We’ve made it as far as Franklin, Kentucky. We stayed in a brand new Holiday Inn Express last night. I feel so much smarter. It is a beautiful facility. Stone walls all around, water sculptures, fire places, it reminds me of the Center. Right now everything reminds me of the Center.

Our new facility is going up so quickly that it is a little bit unnerving. I have some big decor decisions to make in the next few days. The thing I’m most excited about is the worship center. It has room to seat over 200 students. The ceiling on the south end is eight feet high and it rises from south to north to a height of just over 25 feet. There are columns on the north wall that rise from floor to ceiling. The side walls are huge. The ceiling is black tile and it makes the lighting in the room seem so much brighter. On the south wall will be written Isaiah 26.8, “your name and your renown are the desire of our hearts.” On each of the side walls will be written the names of God in at least eight different languages. I cannot imagine a more fitting way to decorate a place of worship.

We are eagerly awaiting the completion of the project so that we can move in and enjoy. Isn’t that the way we are supposed to be anticipating heaven? Aren’t we all just a little excited about the decor of the New Home? Won’t the streets and the gates and the dwelling places be beyond our wildest imaginings? Isn’t it going to be wonderful to finally obtain the one thing that we’ve all been waiting for, an eye to eye encounter with the one who took our sin and shame for us?

I’ve been walking around the Center and touching the stone walls. I just want to feel the reality of this realized dream. I think it will be the same with me in heaven. I’m sure that I’ll want to touch everything and enjoy the reality of that realized dream. But most of all, I want to touch Jesus. I want to feel the warmth of the One who gave himself for God’s glory and my joy. Even more than that, I want Him to touch me.