Share this pageJune in Heaven - Alzheimer's and Christianity
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- Published on Thursday, 30 April 2015 17:23
- Written by Stanton O. Berg
"JUNE IN HEAVEN - ALZHEIMER'S and CHRISTIANITY"
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(June and Stan’s hands - November 2007 - late stage - 11th Year Alzheimer's)
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"ALL ABOUT CHRISTIANITY"
I will on occasion receive questions from non Christians as to "What Christianity is all about"...this page is my attempt to answer that question as fully an completely as possible. I hope that what you read below is an answer to that/your question!
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Photo Commentary: One often hears the comment that "a photo is worth a thousand words"...In this case of June and Stan's hand's, that saying is true. The photo above was taken by a staff photographer for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune while doing a feature story...if one looks closely, one will see that Stan's right hand is on top of June's right hand in a caressing position. June is holding/gripping a wooden hand carved walnut cross in her right hand...the cross is being griped by June for two reasons. June is a Christian and has other crosses (Necklace) that have been a life-time joy to her...In this case however, the Cross also serves a very important purpose...it is common in late stage Alzheimer's for the victim in late stages to tightly clench their primary hand in a tight and uncomfortable fist clench. This hand made walnut cross serves a purpose of giving June something to hold in that tightly clenched right hand, leaving the hand more relaxed...June would hold her Christian Cross all day long in this fashion...there is a commercial manufacturer of these hand made Walnut crosses.,,June now has this wooden cross with her at Lakewood Cemetary and in addition, June is wearing a Gold Cross around her neck.
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I make daily postings on various Alzheimer’s related group sites world wide as well as on Stan and June’s Memorial Facebook pages…Most of such postings are non Religious in nature or non Christian focused. A few postings however, while they are religious, are intended to be ecumenical in the contents discussion. A few of the postings (10 %) or pages as found on June's website are Christian oriented.
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“JUNE K. BERG – A JOURNEY THROUGH ALZHEIMER'S”.
Such pages, postings and discussions are not intended to be demeaning of other religions but are focused on providing Peace, Care and Comfort to both victims of the terrible disease Alzheimer’s as well as for their care givers and loved ones.
June, who died a victim of Alzheimer’s, was the inspiration for Stan’s conversion from an open agnostic to a believing Christian…it was this Christianity that carried Stan through the darkest days of June’s 12 year journey through the shadows of Alzheimer’s…and the later grieving process that has followed June’s Alzheimer’s death on 23 October 2008….it has provided Stan the strength needed to weather this darkest storm in June and Stan’s 56 years of marriage…
It is Stan’s hope and belief, that the faith based Christian comfort and help he received could and would also be of similar help to others embarked on the same dark journey…a faith that June’s journey through the Alzheimer’s darkness has ended with June now living in heavenly splendor…no more tears, no more sorrow and no more pain…and that when Stan finishes his time on earth, he will also join June in Heaven.
So what is June and Stan’s Christianity all about?…The Christian Bible of course tells it all…both the old and new Bible testaments consist of 66 books and has over 800,000 words in the King James word for word translation of the Bible. It is Stan’s opinion, that four quotations from three of the books of the Bible (all in the new Testament) are the basics needed to provide the understanding necessary to live a Christian life and to find comfort and peace in times of trial, sadness, sickness, and disease…and to find and provide the pathway leading to a final home in Heaven. The entire Bible can always remain a lifetime source of study, comfort and inspiration.
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A CHRISTIAN'S TICKET TO HEAVEN
Christians know and understand that we are all sinners and cannot possibly live up to the righteous sinless person that God desires us to be if we are to live with him in Heaven…No one can earn their way to Heaven…one gets to Heaven by faith and faith alone. God has provided the gateway to becoming that righteous and sinless person that he demands of all of us…God has provided his grace and forgiveness by sacrificing his son Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for our sins…As believers enter Heavens gates, they are transformed into the righteous person that God demands of them...This promise of grace and forgiveness is found in the Book of John 3:16 (KJV)…This verse has been called the “Super Summary” of the Bible and the Bible’s “Bottom Line”
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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Another verse from the book of John tells us in the words of Jesus, where we will stay in God’s Heaven…John 14:2-3 (KJV)
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“ In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
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GOD'S EXPECTATIONS of A CHRISTIAN
The book of Corinthians tells us what kind of a life God wants us to live…it is a life of Love…this type of love could only be described as a life of unconditional love for all mankind…
The Bible is also clear on the actions of man that God Hates the most..."These things doth the Lord hate...A Proud look, a lying tongue...a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations...he that SOWETH DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN"...(Proverbs 6:16-6:19...(KJV)
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(LOVE)
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"1 CORINTHIANS 13: 1-8 tells us about "Love...(TLB)"
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“1. If had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them, and could speak in every language in all of Heaven and earth, but didn't LOVE others, I would only be making noise."
