Here is a preview of our song, Come Lord Jesus which will appear on our new album Reflect Love (currently in production):
The inspiration behind Come Lord Jesus came as I was reading a book by C.S. Lewis called the “Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” to my five year old daughter. C.S. Lewis wrote this book as an allegory for the Gospel. There is a white witch who had kept Narnia under her spell for a hundred long years. It was always winter and never Christmas. Everyone suffered under her rule and everyone who opposed her was turned to stone.
Then Aslan, the Creator of Narnia and the Christ figure, returns to Narnia. The white witch loses her power. Everything thaws and Spring comes in a single day. The birds are singing, trees and flowers are blooming. It is beautiful!
As I read that, a thrill came to my heart. I thought about the day when Jesus will come back to this world he created. The devil will lose his power and my prayer is that our hearts, which the devil has kept frozen, untrusting, and suspicious of the true nature of Jesus, will thaw at his return!
This is also what happens to anyone who comes to the Lord. Spring comes into their heart. All your life previous to knowing Christ was the longest, hardest, most brutal winter you’ll ever know and then you meet Jesus. Spring has come at long last!
The first century church had an Aramaic word they used to greet each other: “Maranatha”, which means, “Our Lord is coming” or “Come Oh Lord”.
Jesus is returning soon!
Lyrics:
Come Lord Jesus
The winters passing on and spring has
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
Our hearts are thawing ever drawing
Near to you Lord Jesus
Fill our hearts with love and beauty
Fill our lives now, Holy Sprit
The trees are reaching for Yeshua,
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
The birds are singing Hallelujah,
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
Fill our hearts with love and beauty
Fill our lives now Holy Sprit
Fill our hearts with love and beauty
Fill our lives now, Holy Sprit
Spring rain is falling down,
Spring rain is washing out,
All the filth, all the things we could do without
All the pain all the stains you are cleansing out
All the filth, all the things we could do without
All the shame all the stains you are cleansing out…
(Instrumental)
Come Lord Jesus, Come Lord Jesus
Come Lord Jesus, Come Lord Jesus
The winters passing on and spring has
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
Our hearts are thawing ever drawing
Near to you Lord Jesus
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
Come, come, come Lord Jesus
A few extra details about this song: I wrote the music for the song after a concert one day at a nursing home. It was first recorded on a smart phone the first day of Spring as I played it for Daniel Bettters, a man of God who was on his way to be with Jesus. He passed on into the next life that day and I later played this very song at his funeral. They had called the memorial service a “celebration of life”. And it most certainly was! I was delighted to hear all the amazing stories of this man of profound faith and love for Jesus. I was so excited and glad to have been there to hear of his walk to remember!
Another detail about the song is that is recorded in the Solfeggio key relating to the frequency 528 Hz – the “love frequency”. Why did I do this, well its just a way to remind us to raise our frequency to love… oh yea, and apparently it might just repair our DNA as well! =) Jesus would tell each one of us, “Love the person you are with in the moment.” This is how we will change the world.
ps. Because we love you we are offering our album, I Will Bring You Peace for a free download at our website: www.reflectworship.com
In the last blog post I explored teleportation in Scripture. We looked at how it has happened on many occasions throughout Scripture by the Spirit of God and, if you choose to believe the reports of believers who have experienced it, teleportation continues to happen today at (I believe) an ever increasing rate!
“Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4:6-11 NLT
So the devil teleports Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and tempts him to test God by jumping off. Apparently this is a very real temptation for him? And then the devil teleports him to the peak of a very high mountain and gives him supernatural vision to see all the kingdoms of the world. Worship me, he says, and it’s all yours. He was tempting Jesus to circumvent the cross. As if to say, you don’t have to suffer and die to reclaim this lost world, just worship me.
Jesus responded to the attack both times with Scripture (as the Father gave to him in that moment).
It’s SO important to know God’s Word if we are to survive the testing of the enemy (the written word of Scripture AND knowing the Living Word which is Jesus himself!) I encourage you, as I have many times before in my blog, to be a good “Berean”:
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB
Receive the word with great eagerness, search out the Scriptures for yourself!
