-Is there really life after death?
-Is God real?
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Is there really life after death?
A great series by Chip Ingram....
-Is there really life after death?
-Is God real?
-Is there really life after death?
-Is God real?
Monday, October 8, 2012
What happens at the end of this life?
What happens at the end of this life?
It always confuses me when reading articles about what happens when a person dies or when non-believers try to make sense out of what happens at the end of one's life.
Basically, one stops being hungry and thirsty, get very sleepy, breathing changes, swelling can occur, and also what 'experts' label "Mental confusion or disorientation". They say the person may not be aware of where he or she is or who else is in the room, may speak or reply less often, may respond to people who can't be seen in the room by others, may seem to say nonsensical things, or may be confused about time.
In trying to explain it, the non-believing community say the dying person speaks in metaphors such as this:
"On the day she died, my mom kept talking about traveling, like, 'Let's go, what are we waiting for . . . oh, there's a plane ahead of us . . . no, that's not the right plane.' She also told my dad that he should take a later flight. She was definitely going someplace." -- Patricia Anderson, 45-year-old Ohio insurance account executive
They use symbolic language such as talking about traveling, or getting ready in such ways as packing and traveling. They think that this talk of journey-making is a subconscious way dying people let family members know they know they're passing away.
The non-believing community also talk about how peaceful the person seems after death.
"She opened her eyes, and the house grew quiet. Her face softened and all the wrinkles and tension went away. Later the hospice nurse recommended that I not watch them take the body out because it had stiffened, and I appreciated that because now I can remember the relaxed mother I saw last." -- Aoife, a northern California designer
"I'd never been in the room with a dead person before. But I had a strong sense that body wasn't my father any more. It felt like he had up and left the room; it was terribly sad but also strangely peaceful." -- Frances, account executive
Others talk of seeing already-passed loved ones.
is it really that hard to make the jump that maybe… just maybe… there is a heaven?
Even well documented "near death experiences" indicate that there IS something more. And it's not just a chemical reaction.
It always confuses me when reading articles about what happens when a person dies or when non-believers try to make sense out of what happens at the end of one's life.
Basically, one stops being hungry and thirsty, get very sleepy, breathing changes, swelling can occur, and also what 'experts' label "Mental confusion or disorientation". They say the person may not be aware of where he or she is or who else is in the room, may speak or reply less often, may respond to people who can't be seen in the room by others, may seem to say nonsensical things, or may be confused about time.
In trying to explain it, the non-believing community say the dying person speaks in metaphors such as this:
"On the day she died, my mom kept talking about traveling, like, 'Let's go, what are we waiting for . . . oh, there's a plane ahead of us . . . no, that's not the right plane.' She also told my dad that he should take a later flight. She was definitely going someplace." -- Patricia Anderson, 45-year-old Ohio insurance account executive
They use symbolic language such as talking about traveling, or getting ready in such ways as packing and traveling. They think that this talk of journey-making is a subconscious way dying people let family members know they know they're passing away.
The non-believing community also talk about how peaceful the person seems after death.
"She opened her eyes, and the house grew quiet. Her face softened and all the wrinkles and tension went away. Later the hospice nurse recommended that I not watch them take the body out because it had stiffened, and I appreciated that because now I can remember the relaxed mother I saw last." -- Aoife, a northern California designer
"I'd never been in the room with a dead person before. But I had a strong sense that body wasn't my father any more. It felt like he had up and left the room; it was terribly sad but also strangely peaceful." -- Frances, account executive
Others talk of seeing already-passed loved ones.
is it really that hard to make the jump that maybe… just maybe… there is a heaven?
Even well documented "near death experiences" indicate that there IS something more. And it's not just a chemical reaction.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
How are you leaving your mark on the world?
YOU were created to leave your mark on this world in some way... only you have your special unique set of talents. How you use them is up to you. God gave you these talents, and will (or in some cases... has) opened doors up for you. How are you going to use them? What are you going to be remembered for?
How are you leaving your mark on the world?
