If God's Soldier's Grow Old, Do they Become Legends?

[Angelina]

I have answered your "here" thread brother and thank you for the reminder.

 

[soberxp]

I am a little sad... :unsure: I was chatting to a lovely elderly Christian gentleman in hospital today. He does not remember me but he has had a significant impact on my Christian walk. After spending 40 years in the mission field and being the first white missionary to Papua New Guinea, he had come home to basically retire and help out in his local Church. He has shared so many awesome stories about his exploits for God and as a new believer [or should I say, a new church adherent] many years ago, he taught me so many things and answered all my "newbie, difficult questions" like the dedicated and patient Christian mentor that he was.

God has an incredible way of placing mighty men and women of God in our lives to help us grow and equip us for the ministry...and this is certainly one of them. "Thank you Lord."

I can remember a very special conversation we had... when I once asked why some people believed that were predestined when I had always understood that we come to Jesus based on our own free will after hearing and believing his word and receiving him as Lord by grace through faith?
He did not have the answer and agreed that it needed to go into his "Too hard" basket until he could ask God himself when he got to heaven.

Then he explained it like this; "Just imagine now, that you were in front of the pearly gates and were just about to enter into Heaven. Imagine that there was a sign over the gate that read..."All who "will" may enter in by faith in Jesus." Then as you pass through those gates...another sign on the side says, "Predestined from the foundation of the world." That answer satisfied me completely! ^_^

A very intelligent answer. Amazing!

 

[soberxp]

Now I am looking at a very frail, elderly gentleman in palliative care with Dementia and Alzheimer's who is waiting to go home. He cannot remember me or how much of a blessing he has been, not only in my life but also many uncountable others. Now it is my turn to take care of him.

My question? Why does God not take him home [and others like him] rather than having to endure a few possible years with this progressively debilitating disease. Have they not fought the good fight of faith? Have they not finished the race? :huh:

My observations in daily life suggest that obese individuals are more prone to developing dementia because the human brain requires a substantial supply of nutrients, and obese people may struggle to provide adequate nutrition to the brain.

Of course, I am not implying that your pastor is an obese person, but this is one of the factors that can contribute to dementia—specifically, when the brain lacks sufficient nutrient supply, leading to functional impairments.
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We learn from studying the Bible that the existence and occurrence of diseases are meant to glorify God,
just as without the existence of the blind, the Bible would not be able to describe
what it means when the blind lead the blind.

Therefore, if your pastor has developed Alzheimer's disease, I believe it is a manifestation of glorifying God.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's are such that the elderly become more like children, forgetting many things.
Do you know what state we will be in when we are resurrected and reborn?
Let me tell you: you will forget many things, but you will still be yourself. Your mind will suddenly become like a blank slate, with nothing on it, yet you will still be fully aware that you are yourself.
Perhaps God is using Alzheimer's to illustrate a scenario that aligns with what is described in the Bible.

I'm not entirely certain if this is exactly what it means—this is just my reasonable speculation.

I am also pondering: after being reborn, will I necessarily need to know who you used to be? Would that be beneficial for me?

 

[Angelina]

My observations in daily life suggest that obese individuals are more prone to developing dementia because the human brain requires a substantial supply of nutrients, and obese people may struggle to provide adequate nutrition to the brain.

Of course, I am not implying that your pastor is an obese person, but this is one of the factors that can contribute to dementia—specifically, when the brain lacks sufficient nutrient supply, leading to functional impairments.
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I had worked in a dementia unit for 10 years and most of the residents were small and thin so I don't agree with that assessment. My friend was also very tall but thin. You must understand most dementia residents don't have much of an appetite and they forget to eat. That is why they need support. The problem with their brain has to do with neuro-transmitters not not really about nutrient deficiency.

 

[soberxp]

I had worked in a dementia unit for 10 years and most of the residents were small and thin so I don't agree with that assessment. My friend was also very tall but thin. You must understand most dementia residents don't have much of an appetite and they forget to eat. That is why they need support. The problem with their brain has to do with neuro-transmitters not not really about nutrient deficiency.

I'm not saying that's certain. Did you read my post the second part carefully?

I agree with you that Alzheimer's patients often forget whether they have eaten or not.