Comments on: What if There Were No Heaven? http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2010/02/18/what-if-there-were-no-heaven/ faith, discipleship, fiction - from the desks of Clark D. Goble and Todd French Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Ty http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2010/02/18/what-if-there-were-no-heaven/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Ty Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:54:28 +0000 http://theimperfectdisciples.com/?p=535#comment-200 Jews don't generally have the same promise of Heaven as do Christians and there are still millions of them, though some Jews do believe in Heaven or an afterlife of sorts while other Jews believe in a future where God (or a messiah figure) will rule directly on Earth. And some Jews believe in both. Official (so to speak) Judaism isn't exactly clear on the subject, at least not in English translations. Jews don’t generally have the same promise of Heaven as do Christians and there are still millions of them, though some Jews do believe in Heaven or an afterlife of sorts while other Jews believe in a future where God (or a messiah figure) will rule directly on Earth. And some Jews believe in both. Official (so to speak) Judaism isn’t exactly clear on the subject, at least not in English translations.

]]> By: Stefanie Goble http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2010/02/18/what-if-there-were-no-heaven/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Stefanie Goble Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:48:52 +0000 http://theimperfectdisciples.com/?p=535#comment-198 Clark, I've often pondered this question in my own life. Many Christians use fear as a motivational tool to convert sinners. My Mother was quite effective at using fear as a control mechanism and justification for abusing her children. What I have determined is that a person could not survive starvation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and constant fear of death at the hands of a parent unless God looked after them. I have no explanation other than meeting Jesus as a child on a personal level. Adopting God as my only Father figure was a life changing moment. Psychologically speaking, I should be insane but I'm not. My children should have been susceptible to abuse because children tend to do as adults what they had done. Many molesters in prisons were molested as children. If heaven were not promised, I would still need Jesus to have peace. The joy I experience at seeing my children grow in a loving home free of abuse is so special to me. Many Christians do appear bitter and judgmental but many do not either. The Christians that shared the unconditional love of a God that wanted the very best for me seemed so peaceful. I have joy in my marriage to you that has exceeded my expectations. We share that joy and love with our children. You once exhibited the greatest version of God's love that I have ever seen exhibited. When your daughter was messing up left and right, you said simply, "Everyone deserves a do over in life. This is yours". It changed her whole persona to be loved that unconditionally. The greatest gift Christ has given me is that when I screw up and beat myself up, he runs to me and lifts up my tear stained face and lovingly says, "Everybody deserves a do over". The woman caught in the act of adultery found freedom in the Bible when everyone wanted to stone her. Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". In one sentence he set her free. It is the only true freedom that exists. You don't have to be incarcerated to be in bondage. He came to show us how to truly live. To have peace when a radiologist says you might have Cancer. To take away my fear and let me have joy...that IS HEAVEN! Stefanie Goble Clark,

I’ve often pondered this question in my own life. Many Christians use fear as a motivational tool to convert sinners. My Mother was quite effective at using fear as a control mechanism and justification for abusing her children. What I have determined is that a person could not survive starvation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and constant fear of death at the hands of a parent unless God looked after them. I have no explanation other than meeting Jesus as a child on a personal level. Adopting God as my only Father figure was a life changing moment. Psychologically speaking, I should be insane but I’m not. My children should have been susceptible to abuse because children tend to do as adults what they had done. Many molesters in prisons were molested as children. If heaven were not promised, I would still need Jesus to have peace. The joy I experience at seeing my children grow in a loving home free of abuse is so special to me. Many Christians do appear bitter and judgmental but many do not either. The Christians that shared the unconditional love of a God that wanted the very best for me seemed so peaceful. I have joy in my marriage to you that has exceeded my expectations. We share that joy and love with our children. You once exhibited the greatest version of God’s love that I have ever seen exhibited. When your daughter was messing up left and right, you said simply, “Everyone deserves a do over in life. This is yours”. It changed her whole persona to be loved that unconditionally. The greatest gift Christ has given me is that when I screw up and beat myself up, he runs to me and lifts up my tear stained face and lovingly says, “Everybody deserves a do over”. The woman caught in the act of adultery found freedom in the Bible when everyone wanted to stone her. Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. In one sentence he set her free. It is the only true freedom that exists. You don’t have to be incarcerated to be in bondage. He came to show us how to truly live. To have peace when a radiologist says you might have Cancer. To take away my fear and let me have joy…that IS HEAVEN!

Stefanie Goble

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