There was a young man who was loved so much that more than 1,500 people attended his memorial service. 19-year-old Ben Breedlove died Christmas night from a heart attack although he had previously cheated death three times. During the times he cheated death he had some visions On Dec 19th he posted a two-part video on YouTube telling his story about living with his heart condition which is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In the videos Ben holds up cards which tell his story. The first time he cheated death was when he was 4 and described an experience he had in the hospital as he was being wheeled on a stretcher. “There was this big bright light above me … I couldn’t make out what it was because it was so bright. I told my mom, ‘Look at the bright light’ and pointed up. She said she didn’t see anything,” Breedlove wrote. “There were no lights on in this hall. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. And I couldn’t help but smile. I had no worries at all, like nothing else in the world mattered.”

He wrote “I cannot even begin to describe the peace, how peaceful it was,” and “I will NEVER forget that feeling or that day.” He underwent surgery May 3, 2009, to insert a pacemaker and the second time Breedlove cheated death, he said, was in the summer of 2011. He went to the hospital for tonsil surgery and ended up going into cardiac arrest. “It was a miracle that they brought me back,” Breedlove wrote. “I was scared to die, but am SO glad I didn’t.”

His third brush with death was the one earlier this month when he passed out at school and awoke surrounded by EMS medics preparing to use shock pads to revive him. “I really thought to myself, this is it. I’m dying,” Breedlove wrote. He recalled a dream or vision where he was in a silent, white room with no walls and he felt “that same peaceful feeling I had when I was 4.”

You can join the Ben Breedlove community on facebook 

Part 1

Part 2

Justin Rollins decided to become a soldier when he was inspired by Sept. 11. His family said he was traumatized enough that he made up his mind to serve our country. He wanted to become an Army Ranger “He came home and he came running up the stairs, “Airborne! Ranger, baby! Infantry!” His friend said he can’t remember him showing fear ever

Justin’s life was cut short after being stationed in Samara, Iraq. He tragically passed away from an IED explosion. Before he died they found puppies living in a bad place in Iraq. His buddies took photos of him playing with the puppies. After he died his family was able to see these pictures. A campaign then began to get one of the puppies he was playing with for his family. The story made headlines and actually went national. It was called ‘Operation Hero’ which turned into an issue even for politicians. The puppy was able to be brought over!

“20/20” went to the home to do a story on the dog and was able to capture something some call a miracle. Others are skeptical thinking it is what is called a lens flare which is the light flashing off the camera. The beautiful thing is that it brought peace to the family. It was a sunbeam shining down on the dog they named Hero in Justin’s backyard. The family took it as a sign that he is with them. One of the family members said “I truly, truly believe I’ll see him again, because he sent us a sign so many times that, that he’s OK things that are too astronomical to not believe,”

This is what the ABC reporter, Kimberly Launier, had to say about the event.

Sometimes when Rhonda hugged Hero she would softly pet her face and coo, “Justin, are you in there?” It was Rhonda’s gentle way of remembering their son and his last living connection to Hero. At one point, Hero wandered off and took a stroll in the backyard. All of a sudden, the clouds broke and a light began to solidify in a beam directly down on Hero — a kind of vertical halo.

You can go watch the video of the story here at ABC
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Yesterday I went into Kroger to get a roast and forgot to bring my card with me. I have had it since they started doing the Kroger plus cards. I do not even remember the telephone number I had at that time so they cannot look it up when I forget it. I decided to go ahead and just get the roast because I needed to start dinner. On my way out I saw the customer service desk and thought maybe I could get a new card with my correct number. I went over and was going to go to one window when I noticed it was closed so I turned to go to the other window. There was a woman with kids that looked like she was waiting in line. So I waited behind her for a bit until she moved to let me by. I started to go by her and out of the corner of my eye I noticed another woman that looked like she was going go between all of us even though I was moving to the desk. I heard her say Wow. For whatever reason all the hair on my body stood up for a minute as I realized she meant that wow for me like I was being rude. She was going to cut in line but I was being rude. I was so upset by her wow that I made a rash decision to turn around and leave letting her go ahead to the desk. As I turned around to go past her she almost yelled at me well excuse you. OMG! I couldn’t believe it.

I kept going towards the car and thought about putting my roast in the car and then going back to confront her but changed my mind. I would have told her that I was waiting in line for a bit and asked her why she said wow to me for moving forward. I would have told her it bothered me so much that I decided to let her have the turn she thought she deserved. I would have told her how rude it was to speak to me that way. She didn’t know who I was or know anything about me. She didn’t know what kind of a day I had.

