Tag: heaven

Posted in Life

The bronze angel

Posted on by William Douthwaite

It wasn’t white like all the other angel yard ornaments. It wasn’t mildewed or stained with iron from the sprinklers. This one was bronze.

Bronze angels are designed to inspire peace, love, remembrance, and spiritual connection. Bronze will last, as do the memories of those we love. Angels are messengers from God, reminders that there is more to life than what we can see and touch.

In this picture, the lamp post has seen better days. The garden cries out for attention. Tool handles patiently wait for a project to resume. The angel stands vigil, ever the same, day after day.

The scene preaches a sermon about the contrast between what will last and what is temporary. Everything, from homes to lawns will eventually deteriorate and disappear. It doesn’t make sense to invest too much in those things. Invest in what will last: treasure in heaven.

Posted in heaven

Furniture in heaven?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Grant Durr on Unsplash

Today I was reading Psalm 99 and came across verse 5

Exalt the Lord our God;
    worship at his footstool!

It’s not unusual for my mind to wander to some interesting places in the predawn hours of the day. That verse first made me exclaim, “God has an ottoman?” Actually, that sounds really cool. Creation is finished. God’s ready to put his feet up and rest. Why not? Then I wondered, “Does God have any other furniture? Jesus spoke of his father’s house and its many rooms. Is it furnished? If so, how?

I know it’s not important, but just off the top of my head I recall some heavenly furniture mentioned in scripture: a throne, a banquet table, lampstands (floor lamps?). That might be it. And that’s OK with me.

Update: A friend of mine told me her parents always said not to be afraid of thunder. It was just God rearranging his furniture!

Posted in children, heaven

Are there pointy hats in heaven?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

party hatsEven though All Saints is technically November 1 on the church calendar, we celebrated it in worship today. And since we call it a “celebration,” the children’s sermon wasn’t too hard to put together. After all, if there’s joy in heaven when one person repents, we can celebrate here on earth too. So I gave out pointy party hats and party blowers, those things that unroll when you blow into them.

I knew those things would be fun, I just didn’t know how much fun. I got a big kick for the rest of the morning when I saw all these pointy hats sticking up from the pews as I preached. I also had fun working around them to bless the children who came up for a blessing at communion. Something so simple provided so much entertainment!

So as I reflect on the day, here’s my question: are there pointy party hats in heaven? On the one hand, one might immediately answer, “Of course not. That would be silly.” On the other hand, if the kingdom of heaven indeed belongs to little children, they may just bring their hats and noisemakers with them! I can so picture Jesus wearing a pointy party hat with the kids.

While we have little hints here and there throughout the bible of what heaven will be like, we’re not really going to know what it’s like till we get there. But I’m absolutely certain that when I breathe my last in this life and take my first breath in the next, if I see pointy party hats, I’ll know I’m in the right place!