"2. If I have the gift of prophecy and knew all about what is going to happen in the future, knew everything about everything, but didn't LOVE others, what good would I do, Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without LOVE."
"3. If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn't LOVE others, it would be of no value whatever."
"4. Love is very Patient and Kind, Never Jealous or Envious, Never Boastful or Proud, "
"5. Never Haughty or Selfish or Rude. LOVE does not Demand its own way. It is not Irritable or Touchy. It does not hold Grudges and will hardlly even notice When Others do it Wrong.".
"6. It is Never Glad about Injustice, but Rejoices Whenever Truth Wins Out."
"7. If You Love Someone You will Be Loyal to Him No Matter What the Cost. You will Always Believe in Him, Always Expect the Best of Him, and Always Stand Your Ground in Defending Him."
"8. All the Special Gifts and Powers From God will Someday Come To An End, But LOVE GOES ON FOREVER. Someday Prophecy and Speaking in Unknown Languages, and Special Knowledge - These Gifts will Disappear. "
"13. There are three things that remain - FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE - and the Greatest of these is LOVE."
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"WHAT GOD HATES: PROVERBS 6:16 - 6:19)"
While the Christian God, is a God of Love, and Love is the Pillar of the Christian Religion, God is also a God of Hate, in that God Hates those things that undermine the Christian Principles of Love.
I am sure that all readers will immediately ask, what are those things that God Hates and what are those things that Undermine the Christian Principles of Love?
Solomon answers this question in the Book of Proverbs:
1. "God Hates a Proud Look." Pride goes before destruction, and a Haughty Spirit before a Fall. (Proverbs 16-18)"
2. "God Hates a Lying Tongue". (Proverbs)
3. "God Hates Hands that Shed Innocent Blood". (Proverbs)
4. "God hates a Heart that devises evil imaginations". (Proverbs)
5. "God hates feet that are swift in running to mischief". (Proverbs)
6. "God hates a "False Witness that breathes out lies." (Proverbs)
7. "God hates those that sow Discord among the Brethren ". (Proverbs)
This PROVERB NUMBER 7, describes our present day political scene...while God will forgive us our sins, it is not quite that simple...God forgives sins when we are sorry for them, and when we try to repent for them, and when we try not to repeat them...while we may fail and repeat our sins, if it is not our intention to repeat them, then God will again forgive us.
However, it is clear that on our political scene today, politicians spread hate at every turn and would never think of repenting of them...they often seem Proud when they sow discord among the brethren!
I can remember of only one politician who followed God's desires and never sowed discord among the brethren. That Man was Ronald Reagan...His daughter said she never once, heard her father speak poorly of the members of the opposing party and that her father, President Ronald Reagan spoke with God every Day! June recognized President Ronald Reagan as an honest man, I remember very clearly, how June on the day of President Reagan's Death, June saved the News Paper Article from the Minneapolis Star, even though June herself, was deep in the grip of Alzheimer's on that same day!
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"SATAN'S POWER to CAUSE SICKNESS. ILLNESS and DISEASE"
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The Bible is clear on Satan's Power to Spread Sickness, Illness and Disease in this world...below is a listing of 5 Bible verses/references that make Satan's Power very clear!
Satan was once in Heaven but disgraced himself by trying to take control of Heaven...His name was Lucifer. God banned him from Heaven. He is best known as "Lucifer the Fallen Angel...S
Satan is often called the Devil...Satan and the Devil are one and the same!
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1. "God of this World." ... (2 Corinthians 4:4) KJV.
2. "Prince of the Power of the Air." ... (Ephesians 2:2) KJV.
3. "Prince of This World." ... (John 12:31) KJV.
4. "The Whole World Lies in the Power of the Evil One." ... (1 John 19:5) KJV.