First of all let me say that I believe in the golden rule which is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I didn’t go and speak my mind because I was also turning the other cheek. Confronting her could have causesd a horrible scene instead of making her have an aha moment where perhaps she would think before she speaks mean to someone.

Imagine if you will that you go into a restauraunt to eat and the waitress is sloppy, horrible and you just do not have any satisfaction with her. Do you confront her by making sarcastic remarks? Do you get up to go tell the manager? Well, asking the manager for help would be better than muttering ugly things to someone you don’t know, right? Imagine that the waitress is someone who is usually spotless, fast and efficient but this day is different. You wouldn’t know this information because you never met her before. This day she was told her father died whom she never met. It is a sore sot and she came to work because she had no choice but to go in or loose her job. Her emotions are so all over the place that she is even suicidal. Here you are upset with her and not knowing this information. Your bit of sarcasm to her and those unkind words are enough for her to take off her apron and run from the building. It is enough for her to end her life that day. Would you want that responsibility? You being the last straw tha broke the camels back causing her death?

These are things that run through my head that make me be nice to people even when they are mean. How do I know what they have going through their head to make them be mean in that moment? I don’t! So I just let things slide and turn the other cheek and walk away. I would like it if that woman came and read my blog though. Maybe she would know I am not a rude person at all and how offended that I was. Perhaps reading this would be enough for her to bite her tongue in the future?

Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Matthew 12:36-37

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:8

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The Bible shows us that there was always a belief in ghosts. Some people think that ghosts are contrary to Christianity. I have even heard people say it is impossible for there to be ghosts because after we die we are judged. They quote Hebrews 9:27 which states “And in as much as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” I would like to point out that he does not say how long after death this will be. If you read Acts 1:7 it states “He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

As a being created by God we are given the gift of free will that may also continue after we die. The choice to go into the light and be judged or to wander may be a God gift given as well. We learn in 1 Tim 2: 3, 4 that God desires all men to be saved. “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” How does anyone know for certain that through death and before judgment God has no other plans for any particular soul?

Old Testament

Saul had a medium conjure up the ghost of Samuel
I Samuel 28:15,
And Samuel saith to Saul, Why hast thou troubled me, to bring me up?

Job encounters a ghost
Job 4:14-17
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

New Testament

The disciples believed Jesus was a ghost. Jesus does not say they do not exist
Matthew 14:25-27
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.

Saints manifested after the resurrection
Matthew 27:52-53
The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Jesus manifested from the invisible to the visible in the same way as an apparition and they didn’t recognise him
Mark 16:12
…to two of them, as they are going into a field, walking, he was manifested in another form.

Saints manifested as well as Jesus spoke with the dead
Mark 9:4,
and there appeared to them, Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus

The disciples believed Jesus was a ghost and he said he was not like a ghost. Again they are not told they do not exist
Luke 24:39
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.

We must test the spirits
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God..

We do not die
1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold, I will tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep but we shall be changed.

After we die we are still open to the word of God
1 Peter 3 19
in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison

I believe life is a gift and I use this gift to love others through service. One of the ways I am able to be of service to the community is by being the case manager for the Society of the Haunted. In this role I take calls from people wanting to understand what may be happening in their home. Most of the time they are scared and hope they are not loosing their mind. Sometimes I take calls from people who think the activity is cool and they just want verification that it is spiritual and not the hot water tank. All the callers feel they have nobody they can really talk to so they find relief telling me their stories. I am happy to listen and help them.

Another way I help is by going onto the property where strange things are happening. I investigate along with other members of the team to try to find logical explanations. This itself is a huge help to our clients. We will point out the hot water tank which is making noises and then they are able to get it fixed. The problem for them in this type of situation is now solved. It is also a help when we catch the activity for ourselves. The homeowner is now not alone because they have a witness. Sometimes there is no explanation that can be found. In that type of situation it looks like they may perhaps have a visitor. Science has not yet been able to explain everything yet. Our whole team is there for others to help them through the discovery of what may be there. We are also a team that will continue to be there for them in the future.

If you know someone who may be experiencing a problem feel free to refer our group. Even if they do not want us to come out I am available to help by listening to their stories.

That test is going to be a doosey! Yesterday I posted an article about life being a gift. This gift is wonderful, sad, scary and amazing. There are emotions and so many questions that come up  when you think about life. Two examples I can think of off the top of my head are why are we here and what am I going to accomplish while here?  I believe in the concept that life is but a moment so make the most out of it. This does not mean party til you drop. Life has a much deeper meaning, don’t you think? No matter what your religious background everyone has the believe or hope in life after death. If we are here for a brief period of time and life goes on after we die then maybe we should all be thinking that life could be a test.