Have you ever considered that when Moses was sent to rescue Israel from Egypt that for many of the miracles that Moses did, the Egyptian sorcerers could do the same? See Exodus 7!
Aaron, Moses brother, threw down his staff and it became a serpent. The sorcerers threw down their staffs and they became serpents. Somehow it wasn’t all that persuasive to them that Aaron’s snake then ate theirs? The ultimate showdown of power moves begins.
Moses and Aaron use the same staff to turn the waters of the Nile into blood. But, the Egyptian magicians then turned water into blood also. Next a plague of frogs, “But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic” (Exodus 8:7).
But listen to what happens next:
“When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats. 18 Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike.
19 “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.” Exodus 8:17-19
From then on, the sorcerers could not do as Moses did and when the plague of festering boils came:
“Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.” Exodus 9:11-12
In the end times Jesus warns that the Antichrist and his false prophet will perform great miracles to deceive if possible even the elect.
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25″Behold, I have told you in advance.” Matthew 24:24
So… my point in sharing this is to say that a show of power isn’t everything and to alert you to the fact that we ought not to simply be searching for power. The devil can offer you a measure of that. We ought to be searching for the person of God Himself and to be endued with his power to turn the world upside down as the apostles did in the first century for God’s kingdom of love.
The Scripture predicts that people in the last days will have a form of godliness but deny it’s power. I don’t want that to be me. I don’t want that to be you.
How do we foster and protect a childlike heart that receives the things (or power) of God? How do we continue to walk in faith and freedom and the power of God?
This is your inheritance as a child of God and his promise to you, see Joel 2 below – Which has found its ongoing fulfillment since Acts 2:
The Lord’s Promise of His Spirit
28 “Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.
30 And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red( of course we don’t see this kind of thing happening do we?)
before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.
32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved,
for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape,
just as the Lord has said.
These will be among the survivors
whom the Lord has called. Joel 2:28-29 NASB
I urge you, as the apostle Paul does, to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (but most of all Love – PLEASE read 1 Corinthians 13!) in your walk with God just as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:
“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. 5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy…”
I was blessed years ago to read these angel’s words in regard to prophecy:
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 NASB
Or, “For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” NLT
It’s all about Jesus! HE is everything!
“God is love… in whom we live and move and have our being.” (from 1 Jn 4 & Acts 17)
My position is this:
“For the believer, there is not more than Jesus to discover and experience, BUT, there is more OF Jesus to discover and experience!”
Now, I must admit, I got just the tiniest bit of flak for my post on teleportation and spirit travel. I can understand why this would freak people out.
When I was exploring visions in Scripture I was seeing that sometimes their spirits were leaving their body! Many would call this “astral projection” (I have no history, as some of my readers might, that would cause that word to be a negative trigger – I mentioned it once which I will refrain from using from now on. I realize now that it is needlessly provocative. I am SO sorry for my carelessness and recklessness of some of my wording.)
So when I was teaching people to prepare their hearts and minds for a vision from the Lord Jesus, I was strongly suggesting – and kind of geeking out over the fact – that this just might mean you have an out-of-body experience! And to realize that as you seek the Lord it’s ok and not automatically “from the devil” if that were to happen!
“Oh no! Daniel is teaching people how to astral project!”
That’s what some likely heard. But, that was not my intent at all. This is what the Bible actually says happened to so many saints and prophets and apostles! (Ezekiel, Paul, and John)
What a sad state the church would be in if it were to reject and judge people for believing the Bible! Thank God that isn’t the case! Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought that most people (even other believers) will find what you had just read as simply unacceptable? Sometimes we can’t wrap our minds around the reality what the Bible is actually saying. This has been true about me for most of my Christian life until the Lord started to open my eyes.
God has made me to be an writer. I know that. He has gifted me in this and in my desires and interests in the supernatural as well. I am glad for who he made me! I am happy to be who I am! I feel his smile and favor upon me. He has made me confident in my relationship – my friendship – with him. If you want to know how to arrive at that place of confidence I would be delighted to share my journey with you! Much of that journey is captured right here in this seven-year long blog.
