Heaven is for real

[The emperor has no clothes]

Saw the movie tonight. I'm not a very religious person but this was an excellent movie! Evidently it's based on a true story,didn't know anything about it beforehand. I would definitely give it the Siskel & Ebert 2 thumbs up

[Paxton]

Scary title! ???

[DIGGER]

Good show.    I heard the book is even better and goes into more detail about the things the boy saw. 

Another great Religous show recently released is "God's Not Dead".    Iffin you liked "Heaven is Real" you will really like "God's Not Dead"

[98valk]

Scary title! ???

why are scared of the Truth?  He is not to be feared.

[SANDMAN5]

Scary title

Doesn't scare me!! "God's Not Dead" is MUCH better IMHO.
"Heaven is for Real" wasn't really all that good...or all that bad, I
thought. Story was great, just took TOO LONG to get going. YMMV.

[Super Santa]

Well, I thought the movie was most excellent also.  Would recommend it to everyone.  It impressed me so much I am now reading the book.  About 2/3 through it already.  Book is even better.

[Bert AKA,Valkaholic]

Scary title

Doesn't scare me!! "God's Not Dead" is MUCH better IMHO.
"Heaven is for Real" wasn't really all that good...or all that bad, I
thought. Story was great, just took TOO LONG to get going. YMMV.

I Haven't Seen Heaven Is For Real. But I Did See God's Not Dead And It Was A Great Movie. It Will Even Make The Great Philosophers Want To  Re-Think Their Thoughts.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

It is scary for those that are not believers, YET.

They are hoping that there is nothing after death. That is the only hope a non-believer has.

[Flat6Valk]

the book was great in my opinion.  it was passed to me by a stranger I met while working on a shoe store in Louisville.  I read it and passed it on and as well I bought copies for presents for some people I know.

I want to see the movie.

Flat6Valk

[WNGD]

Heaven's for Real...

Was that a secret or something?

[musclehead]

Scary title! ???

why are scared of the Truth?  He is not to be feared.

depends on what he's been saying don't it 

[The emperor has no clothes]

It is scary for those that are not believers, YET.

They are hoping that there is nothing after death. That is the only hope a non-believer has.

I don't know about that Al. I guess I wouldn't be considered a non-believer because I do believe there is a god. I just have no idea who he is or what he is about. But I don't think a non-believer WANTS for everything to just end they just don't believe that there is something afterwards.

[alph]

I wouldn't waist my time seeing it.  if I want to see a movie about fantasy I'll watch Toy Story, or Despicable Me, or some other animated Disney movie.  it's not that I doubt the visions this little boy had, it's that there are many stories of people and their "near death" experiences.  in reality they're not really "dead" they're just unconscious and their brains haven't rotted away yet.  they're just having memory flashbacks.  

I've heard that the kid "meets his dead sister that he didn't know about", well really?  are you sure the parents NEVER mentioned her existence to the boy?  I doubt that.  yesterday was the 19th anniversary of my sons death, and I STILL think and talk of him.  I highly doubt that the parents in this movie never talked about the passing of their little girl in front of their son.  

my idea of "heaven" is definitely not what others on this site have.  my idea of heaven is to be able to be completely free of time, sleep, finance, hunger, and illness.  basically; i'll be able to do anything I want at anytime I want, to see how the mountains were made, to see the furthest galaxies, or the smallest ant colonies, or even be reincarnated.  in "my" heaven I won't be laying prostrate in front of a demanding "god" in need of constant praise, or having my enemies serve me a feast.  no, my heaven isn't anything like "gods" heaven......

then again, fantasies are just that.  FANTASTIC!!

[WNGD]

I wouldn't waist my time seeing it.  if I want to see a movie about fantasy I'll watch Toy Story, or Despicable Me, or some other animated Disney movie.  it's not that I doubt the visions this little boy had, it's that there are many stories of people and their "near death" experiences.  in reality they're not really "dead" they're just unconscious and their brains haven't rotted away yet.  they're just having memory flashbacks.  

I've heard that the kid "meets his dead sister that he didn't know about", well really?  are you sure the parents NEVER mentioned her existence to the boy?  I doubt that.  yesterday was the 19th anniversary of my sons death, and I STILL think and talk of him.  I highly doubt that the parents in this movie never talked about the passing of their little girl in front of their son.  

my idea of "heaven" is definitely not what others on this site have.  my idea of heaven is to be able to be completely free of time, sleep, finance, hunger, and illness.  basically; i'll be able to do anything I want at anytime I want, to see how the mountains were made, to see the furthest galaxies, or the smallest ant colonies, or even be reincarnated.  in "my" heaven I won't be laying prostrate in front of a demanding "god" in need of constant praise, or having my enemies serve me a feast.  no, my heaven isn't anything like "gods" heaven......

then again, fantasies are just that.  FANTASTIC!!

