I am a world-class singer—under the needles of a warm shower.

Outside the bathroom, my incredible voice does a ‘Cinderella at midnight’ act and becomes ordinary. I don’t know why that is. I still love to sing, though.

Maybe that love was born when I was a kid in our little church back home. Even as an eight-year old you could find me belting out those southern-gospel hymns in the choir.

“Choir” was kind of a stretch because the song leader usually invited anyone who wanted to sing in the choir to “come on up and help us.” I’m not sure what the difference was if you sang in your pew or from behind the song leader, but we did it.

You often found me near Bro. Billy and Bro. Adolph trying to sing bass with my soprano voice, “I have a feeling in my soul, since the Savior made me whole, way down …”

At this point the bass singers plus one soprano/bass echoed, “Way down,” then everyone sang, “Way down,” and we came back with, “way down” then everyone sang, “yes, a way down deep in my soul.”

Quite impressive. At least I was impressed with us.

Mansion Over the Hilltop

I loved to sing about heaven. One of my favorites was, “I’ve got a mansion, just over the hilltop.” I really liked that. I would have loved to exchange our old house for a mansion.

So, imagine my disappointment when I found out later that Jesus probably wasn’t talking about “mansions” in John 14:1 when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” (KJV)

The word in Greek means “a staying, that is residence …” according to Strong’s.

The New International Version says, “rooms,” and the Message version says, “I’m on my way to get a room ready for you.”

“Room!” Wait a minute, now. I’m not exchanging my mansion for a room. C’mon! This is heaven we’re talking about.

Then I started thinking about it (yes, it does happen at times).

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms …” There are hotel rooms that are worth more than houses because of their location. One room in the center of Paris is worth a lot more than a big house in places where no one wants to live.

Think. That “room” Jesus talked about isn’t on the tundra of Siberia. It is in the Father’s house. God’s palace! (Whoa. Can you imagine what the Father’s house is like?)

And Jesus said, “I will come back to take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

With Jesus! In the Father’s house. I’ll chuck my mansion for that any day.

Wonderful Family and Friends

The last few years we’ve lived in the Paris region. Sometimes people say to me, a bit ironically, “Ah, living in Paris, that must be tough.” After all, it’s the city of romance (though it may be wasted on me).

The center of Paris is one of the most impressive places you want to see. I’m hardly ever there, though, unless someone comes to visit or I’m going to a church there. I spend a lot more time on one of the area highways: A-86.

I’m more or less convinced that A-86 at six p.m. is where sinners go when they die.

Often, there’s not a lot of difference between that road and a parking lot.

If I never see the Eifel Tower again, I’m okay. I’ve seen it already.
I discovered that it’s not houses or geography that gives richness to life.

France is not wonderful because of the Eifel tower, but because of my friends and the ministry God has given us here.

The USA isn’t wonderful because of the White House or all those marvelous Presidential candidates (where do these people come from?).

Wonderful Because of Jesus

It’s wonderful because of six special kids (three by birth and three by marriage) and the nine most incredible grandkids that ever walked the face of the earth (and no, I’m not talking about yours).

I can add some special friends to that list of reasons.

Heaven isn’t wonderful because of mansions and streets of gold. It’s wonderful because we’ll be with Jesus. The Father himself will wipe the tears from our face.

And our “room” is in the Father’s house. Way back when the earth was young a fellow named Hank Williams sang a song, “Build Me a Cabin In the Corner Of Gloryland.” (If you like pain, you can hear it at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS0YuCdmokM)

That’s not what the Lord said. He said we’d live in the Father’s house, that we would be with Jesus. How is that all going to work? No idea.

I just know He promised and that is the way it will be. With Jesus in the Father’s house. I could really sing about that!

Hmmm –
“Don’t let someone become a priority in your life when you are just an option in theirs.” ~ Anonymous