APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Four-year-old Jeremy Werdt says he went to heaven during emergency spleen surgery, and his testimony of seeing Jesus and deceased relatives thrilled his Christian family and landed him a book contract.
Posted on 09/10/2012 1:50:39 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Four-year-old Jeremy Werdt says he went to heaven during emergency spleen surgery, and his testimony of seeing Jesus and deceased relatives thrilled his Christian family and landed him a book contract.
Then Jeremy revealed to his family that Wanda Spencer, his maternal grandmother, was not in heaven after all.
“To have Jeremy back and talking about this amazing experience of being with the Lord was the most wonderful day of our lives,” says his mother, Brenda. “He named all the relatives he’d seen and we just sat there crying. Then, after a while, we realized he hadn’t said anything about my mom, Grandma Spencer.”
When Brenda asked about her, Jeremy shook his head and said, “She ain’t there,” then rolled over and went back to sleep.
“Our smiles froze in place,” says Brenda. “All the comfort I’ve had since her death vanished.”
Distressed, the family gathered in Jeremy’s recovery room two days later to gently quiz him again about who he had seen. He was able to repeatedly name and describe every deceased relative he had spent time with in heaven, even ones he hadn’t met during his life on earth.
But when it came to Grandma Spencer, the boy was firm.
“Every time we asked he just shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘Nope. Not there,’” says Brenda. “We suggested maybe he didn’t recognize her because she looked younger in heaven. He smiled and said, ‘Mom, you recognize everyone in heaven. Grandma wasn’t around.’”
The revelation has divided the family. Some doubt Jeremy had an out-of-body experience at all. Others suggest that during Jeremy’s visit to heaven, Grandma Spencer was elsewhere on God’s business.
But “what kind of grandmother wouldn’t stop by to visit her grandson to encourage him before he returns to earth?” asks one of Jeremy’s uncles. “That just doesn’t sound like Mom.”
Other relatives have started to speculate about Grandma Spencer’s actual beliefs. They describe a quiet, mischievous woman with a stubborn streak, very much the opposite of Grandpa Spencer who was outspoken about his faith. Many are wondering if Grandma Spencer ever made a solid declaration of faith.
“She was always coy about it and kept her beliefs to herself,” says Brenda’s sister Beatrice. “She would sit there with a knowing smile when we talked religion. I always thought it was a sign of her wisdom and humility. Now I’m racking my brain to remember if she ever claimed Christ or not. I want anything to hold onto.”
In the weeks since the experience, some say they can’t look at old photographs of Grandma Spencer without a fresh sense of grief and even anger at her. Some say they wish Jeremy hadn’t been granted a heavenly visit at all.
“As wonderful as it was for him, the rest of us are going out of our minds,” says Beatrice. “I wish someone could go back to heaven and find out for sure.”•
....“To have Jeremy back and talking about this amazing experience of being with the Lord was the most wonderful day of our lives,” says his mother, Brenda. “He named all the relatives he’d seen and we just sat there crying. Then, after a while, we realized he hadn’t said anything about my mom, Grandma Spencer....”
....“Every time we asked he just shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘Nope. Not there,’” says Brenda. “We suggested maybe he didn’t recognize her because she looked younger in heaven. He smiled and said, ‘Mom, you recognize everyone in heaven. Grandma wasn’t around.’”
Recall when Larry King “died” on the OR table? During heart surgery? He said he didn’t see the light, only darkness...
Maybe all dogs don’t go to heaven after all...
I think this sight is comedic in nature.
Let’s eat grandpa
or
Let’s eat, grandpa?
of course Larry King would see darkness
Then there’s the story about the rich man who, upon finding himself in Hell, begs to be allowed to warn his relatives.
Perhaps, Grandma was allowed to warn relatives, through Jeremy?
That SHOULD be the message from this story.
This is a comedy website (there is another article about a “Church for Jerks”) and this article is wonderfully subtle in its comedy. The more I think about it, the more amusing it is. Hey, some grandmas are real b___tches on wheels and probably aren’t in heaven.
I don’t put much stock in the words of a four year old boy.
There are many funny articles there!
>>That SHOULD be the message from this story.
I was about to write the same thing. That’s the real message for all of us.
Boy i’m emailing this around!
I don’t know which one looks more like an angel — Jeremy, or Grandma Spencer. One thing is for sure, they both have a mischievious glint in their eye!
The difference of course is that Jeremy believes in Jesus.
I’m guessing ole’ Grandma probably voted for Obama right before she died. An unforgivable sin.
