The stories in this book happened to real people. To protect patient confidentiality, names and some identifying details of people and their medical situations have been changed. Events are represented as closely as possible to actual occurrence.

Visit Tyndale online at www.tyndale.com.

Visit Tyndale Momentum online at www.tyndalemomentum.com.

TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Tyndale Momentum and the Tyndale Momentum logo are trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Tyndale Momentum is an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

30 Daily Appointments with Heaven: Devotions to Bring the Hope and Joy of Heaven to Your Every Day

Copyright © 2013 by Reggie Anderson. All rights reserved.

Adapted from Appointments with Heaven (2013) under ISBN 978-1-4143-8045-2 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Cover photograph copyright © peter zelei/Getty images. All rights reserved.

Designed by Dean Renninger

Published in association with the literary agency of Creative Trust, Inc., 5141 Virginia Way, Suite 320, Brentwood, TN 37027.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-4143-9023-9 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4143-9022-2 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4143-9024-6 (Apple)

Build: 2013-08-15 11:11:38

Contents

Introduction

Daily Devotions

Next Steps

Foreword to Appointments with Heaven by Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman

Chapter 1 of Appointments with Heaven

About the Authors

Note

Meet the country doctor who visits the front porch of heaven . . . and witnesses what awaits us there.

When a patient first asked Dr. Reggie Anderson to sit at her bedside as she passed from this life, something miraculous happened. As he held her hand, the veil between this world and the next parted . . . and he received an astonishing glimpse of what awaits us in heaven.

Little did he know this was just a foretaste of what was to come—a lifetime of God-given “appointments with heaven.” Today a respected doctor who has practiced family medicine for over twenty-five years, Reggie has countless remarkable stories to share from his life and practice, including what he’s seen, heard, and experienced of the afterlife.

Inspired by Reggie’s book Appointments with Heaven, these 30 devotional readings will help bring the hope, joy, and wonder of heaven to your every day.

Daily Devotions

Day 1

WANTING AN ESCORT

We know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 14:1-3

She was short of breath. Her face was gaunt and she looked thinner than the last time I had seen her. I didn’t have good news for one of my favorite patients in the ER that day.

“Irene, you’re having a heart attack.”

I knew it was doubtful that she would survive the night. I pulled up a chair next to her bed and took her hand. It felt warm in relation to mine. I felt her pulse, and it grew weaker as we talked.

“I’m going to meet Jesus tonight,” she said.

“Yes, you are.”

“Will you be my escort?” she asked, her eyes shining.

It was the first time I had been invited to go with someone as they passed into heaven, and it was an honor to be asked.

Briefly, she told me about all the people she knew who had already gone to the other side. As she continued to grow weaker, I gave her permission to go. “You’ve lived a great life, Irene, and there is nothing left for you to accomplish. You’ve been a faithful servant to the Lord and to your family, and so it is well for you to go.”

Her breathing changed. She would take a long, drawn-out breath, followed by a similar shorter breath, then a series of short, shallow breaths followed by an absence of breath, and then the abnormal breathing pattern would repeat. This type of breathing, called Cheyne-Stokes respiration, is often seen in dying patients.

Several family members came in and said their good-byes, and then drifted back out to the waiting room where they held each other and cried. In less than an hour, her body grew cooler and her pulse stopped. She let out her last breath, a quiet exhale.

As I sat alone with Irene’s body, warmth suddenly filled the room. It was like the warm breeze of spring when you open the door and it catches your breath. A brief glow appeared above and to the right of the patient’s body. Then it faded away.

Irene hadn’t been connected to any monitors. I looked around to see if I could find the source of the glow, but there was nothing else in the room that could have caused the illumination.

A cool breeze interrupted my thoughts, and I felt it mix with the warmth. It felt as if something were being gathered up and prepared for a journey. The once stagnant air of the room now smelled fresh. I inhaled deeply, and the fragrance of lilac and citrus seemed to fill me like it filled the room.

With joy, I closed my eyes, longing to be swept up in it. Instead, I felt the warmth pass by me and join with another warm sensation, like when two bodies enter a room and you can sense the heat from each one. I opened my eyes; I knew it was Irene’s soul, carried on a fresh breeze, slipping into the warmth of God’s presence.

Death was a feverish child reaching out, and heaven was his mother’s cool embrace. Heaven had arrived to carry Irene home.

What triggers thoughts of heaven in you? What do you know about your eternal home?

God, thank you that you have conquered death through Jesus Christ. Draw us closer to you so that when we approach the hour of our death, we need not fear but will look forward to everlasting life with you. Amen.

Day 2

ONLY ONE BOX

Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-8

In my medical practice, as well as in my personal life, God has allowed me to see some inexplicable things. He has offered me glimpses of heaven that most people haven’t been given, as well as the privilege of walking with many folks at the beginning and the end of their lives. As a result of all my experiences, I don’t see death the way many others do.

I envision death as a joyful home going for those who know Christ. When an opportunity arises to escort someone home to Jesus, I want to be there! I don’t dread my death or that of anyone else who belongs to him. Instead, those opportunities push me forward; they energize me and make me want to be a part of the miracle. Life has shown me that death is not the failure of medical science but the victory of the soul.

My desire to spend eternity with God is overwhelming. When I tell other physicians, especially those who aren’t believers, about the things I’ve seen, they try to compartmentalize them, to fit them into a box formed by their own understanding. It’s as if they’re saying, “That’s fine, but your experiences should stay in a religious box. You can take them out on Sunday. But your scientific training is the only thing that can be used in your medical practice Monday through Friday.” In other words, they don’t think my appointments with heaven should have any bearing on how I practice medicine.

I understand this point of view, but it seems that all my experiences—scientific and spiritual—are in the same space, together in one box. When I practice medicine, I can’t separate my faith from my training. To me, it all comes from the same source.

If you’ve kept your faith separate from your job or your relationships or your hobbies, or if a hurt in your life has separated you from God, please don’t wait for some future event that upends your boxes. Look around, and I think you’ll see that it all belongs in God’s box.

Do you think your faith should impact and be evident in all areas of your life? Why or why not?

God, whether my day is filled with busyness or boredom, keep my heart and mind centered on you, that I might access the peace and joy that only you can give in every circumstance. Thank you for the promise of heaven. Amen.

Day 3

AS NEAR AS THE SKY

O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength. (Psalm 8:1-2)

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 65:5-13

Growing up in the country, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in God. My faith was as real to me as the red clay beneath my calloused bare feet, and God was as gentle as the cotton that blew from the fields. Like kudzu, it rooted and grew in every direction without anyone tending to it. I knew God was as ever present as the century-old oak trees that grew on our acreage. His goodness, grace, and mercy were as alive and abundant to me as the doves, squirrels, and pine trees I saw every day.

Perhaps that’s why, as a child, I didn’t see heaven and earth as separate. To me there was no barrier between the place where I lived and the place where God resided. As farmers and churchgoers, my family knew that the Lord we worshiped on Sunday was the same God who gave us rain and sun in just the right amounts, at the right time, to grow the crops that sustained us. As farmers we tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and prayed for rain. If it came, it came, and it was God’s will. If it didn’t, that was God’s will too.

Of course, growing up in the South, we also had formal religion. My parents were stereotypical Baptists—at church every time the doors were open. While I always attended with them, I didn’t always agree with what I heard. I preferred to think God used honey, not vinegar, to attract his followers, and when the revival preachers talked about hell, I shut down a bit.

Mom taught Sunday school and Dad was a deacon, so I was always in and around church. But unlike my parents, I never really embraced the idea that God’s presence was restricted to being in church. God was everywhere. I heard sounds of him in the lake when I was fishing and saw him when I lay on my back in the fields, watching the cumulus clouds drifting by on a sea of blue sky. For me, getting close to God wasn’t about sitting silently in church; it was about becoming quiet in the presence of his creation and listening for his still, small voice. God was as visible and present as the landscape, especially the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The outdoors had become my cathedral, and from the land, God had abundantly blessed us with food, clothing, and a home.

There wasn’t anything else I needed—or wanted.

In what ways, if any, does your faith today differ from when you were a child? Where do you feel closest to God?

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating such a beautifully complex natural world, in which every detail seems to point me back to you. Amen.

Day 4

FAITH COMES BY HEARING

After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. (Matthew 2:13)

SCRIPTURE READING: ROMANS 10:17-18

One of my earliest memories is of a hot June day in 1962, when I was four and a half. My big sister, little brother, and I were watching Popeye, hosted by a young magician named Cousin Cliff. When the cartoon ended, Cousin Cliff made an extraordinary announcement. He and Popeye were having a contest.

“How would you like to win this beautiful Shetland pony?” Cousin Cliff asked. “Just send a postcard to Popeye at WAPI in Birmingham.”

The three of us each wrote out a postcard that same day. The next morning as Mom drove us to the post office, I announced that Mom didn’t need to mail my brother’s and sister’s postcards—only mine.