I didn’t give myself my first life altering vision. I wasn’t seeking a vision. I was just seeking and loving Jesus, fresh back from a life of backsliding and going the devils way. The visions (and mostly dreams – night visions) have helped me immensely along the way however and so I don’t belittle them as some do and I don’t believe it’s wrong to seek them. I think we need to. I often ask for dreams from God and that I would remember them.
It is hard being here on this planet. The Lord is the master at striking a balance between keeping you grounded and present for your mission here AND giving you just enough of heaven along the way to keep the smile always on your face. I was beaming yesterday as this thought crossed my mind.
At the age of eighteen I came back to Jesus because he gave me a dream and showed me my life in five or so years time. The corruption and pain from remaining on the devils path that I saw was too great to bear and so I called up my mom who had been praying for me and asked to go to church with her!
God used a dream/vision of my future to bring me back to himself! Six months later I had an extraordinary supernatural experience with the Lord. It seemed to me that he took my spirit on a time travel. At least that’s my geeky way of interpreting what I experienced. The experiences of and with the Lord continue and I’m SO thankful for each and every one!
Stay tuned. Keep seeking Jesus with all your heart! Stay immersed in His Word and in fellowship and in prayer! And be free!
Teleporting. Spirit Travel. Translation by faith. Trans-relocation. Bilocation. Isn’t this just the stuff of science fiction?
Below is an interview I conducted with Dr Bruce Allen about this phenomenon including some personal testimony of Dr Bruce Allen and some really amazing things he has received from Jesus on this topic:
Well, you might be surprised to learn that teleporting and spirit travel is throughout the Bible and is an ability that God has and will still sometimes employ for those in service of the King, Yehoshua (aka Jesus)… and sometimes maybe just for fun! God is a Happy and fun-loving God!
I came to soon realize after exploring this topic that this is apparently a controversial subject among Christians and some react quite negatively toward this idea of being able to travel through space (and time!) either as a spirit or even in a physical body. I thought I would just share what the Holy Scriptures have to say on the subject to alleviate the fears and concerns that some may have about this topic of Teleportation and Spirit travel. I expect that even the most staunchly conservative people of faith will have to submit to God’s Word on this one?
We will explore in this blog how the prophets, saints, and the apostles experienced spirit travel and teleporting and how this just might become your experience as well as you grow in fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
There are numerous places in Scripture where we see people being teleported or translated while others travel great distances as a spirit in what I like to refer to as “Spirit travel”. The apostle Paul didn’t know whether he was in the body or in the spirit on some of his spiritual adventures. This is often what is meant by “visions” in the Scripture – you go into the spirit realm and are shown spiritual truths in wild dreamlike pictures, ever read the book of Revelation? (These prophetic visions must be tested by the standard for all truth! God’s holy Word!). Visions are to be expected among all of humanity really and most especially by his children:
“It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
“Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:28-29 NASB
“Those days” were initiated when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost. (See Acts 2)
It was Jesus who said, “With God all things are possible for those who believe.” Teleporting and spirit travel are just some of those “things” possible through faith by the Spirit of God. There is no limit to what God can do!
I am aware that this sort of thing isn’t on most Christians radar at all, and if they have heard of it they will likely reject it outright without a second thought and label it “new age” or some such nonsense. This seems to be what most people do when they are afraid. But will we wrestle through the Word to see if these things are so, like the Bereans did?
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB
Let’s dive in and see for ourselves what the Scripture has to say:
Scriptures on Teleportation:
The following Scripture gives us clues that Elijah likely had experienced teleportation:
“ As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. 11 And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ 12 It will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where I do not know; so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth.”
So, does this prove that Elijah had teleported? Well, Obadiah, the man speaking here, believed that Elijah could be or had been carried away by the Spirit (teleported). Interestingly I had heard of a story of this very thing happening to a Christian leader in the church in China.
