I've Had the Strangest Dream
Dan’s Story of Faith, Death, and the Savior Who Sent Him Back
Dan’s story is one of loss, rebellion, and redemption—a journey that started in a church pew and led all the way to the edge of eternity. He spent years running from God before being pulled back in the most unexpected way. What seemed like an ending became a mission to point others toward Jesus.
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Welcome friend,
I’m Mark, and this space is for the wanderers, the worn out, and the ones still wrestling with God at 2 a.m. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does—and I’m learning to trust Him more.
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From Faith to Rebellion
Dan grew up in a Christian home where church wasn’t just a Sunday thing—it was a way of life. Sundays, Wednesdays, summer Bible camps… he knew the verses, the hymns, and all the stories.
But knowing about God and knowing Him are two different things.
When tragedy struck, everything Dan thought he understood about faith crumbled. His niece passed away suddenly. One moment she was laughing—the next, gone.
As a teenager, Dan carried her casket as a pallbearer, his heart heavy and confused. Watching his sister’s heartbreak shattered something inside him.
He didn’t stop believing that God existed—he just stopped trusting Him. So he ran.
Drugs, alcohol, women… he tried to drown out the pain. “If God’s real,” he thought, “why would He let this happen?”
A Mother’s Strength
In his early twenties, small flickers of faith began to return. God was already working behind the scenes, rebuilding what grief had destroyed.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
His mother was dying of cancer. Dan spent weeks by her bedside, watching her body fade but her spirit stay strong. Even in her weakest moments, she reached for his crippled hand and prayed for him.
“She was the one dying,” Dan said, “but she was the one giving me strength.”
Her faith lit something in him. Through her final prayers, Dan saw Jesus again—this time as a living Savior who sits with us in pain.
The Day Heaven Opened
Five years ago, Heaven quite literally brushed earth for Dan.
A bad reaction to prescription medication dropped him in the corral while trying to pull a calf. One second he was standing—the next, he was facedown in the mud.
When he woke, his wife was holding his head above the muck so he wouldn’t drown. His skin was greenish-grey, blood pressure in the forties.
When he finally spoke, his words were soft and strange:
“I’ve had the strangest dream.”
In that dream—or vision—he saw someone standing before him. The man had shoulder-length dark hair, a sword at His hip, and eyes that carried peace instead of fear.
“I actually felt elation,” Dan said. “Like I was finally going home.”
He thought of his wife, his children, his grandchildren—and felt complete peace. The Lord’s will be done. They’ll be alright.
But God wasn’t done.
Sent Back for a Purpose
Dan was revived and carried to safety, but the image of that man never left his mind.
“I believe I was sent back to become a better Christian,” he said, “and to bring others to Christ.”
He doesn’t pretend to know why he saw what he saw—but he knows it was real.
“Most won’t believe me,” Dan admits, “but I know what I saw. I know where my faith stands.”
The vision of Christ—the man with the sword, the King of Kings—still brings him peace. He no longer fears death. Instead, he lives to tell others that eternity is real and Jesus is alive.
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Call to Repentance
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2
Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.
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Let’s walk this journey of faith together.
Next on The Narrow Path
In our next story, we’ll dive into a powerful article exposing the growing persecution of Christians around the world—and explore how we, as believers, are called to stand firm, respond in love, and remain faithful no matter the cost.
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