As I lay dying a voice said: ‘Let’s go’ (the near-death experience of a cynical prof)

Catholic Herald ^ | April 12, 2012 | Rory Fitzgerald

[nanetteclaret]

As Ben Franklin said, “BEER IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS US TO BE HAPPY!”

Although my favorite proof is:
“He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And WINE THAT MAKETH GLAD THE HEART OF MAN, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.” Psalm 104:14-15

[Springfield Reformer]

Actually, I suspect you do feel that way. Some study I heard of a long time ago purported to find that most of what is said in jest is in fact believed. The "performance art" is mere disguise. Interesting theory, eh?

[Lazamataz]

Actually, I suspect you do feel that way. Some study I heard of a long time ago purported to find that most of what is said in jest is in fact believed. The "performance art" is mere disguise. Interesting theory, eh?

OH GOD! NOW I AM FOUND OUT! BY A PSYCHOLOGIST WITH NO DEGREE WHO HAS NEVER MET ME!!!! OHHHHH, the humanity!

So what's it to ya either way, Sparky?

[Salvation]

As I lay dying a voice said: ‘Let’s go’ (the near-death experience of a cynical prof)
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Seeking Proof in Near-Death Claims (18 Hospitals to study mystery of near-death experiences)
Review of Life After Death: The Evidence
Who is the Being of Light Encountered in Near-Death Experiences
Doctor Claims He Has Evidence of the Afterlife
An Interview with Dinesh D’Souza on Life After Death: The Evidence
World's Largest-ever Study Of Near-Death Experiences

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You’ve been reading Douglas Adams again, haven’t you?

LoL

[Springfield Reformer]

“OH GOD! NOW I AM FOUND OUT! BY A PSYCHOLOGIST WITH NO DEGREE WHO HAS NEVER MET ME!!!! OHHHHH, the humanity!”

Hmmmmm, good, vigorous self-defense by humorous deflection. Now we’re getting somewhere... tell me more ...

“So what’s it to ya either way, Sparky?”

Well, it’s just that there really are people, some of them very close to me, who come under that same dark cloud from time to time, and I like to try and help them see God in a better light than that. It usually cheers them up. I’m just trying to give to them what God has given to me. Over my life I’ve given God plenty of really good reasons to hate me, yet he continues to come through for me when I need him most. I genuinely love him for that. That’s all there is in it for me. Honest.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Some study I heard of a long time ago purported to find that most of what is said in jest is in fact believed.

Wow! So, does this mean you really WOULD HIT Sandra Bernhard, Susan Estrich and Helen Thomas? So NOW we KNOW!

Laz and Helen sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G...

[Museum Twenty]

Hello, Finatic —

I hope you will find time to share your story more fully. I am certainly interested, and I’m sure others will be as well.

A Vanity Thread with your story would be most welcome, if you are willing to share. If so, pls ping me, as I would like to read it.

Thank you.

[Quix]

PRAISE GOD!

Folks who do not believe that God

IS

STILL IN THE BUSINESS OF MIRACLES

are . . . clueless and truly missing out on a LOT.

[Quix]

NOPE. HE LOVES YOU BEYOND MEASURE.

HE DIED FOR YOU . . . AS A BIG PART OF YOU KNOWS.

Been concerned about you.

Oh, He is crushing all of us that sweet wine might flow out instead of vinegar . . . but that’s a different project than you implied.

Please email me.

Or phone me.

LUB

[Quix]

Now I’m gonna have to try and dig out your phone number . . . talk about a needful miracle . . . Wheeee.

LUB BRO. SIGH.

[married21]

Nah. God appreciates your sense of humor.

[Lazamataz]

Okay, well, thanks, but if you are serious, you ought know I’m not. That will help you direct your efforts to people who might actually need it.

[thesearethetimes...]

Quix posted - “...that God is still in the business of miracles...”

Amen to that. And large or small, they are miracles, just the same.

May God guide our course.
Tatt

[Oatka]

One wonders whose God a Buddhist, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, other-than-Christian sees in these NDEs?

[GingisK]

...God truly hates me. He wants to squash me like a grape...

I know for a fact that is not true!

We're still overdue for a meetup of some sort. Alas, I have pefected procrastination.

[hope]

Maybe He is trying to get your attention...If God hated you and thought you were a lost cause, you’d be dead already...
God has every hair on your head counted....Who else would do that for you?

[Springfield Reformer]

“That will help you direct your efforts to people who might actually need it.”

One of the most dramatic prompts I ever got from God came at a time when I was absolutely sure I neither needed nor wanted it. Nevertheless, I get your message. I will leave you alone. Peace.

[Quix]

WHEW.

Welllllllll ya sure had me going there for a while.

I just think such a lot of you.

And have been down some similar paths as you describe.

[BTW, NYer, the Hippo video has a lot of Biblical richness in it. Thanks.]

For those who may truly be in such hard spaces . . . here’s some good Biblical food for thought:

RE RUMINATIONS OF DOUBTs e.g. about God’s Love, Salvation etc.

SUCH THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ARE SATAN’S SPECIAL STRATEGIES.

HE DELIGHTS IN USING THEM.

With me, he’s plagued me off and on with such stuff for most of my 65 years.

The best help FOR ANYONE seduced into a doubt-filled rummination cycle . . . that I know is to quote SCRIPTURE back at him.

Doubt was what satan used to trip Eve up in the first place—causing her to DOUBT WHAT GOD HAD SAID.

GO BACK TO HIS WORD. CONFESS IT. FEED ON IT. KEEP IT A FOCUS IN YOUR MIND AND RESIST THINKING ANY OF THE SATAN FOSTERED DOUBT-FILLED THOUGHTS.

TAKE EACH THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO CHRIST’S TRUTH. HIS WORD IS TRUTH AND LIFE. HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY & BE REPLACED. HIS WORD WILL STAND FOREVER.

These are Scriptures from Neil Anderson’s books via a fellow FREEPER . . . I think they are good to post on one’s fridge and near where one sits to review as needed and confess as needed.

LUB,

Note: the Scriptural truths below are also good to bolster one’s self with when facing any struggle, trial, challenge.

THIS IS WHO WE ARE

Who I Am In Christ

.
I am accepted...

.
John 1:12 I am God’s child.

.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.

.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.

.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.

.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.

.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

.
I am secure...

.
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.

.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.

.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.

.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.

.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.

.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

.
I am significant...

.
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.

.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God’s temple.

.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.

.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship.

.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

.
“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!”
(From Victory Over the Darkness , by Dr. Neil Anderson)

http://www.ficm.org/whoami.htm

WHO AM I?

I am the salt of the earth. Mat5:13

I am the light of the world in & through Christ Jesus. Mat:14

I am a child of God. John 1:12

I am a part of the True Vine and Christ’s life flows through me John 15:1,5

I am Christ’s friend. John 15:15

I have been chosen by Jesus to bear much fruit. John 15:16

I am Jesus’ personal witness sent out to tell everybody about Him. Acts 1:8

I am a slave to God, making me holy and giving me eternal life. Rom 6:18

I am a child of God. I can call Him my Father, Daddy. Rom 8:14, 15

I am an heir with Christ, inheriting His glory. Rom 8:17

I am a dwelling place for God. His Spirit and Life live in me. I Cor 3:16

I am forever joined in God and am one spirit with Him. I Cor 6:17

I am a new person in Christ Jesus. My past is forgiven and everything is new. 2 Cor 5:17

I am at peace with God and he has given me the work of helping others find peace with Him. 2 Cor 5:18, 19

I am a child of God and one with others who are members of His Family. Gal 3:26, 27

I am a child of God and will receive the inheritance which he promised. Gal 4:6, 7

I am a saint, a holy person. Col 1:2

I am a citizen of Heaven; seated in Heaven right now with Jesus. Eph 2:6

I am God’s building project, His handiwork, created in Christ to do His work. Eph 2:10

I am a prisoner of Christ so that I can help others. Eph 3:1, 4:1

I am righteous and holy Eph 4:24

I am hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:3

I am the expression of the life of Christ because He is my life Col 3:4

I am chosen of God to be holy and dearly loved. Col 3:12

I am a child of The Light and not of the darkness. 1 Thes 5:5

I am chosen to share in God’s Heavenly calling. Heb 3:1

I am part of Christ; I share in His Life. Heb 3:14

I am one of God’s Living Stones, being built-up in Christ as a house for God. 1 Pet 2:5

I am a member of the chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God. 1 Pet 2:9, 10

I am only a visitor to this world in which I temporarily live 1 Pet 2:11

I am an enemy of the devil. 1 Pet 5:8

I am a child of God, and I will be Christ’s when He returns. 1 John 3:1, 2

I am born again in Christ and the devil will never defeat me. 1 John 5:18

I am not the great “I AM” (Ex 3:14) but by the Grace of God, I am what I am. 1 Cor 15:10

SINCE I AM IN CHRIST, by the GRACE OF GOD:

I am now acceptable to God and completely forgiven. I live at peace with Him Rom 5:1

The sinful person I used to be died with Christ, and sin no longer rules my life. Rom 6:1-6

I am free from the punishment my sin deserves. Rom 8:1

I have been placed into Christ by God. 1 Cor 1:30

I have received God’s Spirit into my life. I can recognize the blessings He has given me. 1 Cor 2:12

I have been given the mind of Christ. He gives me wisdom to make the right choices. 1 Cor 2:16

I have been bought with a Price, I am not my own; I belong to God. 1 Cor 6:19, 20

I no longer live for myself; I live for God. 2 Cor 5:14, 15

I am God’s possession, chosen and secure in Him. I have been given the Holy Spirit as a promise of my inheritance. Eph 1:13, 14

I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Eph 1:3

I was chosen in Christ to be holy before the world was created. I am without blame before Him. Eph 1:4

I was chosen by God to be adopted as His child. Eph 1:5

I have been brought out of slavery to sin and forgiven. I have received His generous grace. Eph 1:7, 8

I have been made spiritually alive just as Christ is alive. Eph 2:5

I have been raised up and seated with Christ in Heaven. Eph 2:6

I have direct access to God through The Holy Spirit. Eph 2:18

I may approach God with confidence, boldness, and freedom. Eph 3:12

I have been rescued from the dark power of satan’s rule and have been brought into the Kingdom of Christ. Col 1:13

I have been forgiven all my sins and set free. The debt against me has been cancelled. Col 1:14

Christ Himself lives in me. Col 1:27

I am firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built-up in Him. Col 2:7

I am complete in Christ. Col 2:10

I am spiritually clean. My old sinful self has lost its power to rule my life. Col 2:11

I have been buried, raised and made alive with Christ Col 2:12, 13

I died with Christ and I have been raised up with Christ. My new life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now my life. Col 3:1-4

I have been given a spirit of power, love and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7

Because I am set apart and one with Christ. He is not ashamed to call me His brother or sister. Heb 2:11

I have been given great and valuable promises. God’s nature has become a part of me. 2 Pet 1:4

[EMAIL SIGNATURE LINE]:

MAY WE ALL BE READY TO MEET THE LORD AT ALL TIMES.

BELEIVE IN YOUR HEART AND CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD; THAT HE CAME IN THE FLESH AND THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD!!

AN EXCELLENT SOBERING SERMON BY UGANDAN PASTOR JOHN MULINDE about being sold out to Jesus and forsaking sin etc:

The meaty !WHAM! to him personally begins about 25 min into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4WSe5tK_2Y

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

!ABSOLUTELY INDEED!