What do we look like in Heaven’s eyes?

Many years ago, back in the days I could “hear” and before Sandi Patti’s “fall from grace”, I use to listen to her sing, “In Heaven’s Eyes”.

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SIDE NOTE:  Exactly what IS a “fall from grace”?  One can’t FALL FROM GRACE! (said… with a bit of a screech in my voice).  She only “fell” from a legalistic pedestal erected by bozos who think THEY have never done anything in need of “grace”.  She is as human as the rest of us… living life, making mistakes, saved by GRACE!

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I have “lively” conversations with a culturally Deaf lady from time to time.  “Lively”, because we really do burn calories in signing our own point of view about a topic.  We have “good arguments”.  The kind of arguments that I hope she thinks about (and blogs about?) as much as I do when we go our separate ways.

We ended up talking about deafness as we often do.  She tries very hard not to hold it against me that I chose to get a cochlear implant.  She succeeds in her attempts… MOST of the time.  However, at times it just gets the best of her and we “argue in a good-natured” way.  She is a very self-assured woman who was born Deaf and has lived her entire life deeply involved in the Deaf culture here in our country.  She worries that so many children born Deaf as she was, are being implanted with cochlear implants.  I think she worries about the future of the Deaf.  Her biggest pet peeve is for someone to behave as if she can’t THINK as a result of her not being able to hear.  She doesn’t feel broken.  She doesn’t feel disabled.  She feels very normal.

I know she is a believer and so teased, “Well what are you going to do when you get to Heaven?”

“Not Deaf in Heaven’s eyes,” she replied in sign.  “Not hearing (pointing to me) in Heaven’s eyes.  Same (as she indicated both of us).

I instantly remembered the title of the song by this title, written by Phill McHugh, and sung by Sandi Patti.  I asked her if she’d ever seen the words to the song before.  (You don’t ask a Deaf person if they’ve HEARD a song before – smile).  She had not.

I got us “back on track” in our conversation, and explained that she misunderstood what I meant.  I explained how there will be no deafness, blindness or other disabilities in Heaven.  I perhaps got a little carried away as I often do, in talking about Heaven… it took me a full minute to realize her face was unhappy.

She explained that she knows and has read that there is no sickness in Heaven.  She has heard pastors teach that “the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the lame will walk”. Everyone will have a perfect body in Heaven.

No pain.

No tears, nor sorrow.

No sickness.

No calories.

GLORY! (smile)

I realized that, as she has no problem being Deaf and does not consider her deafness a disability, “whats to fix” when she gets to Heaven?  She even tearfully told me that if she has to “hear in Heaven”, she’s not sure she wants to go.

Woah.

Perhaps that is why when someone develops a disability later in life, their perspective is different.  I’ll probably get some “mail” for saying this, but…

If you’ve never heard before, how can you say you don’t miss sound?

My own study of history and the Bible, convinces me to stand firm in my thinking that in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve could hear perfectly.  I think every part of their bodies worked perfectly.  We were created with ears, the inner parts of which all work together in a wonderful way, allowing us to hear.  It wasn’t until that bite of fruit and disobedience that deafness worked it’s way into our genes. Along with other disabilities, cholesterol, diabetes, birth defects, and

Weight Watchers.

You know you have a real friend, when you can “agree to disagree” and go on from there. It brings me great joy to hear my own young adult children talk about friends they have that don’t believe EXACTLY the way they do. Even better? Rest in the friendship of one who challenges you to discover what you really believe. Hmm.  I’ll save this for another post!

I could tell with startling clarity, my friend and I were at an impasse. Sometimes it’s better to “zip your lips” if you know nothing more can be said in a constructive way.  I guess in this case, I “sat on my hands” versus “zipping”.

Treasuring our friendship, I decided to back up and share the words of that song with her.  She loved the message as well.  This past month, I found out that my Deaf friend is gone.  I only saw her at her place of work, and she lost her job. I need to put on my detective hat and find out where she is now, and see about meeting her for coffee.

I’ll leave “you” with the words to this song as well.  I love it, for it reminds me that Heaven really does view us all the same.  How we look, what we do, where we were born, nor how well our bodies “work”, matters in Heaven’s thinking.  We all need a Savior.

A fervent prayer rose up to heaven,
A fragile soul was losing ground
Sorting through the earthly babble,
Heaven heard the sound.

