Recently I offered a study on Heaven to our congregation. I optimistically thought I could get maybe 12 people including myself to come along. Well over 30 signed up. We are using a Bible Study by Randy Alcorn and it has proved very interesting.
Excerpt from his book "Heaven":
Are You Looking Forward to Heaven?
“ Many people find no joy at all when they think about Heaven. A pastor once confessed to me, that whenever I think about Heaven, it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die. I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp ... it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like that.”
Where did this Bible-believing, seminary-educated pastor get such a view of Heaven? Certainly not from Scripture, where Paul said to depart and be with Christ was far better than staying on earth (see Phil. 1:23). My friend was more honest about it than most, yet I’ve found that many Christians share the same misconceptions about Heaven.”
Randy Alcorn, Eternal Perspective Ministries, 39085 Pioneer Blvd., Suite 206, Sandy, OR 97055,
Used by permission
Randy Alcorn's website: www.epm.org
Questions from our 1st session:
Define Heaven
Define Paradise
How did you learn what you know about heaven?
Where is heaven?
Is Heaven a real place?
Are you looking forward to heaven?
If so, why? If not, why not?
How do you know you are going to heaven?
What does heaven look like?
Questions & comments from our 2nd session:
Read Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; and 1 John 4:l-3.
Q: How should we approach any teaching of Gods Word? We are to test what we are learning. When you are studying God’s Word whether for this study or others you can be sure it is the correct teaching if it agrees with the rest of God’s teachings found in scripture.
The first question we encounter in our study tries to get at the range of feelings people have about heaven. The question is:
Q: How do you feel about Heaven?
a) so excited you can hardly stand it?
b) Don’t think about it
c) Fear it
d) Dreading it
e) Change the subject
Q: What do you think when you read or hear the word destiny? What is it?
a) what will happen – can’t change it
b) predetermined future
c) may be seen either as a fixed sequence of events that is inevitable and unchangeable, or that individuals choose their own destiny by choosing different paths throughout their life.
Q: Where do we get our misconceptions about heaven? (Satan’s lies – John 8:44. Satan's biggest lies are intended to take away any joy we have as Christians and to make us doubt the truth. )
Q: What have we been told about heaven?
a) boring
b) unearthly, ethereal
c) beyond our comprehension
Q: Why does our culture fear and deny death? What is it that is so abhorrent?
a) not ready to die yet, too much to do and experience
b) fear of aging, infirmity
c) not fair, it is the great equalizer
Q: What do we do in our denial of death?
a) worship youth
b) cosmetic surgery
c) dress younger
Q: How do we know it’s OK to study and talk about Heaven ?
a) We are told in scripture to set our hearts on things above. Col 3:1-2 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Q: Why do you think God orders us to think deeply about Heaven?
a) Our real home – where Jesus Christ lives
b) We are so focused on earth that we are unaccustomed to heavenly thinking
Q: What is your response to the statement, “We should be shocked not that some people could go to hell but that any would be permitted into Heaven”?
a) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are by nature sinful and unclean. Basic teaching of the church.
Q: Read Matthew 10:28, Matthew 13:40-42; Mark 9:43-44. What did Jesus say about hell?
a) be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
b) they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
c) If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
Q: Why do we not tell people who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior about the cancer of sin and evil? Why do we not tell them about the inevitable penalty of eternal destruction and that eternal destruction can be avoided by Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice?
a) We don’t really believe it ourselves
b) Seems judgmental
c) Seems crazy
d) Pushy
e) Arrogant
Q: What aspect of hell do you find most troubling?
a) Separation from God
b) Separation from all that is good
Q: When did you RSVP to Jesus’ invitation to Heaven?
a) Wasd it at baptism? Is that all there is to it?
b) Every other time we confess our sin and ask for God’s gift of forgiveness
Q: Read 1 John 1:9
a) Forgiveness is not automatic. If we want to be forgiven, we must recognize and repent of our sins.
Q: Read Titus 3:5
b) Can’t earn our way into heaven.
c) Gift of God’s grace.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
A car + a Son = Disney World
Easter Sunday was a great day on many levels. First and foremost it was the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection from death and worship was a highlight.
After saying our goodbyes at church Cindy & I drove home, changed clothes, grabbed a bite to eat and took off for El Paso and points East. We were on our way. Our destination was Orlando, Florida some 1700 miles away. After a brief stop at the El Paso airport to drop off one of our cars we were on our way.
There is a lot of nothing in west Texas but I had come prepared. Books on tape saved the day. First Bob Newhart then Sue Grafton kept us occupied. The roads were for the most part fine so we just sailed along.
This trip was going to be a bit more seat-of-our-pants. We did not have any motel reservations except in Orlando where we were going to be spending a number of days. It worked great. Somewhere along the way we grabbed one of those free discount magazines you find at truck stops that advertise discounts on hotels along the way and planned from there. Sonora, Texas (west of San Antonio) was first then Baton Rouge, Louisiana then Gainesville, Florida. There’s not much to say about the trip itself.
We did drop down to Pensacola, Florida (just east of there really) so we could see the beach. The traffic was stop and go but it was great walking on the beach once again. It stretches for what seemed like miles. In Las Cruces we have the sand but no water.
The main reason for the trip was to meet up with Matt and his girlfriend A.J. so we could give him our old car. We met up with them at the Orlando train station. They sat up all night having come from Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Disney World was our destination now that we were together. Our first stop was Downtown Disney. It is a “six-acre nighttime entertainment complex.” There are several restaurants and shops there along with attractions like Cirque du Soleil. We spent time walking around and looking at the sights then we were off on a short boat ride to and then a carriage ride around the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. One thing about Disney is they do things so well. Their resorts are beautiful, too expensive to stay at perhaps but beautiful. We had a very nice time that night.
