Robert Wise

All the signs of Halloween.

revwise — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:52:46 +0000

All the signs of Halloween are out.

Pumpkins, cobwebs, scary window decorations everywhere. Fake spiderwebs are in the trees, draped over front doors. Costumes are in every store, even the grocery store.

It’s become a major American event. But what does this holiday reflect? I believe it demonstrates our fear of the unknown. We created creatures of horror from the grave that only reflect our apprehension.

There is hope. We do not have to fear the unknown, the Christian message has a contrary message. The sting has been removed from death. We not longer have to be afraid. Leave all those fears in the ground where they belong, rejoice.

Love doesn’t die at the edge of a grace.

revwise — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:17:21 +0000

In Mexico they celebrate Las Dia de los Mueratos, the Day of the Death. The customs look strange to us but it reminds me of the story of the man placing flowers in a cemetery. He noticed a Chinese man putting rice on a grave. He yelled, “When do you expect your dead ancestor to come up and eat the rice?” The man answered, “About the same time, yours comes up to smell the flowers.”

I am reminded that the deceased remain precious to us. We honor them in many ways, but they all mean the same thing. Love doesn’t die at the edge of a grace.

Halloween…. Zombies…. Goblins…. Death….

revwise — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:30:13 +0000

I’ve been putting up our fall decorations. In Oklahoma, the weatherman appears to think we’re still in summer, but we know that cooler weather is coming no matter what he says!

The leaves are changing color, the air seems a little crisper, the sun is going down earlier and coming up later…

The local stores are now packed out with Halloween decorations and it’s only the lst of October! Halloween’s become bigger than Christmas. I am stuck by the fact that we have a strange view of death. Halloween appears to say that the dead become monsters of some sort. Zombies. Whatever. But by interviews with people with near-death experiences reports the contrary. The Christian faith teaches the opposite. In death we become whole and completed persons. I am looking forward to the day when I am a complete person serving my creator in eternity.

Who is really in charge??

revwise — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:19:15 +0000

The view from the hearse raises the question, “who’s really in charge?” ” Well, of course, I am! The world answers back with a snort and a sneer. Sorry. You’ve missed the ball by a mile. When it’s all said and done, I’m in charge of virtually nothing. When I’m gone, I have control over nothing! Absolutely nothing!

For who’s in charge

Fortunately, scripture tells us that God is. It’s not the view from the hearse that oounts. It’s the view from eternity that tells the story. How do you think eternity is looking on you these days?

L’chaim!!!

revwise — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:18:42 +0000

Judaism celebrates life with the salute, “L’chaim.” The musical Fiddler on the Roof had a number of toasts to “L’chaim”, to life! It is a well known fact that the Jewish world treasures human existence and places the worth of each individual Jew at the top rung on the ladder. At times Christianity has recognized and embraced this value. At other times, it has forgotten. What not rethink the issue this fall? Isn’t the value of every life of such worth.

9-11

revwise — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:17:33 +0000

With the observance of 9-11 behind us, I can’t stop thinking about the number of people who died in the tragedy. At the same time, I am reminded of the Moslem world in the Middle East who rejoiced in the deaths of all of those innocent people. In that part of the world, they value existence in difference terms. It is a sharp contrast in recognizing the value of human life. One of the reminders we receive from “near-death” experiences is that every life is of supreme worth.

Where the Promise is…..

revwise — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:48:27 +0000

Labor Day weekend reminds us that one season is ending and another beginning. The heat of summer gives way to the cool of fall. The days get shorter and the nights longer. The changing of the season worried the ancients as they thoughts the world might end. It didn’t.

Each of us faces some ultimate day “out there” when our world will end. I find that worries contemporaries as much as the ending of season bothered the primiatives. The truth is we don’t need to be concerned. Take a look at I John 5:10-13. That’s where the promise is. It’s worth taking a second look.

Crossing the Threshold of Eternity… about the book.

revwise — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:11:45 +0000

In many instances, people avoid the hospital or home once they learn that someone is on his or her deathbed, and they may go to great lengths to avoid a conversation or encounter with the dying person. Others develop assumptions that the terminally ill change and no longer need or want the relationships they have enjoyed all their lives. While it is true that death takes us to a different place, in our final lap around the track, everyone still needs warmth and caring. My intention is to offer you assurance that you extended hand will still be deeply appreciated by those preparing to leave this world.

Many, many people are unsure of how to talk with a person standing on the threshold of death. The thought of having a conversation with someone who has one foot over the line can feel foreboding or threatening. Consequently, people pretend that the person will not die or try to ignore the situation altogether. They look the other way and the dying pay the price of loneliness. I believe that we can change that picture. By the time you’ve finished this book, I hope you’ll no longer have such feelings. You’ll discover that we can easily talk to the dying and discover their feelings and perceptions.

Our job is to learn how to ask the right questions that will allow the dying to share their inner experiences. You might be surprised to discover what a person will tell you about how it feels to walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I will explore how to appropriately ask those questions.

In order to find the courage to explore these issues, we must be able to think about our own deaths constructively and become comfortable with the idea of our own death. I hope that by the time you finish this book, you will have made peace with the fact of your own demise.

Most of all, I want to offer you a promise that has motivated Christians for centuries. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the Church has always proclaimed victory over death. This promise shows us that we do not have to be afraid. Each of us should not only be comfortable with our own demise, but we should also eagerly await this coming transition. Does this sound strange? It shouldn’t. The apostles wrote large chunks of the New Testament to explain how this promise can be ours. Their clues can help you find peace in this subject.

My hope is that this book will help you accomplish that purpose once and for all.

Share with me…..

revwise — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:23:01 +0000

Have you picked up any “near-death” events or experiences you’d like to share? I’d love to know what you’ve been seeing and experiencing. Often, people simply write these moments off as “unexplainable” and don’t follow them up. Let me know as I take them seriously.

Stories about Crossing over….

revwise — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:16:19 +0000

Recently, I was talking with a hospice nurse about her experiences. She confirmed what I’ve found in my own experience. To the surprise of many people, it is not unusual in the final moments of life for the dying to begin talking with individuals that no one can see. Often these encounters are written off as hallucinations even though they are quite different from hallucinatory experiences.

I am convinced we must learn how to honor these moments and learn from them. Anyone out there have similar stories and experiences they can share? I’d love to hear them.