==============================================
Daily Encounter ~ Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Know God: http://www.Got-God.net/know_god1.htm
www.ACTSweb.org Store: www.actscom.com/store
==============================================
By Richard (*****) Innes. Published and (c)
by ACTS International http://www.actsweb.org
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Change address see No.16.
For this week's chuckle see No. 3 below.
You are receiving this email because you subscribed
or requested to receive Daily Encounter in response
to a page on our website or to an ad on ArcaMax.com.
* * * * * * *
Books by ***** Innes, author of Daily Encounter.
A reader of "You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing" said,
"This is the most helpful book I have ever read...."
See also "How to Mend a Broken Heart" and "I Hate
Witnessing." On Sale at www.actscom.com/store
Bestseller by Dr. Kevin Leman:
"Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours."
On Sale at http://actscom.com/store/books_2.htm
See more information at No. 6 below.
* * * * * * *
Today's Daily Encounter
1.
"Men of Galilee," they [the angels at the time of
Christ's return to heaven after his death and
resurrection] said, "why do you stand here looking
into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from
you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, NIV).
Dr. Maurice Rawlings, formerly a cardiologist and
professor of medicine at the University of Tennessee
College of Medicine in Chattanooga, and his colleagues
constantly treated emergency patients, many of whom had
near-death experiences. A study of these cases by Dr.
Rawlings was reported in Omni magazine.
It is no longer unusual to hear about people who have
almost died who speak of seeing a bright light, lush
green meadows, rows of smiling relatives and
experiencing a deep sense of peace. However, Dr.
Rawlings obtains additional information from his
patients by interviewing them immediately following
resuscitation while they are very much in touch with
their experience. Dr. Rawlings says that nearly fifty
percent of the 300 people that he has interviewed have
reported lakes of fire, devil-like figures and other
sights reflecting the darkness of hell. Rawlings says
that these people later change their story because
they don't want to admit where they've been, not even
to their families.
"Just listening to these patients has changed my whole
life," claims Dr. Rawlings. "There is a life after
death, and if I don't know where I'm going, it's not
safe to die."
But do these experiences prove that there is a heaven
or a hell?
We don't really know because these particular people
didn't quite make it to the other side. Even if they
did and came back, we probably wouldn't believe them
because most of us tend to believe only what we have
seen or experienced for ourselves. Furthermore, we
tend to see and believe only what we want to see and
believe--often in spite of the evidence.
One can only present what evidence there is and then
it is up to each individual to either accept or reject
that evidence. And what evidence do we have as to
whether there is a heaven and a hell or life after
death?
First, there is the evidence from scores of cases
mentioned by Dr. Rawlings and others who have written
about near-death experiences and explained what they
saw and experienced.
Second, we have the evidence from the testimonials of
famous people who gave us their last words.
To be continued .
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when Jesus
returned to heaven after his death on the cross and
resurrection, you sent your angels to assure his
disciples and followers that Jesus would return to
earth to take all of his followers to be with him in
heaven forever. Thank you for your wonderful promise
that heaven is a reality for all who truly believe in
you and have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in
Jesus' name, amen."
<:))))<><
Today's Daily Encounter
1. What If There Is a Heaven? Part III
"According to the Lord's own word . the Lord himself
will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with
the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After
that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, NIV).
Regarding heaven, we have given evidence from those
who have had near-death experiences and what they
witnessed, the testimonials of the last words of
famous people including those of non-believers, and
the experience of a very close friend as he departed
this life. All of these are very interesting but the
final point is the most powerful evidence of all as to
whether there is a heaven or not.
Fourth, we have evidence from Jesus Christ himself and
the whole of God's Word, the Bible. Speaking about
heaven Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled.
In my Father's house are many mansions. I am going
there to prepare a place for you, and if I go, I will
come back to take you there to be with me forever."?
While ministering here on earth Jesus repeatedly made
mention of heaven it was clearly evident that Jesus
believed in both heaven and hell.
Furthermore, according to one Bible scholar, there are
some 1,845 references to Christ's coming back to earth
that are recorded in the Old Testament and 318 in the
New Testament. There are many more references about
heaven and hell. And as Jesus said, he is right now
preparing heaven for all Christians and will, when
everything is ready, return to take them to be with
him forever.