How can you have "memory flashbacks" of a place you've never been? There are many instances of people seeing/hearing details of things that they would have no other way of knowing. It's a mystery that shouldn't be dismissed easily imo.

And what Heaven has your enemies serving you a feast? That's a new one to me 

[czuch]

As long as I can have a beer and my dog.

[Willow]

Alph and I hold views about 180 degrees apart, but we agree on one thing.  Death makes no mistakes.  The only time one is near death is just before he passes.  There are a few documented cases otherwise.

When I was a teenager my father, he's gone now, I believe was having a real struggle with life.  He took me for a ride and we talked.  He talked.  I sat in the passenger seat.  Among the things he told me was his observation that whether or not there is a Heaven to be gained we live a better life here if we follow the dictates that God has given us. 

I didn't necessarily believe him that day.  I lived several years a little on the wild side.  I hurt some people and I did some damage to my own self in the interest of pursuing what I thought would be fun.  I did enjoy some of it for the time.

I believe him now.  I have come to accept that most of the rules He gave us are more for our own benefit than His.

There is always a possibility that some of my friends may be right and I may be wrong concerning the afterlife.  Even then I won't regret how I've chosen to live.

I've heard a lot of criticism from both sides on some of the scenarios presented by the movie.  Some of that may just be the inaccuracy of how a witness tries to describe what he saw.  I guess now I'm going to need to get a copy of the book and see for myself.

I've been to the door twice but He didn't see fit to let me in or even let me see what's there.  I'll be back. 

[DIGGER]

to each his own......but according to the Bible......iffin ya don't make it to heaven.....I'm afraid some are going to be disappointed in their afterlife.

[Paxton]

Willow's Quote:
"... I've been to the door twice but He didn't see fit to let me in or even let me see what's there."
====================================================================

Well, did you get to touch the doors?   If so, were they HOT or Cold?

[Willow]

Willow's Quote:
"... I've been to the door twice but He didn't see fit to let me in or even let me see what's there."
====================================================================

Well, did you get to touch the doors?   If so, were they HOT or Cold?

Well, since you asked, one time I was quite comfortable with the possibility of passing.  It felt welcoming and warm.  I don't know what you expected with cold.

The other time I have no clear memory to evaluate.

[Robert]

Why would you talk about a miscarriage to a child, this is how the sister died, no one ever really met her. What about the grandfather that died when the father was 7 years old? Colton told the dad all about him and the adventures that they used to have including the time on a farm. He also described his father yelling at God in the sanctuary in the hospital. Children and aborted babies make heaven. Some may find it Kind of hard, some a relief, to think about meeting the baby you aborted in heaven. Death is not final didn't Jesus say I have the keys to death and Hades? Death is a door, life is not the flesh but in the spirit and that spirit is eternal.
ze 37:6  'I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
Eze 37:7  So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
Eze 37:8  And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.
Eze 37:9  Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'"
Eze 37:10  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

1Co 15:54  But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
1Co 15:55  "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O  DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

[donaldcc]

  my wife will go there.  me, I will be rotting in the dirt with worms crawling through me.  such is life.

[Paxton]

DON's QUOTE..."I will be rotting in the dirt with worms crawling through me."

Don;
Burials are too expensive and slow as compared to cremation... which is what I'll do.    
I don't want to be in a coffin with people looking and opining whether the stiff looks dead or alive. 
Or tellin' lies as to how good and relevant I was to Mankind! 

The only drawback to cremation is that the residual ashes of the last customer get mixed with "yours." 
At any rate, my ashes will be dispersed over my parents grave.

[donaldcc]

   
    sorry to misinform.  my plans are for crispy fried and distribution at place of my desires. or if  a problem, just dump me out.  I don't really care.

[Wizzard]

I have no fear of dying at all. I know where I am going, and its not because of anything I have done!
Its a transition and I get to live forever.

[Hooter]

Willow's Quote:
"... I've been to the door twice but He didn't see fit to let me in or even let me see what's there."
====================================================================

Well, did you get to touch the doors?   If so, were they HOT or Cold?

Well, since you asked, one time I was quite comfortable with the possibility of passing.  It felt welcoming and warm.  I don't know what you expected with cold.

