March's Book

Let's get back on track with Adam and Katie and read what they'll be reading. So March's book is "The Complete Works On Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. It's eight books in one. Not sure which one they'll be reading, but I am really looking forward to digging into any of them with y'all. Please order it soon so we can all be on track together. That makes the encouragement work. It's only 7.99 at Christianbook.com.

Thankful To Be Focussed

I really am very happy that we have taken the time to go through this book. I don't know if the end of the world is near or not, but I do know that it is not getting any easier to live in this world as a Christian. I have a similar feeling about this focus on Heaven as I did about the earth being created in 6 literal days. This is important! Why have we not been taught to have this kind of focus? This heavenly focus helps us live here on this world in a way that pleases the Lord now. So as I finished the book, I was simply filled with gratitude that, once again, the Lord has allowed me to learn more of Him and to look forward to being with Him in the NHNE more than I ever have.

As for some specific thoughts as I finished, here you go:

1. I loved the simple distinction on page 160 of the difference between the present heaven and the future heaven. Simply, "...the emphasis in the present heaven is on the absence of earth's negatives, while in the future heaven it is the presence of earth's positives." That just makes me so excited for the future.

2. Then on page 163, how awesome to think about God preparing a place for us that is made specifically for us. He knows us better than anyone and knows exactly how to make my place perfect for me. I can't wait to see where my bed will be in relation to the full court basketball court:).

3. Page 167 and 177 talk about the things we do here on earth and how we do them simply because we're people, not because we're sinners. And just as I am pleased when my kids enjoy the gifts I give them, God is pleased when we enjoy things he's given us, like a good meal, football, a good book, sex, etc. He points out that the key is enjoying these things with a thankful heart. Gratitude must be our attitude. Then these things draw us closer to God, which is a wonderful thing. Which also means we'll do these things in Heaven as well. (except sex, apparently, since we won't be married, not sure about that one??)

4. Ok, now. So this has to be the best part of this whole book. He brings it up first on page 232, then he expands on it in chapters 26 and 44. We just might be able to go and explore the universe in the NHNE! Wow! I've never even had that thought before. But it makes sense. Unimaginable territories for us to explore and extablish dominion over for God's glory. If gazing through a telescope now makes me worship my Creator, what will it be like to actually go to Orion's belt?

5. Maybe the second best part was when he talks about the large bodies of water. I have often wondered about this. But it made total sense when he said that since we know there's a river, it makes sense that there will be a large body of water also since the river has to flow somewhere. And then, the thought that maybe we'll be able to dive down and hold our breath for hours; that the water can't be harmful to us; that all the beauty of the current oceans will still exist and we'll be able to go see them freely. Wow!

6. Page 283 talks about hearing stories from angels. Oh I can't wait to hear the stories.

7. We'll need each other in Heaven. I don't know if need is the right word, again, but on 340, he states how before sin, God said it was not good for man to be alone, yet God was with him. He says "To take pleasure in another image-bearer doesn't offend God; it pleases him. To enjoy a conversation with a brother or sister does not require making that person an idol or competitor with God." So we'll still enjoy talking with each other, and I'll enjoy telling you about my travels to the Andromeda Galaxy:) In fact, why don't you join me, I'd love the company.

8. So chapter 36, page 359 made me think, I wonder if anyone will want to hear any of my stories from my life on the old earth. He asks who will be on your list of people you'll want to talk to? Mary? David? C.S.Lewis? So I wondered if I'd be on anyone's list. Then he ended that section by asking "How are you serving Christ today so that you may be on someone else's list?" He read my mind. I'm looking forward to talking with Dawson Trotman, and thanking him. C.S.Lewis and Tolkien also. And....the list goes on. Oh well, no matter. We won't have a time crunch. I'll talk to everyone!

9. Not sure I'm on board with the resurrected pets part, though he didn't state it for sure. I do think it very possible that animals will talk, though.

10. Page 411 says our resurrected bodies will develop greater skills. Yes! I'll finally be able to dunk. Maybe we'll have to move the rims to 12 feet.