Nobody can prove that there is a heaven or a hell.
Neither can anybody prove there isn't. The evidence,
however, confirms that there are both, and I know
which side I'd rather be on. If I believe, I have
nothing to lose and everything to gain. But if I don't
believe, I have everything to lose and nothing to gain.
The choice to believe or not to believe is each
individual's decision. For those who choose to
believe, the key issue is to be sure that you are
prepared for heaven and ready to meet God face to
face. You do that first, by believing that when Jesus
died on the cross 2,000 years ago, he died to pay the
ransom price for your sins; second, by confessing your
sins to God; and third, by responding to Christ's call
to accept him into your heart and life as personal
Lord and Savior.
The wonderful thing is that God's invitation to heaven
is open to everyone. As God's Word, the Bible, says,
"Whoever will may come."?
If you have not already done so, will you accept God's
invitation to come to him by confessing your sins and
accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and
Savior? Today? Click on the link at No. 2 below "To
Know God and be sure you're a real Christian" and know
for certain that God has a place in heaven for you when
you die. Receiving Jesus as your Savior is your
Passport into Heaven. Whatever you do, don't leave
earth without it.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you again for your
promise of heaven for all who believe in you and have
accepted Jesus as their Savior. I believe that Jesus
died on the cross for my sins. I confess that I am a
sinner and ask you, Lord Jesus, to forgive me for all
my sins, and come into my heart and life and to be my
Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing my prayer, for
forgiving all my sins, and for your promise of a home
in heaven. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 14:1-3. 2. Revelation 22:17.
<:))))<><
1. What If There Is a Heaven? Part II
"Now we know that if the earthly tent [our human body]
we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God,
an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands"
(2 Corinthians 5:1, NIV).
In continuing our series on heaven we have the
evidence from the testimonials of famous people who
share their last words. For example, it is reported
that Professor J.H. Huxley, the famous agnostic, as he
lay dying suddenly looked up at some sight invisible to
mortal eyes, and staring awhile, whispered at last, "So
it is true."
Sir Francis Newport, head of the English Infidel Club,
said to those gathered around his death bed, "Do not
tell me there is no God for I know there is one, and
that I am in his angry presence! You need not tell me
there is no hell, for I already feel my soul slipping
into its fires! Wretches, cease your idle talk about
there being hope for me! I know that I am lost
forever."
Dwight L. Moody, the famous Christian preacher,
awakening from sleep shortly before he died had just
the opposite to say: "Earth recedes. Heaven opens
before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no
valley here. God is calling me, and I must go."
"No, no, Father," said Moody's son, "you are
dreaming." "I am not dreaming," replied Moody. "I have
been within the gates. I have seen the children's
faces." His last words were, "This is my triumph; this
is my coronation day! It is glorious!"
Thomas Edison, the great scientific genius who was not
given to idle words, in his dying moments, said to his
wife and doctor, "It is beautiful over there."
Third, we have evidence from the experience of someone
close to us. One of my best friends had cancer and
passed away at age forty-four. As Graham's end neared,
with arms outstretched and lifted heavenward, he
graphically described how he longed to meet God.
The day before Graham died he went into a coma. While
still in the coma, though gravely weakened in body,
without any warning he seemed strangely energized as
he suddenly sat bolt upright in bed and, turning
his face heavenward, reached out his arms as if being
greeted by someone only he could see. A moment later
his body slumped back lifeless. Graham was gone. His
wife said, "Immediately following a great sense of
peace and divine presence filled the entire house."
Graham was a committed Christian. He had accepted
Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He knew
where he was going after this life, and died
triumphantly.
How different compared to the experience I had with
Rosemary who also died of cancer. I was asked to visit
her in the hospital. As far as I know Rosemary was not
a Christian and was terrified of dying. She sat in a
chair night and day, refusing to lie down for fear she
would go to sleep and never wake up again.
It was difficult to communicate with her because she
kept going in and out of consciousness. We just held
her hand and repeated, "God loves you, Rosemary, God
loves you."
"When she brightens a little," I said to her friend,
"send for me and I'll come right back."