The other time I have no clear memory to evaluate.

When I was in my scooter accident I saw a dead friend of mine as the truck ran me over. He put his foot out and said: "not yet". Whats it mean? I have no idea! Dying is like birth, I don't think you will remember? I have absolutely no fear of dying. Just my opinion.

[DIGGER]

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned
to her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike
up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just started to a game on her phone, replied to the total
stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God,
or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.

"Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask
you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same
stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns
out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"

The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence,
thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which
the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss
God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know crap?"

And then she went back to playing on her phone.  PRICELESS!

[3fan4life]

my idea of "heaven" is definitely not what others on this site have.  my idea of heaven is to be able to be completely free of time, sleep, finance, hunger, and illness.  basically; i'll be able to do anything I want at anytime I want, to see how the mountains were made, to see the furthest galaxies, or the smallest ant colonies, or even be reincarnated.  in "my" heaven I won't be laying prostrate in front of a demanding "god" in need of constant praise, or having my enemies serve me a feast.  no, my heaven isn't anything like "gods" heaven......

Alph, I don't think that your ideas about Heaven are that far off from what many here believe. Heaven will indeed be a HAPPY place.

The Bible tells us that in Heaven there will be no more sorrow and no more pain.

One of the things that I look forward to when I get to heaven is being reunited with loved ones who have gone before me.

     

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Re 21:4 NKJV).

I do believe that we will fall down on our knees and worship God in a way that we have never done before.

For it is written:
   "As I live, says the LORD,
   Every knee shall bow to Me,
   And every tongue shall confess to God."
(Romans 14:11 NKJV).

But, We won't do this because God commands it. We will do this because we suddenly realize the full awesomeness and immensity of God. In our minds all of us make God very small. Once we see who and what He really is we will be completely overwhelmed.

That is what this song refers to:


I Can Only Imagine


Personally, I don't fantasize about Heaven. Fantasizing is for things that aren't real. Heaven is for real and sometimes I do imagine what it will be like when I get there.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have no fear of dying at all. I know where I am going, and its not because of anything I have done!
Its a transition and I get to live forever.

IW, I guess our thoughts on this are completely opposite. I do fear dying, I have no idea where I'm going, and it probably will be because of what I've done in this life.

[3fan4life]

I have no fear of dying at all. I know where I am going, and its not because of anything I have done!
Its a transition and I get to live forever.

IW, I guess our thoughts on this are completely opposite. I do fear dying, I have no idea where I'm going, and it probably will be because of what I've done in this life.

We had almost this same discussion at Bible study last night.

People don't have to get their life "Right" before they can accept God.

The beauty of God is that he loves and accepts us just as we are.

There is nothing that any of us have ever done or ever will do that he doesn't already know about.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
(Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV).

So, it's not anything that we have done that keeps us from God. We keep ourselves from Him when we don't accept the love that He is offering.


Most everyone has read John 3:16

   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

But few have ever read verses 17 and 18:

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God offers us unconditional Love, Grace and Mercy. It is there for everyone, regardless of anything that is in their past.

Each person must decide for themselves if they are going to accept it or not.

Whether we spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell isn't about what we have done or might do in the future.

It's about accepting the gift that God has offered.

Jesus paid the price for all of us.

He knew that millions would not accept the gift that had cost Him so much and He did it anyway.

Because, He loves us all.   

[Valkernaut]

My contention is STILL - no one knows for sure....

Jim

[3fan4life]

My contention is STILL - no one knows for sure....

Jim

Do I know Heaven is real because I have seen it or touched it ?  No.

Do I know that Heaven is real because I BELIEVE ?  Yes.

[Robert]

Rom 10:9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Rom 10:10  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Rom 10:11  For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[Valkernaut]

My contention is STILL - no one knows for sure....

Jim

Do I know Heaven is real because I have seen it or touched it ?  No.

Do I know that Heaven is real because I BELIEVE ?  Yes.

I wonder if I am the only one who has(and still do) live my life as if It all IS true(even tho I don't KNOW whether it is or not)....Even IF it's not, it makes everything else eaiser to live with!

[alph]

My contention is STILL - no one knows for sure....

Jim

Do I know Heaven is real because I have seen it or touched it ?  No.

Do I know that Heaven is real because I BELIEVE ?  Yes.

