death experience (This was also offered immediately after Dr. Alexander’s
lecture)
At the evening event, Dr. Alexander was introduced by fellow neurosurgeon
Dr. Michael Lemole, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University
of Arizona Medical Center. Dr. Lemole told of being raised in Bryn Athyn
and how his New Church faith helps to sustain him in his practice. He said he
always prays before surgery and often feels that his hands are guided by Divine
providence.
As a neurosurgeon Dr. Alexander had felt that what people called the
soul was just a product of brain chemistry and that near death experiences
were simple fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress. He could not
reconcile his world of science with any belief in God, the soul or life after
death.
Then he had that near death experience that could not be explained by his
non-functioning brain. With this “proof ” he completely revised everything he
had learned and believed about the brain creating consciousness, and became
convinced that we really live in the soul and spirit freed from the brain.
Now, he says, he is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved
only when we realize that God and the soul are the true reality, and that death
is not the end of life but a transition into eternal life.
Dr. Alexander said he thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with so
many Swedenborgians. He went home with many new things to think about –
and lots of literature.
For more information see his personal website, www.ebenalexander.com,
and another devoted to his work with meditation, www.sacredacoustics.com.
(See photos from the event on page 274 and Life Line observations on
page 284.)
jacob’s creek family camp
The popular New Church Family Camp at Jacob’s Creek in western Pennsylvania
is scheduled for July 27 – 30.
This year’s theme is Life After Death and the camp pastor is the Rev.
Matthew Genzlinger, pastor of the Concord New Church in Massachusetts.
Joining him on the instructional staff will be the Rev. Brad Heinrichs, pastor
of the Carmel New Church in Caryndale, Ontario, Canada; the Rev. Pearse
Frazier, who by then will be the pastor of the Pittsburgh New Church; and
Brett Buick, who will have just completed his second year in Theological
School.
Camp directors are Blake and Paul Messman, and Jamie and Julie Uber.
For information about costs, registration and anything else please contact the
281