It was a life of no distinction,
No successes, only tries.
Yet gazing down on this unlovely one,
There was love in Heaven’s Eyes.

The orphaned child, the wayward father,
The homeless traveler in the rain
When life goes by and no one bothers,
Heaven feels the pain.

Looking down, God sees each heartache,
Knows each sorrow, hears each cry,
And looking up, we’ll see compassion’s fire
Ablaze in Heaven’s Eyes.

Refrain:

In Heaven’s Eyes, there are no losers,
In Heaven’s Eyes, no hopeless cause.
Only people like you, with feelings like me
And we’re amazed by the grace we can find
In Heaven’s Eyes.

Denise Portis

© 2008 Hearing Loss Journal

This is in response to Wally’s show on total axxess (Way FM Christian Radio talk show) that I heard tonight. Wally read a letter from a “seasoned” listener that was a response to the Building 429 interview where Wally “embarrassed” the band members and was rude. Wally defended himself brilliantly (as always… I think he should’ve been a lawyer) and made his statement about his show being that somewhat edgy type where toes will get stepped on. However, at the heart of it, Wally’s heart is about ministry and changing people’s lives, but with a certain degree of, well… Wally.

As I listened to this writer rant about Wally’s style, I found myself in role-play dialogue with that person.

“Hey, stuffy, why don’t you turn the dial to K-Love, crank it up real soft, and listen to THE CHAMPION while performing your Human Video SOLO in front of your bathroom mirror! We live in an edgy world where we need edgy Christians that are willing to stir it up a bit in order to change things, so take your SPM (Sandi Patti Mentality) and go teach BIble stories to your neighbors using a felt board and paper cutouts…”

That’s the gist of what played out in my head, though not necessarily “nice” or “right.” But then I cracked up laughing, cause knowing the radio world like I do and the types of people that listen to “edgy” shows, these type of listeners are actually fans of these kind of shows. In the letter, the writer went on to say something like it had been some time now (months, years??? – I don’t remember) that they had this problem with Wally.

TRANSLATION: long-time listener and more-than-likely FAN of the show. These “negative nellies” are probably bigger fans than most and write such comments to do what Wally is know for doing: stirring things up. OXY!!!

Oh, and the writer said something about Wally’s obsession with Toby Mac (which is true yet incurable), and I think Wally’s motto should just be HUG A MAC (HAM for short) for many reasons:

1. He loves Toby Mac.

2. He loves his iPhone (made by Mac).

3. He is a radio-pimp-daddy (Radio Mac).

And the list could go on and on, but my oatmeal is getting cold. So, in closing, check out totalaxxess.com radio show if you want your world rocked for the good!!!

And be sure to check out some of my friend’s blog sites:

Deo’s Blog

and

Ashlee’s Blog

Keep dreamin’ …

The Queen sings…

Last night I enjoyed my birthday gift from Mademoiselle Mary: two tickets to see Sandi Patty at the Old Orchard Beach Pavilion. As some of you may know, I am a bit of a Sandi Patty freak (see here and here. Oh, and here.  And here.  And yes, here). I have all of her albums and one that she didn’t actually release and lots of “lost” recordings. She is my hobby.

I have loved her since forever, and have yet to meet her, a fact that I was determined to rectify. So, at 7 last night, Sabrina and I were in the second row, 10 feet from where Sandi would soon be singing. But first? First we got the opening act.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that this is a very nice gentleman and I understand that it is hard to be an opening act when the people in the audience came there for someone else. I get that. And he sounded nice and he played the guitar very well. All that to say: When he hit minute 11 of his song about a childhood friend that died crossing the street it was so absurd that Sabrina and I started “church giggling”. You know – when you try to stop the laughter from escaping and it just multiplies inside you, and you glance at your friend and she is doing the same thing and that makes it worse and you are shaking and hoping that the people around you think that you are having a seizure instead of laughing at this nice man? Yeah, that. So – sorry, guy!

Then, Sandi came out. She sang. I smiled. She sang for two hours. I smiled for two hours. She sang new songs and she sang old songs. She sang “Via Dolorosa” and “Make His Praise Glorious” and “We Shall Behold Him”.  She sang “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”. She sang “How Majestic Is Your Name” and “Let There Be Praise” and “In The Name of the Lord”. She sang “Praise To The Lord, the Almighty” and “Operator” and “Step Into The Joy”. She sang “My Tribute” and “Through It All”. She sang “Upon This Rock” and “Who Will Call Him King Of Kings?”. And she sang them all perfectly.

