Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
It’s odd to express appreciation to a wheelchair, but I do. Almost thirty years of quadriplegia, and almost as many studying God’s Word, have deepened my gratitude to God for these bolts and bars. The chair has shown me the way Home by heart.
Great writers and thinkers have helped guide my heart toward heaven. Over the years I have scoured bookshelves for every essay, sermon, or commentary written by C. S. Lewis and Jonathan Edwards, from Bishop J. C. Ryle to contemporaries like Peter Kreeft and John MacArthur. Of course, when I want to reflect on a more poetic view of heaven, I always brush the dust off old favorites like George MacDonald and Madame Jeanne Guyon. I acknowledge here those marvelous philosophers and theologians, many whose fingerprints you will detect on the following pages.
I also express gratitude to a few others…Scott Bolinder of Zondervan who has been saying for years, “We’d love to hear what you have to say about heaven.” And John Sloan, my editor, who graciously gave me a free hand and a wide berth to write what is on my heart. Also, Bob Hudson for examining my paragraphs with a magnifying glass. John Lucas, art director at Zondervan, and James Sewell, my art instructor who provided guidance as I worked on the rendering for the cover. And thanks to my friends at Wolgemuth & Hyatt for helping to make it all happen.
I thank Judy Butler and Francie Lorey for graciously serving as my “hands” on this project. And Steve Estes for reviewing the manuscript to keep me on the scriptural straight and narrow. I offer special thanks to the women who come to my home on different days to get me up, dressed, sitting in my wheelchair and ready to face the tasks at hand: Irene Lopez and Carolyn Simons, Patti Guth and Francie Lorey, Donna Condon, Judy Butler and Karen Crum. These friends make a heavenly investment every time they patch my pressure sores, scrub my teeth, or give me bran-and-orange-juice. Of course, I can’t miss saying “thank you” to my husband, Ken, who tolerated more than his share of Mexican take-out platters while I worked late on the manuscript.
Lastly, I’m so grateful that the Lord Jesus moved on the hearts of so many prayer warriors who faithfully interceded. Bunny Warlen, Mary Lance Sisk, Jean Kenoyer, Pam Rosewell Moore, and my Wednesday night prayer group at church. Also, the JAF Ministries staff who gather together every morning before work to pray.
One more thing. I thank you for taking the time to join me on this journey toward heavenly glories above. And who knows. Perhaps before you finish reading, you’ll discover you know the way Home by heart too.