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All He Needs For Heaven

Nothing Like Speaking at Home

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Last night, I had the pleasure of speaking to the 24/7 High School Youth Group at my home congregation, Richland Hills Church of Christ.  Not only was I asked to speak, but I got to have my dad with me for our “All He Needs for Heaven” presentation, and I was given the opportunity to lead worship as well.  The evening was a blast, and the students were so encouraging to worship with and to get to talk to.  With their hands in the air, they praised at the top of their lungs, and I could tell that their joy was coming from deep within their souls.  It was a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere, and the group’s passion for living a God-filled life was evident all around us.  

It felt great to “be at home.”  Joni, Hannah, and I attend Richland Hills, and speaking there always feels so right since we’re very literally talking to our family.  Last night had a first for me, too, as I got to lead instrumental worship.  I had a blast, and the band was wonderful to work with.  I love that we can celebrate and worship our God in so many different ways, and I look forward to a lifetime of praising God in whatever way I can.

Full Day of Church Speaking Fun

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This weekend, Joni, Hannah, my mom, my dad and I drove to Shreveport, LA where we were to speak at two different churches.  We got in a great visit with Nan and Pops (my adopted grandparents), and early Sunday morning, we rose to visit our first church of the day, Church of Christ – North. 

North has a wonderfully laid back attitude, and it was wonderful to see some friends from the past.  To give you an idea of their relaxed atmosphere, the announcement maker gave a “farm report” about his cattle, to which the church responded in laughter.  I loved the casual feel of the service, and my dad and I taught Bible Class and did our All He Needs for Heaven presentation during the worship hour.  We had a wonderful time, and had a great reaction from the crowd.

We spent the afternoon having lunch with a member from North and then we drove about an hour to spend time with a relative that had just moved into the area.

An hour’s drive back to Shreveport found us at the University Church of Christ.  Many friends from our days in Bossier City (1980-1991) were there, and it felt like a family reunion of sorts.  In fact, after our presentation, we were asked if we would come back on an annual basis for a “McDoniel Reunion Day!”  I love it!  Several youth groups came as well, which made the singing that much better.  So many people came out saying what a difference we had made in their lives, and we’re so thankful the opportunity to present our story.

All in all, the weekend was wonderful.  Well, until we started the 4 hour drive back home and didn’t get to bed until 2AM.  Even if our story only touched one person, it was worth it!

What is Heaven Like?

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Or…more to the point…what will Heaven be like?  That’s the question I’ve pondered for a long time.  Will I have a whole body?  Will I finally be able to throw off this un-whole body for a complete one?  Sure, I’ve asked those questions many times before.  I’ve finally come to an answer within the last few years.  Ready…here is the answer:

It doesn’t matter.

Really.  Whether or not I have a whole body means nothing to me.  Yes, I’ll admit that right now, my preference would be to have a whole body in Heaven.  But, I guarantee you that when I reach Heaven, my body’s physical status will be very low on my list of priorities.  I’ll be in Heaven…how could Heaven disappoint?

Beyond that, though, I believe the main idea of Heaven is to be in the physical presence of God.  Many of our songs focus on the wrong image of Heaven.  We sing about having a mansion and walking on streets of gold.  Those are all concepts we can understand as tangible…but the are also very worldly in terms of possesions.  The true value of Heaven is to be with God.  Check out this passage from Genesis 3:8 (NASB):

They [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Now, they hid because they had just done something the Lord had told them not to, but catch this phrase “the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.”  Wow.  That doesn’t say “God called to them from a cloud” or “God, who was not physically with them”…it says He was WALKING in the garden.  I believe that Heaven will be an amazing sight for us, as we get to see God walking in our midst.  Yes, He is God, and yes, we will still worship Him…but not like ever before as He will be in our presence. 

That is what Heaven is all about.  I do not worry about what my body will look like in Heaven.  Instead, I dream of a day when I will be with God, the maker of the Universe, and my heavenly Father.  I think the old hymn puts it best:

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

“In the Garden” – Words & Music: C. Aus­tin Miles, March 1912

Inspiring Those Who Inspire

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Yesterday, my dad and I were invited to speak to a group of over 600 school teachers and administrators who were gathered at a Special Education conference in Decatur, TX. Now, the conference mainly focused on new laws and policies for special education, but our job was to put a face on special education and to inspire teachers going into the new school year.

We told many stories of my educational background including how my parents were able to get me “mainstreamed” (I understand the term now is “inclusion.”), and how special adaptations in the classroom helped me to become the educated person I am today. Most of all, though, the positive attitude of the teachers and school administrators throughout my life really allowed me to flourish. My dad mentioned that he heard of people wanting to “take on the school system”…we never had to…the school systems I was involved in always bent over backwards to help me accomplish my goals.

These teachers were a great crowd, and many visited with me afterwards about how much our presentation helped them going into this new school year. We hope to have many more occasions to speak to both students and teachers in the future. Inspiring teachers allows us to inspire the thousands of students they inspire every day!

Jim and Chet McDoniel are inspirational speakers and are available to present to your school’s faculty and/or students. Chet’s unique view of life without arms allows him to inspire students in ways no one else can. Click here to request more information.

Two for One Special

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Chet and Jim McDoniel speak at Altamesa Church of ChristYesterday was a first for All He Needs Ministries.  My dad and I spoke at two different churches on the same day, and I led worship both times.  Our first stop was at the Altamesa Church of Christ.  We have spoken here before on a Wednesday night, and were asked to return and give our presentation for the entire church on a Sunday morning.  We really enjoyed being back, and I greatly enjoyed leading worship with their praise team.  My sister and her family attend here, and we loved getting to be with them as well.

Our evening presentation was at the Burleson Church of Christ.  Their auditorium reminded us very much of a church we had previously attended, so we felt right at home.  The presentation went well, and the teenagers sang enthusiastically, which makes leading worship a true joy.

Speaking of teenagers, I have been invited to lead worship for over 700 teenagers this weekend at the Teenage Christian Conference in Albuquerque, NM.  We are driving over and visiting some grandparents on the way.  I will be leading worship, and Jeff Walling will be speaking.  Now, I love getting to lead worship, but when you throw in lots of teens and Jeff Walling…well, let’s just say I’m super excited about this weekend.  I’ll post plenty of pics and a report when we return next week.  I’ll also be updating the All He Needs site in the next few weeks and blogging about a new campaign called “Contagious Smile.”  Until then…

Blast From The Past

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This past Wednesday, my dad and I presented our story at the Airline Drive Church of Christ in Bossier City, LA.  What was special about this presentation was the fact that my dad preached at this congregation for almost 20 years, and so we had many friends there.  Airline has always been a “singing church,” and the 200 people in attendance proved that very thing.  We had a wonderful time seeing old friends and meeting new faces.  While the drive (4 hrs each way) was a bit much all in one day, the reunion with our family at Airline was well worth the trip, and we thank them for giving us the opportunity to have a blast from the past!

Jim and Chet McDoniel are touring churches telling their story, and a few dates are still left in 2008.  For more information, click here or click Booking Information, above.

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