islam doesn't have any songs that happy! There is a problem though. A song like "Heaven Came Down" only celebrates part of the story. In reality, it only deals with the transaction that prepared me for Heaven when I die. It celebrates the hope of knowing that my sins are forgiven and the riches of Christ are mine. It rehearses the move from darkness to light, from poverty to mansions, "He saved me, O praise His dear name!" BUT, and this is a big but, while I am going to Heaven when I die, Heaven has yet to fully fill me. I wish the character of Heaven fully filled my soul now—that would be glory for me. We talk a lot about "getting into Heaven" but what we really need is getting Heaven into us. We should celebrate the "transaction so quickly was made" but then we better get on with becoming what God designed us to be—saints! "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord;" that means Jesus has provided the means for us to have Heaven come down and fill our lives—now. I'm being a little sarcastic here but if we don't endeavor to get Heaven into us now we might not be all that happy when we get into Heaven then! Jesus said, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." It's time to think differently about Heaven. It's a place for sure! A place I want to go! But Heaven is also a mindset—"Set your mind on things above." Heaven is a character—"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." Our study in Matthew 18 this week is not about getting into Heaven, it is about getting Heaven into us. Is Heaven getting into you?