But Rosemary never brightened. Two days later she died
terrified. I can't think of anything more tragic than
to leave earth to go into a lost eternity when there
is absolutely no need to. To make sure you don't do
this, be sure to read the article in No. 2 below: "To
Know God and be sure you're a real Christian."
To be concluded .
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you have
made it possible through the death and resurrection of
your Son, Jesus, for all my sins to be forgiven so I
can spend eternity with you in heaven. Help me to make
sure that I am prepared to meet you face to face when I
die. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
<:))))<><
* * * * * * *
==============================================
Daily Encounter ~ Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Know God: http://www.Got-God.net/know_god1.htm
www.ACTSweb.org Store: www.actscom.com/store
==============================================
By Richard (*****) Innes. Published and (c)
by ACTS International http://www.actsweb.org
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Change address see No.16.
For this week's chuckle see No. 3 below.
You are receiving this email because you subscribed
or requested to receive Daily Encounter in response
to a page on our website or to an ad on ArcaMax.com.
* * * * * * *
Books by ***** Innes, author of Daily Encounter.
A reader of "You Can't Fly With a Broken Wing" said,
"This is the most helpful book I have ever read...."
See also "How to Mend a Broken Heart" and "I Hate
Witnessing." On Sale at www.actscom.com/store
Bestseller by Dr. Kevin Leman:
"Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours."
On Sale at http://actscom.com/store/books_2.htm
See more information at No. 6 below.
* * * * * * *
Today's Daily Encounter
1. What If There Is a Heaven? Part III
"According to the Lord's own word . the Lord himself
will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with
the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After
that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, NIV).
Regarding heaven, we have given evidence from those
who have had near-death experiences and what they
witnessed, the testimonials of the last words of
famous people including those of non-believers, and
the experience of a very close friend as he departed
this life. All of these are very interesting but the
final point is the most powerful evidence of all as to
whether there is a heaven or not.
Fourth, we have evidence from Jesus Christ himself and
the whole of God's Word, the Bible. Speaking about
heaven Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled.
In my Father's house are many mansions. I am going
there to prepare a place for you, and if I go, I will
come back to take you there to be with me forever."?
While ministering here on earth Jesus repeatedly made
mention of heaven it was clearly evident that Jesus
believed in both heaven and hell.
Furthermore, according to one Bible scholar, there are
some 1,845 references to Christ's coming back to earth
that are recorded in the Old Testament and 318 in the
New Testament. There are many more references about
heaven and hell. And as Jesus said, he is right now
preparing heaven for all Christians and will, when
everything is ready, return to take them to be with
him forever.
Nobody can prove that there is a heaven or a hell.
Neither can anybody prove there isn't. The evidence,
however, confirms that there are both, and I know
which side I'd rather be on. If I believe, I have
nothing to lose and everything to gain. But if I don't
believe, I have everything to lose and nothing to gain.
The choice to believe or not to believe is each
individual's decision. For those who choose to
believe, the key issue is to be sure that you are
prepared for heaven and ready to meet God face to
face. You do that first, by believing that when Jesus
died on the cross 2,000 years ago, he died to pay the
ransom price for your sins; second, by confessing your
sins to God; and third, by responding to Christ's call
to accept him into your heart and life as personal
Lord and Savior.
The wonderful thing is that God's invitation to heaven
is open to everyone. As God's Word, the Bible, says,
"Whoever will may come."?
If you have not already done so, will you accept God's
invitation to come to him by confessing your sins and
accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and
Savior? Today? Click on the link at No. 2 below "To
Know God and be sure you're a real Christian" and know
for certain that God has a place in heaven for you when
you die. Receiving Jesus as your Savior is your
Passport into Heaven. Whatever you do, don't leave
earth without it.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you again for your
promise of heaven for all who believe in you and have
accepted Jesus as their Savior. I believe that Jesus
died on the cross for my sins. I confess that I am a
sinner and ask you, Lord Jesus, to forgive me for all
my sins, and come into my heart and life and to be my
Lord and Savior. Thank you for hearing my prayer, for
forgiving all my sins, and for your promise of a home
in heaven. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 14:1-3. 2. Revelation 22:17.
<:))))<><
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