“Life is a dream, and heaven’s reality.” For so many of the people Jan and I encourage, these are not just lyrics to a popular Christian song, they are an anchor. That’s why we felt compelled to do an issue on heaven. It’s a subject close to our hearts. It is the hope of every soul.

But I have to tell you, the reality of that hope didn’t come easily to me. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was scared. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to leave my wife and kids behind. Even ... (continued)

“Will I be able to see you from heaven?” Beve asked as we sat on the sofa, curled up under the afghan.

“Why do you always ask questions I can’t answer?” I replied.

Never easily put off or detoured from her agenda, she pressed further, “Can I watch what you do every day?” Having lived a life entwined in the lives of others, this was a logical question to ask on the day before her second brain surgery to slow down an aggressive, cancerous tumor.

Again, I had no answer. ... (continued)

“Are you going to miss me, Mom?” Jessica asked as she cuddled next to her mother.

“Of course I’ll miss you, Jessie.”

“Well, I’m not going to miss you!”

Trying to hide her hurt, my wife asked, “Jessica, why on earth would you say that?”

“Well, Mom,” she answered with matter-of-fact confidence, “a day in heaven is a thousand years on earth.”

Those surprising words, that at first stung so sharply, were spoken with great wisdom and have come to provide long... (continued)

Most of us have given some thought as to what heaven will be like. I sometimes imagine that—just maybe—heaven is going to be a beautiful baseball diamond. I picture myself standing on the mound with my left arm healed, pitching again. It’s a nice thought.  I’d like to share what some of my young friends think about heaven.
Dave Dravecky, 40

The best part of heaven is the party Jesus is going to give us. Lots of babies will be in heaven. If we need our dolls in heaven, Jesus wi... (continued)

Joni Eareckson Tada has lived in a wheelchair for more than 28 years. That’s a lot of time to ponder heaven and that’s why Joni has written a book called Heaven . . . Your Real Home. In it, she shares more insights about heavenly glories, encouraging us to see that every spiritual investment we make here on earth has a direct bearing on our heavenly joy.

Last week I ran into a good friend whose husband recently had died. It wasn’t easy to converse on the noisy sidewalk w... (continued)

Everyone has some idea of what heaven is like, but no one knows exactly what heaven is like. As a result, we have created many different images of heaven and what it means. Since heaven is God’s idea, let’s see what He says about it in His Word, the Bible.*

Heaven is the place where God lives.
The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place (2 Chronicles 30:27 NIV).

... (continued)

In a Special Land

If I could sit beside you
I would gently hold your hand.
I’d comfort you and tell you of
a very special land.
A land with joy and laughter where
the angels fill the air;
a land of such great beauty that
the Earth cannot compare.
I know in all your sorrow how
you wish me back with you,
though I with life beyond your thoughts
can give you just a view.
So do not put your trust in men
for mortals cannot save.
But put your trust ... (continued)

“Let’s not get too settled in, too satisfied with the good things down here on earth. They are only the tinkling sounds of the orchestra warming up (more...)