One winter evening a few years ago, I was staying at my buddy Ed’s mountain cabin just north of Rutland, Vermont and was having trouble starting his gas fireplace.  I called him and he explained to me, over the phone, exactly how to do it, pointing out precise locations and details as if he were standing in the room next to the fireplace. I followed his instructions easily and fired it up.   Ed, who is by calling a pastor, is astoundingly adept at explaining things that are in other places and which he cannot see, but still understands intimately.

On Sunday he preached about heaven.