Heaven

The last few weeks at church we've been discussing the topic of Heaven. I don't think I've really ever given a ton of thought to some of the things we've been talking about. What will Heaven be like? What will God be like? What will we do when we get to Heaven? We also learned some of the most popular misconceptions about Heaven vs. Hell.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed to learn that reincarnation just isn't in the cards for us believes but today learned that if God created us and all the animals and the entire universe then there's still hope that he could create other things...So does this mean we might have a chance to come back and do this life thing again, even at the risk of never seeing the same people or knowing the same thing? A do-over we're not aware is our second chance to get things right?

I must admit this series couldn't have come at a better time, since I've been thinking back to my past and have been living with some exhausting and sometimes all-consuming guilt over the choices I've made. I am definitely far from perfect but this series and my latest Bible study have been a great relief that God still forgives if we're truly sorry and I have a second chance, and a third, a fourth, and so on...Granted I know I'll be judged, and it might be a harsh punishment in my opinion, because I did many things, that I knew were wrong, after I came to know Christ.

I've never thought that Heaven would be boring, that there would be nothing to do. I've never wondered whether my pets would be there with me or if my family members would greet me when I got there or maybe I'd greet them, but now I've come to fear something more...What if I don't get there? I've learned that "good people don't go to Heaven, forgiven people go to Heaven".

That brings up something else, and maybe I'm the only one who's ever thought it but here goes...I can say from the bottom of my heart that I'd never wish for someone not to make it to Heaven, buuuuutttt...I can definitely say that my little sinning Christian heart has certainly wished that should we all make it to Heaven that I might be fortunate enough to never run into those people that annoy me here on Earth. The "porcupine people". How would I treat them in Heaven? Or would we get along? I mean, there are those who've treated me pretty badly at times or done things I've thought were just lousy in general, so the idea that they will receive blessings too is sometimes a little frustrating and always a little humbling.

Am I the only one who thinks like that? I understand that we'll all be held accountable for our actions according to what we know and whether we're believers or not, which frankly scares me a little (for my own sake). And I just kind of expect people who aren't believers to be more relaxed about things, you know the "oops, was that really a bad idea" kind of thing. But I just don't like when people who are Christ followers, knowing every single scripture in the Bible, maybe they even go to your church, but they turn their back on you when you need help the most or they actually have the nerve to scowl at you behind the scenes or spread rumors about you to people you greatly respect.

Honestly, I don't think they deserve the same blessings other people are getting. Not that I think I deserve them, but if we're supposed to be following the words in the Bible and living a life like Christ then how are these behaviors acceptable? If we are sorry for our actions we should repent (truly meaning it) and move on but don't keep repeating the same crummy acts you've been doing all along. I guess we just won't know until we get there, right?

Easter

Sometimes when I'm talking to my kids about something I wonder to myself "are they even listening?". But then they do something really great, possibly weeks after the fact, that let me know I'm actually doing an okay job as a mom.

The other day my oldest son brought home his latest publishing project from school. It was titled Easter and he started off reading about an egg hunt and finding lots of candy. But then he switched over to talking about how Easter isn't about candy or some magical bunny but actually about Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us.

I was so impressed! Not only does he know the story but he's not embarrassed or afraid to write about it, write about it, or just admit it. I'm so proud of him for being strong about it. It might seem like just some ordinary thing to most people but I think in our society talking about religious or God can be a frightening thing for some. These days when people say they're a Christian they had some kind of disclaimer to the end. Do you know what I mean? The ol' "I'm a Christian, but you know..." routine. I mean, just because we're Christians doesn't mean we're weird, or boring, or extremists. We just believe in something and we're proud of it. And I'm really glad my son is showing that kind of strength.

To See or Not To See...

Recently my 7 1/2 year old son was looking for one of his toys in my bedroom and came across a small jar of his baby teeth. As I explained to him that I'm his tooth fairy he looked up at me with this sweet innocent face and asked me "does Dad know?" You can read more about that in my personal blog here: http://courtneyb11.blogspot.com. It was all very sweet and I felt sad that that "magic" of the tooth fairy and Santa and all those fantastic fictional characters is supposed to last a long time. I felt bad for him, like I had been tricking him all along...In a way I had, but only with the intentions of making something ordinary into something special. After we talked I told him he's now part of the "secret society" so to speak, he's part of making that magic now...For his little brothers and little cousins. And although he still believes in Santa and even little Leprechauns, it won't be long before he realizes that they too are legendary characters made up from actions of real people long long ago.

However, something else came to mind that is now somewhat worrisome to me. If all the things he's learned about but couldn't see these past few years, what will he think about Jesus Christ? I mean, chances are he won't even think of it that way since he's grown up with the foundation of the Lord in his life but what if he starts to question things and I don't have all the answers? I will be excited when he begins to have questions about the story of Jesus and start his own personal journey of discovery but I can only hope that in his heart he will hear the Lord and know the truth.