11. Sports in Heaven. Of course. And not only Sports, but some of the greatest of this time. I'm looking forward, as he points out on page 427, to playing one on one with Pistol Pete and so on. And there will be winners and losers, I agree. Why not? I'm glad we'll still be competitive in Heaven. And maybe after 5,000 years or so, I'll be able to hang with Pistol Pete, or at least beat him in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

12. Unfulfilled dreams fulfilled in Heaven. This is a nice thought. I hope it's true. I remember praying as a kid that I just wanted to be able to get married and have kids and then Jesus could come back. Well, I'm there, but now Tate just told me the same thing. So I want that for him. But I do believe that God will fill those desires and dreams beyond what would have happened here.

13. Finally, back to how I began. This focus on Heaven is so important. On page 436 he says, "...how many of us are truly looking forward to the New Earth? Consciously? Daily? In your idle moments, when your mind gravitates to whatever excites and interests you most, what do you think about? A new Car? A movie? A business opportunity? A chance to get rich? An attractive man or woman? A fun vacation? Or the New Earth?" Then on 468, "Don't let a day go by without anticipating the new world that Christ is preparing for us." And we must realize, as he says on 469, "Setting our minds on Heaven is a discipline that we need to learn."

Well, those are my thoughts. What do you think? I think that I hope we can keep each other accountable to staying focussed on Heaven. Let's discipline ourselves to be as those heroes of our faith in Hebrews 11. "They were longing for a better country - a heavenly one." (Hebrews 11:16)

The Lord bless you and keep you all.

Will we need?

Not sure what I think about the idea that we'll have needs in the NHNE. Doesn't a sense of need imply a state of knowing you're without? I'm not saying I think we should be lazy bums lying around as the recipients of God's good gifts saying, "serve me, serve me". I just struggle with the idea that there will be increments of time when people will operate without their needs met. Thoughts?

Remember Heaven - Everything matters

I will post. I have been reading. And I, too, check the Fellowship every time I'm on the computer to see if anyone has posted. That is because deep down, we have this need to be encouraged by others. We have set this blog up for just that. So even when I'm not writing, I'm checking. Thanks for your posts, Doug. Don't be discouraged. Be encouraged that you are being an encouragement to us when we see your posts. I want to encourage you as well, so here you go

Thanks so much for being the spur to make us get into this book. I was just talking last night with the kids about it. First we were talking about the book we're reading together as a family (actually we just finished it today), A Wrinkle In Time, and I was saying to them that in the end times, I believe it will be like what we were reading, that there will be evil that will seem good, and we will be tempted to join the wrong side, and it will actually seem like the right thing to do. The anti Christ will fool many who right now claim to follow Jesus into following him, because it will seem like the right thing to do. Then I asked the kids if they were prepared for such a situation and could they stand on what they believe, no matter what happens, even if it seems like they should follow the evil that won't seem like evil. They said they think they are ready. I hope so. I hope we all are. I believe it is very possible that that time is coming soon. I believe it will be very sad in that day, when many are lead astray, into darkness. BUT THEN, I remembered Heaven! And Hebrews 11. And how those who lived by faith were like they were because they lived as aliens and strangers in a foreign land. They looked forward to a heavenly city. Their minds were on what was to come, not the current world we're in now. The kids and I talked about how that focus would help us stand against the evil in the end times. So what if this world leader brings peace (false peace). So what if for things on this world it seems like the right thing to do to follow him. We are not made for this world. Oh how good it was to share and talk with the kids this way. I truly believe that our focus on Heaven will help us through the end times, if we have to endure it. I know the pretribulation folks will say we won't have to and we'll all have been raptured, and I hope they're right. But what if midtrib is actually the way it works? What if? So I believe we need to be ready, then if it's not that way, great. Anyway, even if the pretrib people are right, who's to say we may not need to have the ability to stand against evil and stand for what we believe individually in our own situations as so many have had to through the years. We need to be ready. Heaven is what we're made for and our focus on that time will help us be ready.

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So are you ready? Will you give in to the evil which will seem good in the end times? I pray and hope not. Heaven is our home. I can't wait.