Speaking of tests my dad used to say keep up we are going to have a test. I have memories of him saying that all the time. As a child I actually thought we were going to be taking a test on what I didn’t know.  He also used to say “did you hear the frog “when he would pass gas. In my childlike mind I believed him and would look for the frog while he was laughing. One day I remember riding in the back of the car watching my dad drive. He wanted to drive this day even though he was very sick. We were going to the hospital where he would have surgery for colon cancer. Trying to make the situation light I asked him when are we ever going to take “that test.” He just laughed at my little joke. I was thinking we have been taking that test the whole time. That was the last time I would ever sit behind my dad watching him drive.

If you were to be forced to sit and examine your life right now would you like what you see? Why wait for a traumatic experience to make you realize life is fleeting? Why not live every day as if it were the last day of your life. Be proud of what you have done. If you are not proud, change things. Grab the bull by the horns and take charge of your life. You are the master of your own fate and the captain of your own destiny. Make it happen!

Go read a fascinating account of examining your life called file cabinets

We should all take time out of our life to stop and smell the roses or notice that rainbow. Life really is a gift and I know it! I realize all the time there is more to life than the here and now. I am reminded of that every time I go to help one of our clients. Our time in this plane of existence is only temporary. With this in mind I believe in living life right, following the golden rule and loving your neighbor. This love is a part of living life right and is done through service to others. Through selfless service to others we can gain something better than all the money in the world could buy and that thing is called grace. When my body dies my soul will go on and I want the state of my soul to be in this state of grace. I don’t do this by acting on occasion with the intent of banking my good works. I do it every moment of every day and in every act that I perform. Acting all the time with good intent will keep my soul in a state of grace. My motto has always been “Carpe diem (which means seize the day)! Whatever you can do or dream you can! Begin it. Boldness has genius, power, magic in it.” I do believe that life is a gift so I am going to live to the fullest that I possibly can. I also am doing it while filled with love for my neighbor.

Stanzas  Concerning An Ecstasy Experienced In High Contemplation St. John of the Cross

I entered into unknowing,
and there I remained unknowing
transcending all knowledge.

1. I entered into unknowing,
yet when I saw myself there,
without knowing where I was,
I understood great things;
I will not say what I felt
for I remained in unknowing
transcending all knowledge.

2. That perfect knowledge
was of
peace and holiness
held at no
remove
in profound solitude;
it was something so secret
that I was left stammering,
transcending all knowledge.

3. I was so ‘whelmed,
so absorbed
and withdrawn,
that my senses were
left
deprived of all their sensing,
and my spirit
was given
an understanding while not understanding,
transcending all knowledge.

4. He who truly arrives there
cuts free from himself;
all that he knew before
now
seems worthless,
and his knowledge
so soars
that he is left in unknowing
transcending all knowledge.

5. The higher he ascends
the less he understands,
because the cloud is dark
which lit up the night;
whoever knows this
remains always in unknowing
transcending all knowledge.

6. This knowledge in unknowing
is so overwhelming
that wise men disputing
can never overthrow it,
for their knowledge does not reach
to the understanding of not
understanding,
transcending all knowledge.

7. And this supreme
knowledge
is so exalted
that no
power of man or learning
can grasp it;
he who masters himself
will, with knowledge in
unknowing,
always be transcending.

8. And if you should want to hear:
this highest knowledge lies
in the loftiest
sense
of the essence of God;
this is a work of his mercy,
to leave one without
understanding,
transcending all knowledge.

by St John of the Cross

Stanzas Of The Soul

1. One dark night,

fired with love’s urgent longings

– ah, the sheer grace! –

I went out unseen,

my house being now all stilled.

2. In darkness, and secure,

by the secret ladder, disguised,

– ah, the sheer grace! –

in darkness and concealment,

my house being now all stilled.

3. On that glad night,

in secret, for no one saw me,

nor did I look at anything,

with no other light or guide

than the one that burned in my heart.

4. This guided me

more surely than the light of noon

to where he was awaiting me

– him I knew so well –

there in a place where no one appeared.

5. O guiding night!

O night more lovely than the dawn!

O night that has united

the Lover with his beloved,

transforming the beloved in her Lover.

6. Upon my flowering breast

which I kept wholly for him alone,

there he lay sleeping,

and I caressing him

there in a breeze from the fanning cedars.

7. When the breeze blew from the turret,

as I parted his hair,

it wounded my neck

with its gentle hand,

suspending all my senses.

8. I abandoned and forgot myself,

laying my face on my Beloved;

all things ceased; I went out from myself,

leaving my cares

forgotten among the lilies.