“Why not?” she asked, her eyes focused on the road.

“I had a dream last night, and God told me I was going to win the pony, so you only need to send in my postcard.”

In my dream, I was riding the pony bareback in a red clover field. A voice with authority, though not alarming, spoke to me: “You will win this pony, but you must share this gift with everyone who wants to ride this special horse.” The voice was calm and reassuring, and I knew at once it was God.

Not long after, our family was working in the garden when the phone rang. Mom ran into the house to answer it. Moments later she called to us from the door. “Come inside,” she yelled. “Hurry!”

“What’s going on?” Dad asked when we were all in the living room.

“Shhh!” Mom said, pointing at the TV.

“Earlier today, we drew for the first prize in our contest,” said Cousin Cliff. “Again, congratulations to the winner of Tex the pony, Reginald Anderson from Plantersville!”

“Reggie, you won the pony!” said my sister, Cathy, throwing her arms around me.

“I know,” I said quietly. “I told you.”

“But how did you know?” Mom asked.

“God told me in my dream,” I reminded her.

Much later in life, I learned to listen for God’s voice in other ways. I’d pause in the middle of a tense surgery to ask him for guidance. I’d lay important decisions before him and ask for wisdom.

Dreams are just one of the ways God has spoken to his people since his first conversation with Adam in the Garden. Burning bushes, angels, prophets, and fellow believers have also served as vehicles for his truth. The most reliable source is his Word, the Bible. When you want to know what God says about heaven or any other subject, that’s the best place to begin searching.

What do you think of Reggie’s story about the pony and God’s promise to him in a dream? What are some other ways God speaks to us today? If you can, describe a time when God spoke clearly to you.

God, thank you for revealing yourself to us through your Word and your creation. Help us ever to be still and know that you are God. Amen.

Day 5

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. (Matthew 5:5)

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-29

The very young have clarity of vision that has not been clouded by the things of this world. They see God and his work more clearly than the rest of us. On some level, they recognize that where they came from is a very real place and that it still exists. They believe without effort, and they’re willing to talk freely about their spiritual experiences.

The elderly seem to have similar clarity. As the very old approach death, their physical bodies grow weaker, and their vision begins to dim. As the sights and sounds of this world start to fade, they tune their eyes and ears toward heaven. It suddenly seems much closer than they’d previously realized. They start to reflect more, and they begin to see and hear from God in ways they haven’t been able to before. It is as if their spiritual side is somehow being awakened to new levels of insight and perception after having lain dormant for years. Their spiritual vision improves, even as their physical vision fails.

I think I know why Jesus asked us to care for the widows and the orphans, and I don’t think it’s just because they need us to provide for them. Certainly, throughout history, these populations have been “the least of these”—at risk for poverty, sickness, and victimization. Surely Jesus has been very clear to his followers about taking care of the least of these. But I think another reason he asked us to care for the most vulnerable is because they help us. When we spend time with widows and orphans, we are able to see Jesus better. If we want to know God, we need to learn from those who know him best, and who is closer to his heart than the elderly and children?

What does it mean to have a childlike faith? What is the difference between a childlike faith and a childish faith? What hinders many adults from having a childlike faith? How can you cultivate a childlike faith in your own life, no matter what your age?

God, help me set aside the impatience and preoccupations of adulthood and learn to cultivate the faith of a child. Help me see the world and look toward the wonders of heaven through a child’s trusting eyes. Amen.

Day 6

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:6-13

Jimmy and Jerry Alday, distant cousins of mine, were hardworking, God-fearing young men. They manned the stall next to my uncle Luther’s at the Atlanta State Farmers Market. From the age of eight, I worked for my uncle during the summers. He and my cousin Johnny regularly had to haul in more watermelons to the market from their farm, leaving me to run the stand. Since Jimmy and Jerry were selling produce right next to me, I always felt safe.

These two brothers were some of the best Christian folks I knew. They didn’t tolerate cursing or any kind of disrespect—especially toward women. I learned how to respect a woman by watching how they treated the females in their family.

The market had its own morality, and Jimmy and Jerry taught me the rules. When we saw a farmer getting drunk or flirting with female customers, Jimmy would say, “That’s dangerous, and it’s not good for you.”

“Those men are headed for hell,” Jerry would remind me as the drunks stumbled through the market cursing, shouting, and starting fights. The Aldays weren’t mocking or making fun of them—they were the first to help someone who needed help, even if the person was drunk—and they weren’t trying to sound judgmental. They were just trying to instruct a younger brother on the way he should go.

Almost anything could be bought and sold at the market, and it was available all day and all night—but especially at night. Jimmy and Jerry warned me to steer clear of the “ladies of the evening.” I soon learned why. Nearly every night we would watch cars arrive and park in the dark. Wearing flashy clothes and gaudy makeup, these women would walk the dark alleys of the market, making deals with farm boys who paid them for favors. “The ways of the world bring sin and destruction,” Jerry said one night as we watched several farmers we knew slip off into the dark. “That’s sinful behavior, and God doesn’t tolerate it.”

The Aldays shunned this behavior. “Just like the market is open 24/7, faithfulness to God is required 24/7,” Jimmy said. “Don’t let me catch you ever doing something like that.”

Through their examples, Jimmy and Jerry taught me what it means to be a man of God all day, every day, whether anyone else is watching or not.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were sorely tempted to sin? What should believers do in such a situation? Has God placed other godly believers in your life to teach and guide you?

God, thank you for never allowing us to undergo more temptation than we can bear, and for offering us a way out. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, who was tempted in every way just as we are and shows us the path to repentance and forgiveness. Amen.

Day 7

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW TRAGEDY?

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34:18)

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 41

During the first fourteen years of my life, I was fairly sheltered. My faith was innocent. It wasn’t built on struggle or hardship, and it had never been tested. My life was charmed, and I was happy. I believed God was all powerful and ever present. The role models in my life all demonstrated grace and kindness, which further reinforced my belief that God was good.

And then one horrible day Jimmy and Jerry Alday, along with several of their close family members, were senselessly murdered. For a long time after that, I accused God of either turning his back on his people, or not being powerful enough to take care of them, or both. Where were you when the Aldays were murdered? I silently raged to God. Why couldn’t you protect them?

The summer following their deaths, Jimmy and Jerry’s stalls were rented out to other southern Georgia farmers. I knew them, but it wasn’t the same. Nothing seemed right. There were no more watermelon-throwing contests with my cousins; no more leisurely talks while waiting for customers.

I read a lot of books that summer. I also spent hours at the market sitting alone with my memories and frightened by my new ability to imagine evil. Heaven, which had once seemed as close to me as the wind that whispered in the trees, now seemed unapproachable. Sin had new depths, and depravity had new meaning. I had no protection from the darkness that lurked nearby.

My big brothers and earthly protectors were gone.

My heavenly Protector couldn’t be trusted.

God seemed useless to me now.

It took years for God to woo me back to himself. Only then, as the Lord began softening my heart, did I recognize that he had been with me all along. Why hadn’t I seen or heard him? Could it be that just when I needed God most, I had been the one to turn away from him?

In a time of grief, what do you think it means to turn toward God instead of away from him? Why might a person be tempted to turn away? Why should we try to do the opposite instead?

God, you have taught us in your Word that you do not willingly harm your people but are a God of infinite compassion. Help us look into eternity and celebrate your glory where it shows up, in the midst of pain as well as in joy. Amen.

Day 8

WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY WITH GOD

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

SCRIPTURE READING: JOB 1

My Christian parents taught me to trust in a loving, gracious God. But my trust in God was severely tested when my beloved family members were cruelly murdered. When my father pulled me from history class to tell me the news, I was too stunned to react. In a state of shock, I returned to my classroom, with my dad close behind me.

“Are you okay?” my teacher asked.

I nodded.

“He’s all right,” Dad said. “He’ll be fine.”

Dad was wrong. I wasn’t all right, and I’d never again be fine. Two people I loved, and the people they loved most, were dead or missing.

Later, when I was alone, I lost control of my emotions.

“Why?” I screamed at God. “Why did you do this? Why did you let this happen, God? They loved you!”

My questioning of God’s goodness led to years of wandering in the desert, seeking satisfaction in worldly things but never finding it. Only when I put away my pride and yielded to God’s call did I find the peace I so desperately sought.

Most of us have hoped and prayed for something to happen—or not happen—but things did not go our way. When we feel that God has let us down, we have a choice. We can get offended and blame God, or we can choose to trust him anyway.

A man named Job, a servant of God, chose the latter path when he said, after the loss of everything he loved, “The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” (Job 1:21).

When you’re hurting, don’t turn your back on God. That’s a futile gesture that ends up only hurting you. Instead, turn toward God and lean on the promises he has made to you in Scripture. He truly is your “refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

When bad things happen, a useful word to keep in mind is nevertheless.

“This person I loved has died. Nevertheless, God will never leave me.”

