Heaven Is For Real
I spent the weekend in the middle of nowhere. No really. The middle of nowhere. And in the woods in the middle of nowhere God found us and graciously poured out His Spirit on a sweet group of women gathered to seek His face. He is so good to us.
And because we were in the middle of nowhere, I was tucked into a little rustic cabin complete with a warm comforter and hot cup of tea, pampered by these generous women who themselves slept on rock-hard bunks and stumbled through the woods to their restroom. I was humbled by them and blessed. Thank you.
So in the quiet, the stillness, the crisp, cold air of 5,000 foot-elevation, I sat along the creek and let the sun warm my face. I pulled back the curtains of the cabin and sat and stared at the trees, rising to heaven, sunlight dancing on their needles and branches. I taught and prayed and prepared and we sang and played and laughed and cried. And I had the luxury of an early bedtime with no housework to do and no meals to prep for the next day and no monkeys to tuck into bed. So I pulled out a little yellow book, Heaven Is For Real, and read the whole thing cover to cover before nestling down into my warm bed.
Wow.
It’s a quick read, one that you can just buy and then pass along to someone else. But it’s worth it. Four-year-old Colton Bumpo, in a brink-of-death experience, gets a glimpse of heaven and his report is nothing short of astonishing.
It’s exactly what the Bible says.
What’s amazing about the story is that Colton reports things in 4-year-old terms, without the guile or natural screening that we old folks tend to have. The first thing he notices was that Jesus has “markers”. His parents couldn’t figure it out until they realized he was referring to the very clear “red marker marks” on Jesus hands and feet. His wounds.
Dozens of facts validate Colton’s findings. He was able to see and know exactly what his parents were doing during his surgery, when he was under anesthesia and in a different room. He perfectly identifies a grandfather who he meets in heaven, who he had never met on earth, identifies the grandfather from a picture taken of him when he was 29, since “there are no old people in heaven.”
What’s remarkable is that everything Colton shared, in his simple child-like way, lines up exactly with Scripture. And my favorite part:
“Colton, why did Jesus die on the cross.”
“Jesus said he died on the cross so we could go be with his Dad.”
Yup. That just about sums it up, amen?
Personally, it touched me by drawing me back to a simple childlike faith. As much as I love to study and teach and learn and grow, and I think that the Bible can keep us beautifully busy studying the glorious riches of theology, what it all boils down to is a greater-increasing love for Jesus.
Perspective.
The perspective of knowing that heaven is for real and it is good. That we will know each other and recognize each other. That Jesus will be the most beautiful thing we have ever seen, and His eyes will captivate our hearts.
It simplifies our evangelistic message, yes? Do you know Jesus?
I am so thankful to have spent the weekend with a sweet group of women who simply love Jesus. They don’t complicate it, they just live it. And I am so thankful to have this taste of heaven from dear little Colton Burpo. I believe his message is one of hope. Check it out and be encouraged.
Thanks for reading.
Week's end with thanks
- So many rallying around to pray for Shawna. We will keep praying. The God who placed planets into motion can heal completely. Believing Him.
- Eyes filling up with tears every time I watch the end of Toy Story 3. Sitting next to my boy, smoothing his cowlick with my hand, knowing his day to head off to college will be here before I know it. Every single day is a gift with that boy. Thank you, Jesus.
- Long naps.
- Juanita’s.
- Glimpses of sun. I’ll take glimpses gladly if it’s all I can get.
- Teaching my kids a new mantra: “I’m happy with what I have!”
- Watching all those tiny green shoots continue to grow! It’s like we have a mini-garden right in the house.
- Dutch’s new favorite game: Getting a big box. Then he lies on the floor like a toy, and I say, “Time to take this old toy to the day care!” and I pick him up and toss him in the box and box him up. Then I turn around and he escapes laughing all the way.
- Hearing that a dear friend now has a “crew” — Hallelujah!
- Spelling hallelujah right on the very first try. I’ve never done that in my entire life.
- Kids turning old egg cartons into toys.
- AMAZING answer to one of Dutch’s prayers. Goosebumps down to my toes.
