Dad explained that when he had his first stroke, after the paramedic knuckled his abdomen (a technique they use), Dad said he wasn't here.

He said he was at the place where they were reading the names in the Book of Life. It was very beautiful and comfortable. It was like an amphitheater, except it went outward. There were a few steps and a wooden stand where the Book of Life was. All the light in the area was coming from the open Book.

The book itself was very thick and wide. From the way Dad described it, it was probably a good 8 inches thick on either side, maybe 20 inches tall, and filled with names in tiny print. "The Book of Life is real, Weeshie," Dad said.

An old gray-haired man was reading the names from the Book.

There was a multitude of people, millions...standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting for their names to be called. Dad got to feel the unspeakable joy of a person who had their name called. He also got to feel the terrifying horror of someone who did NOT have their name called - they were escorted away screaming...

Dad said he learned two lessons: (1) religion will keep your name out of the Book of Life. The only thing that saves is grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3). (2) Your name can be erased out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).


His neighbor Stefan had a similar experience, except it was a gate that he saw. Above the gate was an "extension of the names in the Book of Life." People were stepping up to the gate, absolutely filthy. Their clothes were torn and stained. Something would wash over them, and suddenly they would be washed clean and in bright white robes. They would step through the gate. Stefan was dirty, but he saw his name in the Book of Life. He wanted to go through the gate. They told him no, it wasn't his time yet. He needed to go back. Again: (1) The only thing that saves is grace through faith in Jesus Christ. EVERYONE walking up to that gate was absolutely filthy until cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. Without that blood they would still be filthy. Stefan also learned that (2) you can have your name erased out of the Book of Life.

A bit of a somber topic, but one worthy of being shared.

Merry Christmas to friends and family!

A very Mark Trail Christmas to you, too! I do have to say that the Comics Curmudgeon is right on this one: Mark Trail punching a sherriff in the face to resist arrest is about the COOLEST THING EVER!

I'm genuinely enjoying a newspaper comic on its own merit, does that make me old?

Anyway, OH MY GOD the secret santa picture. I can't finish it tonight, I'm too exhausted to keep my hand steady anymore. But that's a good four hour start, a couple more tomorrow and hopefully it will be pretty cool and not all half-assed looking.

Current Mood: tired

instead

of learning about rugby, I uh, I learned a lot about the USAF, FARC-EP, and feberge eggs, which is honestly much more useful to my current project.

Ho-hon.

Current Mood: mischievous