25 Nov, 2009
Free to Live Again!!!
Man 'Trapped in Coma' for 23 Years Was Awake Whole Time
Rom Houben, 46, spent 23 years in a coma, and it turns out he was conscious the entire time.
An engineering student thought to be in a coma for 23 years was actually conscious the whole time, it has emerged.
Rom Houben was misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state after a car crash left him totally paralyzed.
But, in actuality, he was trapped in his own body the whole time with no way of letting friends and family know he could hear every word they were saying.
The 46-year-old, who can now tap out computerized messages and read books on a device above his hospital bed, has revealed: "I screamed, but there was nothing to hear.
Story Provided By: foxnews.com.
John 5:24-26 (New International Version)
24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about new life in Him?
This is a great scriptural reminder to us as we arrive at the middle of Thanksgiving week. I hope it reminds us of the grace God the Father has shown us. I hope it reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Most of all, I hope it sets us up to be deeply grateful as we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.
This passage of scripture comes right after Jesus has healed a man who has been paralyzed for 38 years. This healing happened on the Sabbath day, which raised a lot of concern for the legalistic religious leaders of the time. These religious leaders were so bothered they attacked Jesus for the healing.
This persecution launched Jesus into the discourse where these verses are found.
Unlike the paralyzed man, the leaders had not listen to the voice of Jesus. The invalid listened to the voice of Jesus say "get up," and his life was changed. The leaders didn't listen, and they remained hard-hearted, unable to see the good or the reason for gratitude that now stood in their midst.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
In each of our lives we have been one of the people in the stories. Maybe we have been more than one person? Some have been the invalid. They needed someone to help them into the pool, because they had a sickness (sin) that kept them away from God. Then one day they heard the voice of Jesus say "I can make you well" and they responded. In that moment, a friendship with Jesus started, and hopefully they have be growing ever since.
Then again maybe you were like the gentleman in today's news story and had been screaming for someone to help you, but no one seemed to hear you. Then one day Jesus came along and met you in your pain and frustration, and gave you new life.
Whatever the circumstances were, take time now to tell Jesus how much you appreciate Him meeting you at whatever place that was.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Today's story is one of those made-to-order stories; it just tugs at your heart. We love to see people go from a bad circumstance to a better one. We love to see people gain new life. Today's story has words that come right from scripture: "It was my second birth" (think about Nicodemus in John 3). Anyone you would talk to would appreciate this story.
Every time you tell the news story, you have an opportunity to talk about the places in Scripture where Jesus brought new life to someone. This story leaves you an open door to talk about how Jesus gave you new life. Most of all, it is a chance to talk with your peers about where they see themselves in the story. Are they one of Rom's family members, filled with a sense of hopelessness? Maybe emotionally they feel like Rom, trapped in themselves?
Wherever they find themselves, you can introduce them to a Jesus who will meet them where they are and calls to them.
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