5. "Be Sober, be Vigilant: Because Your Adversary the Devil, as a Roaring Lion, Walketh About, Seeking Whom He may Devour." ... (1 Peter 5:8) KJV.
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"CHRISTIAN PRAYERS AND OUR CHRISTIAN GOD"
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(The Lord's Prayer)
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"The Lord's Prayer"...The following is the Lord's Prayer from the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him how to pray...the prayer appears twice in the KJV of the Holy Bible: in the Gospel of Matthews 6:9-13, and in the Gospel of Luke 11:1-4. The Prayer which Jesus teaches His disciples and appears in the Book of Luke is slightly different than the Matthews version ...One difference is that the last line is not included...Below is the complete Lord's Prayer:
"THE LORD'S PRAYER"
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Our Father Which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom Come,
Thy Will be Done -
In Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day -
Our Daily Bread.
And Forgive us our Debts,
As we Forgive Our Debtors.
And Lead Us not into Temptation
But Deliver us from Evil:
For Thine is the Kingdom, and
The Power, and the Glory, for Ever.
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AMEN.
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"LONGEVITY and THE LENGTH OF OUR LIVES"
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Our longevity or the length of our lives is not predetermined, nor a number fixed in stone...it may be affected by many factors including inherited family longevity, the way we live our lives, as well as the influence of God and his love, and his laws...
We have an enemy, and that enemy is Satan...the most righteous often become a target of Satan!...at least 5 paragraphs of the KJV Bible tells of how Satan rules this world and impacts our longevity and will do so until Jesus once again returns!...June became a target of Satan, because her life made her an enemy of and a target of Satan!
We all have a Guardian Angel that helps to protect us and influence our decisions and extend our lives! All Christians have the Holy Spirit within their bodies...the Holy Spirit is in constant communication with us by way of the voice of our Conscience!
Many Bible Verses advise us in ways that God may influence our lives and impact the length of our lives...below are outlined a number of Bible verses that can help to add years to our lives if the admonitions are followed and we try to use our own care and wisdom.
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"THE BIBLE and LONGEVITY"
1. PSALM 90:10 (KJV) ... "The Days of our lives are three Score Years and Ten, and if by reason of strength they be four score years...for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
2. EXODUS 20:12 (KJV) ... "Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be Long upon the land which the Lord thy God Giveth You."
3. 1 KINGS 3:14 (KJV) ... "So if you walk in my ways and keep my Statutes and Commandments, just as your father David, than I will prolong your days."
4. PROVERBS 3:2 (KJV) ... "My Son, Forget Not my Law, but Let Thine Heart keep My Commandments: for Length of Days, and Long Life, and Peace, Shall They Add to Thee."
5. PROVERBS 4:10 (KJV) ... "Listen My Son, and Receive My Words, and the Years of Your Life will be Many."
6. PROVERBS 9:11 (KJV) ... "For Through Wisdom. Your Days, Will be Multiplied, and Years added to Your Life."
7. PROVERBS 10:27 (KJV) ... "Respect for the Lord Prolongs s life, but the Years of the Wicked Will be Shortened."
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"YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" - Matthew 5:16 KJV
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"Ye are the light of the World. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
"Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."
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* Good works must be done with love or they are meaningless.
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CHOOSE LIFE - THE BIBLE AND THE CHRISTIAN'S FREE WILL
Often I will see or hear Christians talk as if our life were cast in stone and our death pre-determined by God...This is totally false and displays a high level of ignorance of the Christian Religion...The fact is: God has Given us the right of choice...we are not robots!...we determine our own destiny!
Deuteronomy 30:19 makes this very clear: "I Have Set Before You LiIe and Death, Therefore "Choose" Life."
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(Billy Graham)
Billy Graham has this to say: "If God eliminated evil by programming us to perform only good acts, we would lose this distinguishing mark - the ability to make choices. We would no longer be free moral agents...We would be reduced to the status of Robots...Robots do not love. God created us with the capacity to love. We cannot force others to love us. We can make them serve us or obey us. But true love is founded upon one's freedom to choose to respond."
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There are those who think that our date of death is predetermined by God or that he knows our time of death...again this is totally wrong and flys in the face of our free will...the Bible contains at least 10 or more things that we can CHOOSE to do during our lifetime that will change our length of life...
