“I don’t believe we should live our life in fear of what happens after we die.  We should just enjoy life now”

“Why would God want us to focus on what happens after we die?  Shouldn’t we just live the best we can now?”

“When we die we just die.  That’s it.  There’s nothing after.  Why would there need to be something afterward?”

I have heard these questions many times.  These come from people who either do not believe in an afterlife or believe that it is inconsequential.

How about we take some practical advice from Jesus?  Take a look at this:

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30)

Some very practical advice!  Start with the end in mind, else you will not get far or you’ll end up with something worthless.  And of course, today it is common to talk about “goals” – Kaelin’s brothers even spent a substantial time in middle school setting life goals.  So what is the end, what is the goal?  Well, if you think the end is nothingness and your body just rots away in the ground… well it doesn’t sound like much to live for and in turn your life will not have much meaning.  Thankfully, the Bible gives us a picture of the end we should strive for:

¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²And I sawthe holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev. 21:1-5)

This is a wonderful vision of absolute redemption of all of creation!  Perfect peace, perfect love, perfect unity, perfect joy.  The Apostle Paul provided an example of living with that end in mind: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14).  He lived His life for Jesus’ glory knowing that his end would be eternally in the presence of God.

We have an option then (as shown in Phil. 3:17-21).  We can focus alone on our life today – “earthly things” – and end up in destruction.  Or we can focus on Heaven and live with that end in mind.

Something unique about my husband is that he absolutely LOVES it when Jehovah’s Witnesses come to the door!  Most people would cringe and try to pretend they are not home (come on you’ve all said it, “Ah! It’s the Jehovah’s Witnesses again!”) But on a Saturday morning (that’s when they like to come in our neighborhood) when the doorbell rings, I’ll often hear, “I think it’s a Jehovah’s Witness!!” And in glee he runs to the door to chat it up with them.

Jesus is enough for me, thank you.

The man pictured above is one of the guys who actually had the guts to discuss his religion with Paul for nearly an hour and said he would come back to talk more, although he never did.  He is one of the many who unknowingly knock on our door, oblivious to the fact that the man I live with is a passionate evangelist for Christ’s grace, and is willing to defend it for an uncanny amount of time!

This past Saturday was my favorite episode yet.  An African American man and an African American boy (who was apparently not his son) came to convince us, once again, of their works-based religion.  I did what I usually do, follow behind Paul and ask him if he needs his Bible.

Paul began the conversation by saying, “Look, I appreciate that people need to know about the love of God, but I don’t think you’re out here to love me, because every time a Jehovah’s Witness comes to my door, I give them my number and they say they’ll come back or call.  And they never do.  Now I know this is because YOU feel that you’re getting into Heaven because of your works.  And so you come out here every Saturday to proclaim your religion, which is what you feel justifies you before God.  Now, if any of you really loved me, you would check up on me.  I don’t think your religion is that of love, it is one of works and obligation…” (or something of the sort, Paul is better at laying out the apologetics than I am)

The man went on to adamantly profess that one must live a life doing good things, and that doing good things and following God’s commands is how he will get into Heaven.  The nearly heart-breaking moment for me was when Paul asked the young boy, maybe 7 or 8, “how do you think you are getting into Heaven?”  And the boy replied, “if I do good things I will get in.”  Paul has them read aloud Ephesians 2:1-9

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Emphasizing verse 8, “for it is by grace you have been saved through faith.”  The young boy got to hear the gospel.

The man kept using Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

to try to convince Paul that it is by what we do that earns our righteousness.  I think one can see, even from this verse, that it is not at all what we do that makes us right before God.  Paul pointed out that Jesus says “I never knew you”, which highlights our need to be in relationship with Jesus.

As the conversation escalated and became more heated as the man realized Paul was big on grace and not on works, the man got more and more agitated and began accusing Paul of contradicting himself, when really he just asked questions, and read aloud the Scriptures.  Finally, Paul said, “Jesus is my savior.  YOU are your own savior, and you are coming here, telling ME to be my own savior and that, my friend, is NOT the gospel.” (here is where I got goosebumps)

The man angrily said, “Thank you very much, come on (kid’s name).” And the child did come….. but only after staring at and listening to Paul so intently that he nearly walked backward down the stairs.  Father, I do pray that that child heard your gospel of grace and comes to know your salvation.  Amen.

An amazing trip with my family!!  We just returned from a 3 week trip out west in Portland, OR.  What a fabulous 3 weeks of my life!  I had no idea what blessings were in store there!

For the majority of the time, we got to stay with Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Shell.

Grandma and Grandpa

Luke learned many new words while we were there, including, “Bubby” for Buddy the dog.

Luke, Daddy, Buddy, Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Shell

Luke also had a blast exploring his new home away from home.  He did quite a lot of standing and playing with all the new toys Grandma got for him.

Ball pit!

The first weekend we were there, we got to drive up to Seattle for our dear friends’ (Marc and Katherine Bathgate) wedding.   Grandma and Grandpa even drove up to help us out with Luke!  It was a very special weekend for us.