Here is a very clear account that Jesus teleported with his disciples:
“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; [my footnote says, or: “The I AM is here”] do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”
So the boat immediately arrives at the destination when Jesus entered the boat. They were only three to four miles across an eight mile wide lake. Pretty wild!
Here is another clear example of Philip the Evangelist teleporting:
“And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.”
This is by far one of the most clear passages about teleportation. Philip, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is translated by the Spirit thirty miles North. I see absolutely no reason that anyone who is full of faith and the Holy Spirit, would not at some point possibly experience the same. Do you?
God didn’t have to spare Philip the thirty mile walk. Perhaps he did this just for the sheer fun of it? How playful and fun is God with his kids? My experience tells me it’s a great deal more than we think.
I find it baffling that people can accept that Philip was teleported, but that it could not happen today? Instead I know that signs and wonders and miracles and supernatural experiences of God will only increase in the end times. God is still pouring out His Spirit on all mankind (Acts 2) and I choose to believe what Jesus says to those who follow him:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
As citizens of both heaven and earth we can do as the Lord Jesus says and “come in and go out ands find good pasture.”
Jesus says in John 3:13 “No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man (Some manuscripts add here: who lives in heaven.) has come down from heaven.”
I don’t believe I am out of line to think that the phrase, “who lives in heaven” is legitimate. It appeared in some manuscripts for a reason. Jesus lived simultaneously in heaven and on earth at the same time. Those who have entered through the narrow gate of Jesus Christ into the Kingdom now live in both realms as well. Up until that time, Jesus revealed that no one had ever gone into heaven and returned. How things have changed since then!
The Apostle Paul records a trip into Paradise:
“… I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!”
Paul is humbly referring to himself in the third person here. He talks of visiting Paradise and hearing inexpressible words. Was he in his body or out of it? He didn’t know.
To keep Paul humble, the Lord allowed a messenger of Satan to torment him! Paul goes on to say he pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it. Christ’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Scriptures on “Spirit Travel”
“But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?””
Elisha was “there in spirit” keeping an eye on Gehazi his servant. The truth is, If the consciousness of God is everywhere, and we are One with him as Jesus declares in John 14:20, then it stands to reason that we are everywhere as well. Our conscious Divine observation point can literally be moved to anywhere God is. I remember once texting a friend: “Why don’t you pick up a visiting application for me while you’re there.” Little did I know that he was at that very moment at the jail getting a visitor application form.
Here is an account of Ezekiel spirit traveling:
“It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell on me there. Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there.”
Ezekiel is lifted up into the sky by the Spirit and transported to Jerusalem in a vision from God and was taken to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the Temple. He is taken on a journey of about 500 miles as the crow flies from Babylon to Jerusalem. In the phrase “visions from God” indicates to me that he is in a spiritual form but taken to to a very real physical place, the temple. I see this as spirit travel. What do you think?
He is shown the idolatry that is persisting in Jerusalem and thus the cause for the coming judgement.
I wonder if any of us would be up for such a vision. To be shown the sin of America and all the detestable things that America has done and the cause for its coming judgement. What if you or I were to be called upon to deliver the kinds of messages the prophets did? Visions are certainly not just fun and games. It is truly sobering that we live among such sin and in an evil culture all around us.
Aren’t you the least bit curious to know what God might speak or show to you? Would you be willing to experience what Ezekiel did? He was called upon to do some downright uncomfortable things as a prophet, like lay on one side for over a year without moving having the same meal every day cooked over dung (the Lord had first told him human dung but Ezekiel talked him into using cow dung). If you want to know why, then read Ezekiel!
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.”
So here John is in the Spirit in heaven itself witnessing One sitting on the throne in glory. Wow! Interestingly the Shema Yisrael says, “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is One”. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” and then Jesus himself invites us into this “oneness” with God!
“In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on that same day the hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. 2 In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was a structure like a city. 3 So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. 4 The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”
The above Scriptures are just some of the examples of a book (the Bible) that is entirely crammed full of supernatural experiences of God! Dreams and visions and miracles abound! I suppose I like to geek out over what visions exactly are. A vision is happening in the spirit realm and might just involve a trip outside of your physical body (Out of Body Experience). I ask myself what would that be like, to be taken out of your body like Ezekiel was by the Spirit and flown 500 miles to Jerusalem? How was Philip teleported? What was that like?