“I have suffered a serious financial loss. Nevertheless, God will provide all my needs.”

“I am sick and in pain. Nevertheless, God comforts me in my affliction.”

We won’t always understand why God allows certain things to happen. What we can know for sure is that he will work all things together for good, in this world and the next (see Romans 8:28).

Have you ever been angry with God? Are you angry with him now? Are you willing to praise him nevertheless? What are some practical ways that you can demonstrate your trust in him during a dark time?

God, I am hurting. I don’t understand why you allow terrible things to happen. Nevertheless, I put my trust in you to work all things for good. You alone have the power to give and the power to take away. Blessed be your name. Amen.

Day 9

FAITH VERSUS SCIENCE?

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. (Colossians 2:7-8)

SCRIPTURE READING: GENESIS 1

Farming was what men in my family did. Though I had been saving money for college since I was eight, I’d always assumed I would be like my parents—an educated farmer who returned to the family land. But by the time I was a high school sophomore, I wanted to get away from the family who was so rooted in the faith.

I couldn’t wait to go away to school and get a job that was indoors. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life thinking about the elements and who controlled them. I wanted a job that had air-conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. I would be a scientist; I would deal in the world of facts and evidence, not faith.

School and knowledge were easy gods to worship. I felt as though I had a more educated view of the world at school than I had growing up in Plantersville. My work in chemistry and the other sciences, like biology and physics, only enhanced this feeling. Most of the professors and students I hung out with in college were agnostics or atheists who never even mentioned God. As I studied the origins of life, I began rejecting the things my parents had taught me. They’re just not enlightened, I told myself. Science seemed to account for everything that religion explained, only it also provided documented proof.

An anatomy class during medical school was the turning point for me. When we began studying the human head, I could see that our anatomy is different from anything else on the planet. The day we dissected an eye was like a religious experience for me. I was awestruck by the complexity involved in being able to see and process images in the human mind. Where did this come from? I asked myself more than once. Looking at the inner workings of the human body, I realized it was a work of art. And art required an artist.

While I was in medical school, R. C. Sproul came to town for an apologetics conference. He agreed to debate campus intellectuals—great scientists from the medical school. Sitting in the audience that night, I had an epiphany—I didn’t have to be stupid to be a Christian. Watching the debate, I saw that I could take my faith and bend in the direction of science or I could bend in the direction of the God who came for me.

Not long before that night, I had already chosen God.

What do faith and science have to do with each other? Do you think they are in any way incompatible? Why or why not? Which would you choose, if you had to?

God, you made the universe with all of its orderly systems and infinitely complex life forms. We want to use science for your glory, not our own. As we explore and learn more about your creation, help us come to know you better day by day. Amen.

Day 10

FAITH IS FOR SMART PEOPLE

Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 22:34-40

The argument has been raging for centuries. On one side, some salt-of-the-earth Christians claim that intellectuals are not to be trusted. On the other side, academic types assert that religious faith has no place in the life of the mind. The rift between biblical Christianity and secular intellectualism has been simmering for a long time, even boiling over in public debates now and then.

For a time, during my own crisis of faith, I was a self-proclaimed “intellectual snob.” I was heavily influenced by my secular college community, especially a philosophy professor whose dismissive attitude toward God was summed up in the statement, “You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.”

As it turned out, I was smart and I did figure it out, only not in the way my professor intended. Through study, prayer, the patient guidance of mature believers, and the gentle working of the Holy Spirit, I came to trust in Jesus. I understand now that it takes a greater leap of faith to believe there is no God than to acknowledge him as Lord and Creator of the universe. C. S. Lewis, R. C. Sproul, Charles Spurgeon . . . many of the greatest minds on the planet have been gifted intellectuals and committed Christians.

Don’t put your mind on a shelf. Instead, study. Probe. Ask hard questions. God can take it. Like any other gift, God gave us our intellect to be used for his glory. And whenever we seek the Truth, he promises to be found (see Jeremiah 29:13).

Throughout my medical career, I’ve been privileged to catch many glimpses of heaven. Why not use your intellect to sharpen your mental image of what heaven will be like? Read what the Bible has to say on the subject, along with solid, impeccably researched books such as Heaven by Randy Alcorn.

Do you ever wonder whether following Christ requires checking your brains at the door? Why or why not? What does it mean to love God with all your mind? What are some ways you can increase your awareness of heaven while exercising your intellect?

God, please be present with me as I read and study and learn about you and your creation, both on earth and in heaven. Guide my mind, my thoughts, and my learning to draw me nearer to you. Amen.

Day 11

THE BIBLE

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)

SCRIPTURE READING: ACTS 17:10-12

While packing for a solo camping trip in Tennessee, I threw a copy of C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, along with a Bible, into my backpack. I had no idea I was about to have a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ, but I figured I’d have plenty of time to read in the mountains.

The first evening by the campfire, I read Mere Christianity. The book raised a new question in my mind. Was it possible that God was even more present in tragedy than he was in our ordinary circumstances?

I grabbed my flashlight and the only other reading material I had with me—the green Bible my mom had sent me. I expected my reading to raise new questions—everything else in my life seemed to do that—but this Living Bible spoke in such a real and practical way that I was able to read it without stopping. I seemed to have a heightened clarity of what I was reading, and I was able to picture what the writer was saying. I’d never experienced that when I’d read the Bible before.

In the weeks and months following my mountaintop conversion experience, I had an unquenchable desire to read the Bible. Knowing that Jesus was as real as any of my friends or family members, I dove deeper into the Scriptures. In addition to going to church, I joined a Bible study for medical students.

Reading and studying the Bible is a key element of living the Christian life. In his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney writes, “There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. . . . In the Bible God tell us about himself, and especially about Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God. . . . We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves. None of this eternally essential information can be found anywhere else except the Bible.”[1]

If you want to learn about heaven, start with the source. Pick up your Bible, search a concordance for all the verses that pertain to heaven, and read what God himself has to say about our future home.

How much time, on average, do you spend reading the Bible? Do you agree that reading the Bible is central to living a Christian life? Why or why not? How does it relate to learning about heaven?

God, thank you for giving us your Word. Help me develop the discipline of reading the Bible regularly so that I can truly understand what you want to teach me about heaven. Amen.

Day 12

HEALING HANDS

Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 25:14-30

We were taught in medical school that if you listen to patients, they will give you their diagnosis. I believe when a doctor touches a patient, the doctor receives confirmation of what the ill person expresses in words. I often find myself “listening” with my hands, so I can feel what my patient feels. I believe God gave me a gift, similar to the sensitivity a mother develops for her child’s pain or illness, that has been sharpened through my medical training and practice.

Something about the coolness in my hands seems to help me detect where the pain or disease is centered in a patient. When I am examining a patient with my hands and come across sudden warmth, I know something may be awry. When that happens, I start my search for a diagnosis where my hands felt the warmest. Often, it leads me to diseases I might not otherwise have considered. Patients seem to appreciate my high-touch diagnostic skills, and the more I use them, the more I recognize them as a God-given gift.

Make no mistake, as a doctor I can’t heal anyone. God heals. At best, I can only hope to guide a patient toward better health. God has given you certain gifts and talents as well. Maybe it’s an ear for music, or a heart for hospitality, or a special ability to relate to children or teenagers. Whatever it is, know that it is not merely a gift from God to you. It is a gift from God through you to those around you—a way for you to serve and bless others, and to use your talent for God’s glory.

When we get to heaven, we will finally be exactly who God created us to be, minus the burden of sin and worldly concerns. We will freely do what he created us to do to the fullest extent. Here in this life, the deep joy and satisfaction we feel whenever we are faithful stewards of his gifts is just a tiny foretaste of what awaits us in our heavenly home.

Describe how you feel when you are using the talents God has given you. Ask God what he wants you to do with them. If you feel you’re not using your gifts to the fullest extent, what is holding you back?

God, thank you for the gifts you have given me. I know that any talents or abilities I have are not truly mine, but come from you, to be used for your purposes. Help me to use them well to point others to you. Amen.

Day 13

THE OPENING IN THE VEIL

We can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. (Hebrews 10:19-20)

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 27:50-53

In the Tabernacle of ancient Israel, a small section called the Most Holy Place sheltered the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the two tablets etched with the Ten Commandments. The Most Holy Place was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle by a veil that was thin enough to allow the smoke from incense to pass through, but thick enough to bar entry to anyone except the high priest. Later, Solomon built a beautiful Temple, which also included the Most Holy Place. That Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians; the scribe Ezra details how the Israelites restored a more modest Temple when they returned from captivity. In 20 BC, King Herod tried to rebuild the Temple to restore it to its former glory. Once again, the Most Holy Place was separated from the rest of the building by only a veil.

The Most Holy Place was where God dwelt on earth. Only the high priest was allowed access to this sacred space. Once a year he would enter to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the people.

Scripture tells us that at the moment Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple was torn in two. No longer would God be separated from his people. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, all God’s people now have access to him.

