I think we underestimate just how much of our lives here is from the hand of God in the first place. The life that we now know and the things we enjoy so much—the parts untainted by sin—we would naturally expect to have carried over, including distinctive personalities.

Randy visited California Baptist University in Riverside, California where he shared at their chapel. He spoke about suffering, Heaven, and the goodness of God, and also about his wife Nanci and her faithfulness through cancer. The date he spoke was actually the one-year anniversary of the day the Alcorn family of 11 gathered around her bed, and Nanci spoke powerfully into their lives. A week later, she went to be with Jesus.

Randy visited Liberty University and spoke to the student body about a theology of suffering. He shared some of his personal experiences of hardship, and also talked about the hope of Heaven and what that means to him now that his beloved wife Nanci is there.

On March 21, I gave a 30-minute chapel message at California Baptist University. They asked me to talk about suffering and Heaven, in light of Nanci’s homegoing, so I shared about Nanci and quoted from her journal. That date I spoke was actually the one-year anniversary of the day our family of 11 gathered around her bed, and Nanci spoke powerfully into our lives. A week later, she went to be with Jesus.

Jesus said, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” By putting on his own joyful party, the father of the prodigal son is mirroring the heavenly Father’s joyful party in Heaven over a beloved image bearer entering His family.

Martin Luther said, “It is pleasing to the dear God whenever thou rejoicest or laughest from the bottom of thy heart.” And who does that more frequently and sincerely than children? Talking to kids about Heaven was the focus of an interview I did with Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, for his radio program about my book Heaven for Kids.

In this clip Greg Laurie asks Randy Alcorn: When you order a burger, what do you order on it? Will there be hamburgers in Heaven?

Randy and Greg Laurie have a conversation about how investing in others' success during playing sports can be a preview of Heaven.

In his conversation with Greg Laurie, Randy answers: What is the most challenging question to answer about Heaven? What about sports in Heaven?