How are you leaving your mark on the world?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Some words of wisdom from a buddy of mine...
Jon's a friend of mine. He had a great post recently:
http://jonsteingard.tumblr.com/post/15237149765/jesus-and-music?ref=nf
http://jonsteingard.tumblr.com/post/15237149765/jesus-and-music?ref=nf
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thank God I'm not the one...
A later Merry Christmas to all!
But why would Christmas be merry at all? Why in the world should we celebrate it as any sort of religious holiday? I mean.. it's been historically proven that the birth of Jesus didn't actually happen on December 25... right? What's the big deal?
The 'big deal' is that even though the date may not be exact... it's a celebration. It's a celebration of a birth of a man, a man who God gave us as his Son, to do a few things. First and foremost, he died for our sins. He did tons and tons of miracles and was completely sinless his entire life.
Even then... what should we care? What's the big deal?
Prior to this, people believed they had to do all kinds of crazy things in order to "get to heaven". Jesus came back to show us HOW to try to live our lives, but to also acknowledge that well.. there is no way that any of us are going to be able to do it. But the idea was that he was going to show us how to try.
As i've posted before... yes, I'm a Christian, and I have Christian friends, Jewish friends, Muslim friends, and athiest friends. ALL of us basically suck. I mean - many times we mean well... you know, try to be nice here and there. we might even go to church on Christmas Eve and Easter... or even every Sunday and Wednesday.
God knew there was no way we'd ever be able to be sinless and live a perfect life, so Jesus came down here to take all of our selfishness... all of our hatefulness... all of our greed... our meanness.. he took it upon himself so that we would be able to be near God in heaven. You see... God is like light. You can't have absolute light and absolute dark together. It's one or the other. There is either existence of light (at least in some small way) or complete darkness. It's not that God wants us to suffer, he doesn't - it's more like a 'law of gravity"... it's just the way it works.
How could You walk when You went down that dusty street
How could You speak when all your friends checked out
How could You love after the great betrayal
How could You reach out when they nailed You down
[Chorus:]
True as true can be
That's what they say You are to me when I'm so fake
Does Your heart ache
If I had been the one I would not have been that strong
If I had been the one, yeah, I'd have been long gone
How could You hang on with Your mama crying
How could You keep on breathing in and out
How could You watch while Your whole world was dying
Did it all happen cause we let You down
[Repeat Chorus]
And all the things we think of as eternal would come undone
All I have to say is when I'm praying
Is "Thank God I'm not the One"
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/i-wish-we-all-could-win/id171716385
Despite all of this... all of the videos and song lyrics. Whether you believe or don't believe. Whether you just wonder if this is all BS or not - why wonder? If you REALLY want to know, just ask God. Just pray a simple prayer... in private.
"God, I'm not sure if I believe or not. If you are real, I'd like to know that you are. Please reveal yourself to me.
Then continue on with life. Most likely... you aren't going to hear a loud voice in the sky or anything like that. It's possible it could even be months later. For some, even years. Just pray that, and wait. And when a very odd string of coincidences happen... ask God "Is that you?" And pray the same thing again. What can it hurt? What's the worst that can happen?
But why would Christmas be merry at all? Why in the world should we celebrate it as any sort of religious holiday? I mean.. it's been historically proven that the birth of Jesus didn't actually happen on December 25... right? What's the big deal?
The 'big deal' is that even though the date may not be exact... it's a celebration. It's a celebration of a birth of a man, a man who God gave us as his Son, to do a few things. First and foremost, he died for our sins. He did tons and tons of miracles and was completely sinless his entire life.
Even then... what should we care? What's the big deal?
Prior to this, people believed they had to do all kinds of crazy things in order to "get to heaven". Jesus came back to show us HOW to try to live our lives, but to also acknowledge that well.. there is no way that any of us are going to be able to do it. But the idea was that he was going to show us how to try.
