The Doorman to Heaven

By Gina Turner

People need a plumb line for Truth. People need evidence for the true history of spirituality.

The crux of the matter is the cross. The resurrection is a reality. The heart of the matter is the condition of peoples heartsand we need to be aware of our standing with the Doorman. The Doorman to Heaven sends readers an invitation to the Banquet, emphasizing the importance of responding. A relationship quiz examines the readers standing with the Doorman, and gives a description of the alternative to accepting the Doormans offer.

Through The Doorman to Heaven, we see a glimpse of the Doorman through His Book and discover His ways as explained therein. What is His Presence like? The Doorman to Heaven gives a comforting description of where our loved ones who have joined His family spend their time after leaving this earth. Share it with friends and relatives whose eternal standing hasnt been clearly decided, and those struggling with everyday realities.

The following is taken from the Appendix of The Doorman to Heaven:

The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose from the dead.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Savior.

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.

If youve accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, then you will want to do the following:

1. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
3. Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
4. Tell others about Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 16, 2007
• ISBN: 9781465323033

Gina Turner

From the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Amazon Jungles of Colombia, author Gina Turners experiences demonstrate her faith in a trustworthy Savior who is alive, powerful, loving, and at work in everyday situations and lifelong struggles. A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Gina currently works as the Director of Womens Ministries at her church. She resides in the Los Angeles area with her husband Eric and their son Nicholas.

Book preview

Copyright © 2006 by Gina Turner.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE,

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,

1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights

reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living

Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers,

Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Efforts have been made to give due credit to authors and speakers whose material

I have quoted. However, if in any way it has not been sufficient or accurate, I will

make every effort to make it right in future printings.

Text edited by Eric and Gina Turner. Portions edited by Kathy Ide.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

33739

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

His Invitation

Chapter Two

His Story

Chapter Three

His Book

Chapter Four

His Counsel

Chapter Five

His Assistance

Chapter Six

His Healing

Chapter Seven

His Family

Chapter Eight

His Work

Chapter Nine

His Presents

Chapter Ten

His Love

Chapter Eleven

His Training

Chapter Twelve

His Arrival

Epilogue

Appendix

How to Receive Christ, Be Saved, Go to Heaven

Endnotes

For mom, dad, & Nicholas, and to my goddaughter Catalina

One generation will declare Your works to another

My Heavenly Father, glory and honor to you.

Eric, full of love, patience and wisdom.

Nicholas, my precious commentator and bundle of joy.

Nikki, my encourager.

Mom, Dad, and Auntie Lynne, full of loving support.

The Gutshalls/Pearsons/Turners/Brauns/Mosses, my family.

Friends, may you grow in faith in God and in the knowledge of His love.

May your heart be enlightened so you may know the hope to

which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance,

and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19

Introduction

I grew up in a town without stoplights, paved roads, or traffic jams. The only billboard was a painted wooden sign on the outskirts of town that read Home of 200 nice people and a few old soreheads. Life was simple. I stayed close to home and went hiking in our mountains or fishing in our stream with my dad. We didn’t need bottled water: we drank from a spring-fed well. I liked to collect pine nuts and my mom enjoyed picking gooseberries. The deer ate our hay; the bears ate our cat food. The tarantulas we caught made fun pets. My sister and I enjoyed playing Little House on the Prairie. We didn’t realize another way of life existed.

City dwellers are some of the hardest-working people I know. They are committed and dedicated—working hard to get to their jobs, enduring long commutes on hot days and rainy days. Not only that, they know how to play hard. They have great restaurants and zillions of choices when it comes to entertainment. They’re great at socializing—always attending a shower or a wedding or a party. They seem to have a knack for picking out the perfect gift or contributing the perfect dish for each event. They’re conscientious about fads and foods. They get an incredible amount of shopping and other errands done in a day. They are quite productive and they seem to be so fulfilled.

Traffic on the freeway creates an unwritten urgency. Everyone is out. You’ve got to get out too. You can’t fall behind. You have to get everything done.

Mahatma Gandhi said, There is more to life than increasing its speed. Are you as fulfilled as you appear? Do you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels? Are you full of love, encouragement, and peace, or are you stressed out, weary with heavy loads? The Doorman to Heaven once said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.¹

Have you been introduced to the One who can give you rest—real, lasting peace—amidst life’s turmoil? Have you come to know the One who has the power to bring you fulfillment—a life of joy despite the challenges of this present age? Have you heard the One-who-can-love-you like-no-one-else calling your name?

Do you even believe the Doorman to Heaven exists? A friend once told me she didn’t believe in frogs. Shocked, I asked her, Why? She replied simply, Because I have never seen one. Have you been introduced to the Doorman? If not, I’d like to introduce you to Him.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

No one comes unto the Father except through me."²

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith.