Likewise, a very thin veil separates heaven (God’s home) from earth (our home for the time being). I believe that when a soul enters or leaves this world, the veil opens briefly to let it through. During those moments when the veil parts, we are closer to God than at any other time. That’s when we might experience sensations like a warm glow, a refreshing breeze, and a deep feeling of peace. We may sense the veil parting when a baby is born, or when a dying person passes from this life to the next.

But whether we actually feel any sensation or not, isn’t it a comfort to know that only a wispy veil separates our world from God’s? Heaven is not some distant, far-off place. It’s right next to us, only a breath away.

Does the image of the veil separating this life and the next help you think about heaven? How does it make you feel to know that heaven is so near?

God, it is a great comfort to me to know that Jesus pierced through the veil that separated me from you. I look forward to passing through the veil on my journey to heaven. Amen.

Day 14

ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD

Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:19)

SCRIPTURE READING: ACTS 9:1-19

I’ll never forget my Fourth of July camping trip to the Tennessee mountains. As darkness fell, I read the Bible by flashlight, my heart seeking answers to the questions I’d buried for years. I wasn’t tired, but as soon as I finished reading, my eyes closed. Without warning, I fell into a deep sleep. This slumber was different from any sleep I’d ever experienced. It was as if my mind were tumbling, free-falling, like the waterfall I’d seen earlier. An overwhelming peace filled every part of me, and I felt as if everything were right with the world.

When my mind stopped tumbling, I opened my eyes to the most fantastic countryside imaginable: everything was vivid and brilliant. I inhaled the most fragrant scent, light and pleasing—like a mixture of citrus and lilac. I heard a trickling noise behind me and turned to see a running stream. I moved toward the stream, and I felt an icy but refreshing spray.

I heard an unmistakable voice calling me from a distance. It didn’t make an audible sound; instead, it resonated inside of me and echoed outside, as if I’d heard it with my heart or maybe my soul. It was easily the most compelling yet comforting voice I’d ever heard.

Something similar happened to a man named Saul. A zealous persecutor of Christians, he set out toward Damascus to arrest any believers he could find there. Along the road, a light from heaven shone down on him, a voice called to him, and he found he’d been struck blind. But as he followed the irresistible call of the Lord, he eventually regained his sight and became the apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christ followers who ever lived.

Paul and I are very different people, living in very different circumstances. Yet the Lord reached us in similar ways. He appeared to us with no warning. He spoke to us in an unmistakable voice. He removed the scales from our eyes so we could see the truth in vivid Technicolor—immediately for me, after three days for Paul. Neither of us was ever the same. We were both changed men, dedicating the rest of our lives to Jesus Christ.

Have you had a “Damascus road” experience? Or did Jesus call you to himself in a different, perhaps quieter, way? How did you respond? Pray for the Lord to reveal himself to you in an unmistakable way.

God, you gave us your apostle Paul as an example of a man whose heart you changed completely. You took a persecutor and made him a great leader. He bound Christians in chains, yet you released him from the chains of sin. Thank you for the reminder that no one is beyond your saving love, no matter what they’ve done, and that includes me. Amen.

Day 15

FINDING YOUR LIFE PURPOSE

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 138:7-8

For a long time after the tragic death of my family members and my subsequent loss of faith in God, I could find little purpose in life. As a high school student I performed well academically, but I felt no emotional satisfaction in a job well done.

Later on, in medical school, I knew everything I’d ever wanted and wished for was coming true. I was earning good grades in all of my classes. I could date almost any girl I wanted, and I had lots of friends among both my peers and professors. My future annual income would likely be higher than anything my own father had ever dreamed about. I was the definition of success. Yet I often felt empty, purposeless—until the day I had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

When I sought to follow God and serve the people he brought to me, life had new meaning. I realized that he had gifted my hands—for healing, for providing a comforting touch, for giving a literal helping hand when needed. He had given me the privilege of standing beside people and holding their hands through some of life’s most difficult transitions. One way I do this is by sharing my glimpses into heaven and my experience of knowing that our longings to see our loved ones will one day be majestically fulfilled. I believe this is part of my life’s purpose and the reason God has allowed special experiences into my life.

What purpose does God have for you? How might God use you to help others make the transition to heaven? You don’t necessarily have to minister directly to dying people, as I do (although you might). Spreading the gospel, sharing the love of Jesus, offering hospitality to strangers, feeding the hungry, teaching the young—these are just a few examples of ways you can point others toward heaven. I can’t think of a higher life purpose than that.

If you don’t have a clear vision about God’s purpose for your life, pray about it. Search the Scriptures. What people, events, and circumstances has he allowed into your life? What might be some ways that you can use these things to point others toward heaven?

God, you have created me as a unique individual. You know my innermost parts, my thoughts, my actions, and the workings of my heart. Help me to focus all my thoughts and efforts heavenward and draw others to you as well. Amen.

Day 16

GOD, THE CREATOR

Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. (Isaiah 65:17)

SCRIPTURE READING: GENESIS 1–2; REVELATION 21:1-5

The breathtaking evidence of God’s creation is all around us, if we only take the time to look. I remember watching a sunset with my future wife, Karen. It was the most incredible sunset I’d ever seen. I knew Karen felt the beauty, too, because we both were very quiet as we watched the baby blue sky turn pink, then a deep rose color, as the final rays streaked across the sky. Slowly at first, the glowing sun began to recede behind the horizon, and then all at once, it slipped out of sight, and the sky gracefully faded to black.

Karen told me later it was at that moment she realized just how creative God could be. Still unsure of how legitimate my newfound faith was, she had been resisting my attempts to build a closer relationship with her. When she saw that sunset, though, she realized that if God could use colors and light to paint the sky with such splendor, perhaps he could creatively bring an agnostic to faith through evenings of memorizing Scripture. If God was that creative, she felt like she needed to be faithful to whatever his call was on her life—even if it meant stepping outside of her set expectations to look at a relationship she didn’t see happening.

Another time I felt completely in awe of God’s creativity was when I was dissecting a cadaver in medical school. It was so obvious to me that there was something different about humans. How could we possibly have come into being by accident, as so many in the scientific community believed? How could anyone say that I randomly came to be? I was intrigued, fascinated, and confused all at the same time. But mostly, I was curious. That curiosity took me on a path that led me back to God.

God is the source of creativity. There is no limit to what he can do. And if he’s that creative with the things of earth, just think of what he is doing in heaven! I can hardly wait to get there. How about you?

List some examples of God’s creativity that you’ve observed. As you move throughout your day, try to find some more. If God’s creation on earth is that marvelous, can you imagine what heaven must be like?

God, I praise you for making the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, the heavens and all the suns, moons, and stars. I know that no matter how glorious things appear here on earth, they are just a dim shadow of what awaits me in heaven, which is wonderful beyond my imagination. Amen.

Day 17

THE GAZE OF GLORY

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. (Acts 7:55)

SCRIPTURE READING: ACTS 7:54-60

I remember walking into the room of one of my first patients who was near death. The man was looking up and to the right, staring off into space. But there was something different about his gaze; it was relaxed and peaceful. It almost had an otherworldly quality to it. He seemed to be seeing something I couldn’t. His stare looked past the people in the room, even beyond the walls of the hospital.

I took out my penlight and examined his eyes. His pupils were still reactive, so I knew he wasn’t physically gone, but he was definitely somewhere else. He died a few hours later.

I started seeing this same gaze in other patients. It was always up and to the right, and it always happened shortly before they died.

What I sense is that my patients are preparing for a journey. It’s almost as if they are seeing a preview of where they are going.

This is just one more sign that heaven is near. It’s as if these patients sense someone else in the room with them. Sometimes I feel the presence behind me or even somewhere farther beyond me, in a place I can’t see or grasp with my earthly vision. I call this stare the “gaze of glory,” and it is often a sign that the patient is ready to cross to the other side of the veil.

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, displayed this gaze of glory as he neared death. Scripture tells us that he told his accusers, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” (Acts 7:56). That wasn’t something they wanted to hear, and they stoned him to death.

While I don’t know for certain what my patients see as they die, it seems likely that they, too, are catching a glimpse of heaven. I suspect that God gives his people a comforting vision to look forward to as they leave this world behind.

What do you think of the author’s experience of the “gaze of glory”? How does the thought of seeing a vision like Stephen’s make you feel?

God, we pray that, as you did for Stephen and so many others, you will give us a clear vision of heaven at the hour of our death, so that we will eagerly go forward and not look back. Amen.

Day 18

IF YOU WANT TO SEE, OPEN YOUR EYES

Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10)

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 5

When David wrote Psalm 5, he did not merely hope that God would hear him and speak to him. He expected it. Why? Because God had promised to do so, and he always keeps his promises (see Hebrews 10:23).

When it comes to envisioning what heaven is like, we won’t have the full picture until we get there. But like David, we can have a confident expectation that God will reveal to us whatever he wants us to know about heaven while we’re still here on earth.

