Happy Birthday, Mother

Today is my mother's 53rd birthday. For those of you who have not met my mother, Ruthie Jones, you should add it to your list of things to do.

She is love, she is peace, she is grace. She embodies home and family and the things in life that are good and true. She is a mother unlike most who I have met. The heart that she has for her sons is incredible. Her compassion for her fellow man is beyond measure. This is evidenced by her work as a hospital chaplain, and the way she conducts herself with those who are in need. Growing up, her prayer was often for God to "bless those who are sick, sad, or hungry."

The faith I have in God I attribute largely to the way she and my dad raised me. Trust in God, He is faithful to his promises. Never stop loving your brothers. You boys are each other's worlds. These are just some of the things she taught us growing up.

When I was in college, she would host weekly dinner's at her house on Tuesday night's for me, my brothers, and whoever we knew that needed a home-cooked meal. Ruthie Tuesdays, she called them. Her door was always open for anyone who needed anything. That's her way.

Mother, today Josh, Jen, Matthew, Sienna, Wilber and I honor you and celebrate your birthday with you. Break out the cake and the Blue Bell! It's time for a party!

What Does Your Heaven Look Like?

Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can’t wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They’re basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell.

-- Joel Stein, Columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

I appreicate this quote, because I've fantasized for many years about what heaven will be like. I'm of the mind that heaven is different things for different people. Eternal bliss may be we walks on the beach for some, rainy days with a good book for others, or for others still, singing the famed everlasting song.

I've given this a lot of thought, and my heaven looks like this, so far:

1) There is a dress code. White tops and khaki bottoms. Now, you can wear those colors in whatever garment you choose, but the dress code must be adhered to. It just looks sharp. Imagine, new people arriving in heaven every day, how impressed they'll be with how nice everyone looks. For my personal eternal ensemble, I'll be in khaki shorts and a white polo. Breezy, yet classic.

2) There will be an everlasting song, but you don't have to sing if you don't want to. The angel band (or, choir) will be singing forever. If you want to step on the risers and sing for awhile, then by all means do so. If you're not feeling like singing for eternity, don't feel obligated. Me, I'll be rotating in to sing at least once a "day".

3) The glory of the Lord will be revealed during the last couple of minutes of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It's powerful, exciting, and triumphant. On the day I arrive, I'll be escorted into an auditorium where a symphony is playing. The Lord is the conductor and his back is turned to the audience. When the music climaxes toward the end of the piece (with the entrance of the low brass), He will turn around, arms outstretched, revealing His glory. The moment will be accompanied by pageantry unprecedented. Lights, fireworks, flags, cheers and applause. Afterwards, there will be appetizers, coffee and dessert served in the lobby.

What about you? Have you thought about it? What does your heaven look like?

"A Time To Embrace"

I recently finished reading William Stacy Johnson's A Time To Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics. I was contemplating reviewing the book here on this blog, but my friend Jen did a beautiful review in her own blog here, much more eloquent than I could do. Please, check out her review and please, read this book. It is very important.