Cuttings One and Two

Paul at Ephesus

I was extremely pleased to see what Bible scholars did when I bought my New International Version that included the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible aid. There is a cross-reference from 2 Corinthians 12:3:

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven. I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me. By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12:1–10.

to the location where Paul was stoned, left for dead, and strengthened by the disciples:

It happened in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. There they preached the Good News.

At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They called Barnabas “Jupiter,” and Paul “Mercury,” because he was the chief speaker.…
Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there to make trouble for Paul, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of God. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

Acts 14:1–6, 14:8–12, 18–23.

This means that the scholars, from the knowledge of NDE, have discussed and identified this event as a NDE, seeing as how the dating Paul provides for us places him in the right area. They have associated Paul’s paradise passage with his stoning. And thereby have established it as a possible NDE, thinking he may have nearly died or that he was resurrected outside of Lystra. Yes! [Please excuse my excitement. –jce.]

Injuries and medical problems from the car wreak

I have the following medical conditions from the injuries caused because of the car wreak.  Some of the conditions are consistent with traumatic brain injury, i.e. frontal lobe and cerebellum damage, swell on left, compression on right, and impact:
 . truncal ataxia:
 . . clumsy
 . . unsteady gate
 . . little balance when I pivot around or look up

 . frontal lobe:
 . . soft spoken
 . . slurred
 . . often can’t quickly recall the word
 . . often state the word spelled close to the same

 . multiple sleep disorders :
 . . sleep apnea
 . . narcolepsy
 . . sleep onset paralysis

 . bouts of clinical depression: 
 . . potassium and other electrolyte losses/imbalances

 . frontal lobe executive functions:
 . . uninhibited behavior, risky behaviors,
 . . can be rather difficult to work with
 . . memory problems
 . . “problems with authority”-it is actually authority has problems with me,
 . . ADD/ADHD-like behavior
 . . generally mentally slow (thinking speed)

. edema (swollen left, compacted right brain hemispheres)
 . . substantial mid-line shift
 . . more easily triggered panic attacks (flight or fight behavior)
 . . an occasional shiver/tremor

other head injuries:
 . no sense of smell
 . one heck of a spider web scar on my left forehead
 . change in astigmatism of left eye (broken orbit)
 . right middle ear:
 . . deaf
 . . leaky semicircular canal (labyrinth)-slight pressure causes vertigo
 . . tinnitus

As well, I am all too aware of my need for the NDE I had.  Without it, being so much a logical, philosophical person, I would have challenged my faith too much and not have progressed well in Christianity or Christ-likeness.  With it I have half a chance.