As i've posted before... yes, I'm a Christian, and I have Christian friends, Jewish friends, Muslim friends, and athiest friends. ALL of us basically suck. I mean - many times we mean well... you know, try to be nice here and there. we might even go to church on Christmas Eve and Easter... or even every Sunday and Wednesday.
God knew there was no way we'd ever be able to be sinless and live a perfect life, so Jesus came down here to take all of our selfishness... all of our hatefulness... all of our greed... our meanness.. he took it upon himself so that we would be able to be near God in heaven. You see... God is like light. You can't have absolute light and absolute dark together. It's one or the other. There is either existence of light (at least in some small way) or complete darkness. It's not that God wants us to suffer, he doesn't - it's more like a 'law of gravity"... it's just the way it works.
How could You walk when You went down that dusty street
How could You speak when all your friends checked out
How could You love after the great betrayal
How could You reach out when they nailed You down
[Chorus:]
True as true can be
That's what they say You are to me when I'm so fake
Does Your heart ache
If I had been the one I would not have been that strong
If I had been the one, yeah, I'd have been long gone
How could You hang on with Your mama crying
How could You keep on breathing in and out
How could You watch while Your whole world was dying
Did it all happen cause we let You down
[Repeat Chorus]
And all the things we think of as eternal would come undone
All I have to say is when I'm praying
Is "Thank God I'm not the One"
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/i-wish-we-all-could-win/id171716385
Despite all of this... all of the videos and song lyrics. Whether you believe or don't believe. Whether you just wonder if this is all BS or not - why wonder? If you REALLY want to know, just ask God. Just pray a simple prayer... in private.
"God, I'm not sure if I believe or not. If you are real, I'd like to know that you are. Please reveal yourself to me.
Then continue on with life. Most likely... you aren't going to hear a loud voice in the sky or anything like that. It's possible it could even be months later. For some, even years. Just pray that, and wait. And when a very odd string of coincidences happen... ask God "Is that you?" And pray the same thing again. What can it hurt? What's the worst that can happen?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wow! A year has gone by....
Can't believe a year has gone by and I haven't written anything on here!!!! The year flew by.
I have had some comments and emails asking me why I haven't posted lately... truth is generally I post something when I feel led, or inspired to. My personal "walk" has taken alot of turns, dips, hills and valleys, but I do feel more connected to God recently than I have in the former months. I've spent more time in prayer lately than I was and over the past couple months have spent alot of my "free" time (what little there has been!) to do quite a bit of extensive research...over different religions, different ideas, different ways of thinking and what leads someone to believe or not believe.
That doesn't mean than I'm "converting" to a different religion or anything like that. But I DO feel like each of us is called to learn more, try to discover God more, and try to find what God wants for our lives more... to never be stagnate. To never stop improving.
I have had some comments and emails asking me why I haven't posted lately... truth is generally I post something when I feel led, or inspired to. My personal "walk" has taken alot of turns, dips, hills and valleys, but I do feel more connected to God recently than I have in the former months. I've spent more time in prayer lately than I was and over the past couple months have spent alot of my "free" time (what little there has been!) to do quite a bit of extensive research...over different religions, different ideas, different ways of thinking and what leads someone to believe or not believe.
That doesn't mean than I'm "converting" to a different religion or anything like that. But I DO feel like each of us is called to learn more, try to discover God more, and try to find what God wants for our lives more... to never be stagnate. To never stop improving.
Friday, November 5, 2010
I'm where I'm supposed to be... and so are you!
In life we tend to go through things and think "WHY do I have to go through this?? This is painful!!"
Truth is, like a father telling a child "no, you can't have candy before dinner is ready", God is the same way. You are going through that 'thing' and I'm going through things I'm going through for a reason. It's not a punishment. You (and I) are in the process of learning something.
You'll thank Him later ;)
Truth is, like a father telling a child "no, you can't have candy before dinner is ready", God is the same way. You are going through that 'thing' and I'm going through things I'm going through for a reason. It's not a punishment. You (and I) are in the process of learning something.
You'll thank Him later ;)
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