It would be next to impossible to tell my own walk with God without including how dreams and visions have been such a big part of my journey. It saddens me that there are those in the church who, out of their own fear, will judge, reject, and marginalize those who experience dreams and visions from God – a direct result of experiencing the Spirit of God.
Have you experienced a vision or a dream from God? I am here to tell you it’s alright to ask God for them. Don’t let anyone steal your crown, bully or intimidate you from experiencing God for yourself. Keep yourself immersed in the Word of God and keep seeking him!
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6
This morning I read about the conversion of Charles G. Finney. I thought you would be moved and very interested to read it for yourself. I trust it will make in impact on your life as it has on mine. I had read it in an old book that was given to me called “They Found the Secret” which documents (rather poorly in my opinion) how many famous saints of history discovered the power and working and Presence of the Holy Spirit.
When I found Charles Finney’s book online I came to learn that the book (which was written for a Moody Bible institute publication) had taken the liberty to edit out some portions of his story. Of course any author would normally only quote portions of another work but I found it just slightly odd that he was basically including the entirety of his conversion story as told by Charles G. Finney himself except for one small portion. Apparently the bit about the very serious elder breaking out in spasmodic laughter was too scandalous?
He wrote:
“It seemed as if it was impossible for him to keep from laughing from the very bottom of his heart.”
The reason I bring that up is because among my circle of friends the topic of “holy laughter” has come up. Have you ever experienced the joy of God so much that you couldn’t help but laugh? I am a firm believer that God is the most joyful being any of us will ever meet and I like to think that he is also playful, has a GREAT sense of humor (have you ever asked God to tell you a joke? I have!), and quite childlike and invites us into his joy and fun!
Isn’t it ridiculous how we like to edit and censor God. I thought about this first thing this morning – thinking about how God was angry at Moses for initially refusing his call and having doubt. He was mad!
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses (Exodus 4:13-14 NIV)
One movie rendition I watched with my daughter yesterday omitted that part.
God is an actual real life person who has very real emotions. Yet there are those who criticize others for being like God – emotional. I mean God gets mad, laughs, crys, and quite often does things that apparently many deem as embarrassing.
ps. I suppose many Christians have chosen a faith that is always “respectable” and serious, much like the elder mentioned above. I think it’s time we give that up in favor of the lighthearted and good natured fun God wants to have with his kids. What do you think? Leave a comment!
I have taken down this post and put it back up a few times already. Why? Because first of all, I suppose I don’t trust people (not you obviously) to read part 1 like I requested. Even a pastor friend of mine did that once to Nathan Wheelers testimony and got all kinds of crazy and mistaken ideas by picking a story up in the middle.
The other reason I have taken it down is that I don’t want to undermine or seem to contradict what I had said previously in Part 1.
Yet another reason is that the more you tend to open up and be vulnerable, the more people judge and reject you. Why do I even have a blog? This is insanity!
Unfortunately, (or fortunately – depending how you look at it), no one cares what I have to say anyway. I had like a total of six views on my NDE part 1 post and no comments anyway. Why do I even bother? The afterlife is obviously something no one is interested in.
Throwing caution to the wind here is part 2:
It must be said that while in my previous post on the subject at hand I have a lot of warnings and kind of give a bleak outlook about most NDE’s, I don’t really believe the tone of how I related those warnings. I suppose what I mean to say is that I try to believe the best about whosoever’s stories I am hearing. I keep an open mind. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. In my mind everyone is truly “innocent until proven guilty”. I assume the best about every last person and their story until they say something that clearly and directly contradicts the Word of God.
However, it must be said also that a contradiction may just be with my or your own interpretation of the Word of God. And I suppose it also must be said that we can perceive contradictions from our pre-conceived interpretations of the Word of God. Case in point: the video I linked to from David Platt in my last post on the subject. He based an ill founded conclusion based on his interpretation of Scripture.