Chapter One

His Invitation

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.³

Let me introduce you to a Friend of mine. He is not proud or boastful. He is not envious or rude. He always has time for people—He loves people. Just being around Him brings comfort, joy, and hope. His integrity and His character are without fault. He is patient with kids and loves to spend time with them. He goes all out for others. He will go all out for you.

In fact, He would like to invite you to a royal banquet and reception in an amazing place that sparkles with brilliant cleanliness. It’s the city where the Son always shines—golden streets radiate the light and warmth of spring. Daylight savings time is a thing of the past. The weather is always perfect, and the temperature is always just right. Trees bearing all kinds of fruit line the ever-deepening river that flows from the Fountain of life at the center of the city. The Lily of the valley and the thornless Rose beautify the undisturbed gardens. It’s absolutely heaven.⁴

Imagine a city where communication is personal—eliminating busy signals, call waiting, and computerized voices. Watches and clocks don’t dictate. Calendars are not in command. Time is obsolete. No one is in a rush; traffic jams don’t exist.

In a place without smog, you can run without becoming weary, walk without feeling faint. Experience flying, soaring on wings like an eagle’s. Explore infinity and beyond—the sky is not the limit with the Breath of life and the Light of the world.⁵

Everything is freely provided in abundance, eliminating overspending, inflation, poverty, bank statements, credit card balances, bounced checks, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and payments of any kind. Everyone is healthy, eliminating hassles with health care companies, irate patients, and costly co-payments. No one ever gets sick, eliminating doctor visits, medications, and operations. No one ever gets hurt, making ambulances and emergency rooms obsolete. Everyone is in perfect shape. You can be too.

The location is so massive I imagine hundreds of golf courses, football fields, baseball stadiums, and playgrounds.⁶ As the banquet draws near, the guests on the list, including Orel Hershiser, Reggie White, Brett Butler, John Smoltz, Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, and A. C. Green, discuss what is to come.⁷ There is only one way in—only my Friend, the Doorman, can get you in. You must respond to Him so He can write your name down on the list. An invitation like the following has been addressed and sent to you:

You are cordially invited to attend the Royal Banquet and Reception in the Heavenly City.

Price: My Friend paid for everything.

Date: During the age of information. Anyday now. Be ready. ⁸

Time: We’ll be outta here in the twinkling of an eye (much quicker than the blink of an eye).

RSVP: Responding to my Friend is the only way to get into the Banquet.⁹

Directions: Follow my Friend—He is the Life of the party. He is the Way. He will pick you up, meeting you in the clouds.

Location: Up—from anywhere on the globe.¹⁰

Attire: Come as you are. You’ll receive a perfect body and new clothes just before the banquet.

Please Bring: As many people as you can—this will be great!

When we respond to this invitation, the Doorman seals the deal. We are securely signed, sealed, and delivered by the presence of the Doorman’s Spirit, who is our Confirmation, our Comfort, our Counselor, and our Coach. The Doorman gives us brand-new team uniforms. We are not the same anymore. A new life has begun! ¹¹

The Doorman gives us training for all that lies ahead. We have His Word. He gives us His Book with all the right plays, telling us about His team and the opposing team. He provides guidelines on how to relate to the people who are coming to the banquet—and the people who aren’t. He sends information to help us in any situation.

He provides many opportunities for us to spend time with His team. Our teammates come alongside us, rejoicing in our victories and assisting in our challenges. We don’t have to sit on the bench—we can get in the game and use our talents, revealing our giftedness. The Coach leads us to victory in the battle of our lives. He personally welcomes us to His banquet.¹²

Can you imagine a Coach without a team? He wants people who like to get in the game, and we who have responded to Him are the ones He has chosen.

* * *

Sir! Sir! they said. Open the door for us!

After reviewing a list of their miraculous achievements, He replied, I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.¹³

Will the Doorman open the door for us? How can we be certain He will welcome us into the heavenly city?

Take the following self-evaluation quiz. (If you don’t, you may miss the main point of this entire book.) Circle the most correct answer, and read the results that follow to find out how well you and the Doorman know each other and to check your RSVP status.

1.   Have you been introduced to the Doorman?

a)   I’ve never met Him.

b)   I’ve read some of His Book.

c)   I believe He existed.

d)   He’s my best Friend.

2.   How deep is your relationship?

a)   We’re not on speaking terms.

b)   When I’m in trouble, I call out to Him.

c)   He loves me, and I love Him.

d)   I talk to Him on occasion.

3.   What do you do to serve like the Doorman?

a)   I’m a good