Most of the glimpses of heaven God has given me have come through my five senses. I use my eyes to read descriptions of heaven in his Word. My spirit soars as I listen to Handel’s Messiah at Christmastime. The Lord enables me to hear the unmistakable calling of his voice, as well as the voices of others as they describe their heavenly encounters to me. When I’ve stood by my dying patients, God has used my sense of touch to feel comforting warmth and refreshing breezes against my skin. He has tantalized my sense of smell with fragrances of citrus, lilac, and cedar.

Some people have asked why I have been privileged to catch glimpses of heaven and they haven’t. I don’t know the answer to that. I do know I keep my senses open for them. As a result, I see evidence of God’s handiwork everywhere. I suspect that if we all slowed down, kept our eyes open, and listened more attentively, we would frequently recognize heavenly experiences happening all around us.

Practice listening and watching for glimpses of heaven as you go about your daily life. What does the Bible say about heaven and the nature of God? What do you hear, see, smell, taste, and touch in this world that points to heaven?

God, I know that clear evidence of your love, mercy, and goodness are all around me, but too often I let the cares of this world distract me from seeing them. Open my mind and heart to you, and open all of my senses so that I can recognize all the glimpses of heaven that you allow me. Amen.

Day 19

GOD, OUR PROVIDER

I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! (Malachi 3:10)

SCRIPTURE READING: MATTHEW 6:25-34

During residency, I supplemented my low pay by covering overnight shifts in rural trauma centers. With a wife and two young daughters, I willingly sacrificed some sleep and leisure time to provide for my family.

Then I began hearing rumors that our superiors thought moonlighting was disrupting the focus needed for our studies and training. I was particularly worried when the director of the residents’ program called me one day, asking me and the other chief resident to gather together all our fellow residents for a meeting.

Were our worst fears about to be realized? Taking away our ability to moonlight would be bad enough, but could there be something even worse planned? I prayed, God, I need you now. Please help the director see how much we need the extra income, and if not, please give me peace and strength to deal with whatever happens next.

The director appeared nervous as he cleared his throat. “Boys, the hospital is in a bit of a predicament. I know all of you are working on the side, outside this hospital. You’ve been moonlighting.”

I looked again at the sleepy residents. Most of them needed the money as badly as I did. Many of them had young wives with babies at home. Once again I said a quick prayer. This time it wasn’t just for me; it was for all of us. What would we tell our wives?

“We need your help. Due to some hiccups in the contract negotiations, the hospital is without ER doctors,” the director said.

My head had been down waiting for the ax to fall, but now I looked up to see what he was talking about.

“We’re going to need your help to cover the ER on nights and weekends until you finish the program. And we know that is asking a lot.” He paused and looked at the administrator. “So we’re going to pay you double what you’re making now if you’ll agree to help us out.”

Every resident’s jaw, including mine, dropped in disbelief.

This was not what I expected at all! I knew who was responsible, and I bowed my head out of thankfulness. It was an answer to prayer beyond anything I could ever have imagined.

The Lord says in Scripture, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food or drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). This is a hard truth to grasp when the refrigerator, the gas tank, and the checking account are all hovering near empty. But God promises to provide all our needs, in this world and the next.

Has God ever answered your prayer in a different way than you’d hoped? Has his blessing ever exceeded anything you could imagine? List some of the blessings believers can look forward to receiving in heaven.

God, thank you for graciously and generously providing all my needs, even those I cannot anticipate or imagine. Amen.

Day 20

O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. (Psalm 23:4)

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-57

Contemporary culture views death as dark, morbid, and scary—something to be avoided at all cost. Every day we are bombarded with messages telling us how to eat, exercise, and stay healthy in order to prolong life and reduce our risk of dying, although to my knowledge, the death rate among all God’s creatures is still one hundred percent.

As a doctor, I’m in favor of eating right and exercising. I’ve dedicated my life to healing and improving the quality of life for my patients. But as a follower of Jesus Christ, I know that death is nothing to fear. It is merely a doorway through which one must pass in order to get to the good stuff: heaven.

This reality was first brought home to me when Dennis died. Dennis, a strong believer, was dying from cancer. As he passed from this world, several phenomena took place in his hospital room. I sensed a pleasant feeling of warmth and a light, fresh breeze. A glow appeared that did not come from the monitors. Peace, comfort, and a sense of God’s presence filled the room. These effects were fleeting, but I’ve never forgotten them. In fact, since then I’ve experienced them with other dying patients. Far from being morbid, these deaths were peaceful and pleasant.

Following a stroke, another of my patients, Elizabeth, spent several months in a coma. There was nothing more that the medical profession could do for her, other than keep her comfortable. Even so, one day she simply started speaking again. I could find no medical explanation for why she got better, other than that it was a miracle! A few weeks later, she walked out of the nursing home, and she went on to live another two years.

The next time Elizabeth came to see me in the office, she brought a Do Not Resuscitate form. “I was close enough to heaven that I could taste its sweetness,” she said. “If I ever get that close again, I don’t want anyone to stop me!”

She, too, had experienced a glimpse of heaven, and she could hardly wait to get there.

When you were growing up, how did the people around you talk about—or avoid talking about—death? What messages did you receive about death and dying? What do you think is an appropriate attitude toward death when a believer dies?

God, we are so grateful that you care for all of your people at the end of our lives. Comfort us with your presence and the promise of eternal life in heaven with you and your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Day 21

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Hebrews 10:23)

SCRIPTURE READING: ROMANS 4:13-25

As I mentioned earlier, when I was four years old, God promised me in a dream that I would win a pony in a contest. Soon Tex the pony was mine. God had kept his promise. I had no doubt that he would.

Years later, during another dreamlike encounter with God, he told me, “You’re going to marry Karen, and together you will have four children. You will be a doctor and practice medicine in rural Tennessee.”

Could this be true?

Without a doubt, I knew that he who spoke was the God of the universe, but I also knew that Karen barely spoke to me (unless we were studying) and was convinced I was a stalker who was going to hell. She wouldn’t date me; why would she ever consider marrying me? It was as if the Lord could read my mind.

His final words to me were: “All I have told you will come to pass. All you have to do is trust in me and in my words.”

Though I lacked evidence, I believed what Jesus had told me. So I trusted.

More years passed. I did marry Karen, and I was a physician practicing in Tennessee. One day I was driving through the lush green Tennessee countryside when I suddenly recalled a detail about my dream that I’d long since forgotten. God had told me I would marry Karen and we would have four children, and now we did! I couldn’t wait to tell Karen the detail I’d kept from her so long that even I had forgotten it.

I was so overcome by God’s love that I teared up and was afraid I’d have to stop driving, but a cool breeze dried my tears. I don’t know if it was heaven’s breath or the wind coming in my open truck window. It didn’t matter. It was obvious that God was there with me.

I thought about the other things he’d said in my dream—that I would become a doctor, and I would practice in a rural Tennessee town. Though it hadn’t all happened immediately, over time it had all come true, just as he’d promised! And now, I was living just three hours west of the place where that dream had occurred.

Like Abraham, who believed even when God’s promises seemed unobtainable to human eyes, let’s never waver in our faith. God keeps his promises.

Name some of God’s many promises that are found in Scripture. To whom did he make these promises? Can you describe a time when God made and kept a specific promise to you?

God, I give you praise because you are faithful, keeping your promises to a thousand generations of those who love you and keep your commandments. Help me to know and to cling to your promises, especially in times of doubt and uncertainty. Amen.

Day 22

THE HEALING POWER OF TEARS

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. (Revelation 21:4)

SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 7:36-38

The Christmas I was eight years old, I received no presents under the tree. My parents, who were struggling to put food on the table, didn’t have enough money for Christmas presents. They thought I was old enough to understand. I wasn’t. I was so unhappy about the lack of a present that my dad made enormous sacrifices, both financial and emotional, to buy me a bicycle. Later I cried hot tears of shame at my behavior, vowing never to put my parents through anything like that again.

That was far from the last time I shed tears. Years later, I cried cleansing tears while standing under a waterfall after turning my life over to Jesus Christ. But those were not tears of shame—they were tears of healing and renewal.

More recently, when my father took his last breath, only a few tears were shed, and they were tears of joy as we celebrated the birth of my dad into heaven. After the funeral, when a kind neighbor offered to keep an eye on my newly widowed mother, I shed tears of thankfulness that God was keeping his promise to always be with her.

I’m a firm believer in the healing power of tears. In one of my medical school classes, I learned that burn victims are treated with a saline solution that is similar in its chemical makeup to tears. Apparently, tears are healing, not only emotionally, but physically.

Some people have a problem with tears. Thus we hear sayings like “Big boys don’t cry” and “Keep a stiff upper lip.” However, the Bible tells us that there is “a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Shedding tears is nothing to be afraid of or ashamed of. God gave us the gift of tears to help us process our emotions and deal with all sorts of different circumstances in life. Even Jesus wept during his time here on earth (see John 11:35).