In my search for truth as a child of God, I believe my Papa is watching out for me. I depend on his protection and correction. He is faithful to provide both. This means we are free as his kids to be open hearted, trusting (as long as your trust is in the right place), and curious! This is what being childlike in your faith is all about and is absolutely required, according to Jesus, to even enter the kingdom of God.
Exploring the afterlife/spirit world will open your mind to a whole new world. I now entertain a host of ideas that I previously would have never dreamed of. It’s scandalous to even mention them because most of them vandalize our preconceived notions of reality. My thought now is that if the Bible doesn’t absolutely rule something out then I put it in the “could be” category. That is a happier way to live in my opinion because, as I told my daughter just tonight:
“With God all things are possible.”
A few of the “possibles” that come to mind which are documented time and again throughout Scripture are: spirit travel (Out of body experiences), teleportation (I just read about one to my daughter in Acts chapter 8), time travel, healing, knowing things you couldn’t possibly have naturally known, and all manner of other miracles. I have experienced some in this list myself and I’m sure many of you have as well.
The First NDE (Once you start you can’t stop)
It all started in the beginning of 2014. The year started out with a rapture dream, I shared in my post about it that I thought they had made a mistake by taking me.
A couple days later I watched one of my first NDE stories of Howard Storm. I found it so compelling and similar to my own story of Jesus saving me. He even thought exactly what I did, that Jesus was making a mistake by taking him. Jesus responded, “We don’t make mistakes”.
He was an “athiest” art teacher in Paris and had a stomach rupture. In incredible pain he was told he’d have to wait till the next day before the surgeon would arrive. He died that night and was led away by what he called kindred spirits – disembodied people who were just like him. They were taking him to hell and at a certain point they turned on him and mercilessly abused him. Eventually he cried out to Jesus to save him and Jesus came and rescued him.
He said that Jesus first appeared as a tiny pin prick of light in the sky that grew and grew as he approached. Jesus finally came to him and scooped him up in his arms. All the filth and horrible wounds of his condition fell like dust off of him and he was whisked out of there at great speed.
He was then given an audience with Jesus and the angels for a life review and to ask questions. He was shown and taught many things… none of which I see that clearly contradicts the revealed Word of God.
After his experience he came back, of course as a believer in Jesus and went on to dedicate his life to following and serving Jesus. He is now a pastor in Ohio.
His story is one that I talked most about with others and would recommend to anyone. There are elements of things that the angels and Jesus showed him that were difficult for him to accept. If that is the case for him, how much more you or I?
I was so emotionally moved by his story that a couple days after I watched it I shared the whole story with my wife as I just sobbed while driving down the freeway.
The absolute most important thing that I gleaned from his story was when Jesus told him his great plan to change the world:
“Love the person you are with in the moment.”
Research Howard Storm on Youtube if you are interested in his story.
THE LIFE REVIEW
One thing common to most NDE’s is the life review. You and God go over how you did in your life.
Over all, it didn’t go well for Howard Storm. BUT, Jesus did highlight a few times he showed genuine selfless love and Jesus was so proud. I loved that!
How will it go for you?
This is something worth thinking about for each and every one of us.
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The Dangers of NDE’s
The Dangers? Well, you could die. But really, is dying all that dangerous? Well… it could be.
I find some NDE’s sometimes downright disturbing. One account of someone’s experience of hell had me shaken and I needed to pray to recover enough to go to work. I don’t like to talk about hell. I don’t like to think about hell. But I know it is real. I know it’s real because Jesus said it is real. He shared this story recorded in Lukes Gospel:
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16 NLT)
When I woke up this morning this was the first Scripture I read. Nice way to start the day don’t you think?
I get depressed if I think about hell too much. In an effort to cheer me up I reach for the “Christian drug of choice” to comfort my distressed soul… coffee. Which I then proceed to have too much of and ruin my day even further.