- “Mommy, let’s be amigos!”
- Dutch praying at the breakfast table for Cody to feel better.
- Text from husband. I’m crazy about that man.
- Discovering a blog by a dear 70-year-old man devoted to helping men be godly dads. How cool is that? Way to go, Gary Taylor! There’s a man who has embraced the changing technology and made the most of it in order to share all that God has done in his long life. Love it.
- Little bows in little locks of brown barely shimmering gold.
- Life.
- Breath.
- Every beat of our hearts.
- Orange juice for sick kids.
- Toy Story 3; how would we endure sickness without it??
- Sunny days!
- Neighbors. I love all of our neighbors so much. Perhaps that’s why God isn’t selling our house. He knows we love them so much. (But I’m still praying He sells it!)
- Modoc Southern Oregon women’s retreat this weekend. So happy to be here.
- Finding out that my cabin has a bed–the real kind with sheets and blankets! Ahh…luxury!
- Flying.
- Free Wi-Fi in airports. What a world we live in.
- Generous friends who give rides to.
- Generous new-friends who give rides from.
- Generous dad who created 39 wooded blocks for me as an object lesson. What a dad I have!
- The most supportive husband in the world.
- Nana.
- Laptops.
- Marveling at some beautiful flowers in my yard, then realizing they are weeds.
- Window sills lined with egg cartons, filled with dark earth and green shoots. Someday, tomatoes.
- Comment from a beloved author. Isn’t it an amazing blessing when someone we look up to stoops down and says hello. So cool.
- Little ones in bath.
- Vacant lots with rocks and dirt and weeds galore: Nature’s playground.
- New sand for the sandbox = hours of fun.
- Watching my kids love each other.
- Dutch’s prayer: “Dada God, thank you for Cody’s toys.”
- “Spaghetti casserole.” Kids, “Where are the noodles?” Ha! I guess they did notice…
- “Mommy, do you know about Disney Blu-Ray?” Actually no, I don’t. Should never have let him watch the trailers…
- Afternoon spent reviewing my notes sitting in the sun. Bliss.
- Combing Heidi’s hair. I’m five-years-old again with my doll.
- Oobleck.
- Heidi trying to bend over and look at the bottom of her shoe. Hilarious.
- A bouquet of lilacs from a friend. So fragrant.
- Dutch wondering out loud who Heidi will marry.
- Snuggling.
- Windowsill above the sink.
- Clean sheets waiting.
- Sleep.
F is for a Friend in need (who is yours?)
Who faces stage IV colon cancer at age 34?
Shawna was the beautiful young pastor’s wife and mom behind the scenes all through my years at Oregon State and the years that Jeff and I served in college ministry in Corvallis. Although she’s only a few years older than me, I always looked up to her as an amazing woman of God. She was always wise beyond her years. Five years ago Shawna survived the unexpected tragedy of needing to raise her kids on her own, working like crazy, even going back to finish college so she could support her children. And after years of enduring and persevering, God brings an amazing man into her life. They are married–it’s a fairy tale. A dream come true. A story of truest redemption. We all lean back and smile as they ride off into the sunset.
Then Wednesday the diagnosis is confirmed. Stage IV colon cancer.
What? All week long I think of her. Pray, fast, and pray some more. Cry into my pillow, in the shower. Tell God what I think of this crummy plan. I sit and stare at the picture of her with her two young children. Two little lambs who have already suffered. This family’s suffering quota is full, Lord. Don’t you see?
I tell everyone who will listen and so many do and I am so thankful. So while I’d love to talk more about the topic of Freedom that we discussed last week (we’ll hit it next week!), today is a day for Friends in need.
Who is yours?
Who comes to mind?
I love the story, in Luke 5, of the men who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Since they couldn’t get through the crowd, “they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles in the midst before Jesus” (v.20). Do you know what happens next?
“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you …[and turning to the pharisees] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’–he said to the man who was paralyzed–‘I say to you pick up your bed and go home …” (v.21, 24)
When Jesus saw the faith of the friends, He forgave the man’s sin and healed him completely. Then do you know what happens?
