Is Heaven for Real?

Every Wednesday night we have Family Night at the church. People come and we have dinner followed by Bible study. One of the nights I made homemade soup. Asparagus. One of our church members is an asparagus farmer, and is known world wide for his asparagus. Once in a while I get some of his delicious crop, and when I do it's usually a much larger quantity than I would normally buy at the market so, hence, the soup.

During our Bible study the question came up about a book that is making the rounds called, "Heaven is for Real!" It's the story of a child, Colton, who has a near-death experience and spends time in heaven.  Of course there are lots of books about heaven, and what it's like. In fact there was a huge interest in heaven within Postexilic Jewish literature. Books such as 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, Testament of Abraham and 3 Baruch describe heavenly journeys. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Revelation are three books in the Bible that describe heavenly encounters. "90 Minutes in Heaven" is another recent account of a heavenly journey.

Since I had read "Heaven is for Real!" I was asked what I thought about the book. While I cannot, or will not critique the account of little Colton, I will comment on what are some common misconceptions about heaven based on what Scripture really says about it.

I think most of us think of heaven as a place we hopefully go to after we die. But the scriptural understanding of heaven is more like being in the eternal presence of God. Yes, we hear that we will go to a place called heaven (or hell, which is another discussion altogether), but we are also told that the Kingdom of Heaven is here, and "in our hearts." We read in Revelation that there will ultimately be a "new heaven and new earth" suggesting that even heaven falls under the judgement and redemption of God.

The Gospel of Matthew is a panoramic story of the conflict between two "kingdoms" (note that "kingdom" is a verbal noun that refers more specifically to power and not territory--the term "kingdom of God" could be better understood as "reign" or "rule" of God), the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan (or kingdoms of the world). That is to say heaven is not a place, but a state of being. Discipleship, following the way of Jesus Christ, is the work we do in partnership with God in reclaiming God's rule over the rule of anyone or anything else. In our Lord's Prayer we pray "thy Kingdom come on earth as in heaven."

I believe we don't have to wait to go to heaven, or that our primary work is to make sure we get into heaven, but, rather, to participate in the kingdom-building good news Jesus proclaimed and lived out.

Which brings me back to Colton's experience.

I don't know who's to say what we will experience when we die, or have a heavenly encounter often referred to as a near-death experience. I DO know that Jesus told the bandit on the other cross that he would join Jesus that day in Paradise, and not heaven. Maybe these heavenly descriptions are paradise descriptions. I say that because scripture tells us that there will be a marriage of heaven and earth, a NEW heaven and NEW earth on the last day when all the dead shall be raised. In the meantime perhaps it is paradise to which we go when we die, and paradise that Colton experienced. And just maybe paradise is a place that reflects our own understanding of it as well as our own goodness, which is ultimately a reflection of God's glory.

All I really know is sometimes a delicious bowl of asparagus soup with family and friends feels like paradise. And maybe heaven as well.

Here's how I made it. (How I make most soups)

1 small onion chopped
1 lb asparagus (or other veg) chopped

heat 2tbsp of Olive oil in a dutch oven and cook the onions until soft, then add the asparagus and cook until aromatic.

I usually add some marjoram, cooking until fragrant and then add broth, about 6 cups.

Add a bay leaf and bring to a simmer and simmer for an hour.

Remove the bay leaf and either use an immersion blender or, in batches, use a blender to "cream" the soup.

You can add a little cream or half and half if you like. I usually don't to keep the calories and fat to a minimum.

I serve with some homemade croutons and shaved Parmesan.

Wednesday Night Piemaking

Bob, a good friend of ours who had moved with his wife Nancy to South Carolina a couple of years ago, came to visit us recently. For two nights we had good food and good conversation sitting out on the back patio, enjoying the warm weather. In the course of our sharing on one of those nights we began talking about holidays and holiday traditions. You see, the reason Bob was in our neighborhood was his son, Mike, had moved from South Carolina back to Southern California and Bob had helped with the move. We were getting caught up with all the family doings and Bob happened to mention that, though they would miss Mike and Mike's family (especially the grand-babies), a family tradition would carry on. Now you have to know Bob and his rough and tough exterior to get the fullness of his comment about family traditions. Bob's nickname is "Big Dog." I hope you get the picture. Of course we asked what that particular tradition was. "Baking pies on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving," came the answer. But is was not Nancy baking the pies. It was Bob. Big Dog Bob. And he made several pies, not just one or two. And now Mike, his son, was carrying on the tradition of making pies on the eve of Thanksgiving.

The conversation reminded me of how important family traditions can be. Why? I suppose there are different answers to the question, but I'm quite sure they all center on the feeling of connectedness we feel when we continue a family tradition. And traditions can come out of nowhere. Two Christmases ago we watched the film "Love Actually," and it stuck as a sort of family tradition. Baseball season has begun and my wife and I watch the film "Major League" to get into the spirit, a sort of family tradition I think.

We Christians have another family tradition. We call it various names, The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist. Whenever I take part in the Lord's Supper with others I am reminded of how connected we are through the simple act of sharing bread, sharing wine. Of how that connection transcends time and space. Of how that connection brings the gift of wholeness, healing and joy. And that connection is there even in the worst of times. And I believe that all of our family traditions somehow are connected to this one. And that's a good thing.

In the spirit of pie-making I'm sharing a favorite recipe of mine, a free form fruit pie that we had with Bob during his visit. You can go to www.cooksillustrated.com to get the basic recipe. They call it a "Free Form Summer Fruit Tart." One of the secret ingredients I use in making my pie crust, and not mentioned in the recipe, is to add 1 Tbs vodka to the dough in place of some of the water. Trust me, it makes for a really flaky crust. Enjoy!