Sandi is the Queen of high notes. It peaked on her albums around the late eighties. After that, she didn’t go so high in her recordings, anymore. However. Let me tell you that it has not peaked when she sings live. She hits all of the high notes and then goes a fifth above them all. She sings notes that make angels weep. And, she has fun when she sings. She had a giant smile on her face and it is obvious that she loves what she does. As well she should.

So, after the amazing concert Sabrina and I waited by the stage for her to come out. A few minutes later she did, and I asked Anna (Sandi’s daughter and handler) for a picture. Sandi met a couple other people first, and then took a photo with me. I couldn’t get over how small she was, and I think I said “You’re so tiny!”. She said “Say it louder, Honey”. So I did. “Miss Sandi, You’re so tiny!”. She laughed. Then she said “It was so nice seeing your smiling face in the second row. You made my night.” And then she was gone, in a swirl of perfume and silk.

It was a perfect night.

Sandi’s Concert Slideshow 

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Since this is a relatively “anonymous” blog, if you want to see my picture with Sandi just email me, and I will send it on!

PS – Sabrina had me take a picture of her shoes, which are pretty awesome…

For this week’s Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs I’m, without further comment, providing a link to Sandi Patti Singing these favorites.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns; they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. 

As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. Matthew 27:27-50 (ESV)

Via Dolarosa & Old Rugged Cross
Preformed by Sandi Patti

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
The Man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem
Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus
Mas la gente se acercaba
Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz

Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via del dolor
Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Senor
Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor por ti y por mi
Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir

The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way through the heart of Jerusalem.

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

S

As one of the most highly acclaimed performers of our time, with 5 Grammy Awards, 4 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Platinum records, 5 Gold records, and 11 million units sold, Sandi is simply known as “the Voice.”  She recently debuted her first feature musical performance in “Sandi Patty’s Broadway” with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.  The sold out weekend run featured some of Broadway’s finest moments with the world’s finest voice. 

Sandi is the most awarded female vocalist in contemporary music history, with 39 Dove Awards. She was inducted to Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and an Indiana Living Legend in 2007.  And while her 30-year career is heavily rooted in the gospel music industry, Sandi has had the opportunity in more recent years to extend her career outside the genre.   

One of Sandi’s dreams has always been to perform on Broadway, but the commitment of raising her family of eight children always came first. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra offered best of both worlds with “Sandi Patty’s Broadway.”  The relationship with ISO began in 2000 when Sandi first served as featured headliner for the annual “Yuletide Celebration. “  Since then, she has been asked to reprise her role three times as the most requested headliner in “Yuletide Celebration” history. 

Sandi once again brought success in “Sandi Patty’s Broadway.”  The Broadway revue featured some of the most memorable songs from classic musicals such as “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Music Man,” and many others.  Sung as only Sandi can sing, a highlight of the second act occurs when Sandi sings a compilation of songs performed by great male Broadway leads.

“It was such fun for me to perform all of the songs that I grew up singing,” says Sandi.  “When I was a little girl, I always dreamed, as I sang along with my record player in my bedroom, that I was Julie Andrews or Barbara Streisand singing all of the Broadway classics.  My dream came true through ‘Sandi Patty’s Broadway.’”

When her rendition of The Star Spangled Banner was used during the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 and broadcast across America on ABC’s special “Liberty Weekend,” Sandi was introduced to the world.  Virtually overnight she became one of the country’s best-loved performers.  Her version of the National Anthem has become synomamous with patriotic celebration, with performances at “A Capitol Fourth” with the National Symphony, the Pan American Games, the Indianapolis 500, the Dedication of the Francis Scott Key Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Dedication of Camp David Chapel, and the ABC Fourth of July Special. 

Sandi has performed with symphonies across the country for over 10 years including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Dallas Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Houston Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and many more.  Her first Pops album, “An American Songbook,” was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and featured many favorites from her symphony performances.

In addition to her prolific musical career, Sandi is also an accomplished author.  She is the best-selling author of Broken on the Back Row, Life in the Blender, and Falling Forward.  Sandi received the 2006 Silver Angel Award for Broken on the Back Row.  Her fourth title, Layers, will be released in early 2008. 

“I am grateful for the many opportunities God has given in my life and for how he has allowed me to spread my wings,” says Sandi.  “Singing is my way to tell my story of hope, life, and love.”