We do not know that Grandma Spencer doesn’t. THe family just can’t remember her talking bout Him. That does not mean she didn’t believe.
But look at their faces, their smiles, their curls, and their eyes — two peas in a pod, I’d say.
This site is filled with church comedy articles:
Man Starts Church for Jerks
Man Arrested for Drunk in the Spirit Driving
Tweeting Causes Pastor to Lose Wise Reputation
They are all very funny if you are involved in a church community.
This is SATIRE!!! Lark News is the Christian equivalent of The Onion...and as someone that works in the church world, quite humorous!
Clever story. I am always a bit amused when someone proudly claims to be an atheist but when a child is ill will ask you to “think good thoughts”. Seriously? Prayers are silly but “thinking good thoughts” is good?
Anyone who’s ever seen Jesus and visited heaven knows the truth about this little boys experience.
First of all, was the child close to death? If this was just a regular surgery (I know it says emergency but plenty of emergency surgeries aren’t life and death), this could have been from anesthetic or even a dream. If it was a real near death experience, then there is some kind of message about grandma, but I wouldn’t presume she was evil and went to hell. I wouldn’t know what to think. The afterlife is probably pretty complicated.
Does that mean the stories are FALSE -— or are they TRUE stories that someone thinks are funny???
Did Grandma vote for Bambi, perhaps?
Votes have consequences, you know. Just look what our country looks like after only three years.
But it isn’t the message of the parable of the rich man. Please re-read Luke 16, vss 19 - 31. For you to say it “should be the message” is to miss the true point of the parable.
Also consider this from St Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Even Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine (meaning God His Father) be done.”
Heh. That’s so wrong.
More likely she voted for Obama after she died.
“this could have been from anesthetic or even a dream.”
But the “story”,,, if true, relates that;
“He was able to repeatedly name and describe every deceased relative he had spent time with in heaven, even ones he hadn’t met during his life on earth.”
Might have been on the shuffleboard court. Or catching the early bird special at Scott’s (They give you a tenderloin, a salad and a baked potato, for four-ninety-five. You know what that cost you after six?).
I know an atheist whose daughter survived a bad car wreck. He said “Man, it was a miracle that she survived.”
I think dogs deserve it far more then a lot of humans.
I think this is the religious version of the Onion. Don’t think they are true.
Here is a link to a book I read years ago titled ‘Dying Testimonies of the Saved and Unsaved” at http://www.amazon.com/The-dying-testimonies-saved-unsaved/dp/B00085VSXK
Ask him if he ever says “Goodbye” to someone.
Then show him the etymology of that word-phrase.
It’s a contraction of “God be with ye”.
So when they say “Goodbye!” they are sending people off with a blessing and protection of God.
Maybe Grandma Spencer was at the BINGO HALL!! Unless Grandma Spencer was a mean SOB...
To all posting:
Hebrews 9:27
King James Version (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
This is a serious subject. . .I’m rather surprised with the posts. http://patburt.com/
you might want to check, ol’ grandma is probably still voting for Obama..
you might want to check, ol’ grandma is probably still voting for Obama..
Matthew 7: 21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
No doubt everyone who goes to heaven will be surprised at who is not there, and who is.
Saying a prayer is not enough, going to church is not enough, saying “I believe in Jesus is not enough.” It is believing and doing the will of the Father. Living a regenerate life.
The family was given a blessing...a warning.
My Canadian cousin’s husband (what does that him and me make us relationwise, I can never figure out?) underwent a brain surgery, fully recovered, and now sits at home staring at a screen, being over five-oh he’s unemployable, his wife, my cousin, works, she considers him an idiot and me a crazy gun happy American cowboy, as you can guess relations are strained, actually non-existent, anyway he says he was clinically dead during the surgery and during that time floated above the operating table observing the procedure and hearing the staff conversing (”Hell, nurse, we’re about to lose another socialized medicine sucker today. Would you like to come over for cocktails after this?”. No, just kidding! - Rc!), but how do we confirm his report?!
Even if it is, the subject ought to give pause for personal reflection if not the impetus to have a conversation with family members regarding their relationship with Jesus. . . before it is too late.
I liked the “Church For Jerks” article.
Yes, there is a message - Grandma hasn’t made it yet and needs her family on earth to keep praying for her.
A survey was recently conducted in our community and over 74% of the citizens did not attend church. That is a sobering statistic.
I don’t think that those reports can be confirmed or refuted. No way for a outsider to observe.
Sounds like a growth demographic.
Ironic, huh?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.