I was pondering Lazarus this morning. He was so afflicted. I imagined him to be the poorest of bums who is driven mad by harassing demons, respected by no one, mentally ill, diseased in both mind and body, and helpless hopeless mess in the worlds eyes. It reminded me that this is the sort of people the Lord chooses. Consider this:
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NLT)
He then gives those he chooses (the ragamuffins) many trials to work the kind of character that he can trust in the work that he will have us doing in eternity in all the realms and worlds and dimensions and places we will be experiencing beyond this life… for those who trust in Jesus.
“Heaven is not a place for good people, but for forgiven people.”
Have you heard that before? It would make a nice bumper sticker but I was thinking about the fact that being forgiven the way God forgives (if you have actually experienced it) actually makes you good… so, heaven actually is a place for good people.
This morning I came across a video by Bob Olson of Afterlife TV where he mostly interviews people on the subject of the afterlife and offers his conclusions. I was interested in what he would say in his video what happens to those who commit suicide. He said it would be a hard lesson for those who did commit suicide and they would have to live with the legacy of pain they caused but they would be warmly embraced by loving souls who would care for them. I’ve heard from other accounts that suicides will be like ghosts and can’t leave the people they have hurt, experiencing every pain their decision has brought, always expressing how sorry to people who can’t hear them… until when exactly?
Bob Olson goes as far as to say there is no hell. He hasn’t found any evidence for it. I left this comment on his YouTube video:
I am confused. You say you have been researching this for how long and have encountered no evidence of hell? I have been researching for a few weeks and have encountered many many stories of people experiencing such a place. Jesus talked about it a great deal. I am beginning to wonder if you ever mention Jesus or do you simply pretend he doesn’t exist? What do you consider “evidence”? First hand accounts seemingly aren’t enough to warrant belief in hell, but NDE accounts of something pleasant are considered convincing “evidence”?
In my research of NDE’s I came accross a story of a lady who died and experienced a place that appeared “paradise-like” only the colors were all muted and shadowy. Her father approached her and told her it wasn’t her time and told her that nothing she did in this life mattered once you are on the other side so don’t worry.
Really?
The fact of the matter there is little difference in my mind between many of what NDEers experience and dreams. And dreams are no good for basing truth on. If you remember from my first blog on this topic, I stressed that quite a bit. What is your source of Truth? Scripture has this to say on the topic:
…7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. 8Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. 9But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”… (Jude 1:7-9 NASB)
So they defile the flesh “also by dreaming”?
This reminds of of the kind of defiling things people choose to do when they are lucid dreaming. It’s not all innocent just flying around but engaging in all kinds of sexual encounters with anyone you can imagine. So, you can use your dreams to sin?
My NLT translation puts it “claiming authority from their dreams” which is kind of different idea altogether from the very literal NASB don’t you think? I’m beginning to question the validity and soundness of some of our English translations. I tend to think they just have to say things differently than the literal Greek translation because it has already been said that way by another translation. They aren’t able to render it acurately due to copyright laws. But this is getting off topic isn’t it?
I was actually trying to prove a point using the NLT rendering but that is proving difficult now that I have seen how other and more accurate translations render it… never mind I guess.
Dreams are figments of your imagination. You can manifest worlds and situations and I suppose it would be true that you cannot claim authority from your dreams… don’t you think?
Anyway, how do I even wrap up these ramblings? What can I leave you with that will inspire you and transform your life for the better? By the way, if you ever come across something like that, send it my way!
I guess I’ll just say that if you want to avoid hell, and who doesn’t? Then pursue Jesus. He is the gatekeeper and is our Salvation. Please pray for me to pursue and experience more of him myself. Life is a depressing hopeless mess without the hope that is Jesus.
Then Aslan, the Creator of Narnia and the Christ figure, returns to Narnia. The white witch loses her power. Everything thaws and Spring comes in a single day. The birds are singing, trees and flowers are blooming. It is beautiful!
This is also what happens to anyone who comes to the Lord. Spring comes into their heart. All your life previous to knowing Christ was the longest, hardest, most brutal winter you’ll ever know and then you meet Jesus. Spring has come at long last!
Daniel Lovett 