Thought I'd share a couple of interesting stories that involved two average, every day kids: one born in 1993 in Illinois to a family of atheists, and the other in 1999 in Nebraska to a family whose father was the pastor of a church. Both were celebrating their fourth year of life - some six years apart - when they had a similar experience that would change their lives. Although they didn't know each other, they would share a similar, thought-provoking vision.
Although the events in these two unrelated, yet intertwining stories happened over 10 years ago, I only came across them fairly recently while reading the book "Heaven is for Real" (a 2010 #1 New York Time Best Seller book and upcoming 2014 theatrical motion picture), which tells the story of one of the kids. So whether you believe them or not, you have to admit that the two stories are undeniably interesting and intriguing!
While I did read "Heaven is for Real" and included some of what I read, I borrowed much of what appears below from the following three resources, which I encourage you to check out if you find this at all interesting:
http://heavenisforreal.net/ (Official website of "Heaven is for Real")
http://www.artakiane.com/ (Akiane Kramarik's home page)
http://www.jesusprinceofpeace.com/ (Secondary Akiane Kramarik web page)
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Akiane, Part 1
Born in 1994, Akiane Kramarik grew up in an atheist family. Her mother
came to the US at age 16 from Lithuania. She met Akiane's father who was a chef
in Chicago, and they were married. Akiane's father who had been raised Catholic
had turned to atheism.
In 1998, at the age 4, Akiane unexpectedly began having vivid visions of heaven,
Jesus, angels, and God. At one point, after missing for several hours – Akiane
explained that during that time she had been to Heaven and saw Jesus. Being atheist, her
parents were understandably mystified and concerned by what their daughter was
describing. They eventually came to realize that what Akiane was experiencing
was actually very real to her. In fact, after weeks of articulating the things that
she saw in heaven, her family eventually became believers
in Jesus.
Colton, Part 1
Fast forward to 2002, where another 4 year-old, Colton Burpo of Nebraska,
began a similar journey.
Colton, the son
of a small town Nebraska pastor, claimed to have experienced heaven during
emergency appendicitis surgery.
He told his parents
that he met Jesus riding a rainbow-colored horse and sat in Jesus' lap, while
the angels sang songs to him.
He also talked
about looking down to see the doctor operating,
and saw his grief-stricken dad praying in a small utility
room
(not the waiting room) he had escaped
to….a fact his dad never shared with him.
In heaven, Colton said he met his miscarried sister whom no one had ever told
him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born.
He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on to describe the
horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally big” God and his chair
are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power” from Heaven to help us.
In “Heaven is for Real”, which
chronicles Colton’s story, his parents state that although they had exposed the
4 year-old Colton to some of the basics of the Bible, following his surgery he revealed detailed facts
that they never taught him, and weren't planning to until he was older when he could understand better.
Akiane, Part 2
Following her visions of heaven and Jesus, Akiane became very passionate
about drawing and painting. She began drawing at 4, and painting at 6, teaching
herself and learning mostly from observation and study.
At age 6, according to her
jesusprinceofpeace.com website, she began searching for someone that
looked similar to who she saw as Jesus in her visions so she could paint His portrait. Her family prayed about
it off and on for two years, to no avail. Her parents would even take her to shopping malls
so she could search the faces. She could find no one who fit her vision.
After organizing a day of prayer aimed at fulfilling this desire, a man "over 6 foot tall and whose profession was a carpenter" came to her door
and stated that he understood that she was looking for a model for her Jesus
portrait and that he would be happy to pose. Not surprisingly, it turns out that he was the person she had been looking for.
Akiane sketched and took pictures of the man and began her painting.
Although this was one of her first oil
paintings, it took only 40 hours for the 6 year-old to complete the painting that she would
call 'Prince of Peace'.
Colton, Part 2
The months that followed Colton’s recovery from surgery, during which he claimed to be with Jesus in heaven, his parents also
showed Colton a published painting and portrait of Jesus whenever they came across one, hoping he
would identify one that resembled the Jesus he met in Heaven.
He routinely rejected them all. It wasn't until a couple years later when one day Colton's dad came across Akiane's "Prince of Peace" painting. Upon showing it to his son, Colton became uncharacteristically quiet and stated, "That's Him".
Heaven Is for Real
is the true story of a four-year old son of a small town Nebraska
pastor who experienced heaven during emergency surgery. He talked about
looking down to see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the
waiting room. The family didn’t know what to believe but soon the
evidence was clear.
In heaven, Colton met his miscarried sister whom no one ever had told
him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was
born. He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on
to describe the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally
big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power”
from heaven to help us.
- See more at: http://heavenisforreal.net/book/#sthash.oK90ji7i.dpuf
Heaven Is for Real
is the true story of a four-year old son of a small town Nebraska
pastor who experienced heaven during emergency surgery. He talked about
looking down to see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the
waiting room. The family didn’t know what to believe but soon the
evidence was clear.
In heaven, Colton met his miscarried sister whom no one ever had told
him about and his great-grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was
born. He shared impossible-to-know details about each. Colton went on
to describe the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how “reaaally
big” God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit “shoots down power”
from heaven to help us.
- See more at: http://heavenisforreal.net/book/#sthash.oK90ji7i.dpuf
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So is it a coincidence that two kids, born six years apart, had similar visions when both were four years old; that the man who visited Akiane unannounced happened to be a carpenter and fit the physical description she had in her vision of Jesus (and had been searching two years for), and that the portrait she painted of him was identified by Colton (whom she never met) over a half decade later as looking like the Jesus he met during his vision? Did both families find a way to make a few bucks off of their kids, even though one were atheists and the other Pastors of a church? Could Akiane's "Prince of Peace" portrait possibly be that of the real Jesus?
For naturally rational-thinking creatures like us, this type story of can be hard to swallow for some. But all are good questions and ones you'll have to answer for yourself. As did I.
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think!
A couple of years ago at our church I heard some people discussing a movie review site called MOVIEGUIDE® that was a) family-oriented and b) had an emphasis on Christian values. Upon checking it out, I really liked it, particularly how they broke up their reviews into four areas: "Content", "Summary", "Review" and "In Brief". I found the "Content" section especially helpful, as it broke down into specific detail the violence, language, sex, or nudity (if any) that could be found in each movie. In other words, you'll know what to expect before you see it. This is pretty handy if you're looking for an appropriate movie for your kids to see....or not see.