Now, as to my favorite part of the book so far as Doug asked us all two posts ago. Firstly, just generally, it is as I said already. The best part is just getting our focus on what we are made for. Not so we ignore our current lives. But so that our current lives are transformed to be all that God created us to be while here in this world and into the next. But specifically, not many other things have I ever read in a book that have been as encouraging to me as the paragraph on page 134. He is breaking down 1 Corinthians 15:58 and the part that says, "...our labor in the Lord is not in vain." I've never really meditated on that part. The paragraph at the top of that page says, "Every kingdom work, whether publicly performed or privately endeavoured, partakes of the kingdom's imperishable character. Every honest intention, every stumbling word of witness, every resistance of temptation, every motion of repentance, every gesture of concern, every routine engagement, every motion of worship, every struggle towards obedience, every mumbled prayer, everything, literally, which flows out of our faith-relationship with the Ever-Living One, will find its place in the ever-living heavenly order which will dawn at his coming." (bold added)

Thank you Jesus! Our labor is not in vain. I guess it doesn't say some labor, or even labor that seems to have good outcomes. Just labor. And following our Lord is labor. We live in the realm of the enemy right now. Battle is upon us. Just getting out of be in the morning is an act of war when we're right minded. I have always loved 1 Cor. 15:58, but now even more so. Give me a pulpit:) Anyway, I hope that is as much of an encouragement to you as it was to me. It all matters. Every bit of work for the Lord. Little things to big things. Turning off junk on TV to going on a mission trip. It all matters. 1 Cor 15:58 says so. God says so. Oh how good He is. To Him be all the glory!

I love you all.

Is everyone still reading?

Everyday when I get on our computer and check my e-mail and facebook, I check The Fellowship just in case someone posts something. And everyday I'm disappointed. Nobody writes anything, nobody shares anything. Well I will.

I received my package from EPM and I'm enjoying the videos, especially the one with Donald Miller. Randy Alcorn does a great job of explaining things. If we get together when this book is done, maybe we can watch it. I also received a small group study guide and I really like it. It doesn't force you to read the whole book, although I don't know why you wouldn't, but has a condensed version split up into 5 day a week lessons for 6 weeks. Our church is doing a different format of SS and are looking for people to teach 12 week classes with a multitude of subjects. So I actually talked to the pastor about doing this one. It's kind of out of my comfort zone but I'm certainly excited about it. And we also got a wonderfully illustrated children's book by Randy Alcorn called Wait Until Then. I read it to Suzie and got choked up way too many times. I highly recommend it too. So I'll sign off with a just WAIT UNTIL THEN!

As I was reading this morning....@ 5:30 lest any of you continue to question my life of semi-retirement, I skipped to the back of the book where I found Randy Alcorns website, www.epm.org. It stands for Eternal Perspective Ministries and the website is great. But be warned, I couldn't resist some of the resources and my wife busted me as I was trying to order. They have been looking for options for new SS classes at church, so I ordered some options to investigate. I also ordered a book called "Wait Until Then". It is an illustrated book about a Grandpa who is old and dying of cancer and his grandson in a wheelchair talking about whether there will be baseball in heaven. Tell me how I was supposed to not buy this book? And then the clincher, 100% of the proceeds of the book go to Joni & Friends. And then I love Donald Miller and his books and guess what, there was a dvd of Donald and Randy discussing Heaven. Again, how could I resist? I'll keep you updated on it all.

An extension sounds good to me. I actually think you could go even longer. Having read it before and now re-reading it, I'm learning new things that I kinda skimmed over before. And maybe I just forget them... who knows. What's your favorite part so far?

Big Book = Extention

I know the idea here was to read a book a month, but I propose an extension for this book. Can we please continue on this path until the end of Feb.? All those in favor say, Aye.

I know this makes it difficult for Adam and Katie, as they'll be moving on to a new book this month. (though the book they're reading is "The Pursuit of God" by Tozer and I really wanted to read that book with y'all) So I'm kind of torn. But I would like to finish this book now, or I possibly never will.

So, Adam and Katie, you must post some entries about your book and let us in on Tozer's wisdom, as well as respond to what you see us posting about Heaven.

Let's keep this up. It will take all of us to make it not die. I really love doing this with y'all. Read and share. It will spur one another on as Heb 10:24-25 tells us to do.

So, extension????