The Blog

Dear Heaven Maker:
 
David Wood is a coach who’s taken on a tough subject…How To Have a Tough Conversation.
 
If you’re like me, you don’t enjoy the thought of having a tough conversation.  But I’ve also found that if done correctly a tough conversation can lead to a breakthrough in a relationship.
 
In this article David covers:
What IS a tough conversation?
What are some examples in business and work?
What’s the cost of avoiding that tough conversation?
Pitfalls to avoid!
HOW to actually have it. 

Dear Heaven Maker:
I was once asked to speak to a group called JAM (Jews and Muslims), at a university in Florida.  They asked me what my title would be and I instantly said:  “Heaven on Earth for The Middle East.”
The night before my talk, I was invited to dinner with the Board of Directors of JAM.  There was a Muslim and a Jewish co-president.  The Board was composed of both Muslims and Jews.  Everyone was chatting away, happy to be together.  I’d never seen anything like it.
The next day, I got to the room where I was speaking, early, and as people came in I spoke one on one to many of them.  The meeting was open to members of JAM and the general public.
I started my talk by asking how many people in the room thought there could be Heaven on Earth in The Middle East.
Some people put their hand up.

Dear Heaven Maker:
Project Heaven on Earth is the new story of what it means to be a human and what it means to be Humanity.  Humanity has to solve Humanity’s problems and Humanity has to provide opportunities for Humanity to blossom and thrive.
I’ve been looking at ways we can explore and deepen the experience of ‘Humanity.’  One way I’ve discovered is by exploring the legal concept of ‘Crimes Against Humanity.’  To find out more, I spoke with Dr. Johan D. van der Vyver, I.T. Cohen Professor of International Law & Human Rights, Emory University School of Law, in Atlanta, Georgia. This is what I learned.
In law, a territorial jurisdiction (a country) can only make laws affecting the people within its jurisdiction. Years ago, as the issue of sea piracy erupted there was a problem with this view. For example, a pirate ship from country A attacks a ship from country B at sea. Since the crime takes place on the high seas it is under the legal jurisdiction of no country. Piracy was the first major issue that the nations of the world agreed had to be under a new concept in law, Universal Jurisdiction. They agreed that any country could bring charges against the pirate ship. The rational was that it was a crime against the human race.  

Dear Heaven Maker:
About 15 years ago, I and a number of other people on Prince Edward Island, Canada, made this declaration: 
      Prince Edward Island is Canada’s First Heaven on Earth Province!
Since that time we’ve had many successes:
•  The Kiwanis Club of Charlottetown, PEI, has a Heaven on Earth Leadership Award open to any student.
•  A tea merchant has blended a Heaven on Earth Tea.
•  A cafe has a Heaven on Earth coffee.
•  A Jewelry store hands out the 3 Heaven on Earth questions with each purchase.
•  The PEI Business Women’s Association has had a seminar on Heaven on Earth.
•  A retreat center has had 4 one day Heaven on Earth workshops.
•  There is a Facebook Group.
•  I’ve made a video of all 4 Political Party leaders on the Island speaking about Heaven on Earth.

Heaven is not just a place for us to dwell after we pass away from this life. 
The essence of this eternal resting place can be experienced while we’re living and breathing. God has given us all unique gifts to bring heaven – the epicenter of pure joy – on Earth. 
There are a host of songs that romanticize the sentiment heaven on earth. But this more than a slow groove or pop tune on the radio dedicated to an endearing partner. 
Jesus taught us in The Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)  
He later said in Matthew 18:18 that “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 
What this means is, you and I don’t have to wait until we die to feel the majestic presence of heaven. All the blessings of God’s holy kingdom can be felt in the here-and-now. 
I embrace these words of being a change agent and co-creating elements of having heaven on Earth. 
Earlier this week, I was blessed to have a delightful conversation with acclaimed author and speaker, Martin Rutte. 
Throughout our 30-minute Zoom chat, I laughed, shouted and cried tears of joy. 

Dear Heaven Maker:
For decades we’ve been facing both a deteriorating environment and the threat of nuclear weapons. And, for over a year, we’ve also been facing a global pandemic. Each of these is a new kind of threat – each of these has the potential to wipe out humanity.
You, we, do have the ability to choose to turn humanity towards utopia. That’s one reason you, I, and many, many others all around the world are working on co-creating Heaven on Earth. Here’s another new group with a similar mission – The Fork in the Road Project. (I’m reprinting their manifesto below.)
The time for you to choose, the time for us to choose, has now arrived. We are at a fork in the road. Today, now, please choose the future your Soul longs for.
With love and thanks,
Martin