Definitely disagreeing

For the first - corporate worship - I think most of our disagreement comes from cultural factors. When you say, "Everyone worshipping God sincerely" I look around and see 85% of my church doing just that. Frankly, there's little or no pressure here to be anywhere in particular on Sunday morning - the people in church (other than the odd spouse or whatnot) are there because *they* want to be there. I honestly expect to stand next to you and a million or five other people and sing praise songs in Heaven, jointly worshipping our Lord. So YES - that's what I meant. There is definitely a vibe there, worshipping with other Christians, that is different than the vibe I get in my 'prayer closet'. I wouldn't want to do without either of them. Now, do we have to identify with that congregation? No... I don't think we do. It can be helpful, for the reasons I posted a few go-rounds ago, but not at all necessary.

We are, and continue to be, at total odds with OSAS. I am not sure that salvation comes at repeating a phrase with no heart behind it - I think we can agree there wholeheartedly - but once you have been given salvation, it is yours forever. When you say, That's what once-saved-always-saved reminds me of. That there is a prize awarded to everyone who runs the race. 1 Cor. 9: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? I think of works based salvation. We aren't running the race to be saved!! We are running the race to receive awards in Heaven, to receive the "well done, good and faithful servant" from the lips of our Savior. *Not* everyone will receive a prize. We are not promised equality in Heaven, we are promised justice. Our good works will be known, and the chaff will be burnt off before we get there. It would be the worst kind of mockery for me to be given the same award as someone who was beaten to death for our Savior's name.

Which brings me to more cheery and agreeable topics... :) What do you *want* in Heaven? I know the first thing I am looking forward to is getting rid of the old nature - getting rid of the capability to hurt those around me, to do wrong, to misstep. I'm looking forward to a new body (hopefully one that looks like I think I *ought* to look). I'm hoping for eons to sit under a tree near a street of gold, talking to my friends and watching Heaven roll past.