Does heaven exist? If so, what is it like? And how does one get in? Throughout history, painters, poets, philosophers, pastors, and many ordinary people have pondered these questions. Perhaps no other topic captures the popular imagination quite like heaven. Gary Scott Smith examines how Americans from the Puritans to the present have imagined heaven. He argues that whether Americans have perceived heaven as reality or fantasy, as God's home or a human invention, as a source of inspiration and comfort or an opiate that distracts from earthly life, or as a place of worship or a perpetual playground has varied largely according to the spirit of the age. In the colonial era, conceptions of heaven focused primarily on the glory of God. For the Victorians, heaven was a warm, comfortable home where people would live forever with their family and friends. Today, heaven is often less distinctively Christian and more of a celestial entertainment center or a paradise where everyone can reach his full potential. Drawing on an astounding array of sources, including works of art, music, sociology, psychology, folklore, liturgy, sermons, poetry, fiction, jokes, and devotional books, Smith paints a sweeping, provocative portrait of what Americans-from Jonathan Edwards to Mitch Albom-have thought about heaven.

In The Promise—now available in paperback—best-selling author Robert J. Morgan (Then Sings My Soul) illuminates the power of Romans 8:28 through real-life stories of hope overcoming heartache and points readers to an unshakable basis for faith and joy. With gentle yet certain power, the book inspires us to deal more effectively with everyday stress and strain and to be more equipped for serious trouble. You can use and share The Promise with others through all things, in every hour of need.

The Potter and His Clay How To Know God's Present Purpose For Your Life Now, Starting Well and Finishing Strong, The Christian Grace Race Written from a heart to help all believers discover and know the perfect will of God for their lives. Some who have discovered His will, have been sidetracked and detoured from it. In a marathon it is not how you start the race, but how you finish! This book is a study of the process in making clay pottery in ancient times, and how in allegorical language it relates to the spiritual journey of our Christian life today. The ultimate goal of this book is to give scriptural guidelines on how to help you finish the Grace Race and complete God's destiny for your life! "Your message is so timely and powerful. Wow! I pray that your book will make it into the hands (and hearts) of everyone who so desperately needs to read it! I agree with you that we are living in somewhat of a paradoxical time. Sometimes it seems as though everyone has given up on revival and living for Jesus. Yet, we also live in a time where so many hunger for more. Your book sounds an alarm while simultaneously raising a banner of hope for those who think true Christianity has done nothing but disintegrate." -Michael and Kathy from Plano, TX Alan Burns is founder and director of "Rivers of Life Outreach Ministries." He is involved in conducting training and equipping conferences internationally. Alan is the author of two other books on Evangelism and another on Spiritual Gifts. Alan lives in Plano, TX with his wife, Alisa and their four children. He graduated from Christ for The Nations Institute in 1980 and is an Evangelist, Teacher and Worship Leader.