The next two days were spent at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The crowds were big but not a problem. We started at Splash Mountain then it was on to The Big Thunder Mounta
in Railroad. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hall of the Presidents and on and on kept us going all day and into the night. The fireworks were spectacular and the Spectral Magic parade ended our evening at the Magic Kingdom. It was great having Matt there since he worked there for a time. He knew the places to go 
and how best to do it. It was also fun watching A.J. since she hadn’t been there since she was 3 years old.
At Epcot we went on Mission Mars or Space and Soaring. Both those rides were great. One takes you into outer space via a flight simulator and the other takes you hang gliding over scenes in California. Wow! The best way to do these rides is of course by getting there first. The other way is by using the Fast Pass system. If you can be flexible you show up at a ride at the time your Fast Pass tells you and you go to the front of the line. That really worked slick. On one occasion we walked ahead of at least 500 other people to get to the front. I felt terribly guilty for a little bit. I didn’t make eye contact with any of those I was trotting past.
You know that Epcot is composed of two areas: the rides, etc. in front and then the showcase of countries in the rear. For dinner we actually went to a sit down dinner at the German showcase. We got great food and a short program including oompa music. It was fun. The evening ended with a lazer light show. By then Cindy & I were simply worn out.
Thankfully our time in Florida ended not only on a high note but a less strenuous one as well. Saturday was spent going to Coco Beach which is straight east of Orlando on the Atlantic. The beach was beautiful and the sun warm and inviting. We lounged around for a few hours then headed back for the Luau at the Polynesian Resort.
The Luau was great. The food was plentiful, the atmosphere was festive and the evening concluded with a great floor show.
On Sunday we had to say our goodbyes. Matt and A.J. had a many hour drice ahead of them. They were heading back to Washington, DC where they both needed to be on Monday for work. Cindy & I boarded our plane and after the usual hassles we arrived home Sunday afternoon.
It was a great trip.
After saying our goodbyes at church Cindy & I drove home, changed clothes, grabbed a bite to eat and took off for El Paso and points East. We were on our way. Our destination was Orlando, Florida some 1700 miles away. After a brief stop at the El Paso airport to drop off one of our cars we were on our way.
There is a lot of nothing in west Texas but I had come prepared. Books on tape saved the day. First Bob Newhart then Sue Grafton kept us occupied. The roads were for the most part fine so we just sailed along.
This trip was going to be a bit more seat-of-our-pants. We did not have any motel reservations except in Orlando where we were going to be spending a number of days. It worked great. Somewhere along the way we grabbed one of those free discount magazines you find at truck stops that advertise discounts on hotels along the way and planned from there. Sonora, Texas (west of San Antonio) was first then Baton Rouge, Louisiana then Gainesville, Florida. There’s not much to say about the trip itself.
We did drop down to Pensacola, Florida (just east of there really) so we could see the beach. The traffic was stop and go but it was great walking on the beach once again. It stretches for what seemed like miles. In Las Cruces we have the sand but no water.
The main reason for the trip was to meet up with Matt and his girlfriend A.J. so we could give him our old car. We met up with them at the Orlando train station. They sat up all night having come from Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Disney World was our destination now that we were together. Our first stop was Downtown Disney. It is a “six-acre nighttime entertainment complex.” There are several restaurants and shops there along with attractions like Cirque du Soleil. We spent time walking around and looking at the sights then we were off on a short boat ride to and then a carriage ride around the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. One thing about Disney is they do things so well. Their resorts are beautiful, too expensive to stay at perhaps but beautiful. We had a very nice time that night.
The next two days were spent at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The crowds were big but not a problem. We started at Splash Mountain then it was on to The Big Thunder Mounta
in Railroad. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hall of the Presidents and on and on kept us going all day and into the night. The fireworks were spectacular and the Spectral Magic parade ended our evening at the Magic Kingdom. It was great having Matt there since he worked there for a time. He knew the places to go 
and how best to do it. It was also fun watching A.J. since she hadn’t been there since she was 3 years old.At Epcot we went on Mission Mars or Space and Soaring. Both those rides were great. One takes you into outer space via a flight simulator and the other takes you hang gliding over scenes in California. Wow! The best way to do these rides is of course by getting there first. The other way is by using the Fast Pass system. If you can be flexible you show up at a ride at the time your Fast Pass tells you and you go to the front of the line. That really worked slick. On one occasion we walked ahead of at least 500 other people to get to the front. I felt terribly guilty for a little bit. I didn’t make eye contact with any of those I was trotting past.
You know that Epcot is composed of two areas: the rides, etc. in front and then the showcase of countries in the rear. For dinner we actually went to a sit down dinner at the German showcase. We got great food and a short program including oompa music. It was fun. The evening ended with a lazer light show. By then Cindy & I were simply worn out.
Thankfully our time in Florida ended not only on a high note but a less strenuous one as well. Saturday was spent going to Coco Beach which is straight east of Orlando on the Atlantic. The beach was beautiful and the sun warm and inviting. We lounged around for a few hours then headed back for the Luau at the Polynesian Resort.
The Luau was great. The food was plentiful, the atmosphere was festive and the evening concluded with a great floor show.
On Sunday we had to say our goodbyes. Matt and A.J. had a many hour drice ahead of them. They were heading back to Washington, DC where they both needed to be on Monday for work. Cindy & I boarded our plane and after the usual hassles we arrived home Sunday afternoon.
It was a great trip.
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