Stories to Inspire
We’ve been researching the idea of involvement with the ‘cloud of witnesses’. Convincing current testimonies and newly revealed Scriptures shine new light on this once-taboo topic. Interesting insight: All those who are “in Christ” and have passed through the grave, are not dead… they have been experiencing everlasting life from the moment of their salvation (Jn 3:16).
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Leroy acknowledged my greeting
This week a very dear friend of mine Leroy, passed on into his eternal reward. He ran a trophy-filled race and is now receiving his reward — Jesus, face to face! And He’s in the great cloud of witnesses now. Wow!!! Within a few hours of his passing, I sent the following text to a close mutual friend.
Leroy & Cindy Metzger
“Awww. My buddies… Leroy & Jesus. I feel lots of love for Leroy. He’s in the great cloud of witnesses now. If you have time to look this way Leroy, Hi!!! Sending you my love.”
Well, something unexpected happened less than 30 mins after I sent that text. I was out running and met a man on a bike. He rode past me, shortly turned around, came back and stopped to talk with me. Unusual! So I stopped to engage with him. He was the nicest cheerful and chatty 69-year-old man. I asked his name and he said, “Roy!” Before we parted, I asked if I could pray for him. He agreed and we soon parted ways.
As I walked away, I remembered that just minutes before, I had solicited Leroy’s attention and conveyed my love. Well, here’s something interesting: Many times I called Leroy, ‘La Roy’ which means ‘the king’ (roy means king). What are the chances that the very next person I meet in this world, after I just greeted Leroy… is named Roy?
Upon realizing this, I quickly turned and watched the bicyclist in the distance. He was already out of earshot, but I wanted to call him back because it just dawned on me, “La Roy, you just came to check in with me, didn’t you? Wow! Love ya, my buddy! Thanks!”
Mark Hendrickson
Beyond the Map 
I didn’t realize it was THAT Leroy! We knew them also, for a short time. I was just thinking of him in the last week or so and wondering where they were now.
Ben, Yes, it’s that Leroy. He was/is a good man. He made some very radical decisions in his life at pivotal moments to create a worthy legacy. Well, now you know where he is! 🙂
Hi, How are you and your family doing ?
Curious about this one …. are you saying Leroy received info about your text in heaven and came to earth as a different looking man and chatted for a bit and rode off ?
Have a great day, Brian
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Brian, I’m adopting what I think is a more Biblical way of perceiving Heaven. According to Jn 3:13 Jesus said that he WAS in Heaven at that moment, even though He was talking to Nicodemus face to face. So Heaven is not somewhere else, it is with us NOW. Eph 2:6 and Col 3:1 and other passages clearly indicate that we’re already in Heaven NOW. So my mission has been to unlearn some faulty concepts that God and Heaven were far away in a distant galaxy.
In addition, Heb 12: 22-24 has really inspired me.
But you HAVE COME (caps mine) to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant…
I realized that the tense is PAST TENSE. We HAVE ALREADY COME to this mountain of angels, those whose names are registered in Heaven, God, spirits of just men made perfect and Jesus.
We’re not waiting to get there. We’re already there… if I can believe what I’m reading in my Bible. So, I’m exercising to faith to believe the Bible for what it says.
The way I see it, the two worlds (earth and Heaven) are here together. My problem has been that I only had eyes for the earth part. Religion had dumbed me down to experience much of the Heavenly realities until after my ticker stops. Religion said that I would get to experience that Heavenly stuff after I die.
I’m not saying that that man was Leroy, but I am saying that God is able to use any of us (even biker Roy… and even if he was not aware of it) to convey a message and expand my understanding of the simultaneous existence of Heaven and earth. There are just too many Scriptures of our current position in Heaven and our potential for involvement in Heaven NOW, for me to not apprehend it.
Have a great day!
Mark
Hi friends,
So encouraged by all the stories….this one of involvement with the ‘great cloud of witnesses’
reminds me of the time Dave was sitting in his red swivel chair in our San Diego apartment
and playing his ‘magic cords’ worshiping when this cloud came quickly up to our window and
stayed right there until Dave stopped! Then as quickly as the cloud came it retreated and
was gone!
We talked about it later….it felt like the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ coming to join in. Such a sweet
memory!
Love you guys and am encouraged by the testimonies. I’ve been sleeping in my little trailer &
having some great times in the mornings & evenings. Also, I’m so tenderized by His goodness
and grace to me. It has hit us more in these recent days …the grief of those last hours and the loss
of Dave has been more acute than in the beginning because we were so grateful he was not
suffering. But I can’t tell you how special it was that God gave me that song, “heaven is my home”
while I was driving those 2000 miles by myself when we went camping in Oregon.
It’s been quite a journey, this transition & finishing out the business. Hoping to get the taxes
completed & shutting the business down very soon. Probably the first part of September I will be
driving my trailer down to Ryan’s & staying with them for awhile.
Much love to all,
Ann
Sent from my iPad
Ann, I remember you and Dave telling that story. Heaven is pressing in on us… more that we know… or have been aware. But we’re starting to have better eyes and understanding.
One of these days we’ll have to just do some uninterrupted and extended hangout time to debrief and catchup.
Lotsa love
M&D