What about heaven?

To play the audio, just click the play button above at left.  To download, click the "no pat answers" title in yellow in the box above, which will take you to a site where you can download it as an mp3 file.  If you see no image above or the audio will not play, click here for audio.

Is this a familiar image of heaven? 
(Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel)

What do you picture when you picture heaven?  Do you have questions about heaven? 
We've been asked in a couple different ways to discuss what we/Lutherans/the bible believes about heaven.  We've also been asked - if we believe in the resurrection of the dead when Christ returns and God reconciles the whole world - what's with all this heaven stuff?  What's heaven about?
How do we balance our beliefs and views of heaven and resurrection?

This is one podcast where we definitely give no "pat answers" . . . probably because ultimately there aren't any.  Whereas the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament speak very little about anything after death, the New Testament has many and various references to heaven.  We rest ultimately the words of Paul's letter to the Corinthians - "Listen, I will tell you a mystery. . ." 

Come explore the mystery with us.  Listen to the podcast, share with a friend, send us your questions!