“And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen extraordinary things today.” (v.26)
They saw extraordinary things and they glorified God.
No lie: I have no idea how the miracle thing works today. They see ’em all the time in Africa and not very often ’round here. Stage IV colon cancer is bad.
But God.
I don’t know what God’s going to do, but I read Luke 5 and I see a friend in need, and it seems to me that at least we’re supposed to keep carrying our friends to Jesus. Everyday in prayer. Right?
I know there’s one in your life too. A Shawna. A friend whose diagnosis is hopeless, or whose marriage is hopeless, or whose life just feels hopeless. So today, if you’d join me, I’d like for each of us to just “carry” that friend to this place, this little corner of the world where we meet everyday.
And I’d like to help carry your friend if you’d like to help carry mine.
In the comment section, please share the name of a friend who needs prayer. If you can specify the need (while respecting their privacy), that would be wonderful. Otherwise, just type their name down through the roof to this place, and together we’ll lift them up to our God.
I will pray for your friend if you will pray for mine.
Deal?
Thank you for making this more than a blog. Thank you for letting me into a bit of your world and for entering a bit into mine. And thank for you praying for Shawna. Happy Friday and thanks, as always, for reading.
Weakened Men & Damaged Women
[A conversation this week brought this to the forefront of my mind, thoughts from Feb 2008.]
Today I was struck by an excerpt from Larry Crabb’s book Inside Out (an excellent read). He hits on a key component of what it means to be affected by the fall as men and women. We were created male and female, the only human distinction verbalized by God as part of His original plan. Race, personality, hair, eye, height, intellect, and emotional distinctions would arise with time but in the very beginning this distinction stood. And it was good. Very good.
But how has this been corrupted through the fall? While men were destined to enter into the world strongly, providing for their families with servant leadership, they’ve been tainted by weakness, a deep sense of inadequacy and impotence. The man will now battle forever the unspoken fear that he does not measure up.
While women were destined to enter the world courageously giving of themselves vulnerably through talents, wisdom, kindness, warmth, and support, she now has a deep sense of disappointment—for her man has failed her. As a result, she no longer has the confidence to be vulnerable. She is threatened and now feels, as Crabb says, “compelled to defensively control her relationships.” The woman will now battle forever the unspoken fear that to be vulnerable is to be hurt.
Who has not experienced this? Who has not witnessed it in our marred world? Women want men to step up and be strong, but men don’t know how to do that because they’re so afraid of admitting that they don’t know how, so instead they respond by overcompensating—through harshness or lording over or gruff, hard exterior. On the contrary, others just give up and give in to passivity, to steer clear of the danger of failure.
Men want women who will praise, love, and support them. But we’ve swallowed the lie that to be vulnerable is to be hurt, so we protect ourselves. When we’re not led, we’ll do it ourselves. We’ll do our best to attract men because that makes us feel secure, but we won’t truly let our guard down because then our worst fear may be realized—that we’re not truly beautiful and will therefore be rejected.
How can we right this? Crabb would say, I believe, that we do this by repenting of our fear of self-protection. Men, it’s ok to admit that you don’t have a clue! That’s ok! Women, it’s ok to admit that we’re scared to death to let all our defenses down because people might see that we’re not that pretty after all. Women, let men fail and praise them still. Men, let women be imperfect and praise them still.
This is why pornography is such a sick, twisted temptation from the pit of hell. Men are able to engage sexually without any fear of failure—there is no one there to criticize them! They can satisfy themselves with no vulnerability. In the process, women are demoralized and objectified and can no longer function as vulnerable beings because they are so afraid of not being as beautiful or skilled as the covergirl. This is obviously only one repercussion of the fall, but it is a telling one. Our male-female relationships have suffered. Can we restore them? Can we try?
We can, by God’s grace, and we must.
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How do you see this dynamic at work around our world and in your sphere? Men, do you feel a need to overcompensate? Women, do you feel a need to control? Jeff and I can both relate to these feelings — Praise Jesus He is continually redeeming ALL that was lost in the Fall.
Thanks for reading.