A glimpse of heaven?

Older Daughter came stumbling out of her room this morning, bleary-eyed, and declared she hadn't slept well.

"Any particular reason?" I asked.

"Don't know. Got to sleep too late, woke up too early," she replied. "But on the bright side, I had a dream about heaven."

"Wow. Was it nice?"

"Yes. There were three bookstores alone in the first five minutes."

Dreams can be weird things, yes, but bookstores in heaven -- especially for booklovers like us -- may not be such a bad thing.

Just a little humor for a cold, windy, snowy day.

Who is heaven for?

About a week ago, I saw an article about a former porn star who had given up her sordid life and become a born-again Christian. Here was a woman (only 26 yrs old) who had reached rock bottom: raped at 14, drugs, prostitution, stripper, porn star, several suicide attempts... and then, through the outreach of a church whose specialty is rescuing such people, found God. Very heart-warming, very positive.

Of the hundreds of comments that followed the article, the vast majority were upbeat and encouraging. But one woman's comment stood out for its horrible, graphic language. I've edited out the bad stuff, but the gist of the comment is as follows:

"You have sold your soul and your body to Devil. There is no 'going back' to innocence for the ones who have lost their souls forever. Keep [doing porn]. You are good at it. You 'accepted' God but will God accept you? HEAVEN is for DECENT GIRLS who respect themselves, not for [expletive] like you."

Believe me, the comment was way, way worse (and longer) than the sanitized version above. And it's from a woman, too.

I can't imagine why this woman thought she had to spout such hate and vitriol, but one thing I know: her definition of who is worthy of heaven surely differs from mine. Jesus willingly associated with the lowest of the low in order to change their lives. He still does, today.

But some people are blind to His works and words. I'm saddened that this idiot thought it was necessary to launch such a poison bomb at a woman who is doing her best to clean up her life. Someone needs to review the 8th chapter of John.

If heaven were only for perfect people, it would be a very, very lonely place.

Just thought I'd get this off my chest.

Forrest Gump goes to heaven

Reader Terry in Florida sent me this charming little story. I hadn't seen it before and thought it was lovely.
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Forrest Gump Goes to Heaven

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.

He's at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However the gates are closed as Forrest approaches.

St. Peter said, “Well, Forrest, it’s certainly good to see you. We’ve heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven.”

Forrest responds, “It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was.”

Peter said, “Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions. First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God's first name?”

Forrest leaves to think the questions over.

He returns the next day and sees St. Peter, who waves him up and says, “Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.”

Forrest replied, “Well, the first one – which two days in the week begins with the letter 'T'? Shucks, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow.”

The Saint's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed, “Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How about the next one? How many seconds in a year?”

“Now that one was harder,” replied Forrest, “but I thunk and thunk about that, and I guess the only answer can be twelve.”

Astounded, St. Peter said, “Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?”

Forrest replied, “Shucks, there's got to be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd …”

“Hold it,” interrupts St. Peter. “I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind....but I will have to give you credit for that one, too. Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name?”

“Sure,” Forrest replied. “It's Andy.”

“Andy?” exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St Peter. “Okay, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?”

“Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,” Forrest replied. “I learnt it from the song:

ANDY WALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TALKS WITH ME,
ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN…”

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said, “Run, Forrest, run.”