In heaven, there will be no more tears. Not because there is anything wrong with them. But simply because we will not need them anymore.

How do you feel about tears? Do they make you uncomfortable? Why? Do you cry freely and openly, or seldom and in private?

God, thank you for the gift of tears. Soften my heart so that I am able to let them flow freely in your presence. Amen.

Day 23

GOD’S TIMING

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16)

SCRIPTURE READING: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8

We hear a lot these days about how to prolong life. Don’t smoke. Eat proper foods. Exercise regularly. Get enough sleep. While those things can certainly improve the quality of our lives, the length of our lives is determined by God, not by our health.

Some deaths seem untimely to us who are left unprepared and grieving. But no death is a surprise to God, who records all our days. And sometimes the opposite happens: we think someone is about to die, but he or she goes on living. This, too, is a result of God’s ordained timing.

Two other doctors and I happened to be in a health club at the exact moment when a man suffered heart failure on the tennis court. We were able to resuscitate him and get him to a hospital, where he recovered. God had masterminded an astounding series of events just so this man could be revived. So much could have gone wrong statistically speaking; in fact, so much usually does go wrong. But God’s hand had reached through the veil and held ours as we helped revive the stricken man.

God had not only orchestrated the events of the day to bring three doctors to the club at the very time the man’s heart gave out, but he was with each of us through the CPR, and I felt him guide me through possibly the ugliest intubation I’d ever performed. Now, instead of tallying up all the things that went wrong, my fellow doctors and I were marveling at all of the things that had gone right. Obviously, God had a reason for extending this man’s life. Weeks later, I learned from the man’s wife that his time of recovery had as much of a healing effect on their marriage and their faith as on his body. God had used a major health scare to set them on the right track.

Every one of us, when we die, will meet a God who will be either our Judge or our Savior. Since we don’t know when that time is coming, we need to be prepared to meet him now.

What does it mean to be spiritually ready to die? Does the thought of dying depress you or energize you? Why? What can you do to help the people you love be ready to die?

God, we know that our time on earth is fleeting. Guide our steps and help us make the most of every day you have given us here on earth. Amen.

Day 24

HAND-ME-DOWN FAITH

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 3:1-7

What a comfort it is to observe a loved one living a life that honors God and know that you will see him or her again in heaven. One thing that has impressed me about my Christian patients is the legacy of faith they leave to their families and friends at the end of their lives.

DeWayne received such a faith legacy. While growing up, he’d heard stories about heaven from his God-fearing grandmother. He was certainly not following her example on the night he was pronounced dead on arrival after being knifed, possibly during a drug deal. However, during lifesaving surgery, he saw his grandmother in a vision.

“That’s when I knew it was going to be all right,” he told me later.

I then learned that DeWayne’s grandmother had died four years before. His mother thought his grandmother must have visited from the other side. DeWayne’s grandmother offered him a lasting legacy. I can only hope he was smart enough to trust Christ for himself.

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian family. My parents, siblings, and most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins had a firm faith in the Lord, so I learned about him from an early age. Even when I walked away from God for a time, my family—my mother in particular—never stopped praying for me. I was blessed to receive a strong legacy of faith.

But as valuable as it is, an inherited faith will not get you into heaven. That’s what my friend (now wife) Karen was trying to tell me when I attempted to use “But my parents are Christians!” as a way to win her over. She was determined to marry a Christian man, and an unbeliever whose parents were Christians did not meet her standards. Even after I made a personal decision to trust Christ, independent of my family’s influence, it took a while to convince her that my newfound faith wasn’t just a stunt to impress her.

If you were raised by Christian parents who taught you well, congratulations! You have been blessed. But a Christian heritage is not a ticket into heaven. You must own your faith and make your own decision to follow Christ, not rely on a hand-me-down faith.

Did you grow up in a Christian home? If so, describe the influence your family had on your faith. If not, how did you come to know Christ? At what age did you make the decision to trust him?

God, thank you for godly parents and grandparents who share a faith legacy with future generations. Help the younger people in my life to understand their need to accept your free gift of salvation for themselves. Amen.

Day 25

FELLOW TRAVELERS ALONG THE PATH

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

“I was just in the right place at the right time.” How often have you heard those words or said them yourself? These chance meetings with people who give us a hand are not random encounters. They are orchestrated by a God who loves and cares for us. Whether through an encouraging word, a bit of advice, an unwelcome truth we nonetheless need to hear, a hot meal, or a hug, God designed the world so that humans would care for other humans.

Time and time again, God has placed people in my life to teach me, guide me, and inspire me with their examples of godly living. My parents gave me my earliest instruction about God. My Alday cousins served as mentors, role models, and surrogate big brothers during the long, hot summers at the farmers market. A Catholic priest, Father Frank, and my future wife, Karen, patiently answered my endless questions about what it means to be a Christ follower. My roommates, the two Mikes, invited me to go to church with them. My patients have taught me countless lessons about faith and endurance. I am eternally grateful for all of these people.

At the same time, I am humbled by the ways God has used me in the lives of others. He placed me and two other doctors in a health club at the moment a man suffered a heart attack on the tennis court. He allowed me to be a source of comfort for parents who lost their teenage daughter in a car accident, and to walk alongside Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, after the tragic loss of their daughter Maria.

You, too, can be a beacon of hope for others. Look around and see who you can help. Maybe someone nearby needs to talk, to be invited over for dinner, or to simply relax and have some fun after a stressful period. What can you do today to be a bright spot in someone else’s life?

Who are some of the people God has placed in your life to help you along the road to heaven? Thank them for their guidance and encouragement. If they’re no longer living, write letters to them anyway to help you remember how God worked through them. Think of someone to whom you can be a guiding light. Reach out to him or her today.

God, thank you for the people you have put in my life who have guided and encouraged me. In return, help me be a source of encouragement to others. In times of discouragement and loneliness, help each of us look forward to seeing you and our loved ones in heaven. Amen.

Day 26

ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. (Luke 16:22)

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 91:9-12

I had several patients to visit during my rounds at the nursing home, including Lois, who was blind. Lois’s room was at the end of the hall, so she was my last stop. As I neared her door, I could hear her raised voice.

“Keep them away from me! Please keep them away from me!”

I opened the door and walked in, and I could see her trying to push something away—but nothing was there. Lois’s daughter was at her bedside, attempting to calm her down.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I don’t know what happened; she just went crazy all of a sudden.”

“Lois, it’s Dr. Anderson,” I said and grabbed her hands. I held them securely in mine, hoping it would comfort her. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you see them? There are so many of them; their brilliant lights are hurting my eyes!”

She jerked her hands out of mine and seemed to be shooing something away, something none of us could see, which was ironic because Lois was the only one in the room who couldn’t see.

I realized Lois was probably suffering from sundowner syndrome. It is a common condition among the elderly; they become disoriented when placed in unfamiliar surroundings. Typically the symptoms occur at night. Maybe because she’s blind, her body can’t tell the difference? I wondered.

Minutes later, after I had left the room, Lois’s roommate, Sissy, unexpectedly suffered a heart attack. Hearing the code announced over the loudspeaker, I raced back into their room, where one of the nurses had drawn the drape between Lois’s and Sissy’s beds. The medical team had frantically begun trying to revive Sissy. Less than an hour later, her doctor pronounced her dead. The nurses began clearing the equipment and cleaning up the room.

That’s when I remembered—Lois!

I slowly pulled back the curtain, expecting to see her in the same state I’d left her, but instead, she appeared very calm.

I took her hand in mine. “Lois? Are you okay? It’s Dr. Anderson.”

“They’re gone now, Doctor.”

“Who’re gone?”

“The angels. They’re not flying over my bed anymore; they’ve gone with Sissy. They’ve taken her away.”

“What did they look like?”

“Like bright lights. There were so many of them darting around, they hurt my eyes.”

God had sent a band of angels to escort Sissy home, and he’d allowed a blind woman to see them.

What does Scripture tell us about angels? Do you think they are something to fear, or something to welcome? Why?

God, I praise you for sending your angels to care for me. Though I cannot see them, I know your Word says you send them to minister to me and to all your children. I look forward to heaven, where we will worship you along with the angels. Amen.

Day 27

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Never stop praying. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8

Even before I truly believed, God answered my prayer, “God, if you’re real, make yourself known to me,” by revealing himself in countless astonishing ways. Centuries ago another man, the father of a boy suffering from convulsions, begged Jesus, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Jesus helped him, too.

Since my conversion, prayer has been a central part of my life, as it should be for every Christian.

I pray for guidance while performing emergency, complex surgery or when confronting a medical issue I don’t know how to fix. I pray, “God, I need you right now. I need your healing hands to be used through me. Please guide me through this process.”

