Good morning on this Saturday, the 20th of August. In last week's blog I wrote about explanations for Near Death Experiences (NDE)s during which people who come to the brink of death say they have hovered above their bodies, seen a inviting light, visited Heaven, been temporarily reunited with loved ones, etc. Some explanations focus upon what changes could be taking place in the dying person's brain which could explain these experiences such as occurrence of hallucinations, or abnormal activity in the temporal lobes and other parts of the brain. Other explanations include lack of oxygen, but oxygen deprivation does not fully explain these occurrences because although there is some commonality in symptoms, many oxygen starved people experience psychotic-like hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, and fear rather than tranquility and peace described by those who have Near Death Experiences. Also not all people who have Near Death Experiences are oxygen deprived. Medication reactions have been suggested as an explanation but fail to adequately explain the phenomenon because some patients are not receiving any medication when they have these experiences. Some psychologists explain Near Death Experiences through the use of depersonalization wherein persons who are facing unpleasant experiences depersonalize and create pleasant fantasies to cope. Truthfully, none of these theories seems to adequately account for and explain Near Death Experiences. The final explanation is that the person's soul does actually temporarily leave their body and experience a glimpse of the afterlife. I have recounted these explanations so you can get an overview of the subject and make your own capable judgment. The Apostle Paul had a similar experience when he reported that he had seen the 3rd Heaven and wrote that he didn't know if he was in or out of his body (2 Corinthians 12:2).

Tomorrow's sermon is the final message on Heaven. You won't want to miss it.

Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, August 13th. As you know I have been preaching a series of messages on Heaven. During the series I alluded to cardiologist, Dr. Maurice Rawlings', testimony about becoming a believer in Christ after hearing so many testimonies from his patients following resuscitation about what they experienced when they came back from the brink. Numerous other books, documentaries, and personal testimonies have focused upon the phenomenon of Near Death Experiences (NDE), and exactly what occurs when people have such experiences. There are many similarities in their accounts of floating above their bodies, moving toward a light source, seeing loved ones and angels, feelings of peace and tranquility, seeing Jesus, etc. Those believers who claim to have seen what lies beyond death's door seem to have no subsequent fear of death and in fact anticipate it with great satisfaction. There have been many scientific theories offered to attempt to debunk the spiritual significance of these experiences and prove they are not indicators of life after death and the existence of Heaven and Hell. In this and next week's blog, I'll explore and analyze each one.
The Hallucination Theory - Some scientists insist that during these Near Death Experiences, the brain secretes an abundant amount of endorphins which produce an effect similar to a runner's high and an elated state. It is also theorized the a ketamine-like substance is released in the body which accounts for the many of the reported features of Near Death Experiences. In all honesty, our research and understanding of the human brain is still in its infancy and there is so much about the brain and its functioning we do not yet know or understand. Perhaps a more thorough biological and scientific explanation will provide a naturalistic explanation of the features of the Near Death Experience, but that will not ultimately resolve the question of if it is the right one since it will never be the only plausible one.
The Temporal Lobe Theory - The temporal lobes of the brain are located under your temples and are involved in naming objects and faces, mood stability, processing of music and tone of voice, among other things. It has been implicated in spiritual experience and insight. When the lobes have been experimentally stimulated, especially the right temporal lobe, there is an increase in religious and spiritual feelings and experience. Thus by electrically stimulating this lobe there is a mimicking of some parts of Near Death Experiences. Although the number of stroke victims which have been affected in this part of the brain have fewer reported Near Death Experiences, many still do. Also, emotions created by stimulating these lobes include fear, sadness, and loneliness which are not present in those who experience a heavenly Near Death Experience. Even if temporal lobe changes account for some of the activity in Near Death Experiences, they may be identifying a brain mechanism associated with death not the experience itself. Next week we'll explore some of the non-neurological explanations.
Tomorrow's sermon is another on Heaven. Please plan on joining us.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this first Saturday of August. Yesterday Standard & Poor's, a credit rating agency, announced they were cutting the rating of the United States from AAA to AA+, a one step downgrade. This is the first time in the nation's history we have received such a downgrade from a major rating agency. The downgrade occurred primarily because the national debt of the U.S. is now greater than the nation's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the total annual production of all our nation's goods and services. Our nation's debt is now 14 trillion dollars and is increasing substantially every day. Other major rating agencies may follow Standard & Poor's lead in the coming months. There is now much finger pointing among the politicos with the usual accuse/excuse syndrome. But regardless of the history and blame, this is a wake up call to right the ship of state. It seems to me that the solutions for our government are similar to the solutions which must be put in place when a family household is swimming in debt.

(1) Stop Excessive Spending: Carefully prioritize spending requirements, eliminate all unnecessary spending (cut up the credit cards), prepare an austere budget, and take steps to stick to it at all costs. Downsizing is often required involving driving an older car and/or moving to a smaller house.

(2) Look For Additional Sources Of Revenue: Members of families frequently have to get a second job, work overtime if available, do odd jobs, and collect monies owed to them by borrowers if any. Our government has plenty of fraud, fat, and waste to cut and many loopholes which should be closed.

(3) Establish Accountability: Take steps to ensure compliance with the steps outlined above. "People don't do what is expected but what is inspected," is an adage which must be put into practice by rigid oversight, monitoring, and corrective measures.

Taking these common sense steps alone would go a long way toward repairing our fiscal balance sheet and restoring our credit rating.

Tomorrow's sermon is another message in the series on Heaven. It is entitled, The Heavenly City - New Jerusalem. I hope you can be there to hear it.

Mel Brown