Last night we gave out 25 copies of 50 Days of Heaven. (If you did not receive one and want one, email me and I’ll get you one.) Now comes the accountability/community aspect. For everyone who picked one up, and we assume you are reading it, drop a comment below about the book. Here are some questions to get us started:
What statements in the book ring true?
What has encouraged you in your reading?
How will what you are reading better equip us as a community to move forward in our mission?
November 11, 2008 at 8:08 am
Statement that rings true: those who have been rescued by King Jesus have the mind-blowing hope that they will be resurrected to life under His good reign on the New Earth. (my paraphrase)
I love that this book on heaven actually starts with the New Earth because I think a huge misunderstanding about heaven is that we “go away in the sky somewhere never to return to earth,” but what this does is place our hope is for God’s new creation (that includes a renewed earth), we have been rescued by the King not only to live as a new humanity someday, but to live under His reign now as the people of God (II Cor. would call us new creations now…)
That’s been stirring around in my heart today especially as I’ve been looking at the brokenness in Tempe and around the world. I don’t just long to escape sin, or this world that’s infected with sin, but long for Jesus to return to bring His justice and restore peace to this world.
kevin
November 11, 2008 at 11:22 am
For Day 11 devotional about how saints are watching what is happening on earth with great interest, I wrote this comment on my Kindle after Alcorn posed this question:”Do you know anyone in Heaven who may be interested in whether you are following Christ?”
My reply: “To my knowledge none of my relatives who died believed in Christ as their Lord. So I don’t think anyone is cheering me on… Sad.”
It is depressing to think this way, although there may unknown conversions among them. Then I praise God that they have been saved… If not, my only hope is that I may cheer those who will be left behind on earth after my passing so they can profess their faith in Jesus Christ and await patiently for His return.
I love this book. I love to see the parts of the New Testament in a new light. Thank you for this opportunity to be enlighted in the reality of Heaven as a place on the New Earth!
November 11, 2008 at 4:35 pm
statements that rings true:
“By meditating on Heaven and learning to look forward to it, we don’t eliminate our pain, but we can alleviate it and put it in perspective.”-Randy Alcorn, 50 Days of Heaven
“It is since Christina have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” -C.S. Lewis
November 11, 2008 at 10:24 pm
It’s in the intro, and it’s what has stuck with me so far…
“our most basic problem is not that we want too much. On the contrary, it is that we are content with too little.”
I think this stuck with me because it has implications on our lives pre-heaven as well. Everything is greater when pursued as Christ intended whether it be our relationships on Earth or our vision of Heaven.
November 11, 2008 at 10:47 pm
The statements that most rings true for me are….
“we should all be optimists. Why? Because even our most painful experiences in life are but temporary setbacks… That is Christ’s promise…”
I know that at times i get so wrapped up in that moments pain that i forget that no matter how rough things may seem, they won’t last. Eventually God will work everything out. It helps keep things in perspective.
I also love the part about seeing God everywhere in creation: “in the food we eat, the friendships we enjoy, and the pleasures of family, work and hobbies.”
Taking note of the little blessings in life helps me to be more thankful and less in-content with the things i don’t have.