Times of decision making are also ripe opportunities for prayer. Over the course of our marriage, Karen and I have prayed regularly about the many decisions facing us as a couple—such as which job to take, where to live, and how to best serve God as parents, friends, and family members—and have leaned on God for guidance and direction.

We can pray for others in their time of need. I remember praying for the Chapman family after the devastating loss of their daughter Maria. Prayer was our strongest weapon against despair, and we wielded it liberally on behalf of the Chapmans. Throughout the nights the Chapman family stayed with us in our home, I felt the sure and strong presence of God. No one was ever alone even when they were praying. When we didn’t think we could bear the pain a minute longer, it was as if God’s angels surrounded us and miraculously held us up.

We can also pray for a peaceful passage into heaven. This was the request of Dennis’s son as he prayed at his father’s deathbed, “Dear God, we come to you with heavy hearts because of the life that is leaving us. We thank you for the gift of our father, but we ask you now to take his hand and lead him home to be with you, so he may be free of the pain and suffering he has experienced for so long. In his absence, please give us your comfort. In Jesus’ name.” God answered his prayer on all counts. Dennis’s death marked the first time I clearly sensed the parting of the veil as a soul was swept into heaven.

There is no more powerful tool in the hands of a Christian than prayer. Keep it ready at all times.

Are you in the habit of praying regularly? Why or why not? If you have trouble praying, what hinders your prayers? You might start by praying, as many others have before you, “Lord, please help me learn how to pray.” Then study the Scriptures for all the Lord has to tell you about prayer.

God, I praise you for being the God who hears my prayers, who loves to answer, and who begins to answer even before I’ve finished praying. Thank you for bearing my burdens every day as I lay them at your feet in prayer. Amen.

Day 28

LAZARUS

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. (John 12:17)

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 11:1-7, 11-44

One of my patients, Eunice, qualifies as a miracle. During surgery to fix a blocked artery, her heart stopped beating. The doctors worked to save her, but after an hour they determined the effort was futile. One resident continued to work on her for practice, even though at that point, all hope of recovery was gone. Remarkably, a full two hours after she flatlined, her heart kicked in and started beating by itself. Eunice had come back to life!

Eunice’s story reminds me of a pivotal event in Jesus’ ministry. In the biblical account of Lazarus, we learn of a man—one of Jesus’ dearest friends—who lay ill to the point of death. His sisters sent for Jesus. By the time Jesus reached their home, Lazarus had been dead for four days, already buried in a tomb.

Jesus spoke to the sisters, and they reaffirmed their faith in him. He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25). Then Jesus called to Lazarus, who walked out of the tomb alive and well.

What did this extraordinary miracle accomplish? For one thing, it strengthened the faith of all who saw it—the disciples, the family, and others standing nearby. These people continued to bear witness to the event, carrying the news to others, who then believed as well.

“Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death,” Jesus declared. “No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” (11:4). The sickness alone didn’t bring glory to God, but what Jesus was able to accomplish through it did. By resurrecting Lazarus, Jesus demonstrated his awesome and mighty power to a watching world.

In Eunice’s case, the hardworking medical personnel had little to do with bringing her back to life. They were instruments used by God, in his timing and power, to accomplish his purpose. God used the situation to bring glory to himself and to strengthen the faith of all who witnessed Eunice’s remarkable recovery. To him be the glory!

Have you known anyone who was brought back to life after having been declared legally dead? If so, describe that experience and your reaction. What thoughts might have been going through the minds of Eunice and her family after she was revived? How might you explain such an event to an unbeliever?

God, you are a God of miracles. We praise you for performing wonders and displaying your mighty power in our midst. Amen.

Day 29

BREATHING OUT

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. (Psalm 78:4)

SCRIPTURE READING: DEUTERONOMY 30

As a doctor, I’ve seen a lot of people breathe their last. Although these patients have had different ailments and have been different ages, genders, and ethnicities, their dying breaths were all similar. No matter what, the last breath is always out, never in. The last thing people do before they die is exhale.

You can argue that we take a lot from the world throughout our lifetimes, but we give a lot too. When we come to the end of our lives, it’s the exhale—what we’ve given—that we will most likely be thinking about. What are we leaving behind for those we love? What did we do during our years on earth that will last? What value have we given and what difference have we made?

Moses knew these were important questions when he spoke God’s wise words to the Israelites before transferring leadership to Joshua. He urged God’s people to think carefully about following God because it is “the choice between life and death” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Loving and obeying God, committing yourself firmly to him while on earth, doesn’t just make a difference in your own quality of life, but it also blesses your descendants. On the other hand, forsaking him can result in disaster for years after you are gone. The Israelites demonstrated this time and time again throughout the Scriptures as they “took,” turning away from God and suffering the consequences, only to finally turn their focus back to giving to and serving God.

What we leave behind matters. What we teach our children will shape the coming generations. How we invest our time, passions, energy, and resources while we have them becomes a legacy. The vapor we emit when we exhale is the air that continues circulating once we are gone. The One who gave you the breath of life cares deeply about what you do with it.

I hope and pray that when I exhale for my final time, the remnants of my life are a blessing to those still here. I hope the same for my patients. And I hope the same for you.

What are you spending your life giving? If you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy with the legacy you are leaving behind?

God, I realize that you care about what I do with my life. Thank you for giving me breath. Help me to use it well, loving and obeying you, not only for my own sake but also for the following generations, teaching them the truths about your glorious deeds. Amen.

Day 30

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. (Philippians 3:20)

SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 1:3-5

Imagine planning a trip to Italy. You’ve never been there before, but you’ve been reading all about it, soaking up images and inspiration on the Internet, whetting your appetite for everything that Italy has to offer. The Sistine Chapel. The canals of Venice. The masterworks on display in the Museo e Galleria Borghese. You plan a detailed itinerary and can practically taste the linguine Alfredo on your tongue. By the time you board the plane, you are bubbling over with enthusiasm for all things Italian.

Now imagine planning your journey to heaven. Heaven will be wonderful, of course. There will be angels, you think. A magnificent throne room. And singing. Lots and lots of singing. Beyond that, the details start to blur.

Incredibly, many believers spend more time daydreaming about a family vacation than about their ultimate destination—heaven. Of course, a plethora of Internet sites, travel magazines, and guidebooks are available to anyone planning a trip. But there is no travel guide for heaven, right? Actually, such a book does exist; more than likely, you even own a copy.

The Bible is an excellent place to begin looking for evidence of heaven. After all, the apostle Paul tells us to “set [our] sights on the realities of heaven” (Colossians 3:1), and the Bible has much to say about our future dwelling place. Read it attentively, listening for what God’s Spirit is saying to you, and then ask him to make you mindful of the many ways he is also at work in the lives around you.

You, too, can look forward to heaven with all the anticipation of a long-awaited journey. The Bible is filled with details about our final destination, which surpasses even the most exquisite place on earth. Fill your head with thoughts of heaven.

What did you learn about heaven growing up? As an adult? Describe a place or experience that helps you imagine what heaven will be like.

God, we look forward to living with you forever in heaven. Help us keep our vision focused on the joy you have waiting there for us. Amen.

Next Steps

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading 30 Daily Appointments with Heaven by Dr. Reggie Anderson.

For more remarkable stories from Dr. Anderson’s life and practice, don’t miss Appointments with Heaven, an uplifting new book that journeys into the questions at the very core of your being: Is there more to life than this? What is heaven like? And most important: Do I believe it enough to let it change me?

Turn the page to read the foreword and first chapter of Appointments with Heaven, or click here to buy the book today!

Foreword

We have known Reggie Anderson for twenty-plus years. The Anderson and Chapman families have shared many ups and downs, creating a bond that few families will ever know.

Our children grew up together, attended the same school, played on the same teams, and did a lot of life together. So much so that in 2009, our son Caleb and their daughter Julia got married, thus continuing our journey. Now if only those kids would surprise us with a grandbaby!

We’ve experienced much laughter, tears, good times, and hard times. On a beautiful sunny day in spring 2008, our youngest daughter made her journey home to heaven because of an accident at our house. It was truly the day the world went wrong, and our lives came crashing in on us. Life as we knew it changed forever. Two of the first phone calls we made were to Karen and Reggie Anderson. They came to the hospital immediately and have been by our sides on this incredibly difficult journey ever since. They held us, housed us, and offered us the cup of compassion over and over in those first days, weeks, and months that followed. They were the hands and feet of Christ as we began all over again with our lives.

In the months that followed losing Maria, we began the process of grieving, healing, and coming to terms with what had happened. During that time we noticed Reggie writing a lot into what we assumed was a journal. We discovered at some point that he was actually beginning to write down the stories of loss in his own personal life, as well as in his professional life as a medical doctor. Maria’s death had stirred in him the impulse to write his own story.

As time went by, we would SEE that recording these memories was helping Reggie heal and reconcile the hard parts of his life. He began to identify these stories as divine appointments, and the more he wrote, the more he understood that God had been creating a much bigger picture than he ever imagined. Reggie also realized that he had never been alone and that the God of the universe had been orchestrating an elaborate story of redemption and purpose, which has now culminated in this deep, rich book.