I wonder if I am the only one who has(and still do) live my life as if It all IS true(even tho I don't KNOW whether it is or not)....Even IF it's not, it makes everything else eaiser to live with!

my life got much less complicated when I gave up "religion" of all types.  when I realized that it's better to "live" life then to fear death (or the "judgment" there after) I began to be happier with things.  when I rejected the "you're going to hell if you eat meat on Friday during lent" crap, and the "you're going to hell if you look at porn" garbage, I stopped feeling guilty for my "sins".  then it dawned on me that holy roller born again christians live life like that so why shouldn't I?  if my oldest brother could steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from my parents, and the banks in the Chandler Arizona area and not feel guilty, why should I feel guilty for looking at some other woman's boobs when I'm in the check out line?  man, I wish I would have given up "religion" when I was a 4 hour boner teenager!!  man, all the sex I could have enjoyed when I was younger (and not fear going to hell over it!!)

[SANDMAN5]

my life got much less complicated when I gave up "religion" of all types.  when I realized that it's better to "live" life then to fear death (or the "judgment" there after) I began to be happier with things.  when I rejected the "you're going to hell if you eat meat on Friday during lent" crap, and the "you're going to hell if you look at porn" garbage, I stopped feeling guilty for my "sins".  then it dawned on me that holy roller born again christians live life like that so why shouldn't I?  if my oldest brother could steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from my parents, and the banks in the Chandler Arizona area and not feel guilty, why should I feel guilty for looking at some other woman's boobs when I'm in the check out line?  man, I wish I would have given up "religion" when I was a 4 hour boner teenager!!  man, all the sex I could have enjoyed when I was younger (and not fear going to hell over it!!)

I said years ago that alph's problem isn't with God, it's with people. Reading his posts you figure out that he's been involved with people that REALLY don't understand the Bible. Why should a Christian fear death? I, too, gave up religion years ago....now I have a relationship with God!! MUCH BETTER!!
I can eat meat on Friday or work on the Sabbath (most people STILL think Sunday is the Sabbath, it's Saturday) or rob little old ladies. Against the Mosaic Law? Yes. But I live by the New Testament.
God's Grace toward us...you know, the whole "Jesus thing". Far too many churches still try to teach fear and damnation or try to mix the old and new. I still honor and respect the Commandments, but not out of fear. Someday, alph and others might figure out that just because there's a Cross on top of the building doesn't mean God's Word is being taught correctly inside. Most of us know that some people use the Bible only to get fame/fortune/power. They will answer someday. In the meantime, try not to put everyone that  professes a Love for and belief in God in the "religious" category. After all, atheism is a religion.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My contention is STILL - no one knows for sure....

Jim

Do I know Heaven is real because I have seen it or touched it ?  No.

Do I know that Heaven is real because I BELIEVE ?  Yes.

I wonder if I am the only one who has(and still do) live my life as if It all IS true(even tho I don't KNOW whether it is or not)....Even IF it's not, it makes everything else eaiser to live with!

my life got much less complicated when I gave up "religion" of all types.  when I realized that it's better to "live" life then to fear death (or the "judgment" there after) I began to be happier with things.  when I rejected the "you're going to hell if you eat meat on Friday during lent" crap, and the "you're going to hell if you look at porn" garbage, I stopped feeling guilty for my "sins".  then it dawned on me that holy roller born again christians live life like that so why shouldn't I?  if my oldest brother could steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from my parents, and the banks in the Chandler Arizona area and not feel guilty, why should I feel guilty for looking at some other woman's boobs when I'm in the check out line?  man, I wish I would have given up "religion" when I was a 4 hour boner teenager!!  man, all the sex I could have enjoyed when I was younger (and not fear going to hell over it!!)

It was the fear of going to hell that stopped you from having sex when you were young? I was thinking about a lot of things but that sure Wasnt one! It was usually the girls that stopped me dead in my tracks not the fear of hell

[weeder]

Its about  denying things   isn't it?   

all our secrets?  our lies we told?  people we screwed?     We get on a motorcycle to clear our heads?  why?  Clear our heads from the stress and challenges we encounter in our daily lives?

After 30 years of looking at this earth/human/natural existence    Ive come to the conclusion that  there is a super  wonderful joyful, happy  wonderful superbeing that said;    I am what I am  and ILL DAMN prove it---

[Paxton]

meathead and weed... err...          +2.7 on both your comments

"Life moves very fast. It rushes from Heaven to Hell in a matter of seconds."

[The emperor has no clothes]

meathead and weed... err...          +2.7 on both your comments

"Life moves very fast. It rushes from Heaven to Hell in a matter of seconds."

only 2.7

[Paxton]

You guys can split the 2.7 between the two of you!