Luke's new favorite activity: walking

At the Rehearsal dinner:

Luke with the bride

My handsome husband and me

Baby Luke!

Luke at dinner

We got to see some old, great friends:

Colin, Luke, Paul

The Wedding day:

We got to go to Pike’s Market downtown Seattle near the water.  Seattle is beautiful!

We even got to hang out with Colin’s new fiance and visit the very first Starbucks.

Becca.... soon to be Marsh

Paul and I love weddings, especially the ceremony.  What a moving reminder of Christ’s love for us (and our love for each other… what a fun date!)

I

Vows

Gorgeous view at the Reception

Another sweet surprise, some more old, good friends:

Paul with the boys: Ryan, Danny, Jeff

The beautiful bride and me

The mens album cover

Sunset over Seattle

After a late night of dancing and wedding celebration….. I got to wake up that Sunday morning and go to one of my favorite expressions of God’s worshipers, Mars Hill!

We're really here... at Mars Hill!

And as if this wonderful week wasn’t enough.. The following Monday we packed up again to head to Astoria, OR, which is right on the Pacific Coast.  Paul’s grandfather is one of 12 children, and a few of them own property there.  We got to stay for 3 days!

I think I found my new favorite summer sport: Beach biking!!

Cannon Beach

Even a burley for Baby Luke.

When we got back from the beach, we discovered an all new revelation of God’s abundant harvest… BLACKBERRIES, like as many as you could possibly eat, save, and store in multiple freezers.  No kidding.  Every morning we set out in Grandma and Grandpa’s neighborhood with our 5 gallon bucket, Grandpa’s hockey stick, and some work gloves, only to return with hundreds of sweet, ripe berries!  And FREE!!!!  I would estimate that we captured at least a couple hundred dollars worth.   I was so excited about our treasure that I kept imagining this is what it must have been like in the Garden of Eden, where all you had to do is wake up and pick fruit!  And there would be no one to stop me!  I also told the Lord it is my desire to capture as many souls for Him as there were ripe blackberries

Blackberry picking

Still more blessings….

Hanging out with Grandpa David

And uncle Mike

Mike, Paul , Kaelin

And Baby Luke turned ONE!!  So we got to have an incredible first birthday party for him with the family!

I love cake.

And guess who got to join us???  Yep, THE MO!

The Mo!

Baby Luke got prayed over by TWO pastors!

I'm blessed! I'm blessed!

Oooo presents

It is always so good to see Auntie Mo and Uncle Dave.

Books! I love books!

But really my favorite is this singing card

And what would a Portland trip be if we didn’t visit Howard at Cal Skate?

Luke's first time on a skateboard... not sure what he thinks of it.

WOW, God you are so good.  Wow, wow.  We’re going to miss you guys!  Can’t wait to do it again.

ONE!!!  Happy Birthday to you, Baby Luke.  You are a true blessing and a joy.  Here is some highlights from your first year on earth:

1st day at the Hospital

Already working with Daddy at 2 weeksBarely sitting in the Bumbo

1st trip to the Zoo

Standing in my jumper

Going to Ladies events with Mommy

Sitting up with the help of the Boppy

Playing with friends at Mommy Mall Days!

Supporting the LDI 5k

My first step in the ocean

Making it work at a Conference

Getting into everything!

I love my Momma!

I love my Daddy, too

I am a happy guy

I love books!

Friends are important

I'm pretty good at drums for a baby

Grandma and Grandpa are very special people!

Almost ready to walk on my own

Hangin' with a bride here and there!

Love hanging out with Mom and Dad

And causing trouble...

Berry picking.. my new favorite hobby... or is it my Mom's?

A pretty blessed kid I am

All this cake for a baby??

Happy birthday to our sweet son, who has brought more joy than ever imaginable!  We love you so much.

to be so excited to visit any one particular church? Our trip to Portland is so much fun!  We finally made got to go to Mars Hill Church in Seattle while we were there for a fabulous wedding (Marc and Katherine Bathgate’s).  For the past year, I’ve been devouring sermon series from here, listening to them on my ipod while I do housework.

As we drove up to park outside the big,  gray,  humble-looking  building I told Paul, “I feel nervous, I’m so excited!”  I started to feel like I was 14 and going to see the New Kids on the Block (back in ‘89 of course!)

I even put Luke in his camo pants to fit right in with the edgy crowd!

We're here!

Grandma and Grandpa were able to make the trip with us, too!

After doing a quick heart-check, I determined that it was not idolatrous to like being at Mars Hill so much…. because I was completely enamored by God the whole time.  How AWESOME he is!  He let a bunch of punks start this massive and life-changing church from NOTHING but a young guy who swore too much and his high school sweetheart…. and some other very faithful partners, of course.  All sinners, nonetheless!

So, a little shout out to Mars Hill, and praise to our King for allowing us ordinary people to have positions in his grand productions!