God clearly speaks to Reggie in the form of miraculous happenings. Reggie recognizes those miracles for what they are: divine and deliberate pursuits by God to let Reggie know that he is intimately cared for. This country doctor from Tennessee is loved by God and has been blessed with an amazing gift. As Reggie embraces this, he wants to be faithful to tell others of the amazing lengths to which God goes so we can truly SEE him.

In Appointments with Heaven, Reggie has woven a beautiful tapestry, intertwining his own journey with the stories of other people he has come to know, whether through family, friends, or doctoring. In a poignant way, Reggie communicates his transformation from a grieving, scared young boy running from God into an amazingly intuitive doctor who now runs toward God in times of darkness and tragedy. From encountering Christ on a camping trip to meeting his wife, Karen, Reggie truly hears from God in unique ways.

Reggie has offered a precious treasure to you, the reader. First, his story unveils something you and I need to hear, know, and experience in our hearts . . . the truth that God pursues us in extreme and magnificent ways! Second, it provides a glimpse of God’s eternal purposes. Reggie’s appointments with heaven, woven through life stories, reveal that God has a plan for each one of us—a plan that includes pain, surprises, and joy—and that there is a reason for everything under the sun, if we choose to SEE it.

And now may you, the reader, treasure this book for what it is . . . an appointment with heaven that will make you smile and cry as you soak it in.

Choosing to SEE God in all of life,

Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman

PS As an addendum to this foreword, I (Mary Beth) would like to remind you that behind every good man, there is an even greater woman . . . LOL. But in the case of Dr. Reggie Anderson, it’s true. Karen is a woman who lives out the fruit of the Spirit. I have witnessed her giving of herself to her husband, children, and friends in amazing and unselfish ways. She has taught me to seek and pursue peace, and she is full of wisdom. Without Karen, there is no Reggie, and everyone who knows them knows this to be true. I am indebted to her for the encouragement she has been to me and to my children. . . . I love you, sweet friend.

Chapter 1

THE PATIENT

SEPTEMBER 2011

ASHLAND CITY HOSPITAL, ASHLAND CITY, TENNESSEE

He was an eighty-two-year-old, proud Alabama boy, lying in the intensive care unit, and while I didn’t yet know his time of death, I already knew the cause.

For more than a year, he had been struggling with myelodysplastic syndrome—his bone marrow had stopped producing the blood cells needed to fight off infection. He was immunocompromised and had developed a severe staph infection that was almost impossible to treat. His body had become septic, and the inflammation was devastating his organs. I knew his days were numbered, but I couldn’t stand the thought of his passing.

I had known him all my life. He was a teacher and a farmer—intelligent and determined, proud and stubborn. He was also a man of great faith. He didn’t see any reason to prolong his life on earth past the purpose God had for him. Like many of my elderly patients, he believed that he had an appointment with heaven and that Jesus was waiting for him on the other side.

As a doctor, I’ve seen what happens to the patient whose loved ones hang on too long. They desperately cling to their family member, demanding that doctors use extraordinary means to keep that person here when, really, the dying believer just wants to slip gently to the other side. Sometimes doctors can postpone a patient’s death for weeks or months, but it often involves drastic measures with the person being kept alive by machines and feeding tubes. The patient’s quality of life isn’t what relatives expect when they initially make the decision, and it’s rarely what a patient desires.

Whenever God called him home, he was ready.

I didn’t want this patient kept alive by machines, and he didn’t want it either. But I had good reasons to lengthen his life. He had a close, extended family, some of whom lived out of town and wanted a chance to say good-bye. With intensive medical intervention, I could postpone his death long enough to allow them the opportunity to see him one last time. His family wasn’t ready to let him go, and I understood that in the most intimate way possible. I wasn’t ready for him to be gone either.

I thought of other deaths I had witnessed—including an unforgettable experience that happened while I was a medical resident.

Throughout medical school I had taken care of dying patients, but this was the first time that I, as the senior resident, would be the one in charge when a patient died. I didn’t know what to expect.

“Dr. Anderson,” the elderly woman began, her voice starting to fade. “Will you hold my hand? I’m going to see Jesus, and I need an escort.”

That night, I experienced the veil parting—the veil that separates this life from the next. As I held the dying woman’s hands, I felt the warmth of her soul pass by my cheek when it left her body, swept up by an inexplicably cool breeze in an otherwise stagnant room. I smelled the familiar fragrance of lilac and citrus, and I knew the veil was parting to allow her soul to pass through.

Since that first patient, I’ve walked with countless others to the doorstep of heaven and watched them enter paradise. On many occasions, as I held hands with the dying, God allowed me to peer into heaven’s entryway where I watched each patient slip into the next world.

I’ve sensed Jesus on the other side, standing in heaven’s foyer, welcoming the dead who are made whole again. I’ve glimpsed surreal colors and sights and heard sounds more intense than anything I’ve ever experienced in this ordinary world. I’ve inhaled the scents of lilac, citrus, freshly carved cedar, and baking bread—more fragrant than I ever thought possible.

Sometimes I’ve even witnessed patients leave this world and come back. As they’ve shared their stories with me, I’ve often remembered the time early in my life when God allowed me to step into heaven’s foyer, even though I no longer believed he was real.

The one thing these experiences have in common is the intensity of the sights, sounds, fragrances, and feelings that I sensed. Heaven is more real than anything we experience here, and the sense of peace, joy, and overwhelming love is beyond description.

Memories of other dying patients, as well as my personal glimpses into heaven, drifted through my mind as I sat at my patient’s bedside in the ICU that day. I had every confidence that what awaited him would be more joyous than anything he’d ever experienced. But, selfishly, I wasn’t ready to see him disappear through the opening. As the attending physician, the family looked to me for guidance. I could recommend a blood transfusion that would prolong his life for a few more days; with several transfusions, maybe I could extend it a week or more.

Or I could let him go.

Either way, I knew that he and his family would listen to me and do what I suggested.

I had a difficult decision to make, and my medical decisions were complicated by what my patients and I had experienced on heaven’s side of the veil. But my struggle was even greater because of who I was.

I wasn’t just the patient’s physician—I was also his son.

About the Authors

REGGIE ANDERSON, MD

Dr. Reggie Anderson was raised in the small, rural town of Plantersville, Alabama, and has come to embody the small-town wisdom and homespun morality that he grew up with. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in chemistry and an English minor. While attending the University of Alabama Medical School, he met his wife, Karen. He completed his residency in family practice at the University of Tennessee in Jackson.

With more than twenty-five years of emergency room and family practice experience, Reggie has been exposed to every kind of death possible, including murder, suicide, death from old age, and death shortly after birth. His positive outlook and view that the next life is more real than this one has allowed him to hold dying and grieving patients’ hands, providing hope as he prepares them for the parting of the veil that separates this world from the next.

Reggie and Karen have raised four children—three daughters who are married and a son who is currently in nursing school. He and Karen reside on a farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, often opening their home as a refuge for those needing shelter following a natural disaster or other crisis.

Recently, Reggie was awarded the Frist Humanitarian Award by the Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. He was chosen from more than nine hundred doctors to be nominated for the national award.

Reggie is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and works at the Frist Clinic, where he continues to serve the poor and underprivileged in satellite offices in Ashland City and Kingston Springs, Tennessee. He also serves as chief of staff at TriStar Ashland City Medical Center, as well as being the medical director of three nursing homes. Learn more about Reggie at www.appointmentswithheaven.com.

JENNIFER SCHUCHMANN

Whether writing or speaking, Jennifer loves the challenge of taking difficult concepts and finding ways to make them easy to understand, practical, and transformational. She excels at organizing masses of raw material into book form, while maintaining the voice and intent of the original communicator. She finds great joy in helping authors with compelling messages tell their stories to new audiences.

Recent books include: Taylor’s Gift (Revell, 2013) by Todd and Tara Storch, the story of a couple who donated their daughter’s organs after a skiing accident and later met the recipients; Spirit Rising (Zondervan, 2012) by Jim Cymbala, an in-depth look at the Holy Spirit; and By Faith, Not by Sight (Thomas Nelson, 2012), by blind American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre. A selection of past books includes One Call Away (Thomas Nelson, 2011), a memoir of Brenda Warner, and First Things First (Tyndale, 2009), a New York Times bestseller by Kurt and Brenda Warner.

Jennifer is the host of Right Now with Jennifer Schuchmann, which airs weekly on the NRB Network, Sky Angel satellite, and DIRECTV. She holds an MBA from Emory University, with an emphasis in marketing and communications, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Memphis. She’s been married to David for more than twenty years, and they have a son, Jordan. Learn more about Jennifer at WordsToThinkAbout.com, or follow her on Twitter @Schuchmann.

Note

[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997), 28.