Soaring to heights heretofore unheard of for a Christian—genre movie, now the 3rd highest–grossing music biopic of all time ($82.6 million as of early May) with a filming budget of 7-million, I Can Only Imagine, is also mopping up on tears in tissues. The song itself, by MercyMe about one’s reaction when they finally meet Jesus in Heaven, is a tearjerker for all true believers who are so indebted to the Son of God. The heart wenching story of the author of the song, Bart Millar, adds to the emotional pit–in–the–stomach. No spoiler alert here. You’ll have to see it for yourself.
Back to the theme of the song, the thought of what will happen when one first arrives in Heaven came to my attention after a recent flight when there was no one to greet me. That’s not unusual nor expected. I travel a fair amount and often arrive at an airport which might be a distance from friends or relatives. Often, when I go to Southeast Asia, I travel solo and am picked-up by a hotel driver. The driver will have that small placard which reads: “ALLEN.” That would be me. Now they are using tablets.
On social networks is a photo of a disheveled 30-something–year–old in pajamas standing at the baggage carousal with a sign that read something like – “Welcome back mom & dad . . . we ran out of cereal.” Another one embarrassed their pick–up with – “Welcome back from Rehab.”
In time past, at this present airport, one of our sons and daughter–in–laws, with grandchild in tow, would be there to greet us. Hugs were first on the agenda. On one occasion, a very sad one, our good friends Doc & Ruth were there to pick us up. This was the day after our son had been killed. The hugs were long and hard. In fact, I ended-up knocking Doc’s coffee out of his hand. They, too, had experienced the loss of a child just a few years before. She had been murdered.
I knew no one would be at the bottom of the escalator on this day, but there were people waiting for their friends or relatives. One couple embraced for a long time. But no one for me and I’m okay with that. I’ll get to see my friends soon enough.
Sometimes I wonder what the greeting will be like in Heaven. Will an announcement be heard over the heavenly intercom of my arrival or will my loved ones just sense it? Will my family and friends gather behind the pearly gates (if there is such a thing) in great anticipation to see me? Or will I bypass all of these to see the One who made all this possible—Jesus? I do miss those who have gone on before, but He is the reason for my eternal destiny in Heaven.
MercyMe asks—will I dance, stand, kneel in His presence? Will I sing or be able to speak at all. I can only imagine. But it will happen someday for those who are followers of Him. It’s just hard to imagine.
We vs. I
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Going to Hell
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Stay Away from the Meatloaf
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A Dog Leading the Way
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The Speed–Breakers of Life
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High School Reunion
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"Skin, it's the thing that's in"
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Emerging from a Covid Cell
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'Twas The Real Night Before Christmas
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Christmas Catalogs
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Cancel This!
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Don't Judge By Its Cover
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Our Plans Trumped by God
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We Fall Down
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Battle with a Bug
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Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out
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7/3/2020
Setting the bar too low
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Good is Evil, Evil is Good
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6/9/2020
Misguided Freedom
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A Preaching Nightmare
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Restaurant and/or Church Possible
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A Good Dose of Cloistering Going On
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4/15/2020
So, Where is God in All of This?
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I Finally Learned How to Wash My Hands
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Fire Truck - Glory Train
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4/16/2019
Some Sins Seem to Do More Damage
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The Canopy is Gone
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12/15/2018
Brushing Teeth with Iced Tea
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11/5/2018
Never in Danger, but Could Have Been
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11/4/2018
Another Festival
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11/3/2018
Cow Town
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11/2/2018
Dressing Down
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#MeToo
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10/25/2018
All Alone Among 1.35 Billion People
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10/24/2018
Does Anyone Know What Time It Is?
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10/23/2018
Time To Be Spiritual Weather Forecasters
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Words Change . . . But Someone Gets the Final Word
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To Cremate or Not to Cremate
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I Want to Hold Your Hand
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7/4/2018
I Finally Caught a Foul Ball . . . Sort of
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6/8/2018
I Can Only Imagine
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6/1/2018
Do Panhandlers Have Regulars
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4/8/2018
Can't Good Dogs Go To Heaven?
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4/3/2018
At the Taj . . . in pictures only
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1/24/2018
Cold, But Warm Inside
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1/22/2018
Don't Remove the Plastic
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1/12/2018
Put Your Big Boy Pants On
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1/9/2018
In the Spirit . . . or not?
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1/3/2018
You Could Cut It With a Knife
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1/1/2018
Personal Message Boards
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11/24/2017
Men Acting Badly, err Should We Say---Horribly!
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11/18/2017
History of Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata
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8/29/2017
Large Crowd Diversion
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6/19/2017
Bikes, Bikers, and Trying New Things
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Lessons from T-Ball for Churches
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6/17/2017
Authenticity of and in Jeans
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5/11/2017
Don't Let Me Fall
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4/22/2017
Have We Lost the "Awe-factor," Wonderment?
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4/21/2017
Bumped - Not Bumbed
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4/13/2017
Go Fly a Kite
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1/18/2017
What's In Your Bag?
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1/17/2017
Cultural Faux Pas
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The Three Hour Trip Ends Up 23 Hours
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1/12/2017
Walking Headrest Cover
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1/9/2017
The Gift that Keeps Giving
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12/17/2016
Let's Keep Things in Perspective
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8/1/2015
I've Got the Nine
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6/26/2015
God Often Works in Mysterious Ways
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6/5/2015
I'm From Negadelphia
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3/24/2015
Positive Spin
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2/16/2015