One of the many things is the admonition to "Honor Your Father and Your Mother that Your Days May be Long..."...and the list goes on...
So choose life - John 3:16 says it all..."For God So Loved the World, that He Gave His Only Begotten Son, that Whosoever Believeth in Him Should Not Perish, But Have Everlasting Life."
One could say that this is the accountants "Bottom Line" and the super summary of the Bible...
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WHEN ALZHEIMER'S COMES TO STAY
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease in which the brain is dying and the memory is slowly lost…first to go is short term memory and last to go is the long term memory…victims of this disease in the late stages do not even recognize themselves in a mirror…the brain at the time of death is only 2/3rd's the normal size…the brain being the body’s control center, slowly shuts down all body functions…when the Alzheimer’s victim forgets all about God, as they eventually will, does God still remember them?…I feel that we are assured by the Bible that God will and does remember them…
No matter how the personality, the mind, the mentality and the intellect of the Alzheimer’s victim is changed by the disease, the “Soul/Spirit” of the victim/believer remains until the body dies. At this earthly death, the “Soul/Spirit leaves the body and is ushered into a heavenly realm to meet God…in a way not understood by man’s’ intellect, is a molding and intertwining of the “Soul” and the “Holy Spirit”….
God will be true to his promise as reflected in the Bible and as found in the book of Romans 8: 38-39 (KJV).
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"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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So, yes, at times in my postings I may utilize Christian Bible references in an effort to bring care, comfort and peace to the many people who may be an Alzheimer’s victim or a caregiver or a loved one…on occasion I may offer to pray for such victims, caregivers or loved ones…again, there is no intention to demean other religions, only to provide care and comfort by way of my Christian religion and to provide the comfort that I found under very similar past circumstances…and to honor June’s memory and to reflect God’s Love.
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(Jesus welcoming a new saint into Heaven)
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A basic truth that we must always remember and that is God did not cause our illness, our disease, our Alzheimer's nor our hardships as some form of tempering or conditioning of our bodies…illness is the realm of Satan and at least four (4) passages in the new testament alone, make this abundantly clear…
JESUS has said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”…(John 10:10 KJV)
God works to bring some form of goodness out of Satan’s evil…
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Visit June’s Website and learn all about Alzheimer’s:..(www.junebergalzheimers.com)
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Stan's Note: (11/2020) Since page was created, April 2015, approx. 8,500 persons have visited It.
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Readers's Comments
Diana Perera - Colombo, Sri Lanka - (1 May 2015):"Thanks Stanton for such inspiration."
Patricia Speck - Cardiff, United Kingdom - (1 May 2015): "Thank you for the wonderful message of hope for all who believe Stanton. God's promise is that His Word will never return to Him void...so there will be people reading this that will gain comfort and others who will want to learn more...Believe in our Saviour and gain eternal life. Stay Blessed my friend."
Louise Ann Howard - Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia - (1 November 2015):"Lovely to read as always Stanton O. Berg my lifestyle is my faith and only sickness stops me from attending our little church in the home on Sunday morning. I do not know how I would cope without my faith Stanton my special mate. Louise."
Anne Donnelly - Belfast, Ireland - (1 November 2015): "Good morning Stanton the sun is out in Belfast. I've been reading June's page with interests. I haven't seen anything you would need to change so far."
Louann Tomassi-Heydt - Big Piney, Wyoming - (1 November 2015): "Beautifully written and I couldn't agree more! Through my 12 years of caregiving my Mom it was only my faith in God's Word that got me through and knowing I will see my Mom and Dad again. God was so faithful through all of her journey in so many miraculous ways..."
Marsha McKneely Ault - Nacogdoches, Texas - (2 November 2015):"Enjoyed your post of Alzheimer's and the joy we will have in heaven with our Savior, Lord, and King! Hope you have a good day."
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June's Passing
After an almost 12 year journey into the shadows of Alzheimer's, early one morning in late October 2008, an exhausted June felt God's gentle touch on her shoulder and heard the words: "Come Home June!" As June lay like a wounded soldier on a battlefield, it was God's Angels that ushered June into a Heavenly Kingdom to the sound of a chorus of Angels...and into June's new home, a "Mansion on the Hilltop", where there is no pain, nor illness nor tears...June's funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website in the drop down menu under the "In Memoriam" label - just Click on:
"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam"