Nance lent this book to me. She was a little hesitant because she wishes your life could have been spared like Don Piper's but after reading the whole book, I told her that God has a different plan for everyone and I am glad He spared you all that pain and suffering. The description of heaven is amazing. I'll be back later with notes once I start re-reading the book. Love you!
I'm back-this pastor was in a terrible head-on collision in 1989 with a semi truck and was actually pronounced dead at the scene. He said he went right to heaven after he died. Another pastor came on the scene and asked to pray for him. Ninety minutes after he had been pronounced dead, this man returned to earth.
(I like including any Bible verses)
Chapter 1 The Accident
Hebrews 13:6: That is why we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
"I have no recollection of the impact or anything that happened afterward." (Thankful to hear that, hopefully you didn't either)
Chapter 2 My Time in Heaven
Genesis 28:17: He was afraid and said, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.'"
"I am here, I am alive, and it's because God's purposes have not yet been fulfilled in my life. When God is finished with me, I'll return to the place I yearn to be. I have made my final reservation for heaven and I'm going back someday--permanently."
"Simultaneous with my last recollection of seeing the bridge and the rain, a light enveloped me, with a brilliance beyond earthly comprehension. Only that. In my next moment of awareness, I was standing in heaven."
Instead of quoting his description of heaven, I will take notes on what he said:
-felt joy, in a large crowd of people, standing in front of a brilliant, ornate gate
-saw people he had known (he knew instantly that all of them had died during his lifetime, their presence seemed natural)
-he knew they were his celestial welcoming committee
-first person he saw was his grandfather, couldn't get past the joy of reunion, how either of them reached heaven was irrelevant
-"Never had I felt more loved"
-saw a friend of his from high school (Mike) who had been killed in a car accident at 19,he had been very upset at the time and over the years, his pain and grief vanished when he saw him
-"Never had I seen Mike smile so brightly"
-each person had influenced his life in some way even though they hadn't met on earth
-"Heaven was many things, but without a doubt, it was the greatest family reunion of all"
-felt like he was in another dimension, had never felt so fully alive
-knew they had been waiting for and expecting him
-wasn't conscious of anything he'd left behind and felt no regrets about leaving family or possessions
-sensed that age has no meaning in heaven
-started approaching a light that grew brighter with every step
Chapter 3 Heavenly Music
Revelation 5:11: Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and elders.
(I'm glad that Nance got to read all of these Bible verses as she read the book)
-holy swoosh of wings, magnified thousands of times
-like a song that goes on forever
-seemed like he was part of the music
-senses so engaged
-sound of angels' wings
-hundreds of songs being sung at the same time all worshiping God but every song blended
-none of hymns were about Jesus' sacrifice or death, all were praises
-cherished the sounds the most
"I was home; I was where I belonged. I wanted to be there more than I had ever wanted to be anywhere on earth. Time had slipped away, and I was simply present in heaven. All worries, anxieties, and concerns vanished. I had no needs, and I felt perfect."
-frustrated describing heaven because hard to put into words
-never actually saw God
"My feeling has been that once we're actually in God's presence, we will never return to earth again, because it will be empty and meaningless by comparison."
Chapter 4 From Heaven to Earth
Psalm 23:4: Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
-had been declared dead because they couldn't find a pulse
-damage to legs and left arm
-EMTS knew he must have sustained massive head injuries
-God spoke to other pastor at the scene to pray for the deceased man, prayed specifically that he would be delivered from unseen injuries
-man came alive
Chapter 5 Earth to Hospital
Hebrews 11:16: But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.
-in shock so didn't feel any pain yet (I am so glad you didn't have to feel any of that pain, sweet boy!)
Chapter 6 The Recovery Begins
1 John 5:14-15: And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening to us when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.
"I believe there are no accidents or surprises with God."
-accident affected none of his internal organs (just like you except God preserved those for organ donation)
-knew that many people didn't leave the ICU alive
Chapter 7 Decisions and Challenges
Romans 8:35-36: Can anyone ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? (Even the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are being killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.")
-we kept trying to figure out why you died and this man kept trying to figure out why God sent him back to earth to endure so much physical suffering
Chapter 8 Pain and Adjustments
Isaiah 41:10: Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
-he lived in depression (reasons-natural result of trauma to his body, reaction to drugs, faced an unknown outcome and the pain never let up)
-he wanted to go back to heaven
-he preferred to die
-didn't want to share visit to heaven with anyone
My note: God didn't want to put you through that intense pain and mental suffering, sweet boy. You were too young to have to deal with that. There are some things worse than death. God spared you all of that. Praise His Holy Name!
Chapter 9 Endless Adjustments
Proverbs 17:17: A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God.
Chapter 10 More Miracles
Psalm 34:1-4: I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are discouraged take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
freeing me from all my fears.
"My struggle is that I had experienced the glory and majesty of heaven only to return to earth."
(God let you stay, sweet boy!)
Chapter 11 Back to Church
1 Peter 5:6-7: So humble yourselves under the might power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.
"In some respects, this ordeal was more difficult for my family and friends than it was for me."
Chapter 12 Opening Up
2 Corinthians 5:1-4: For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down--when we die and leave these bodies--we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life.
"'Why do you think you experienced heaven if you're not supposed to share it?'"
-was selfish to keep it to himself
Four things stand out from his heavenly journey:
(1) God answers prayer
(2) God is still in the miracle business
(3) He wants as many people as possible to go to heaven
(4) Feel an urgency about helping people open their lives so they can be assured that's where they'll go when they die (doesn't want to see others die without Jesus Christ/knows how quickly death can happen)
Chapter 13 The Clasping Hand
Deuteronomy 10:21: He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourself have seen.
realized that angel was holding his hand in car, not the pastor who was praying for him
Chapter 14 The New Normal
Jeremiah 30:17: I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, says the Lord. Now you are called an outcast--'Jerusalem for whom nobody cares.'"
realized that he couldn't recapture the past, not all of it was good anyway
"That's exactly what I need--not mourning, pining, and going back over the way things used to be or what I used to have that I don't have anymore. Instead, I need to discover what I have now, not only to celebrate but also to recognize I'm not helpless."
Chapter 15 Touching Lives
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
Chapter 16 Finding Purpose
Philippians 1:25: I am convinced of this, so I will continue with you so that you will grow and experience the joy of your faith.
"'Can you lose someone if you know where she is?'"
Chapter 17 Longing for Home
Colossians 1:5: You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven--as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
"Without the slightest doubt, I know heaven is real. It's more real than anything I've ever experienced in my life."
John 14:2-3: In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Heaven is a literal place
-on his welcoming committee: "They're still at the gate. They're waiting. For them, time is not passing. Everything is in the eternal now--even I can't put that into words. Even if ten more years pass, or thirty, in heaven it will be only an instant before I'm back there again."
"There's nothing to fear--only joy to experience."
"'It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.' I know it will."
Chapter 18 The Why Questions
1 Corinthians 13:12: Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
-this man's father-in-law had a problem with him being ok with leaving his wife and kids behind. Here is his response: "Being separated from them had never crossed my mind while I was in heaven. People in heaven simply don't have an awareness of who is not there. They do know who is coming."
"I still don't know why such things happen. I do know God is with me in the darkest moments of life."
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