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The author is very glad that you bought this book. She would like to extend her gratitude and hoped that you will enjoy reading the different stories just to cheer you and brighten your day!
She is also very much thankful to her loving husband who is very supportive. He makes sure that she is comfortable in life. To her family who is always concern and showing their care in the times she is down. Lastly, to all her friends that shares all their failures and achievements in life.
Dedication
This ebook is dedicated to her beloved brother who passed away on February 5, 2012. He is a good father, good brother, good son, good friend and a good neighbor. She wishes to share this ebook to all the people who lost their loved ones and hope to see them in the resurrection.
Prologue
Pain and Sorrow in my heart.
I could not stop thinking that you left me.
The waves of anger and patience are fighting.
I cannot control my tears falling.
I see from a far a beautiful garden.
My heart jumps and my soul praise your goodness.
Running towards the gate and not looking back.
Angels and the holy ones are waiting for us all.
Interview with Dismas
Mel is a writer in a well known e magazine about life before and after. She is 5 feet and 5 inches tall, oval face, tan skin, short black hair, about 120 pounds and always likes to wear comfortable clothes like jeans and T shirts. She is working at home. She got a small office in her living room. She is alone in the house but her parents are just nearby.
She wrote about death and what happens to them. Mel is really a good writer and she got a lot of readers. Her readers were all excited to read good things about God. Some of them are excited to read about the past. It is a reminder that God is always there even in the midst of trials. He is always with his creation. Her articles of course are always praising the Name of the heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Today is a different day. She is wearing a black suit with white shirt. Mel is wearing her high heels because she wants to look good. She will be interviewing a very important person in the human history. Mel checked her notebook and put it in her black tote bag.
She is waiting for this opportunity to interview the man who is beside Jesus when he died. Her readers really want to know what happened to him. What are his activities in Paradise? What did he feel when Jesus told him that he will go to paradise?
Mel walked to the nearby cafe. She went in and looked for a table. Mel saw a nice table near the window. She arranged her things on the glass table and sits on a chair made of bamboo with natural shine on it. It has a soft cushion and massager. The place is painted with light green. The tables and chairs are arranged near the windows.
The waiter slowly walked towards her and served her coffee. She nod and said thank you to the waiter. The waiter smiled back and made his way back to the counter. Mel enjoyed the smell of fresh brewed coffee and watched the breath taking view of Paradise.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Rev. 21:1
She was watching the birds. The gold finches are busy eating the small seeds from the grass. A sparrow is flying over the bird bath. It flaps its wings quickly as it plays with the water then back again to the tree. It hops and stayed for awhile. The birds are just enjoying such beautiful day. The sun is shining and the sky is very clear. The robins are hopping all around the newly mowed grass. Oh, and the cute squirrel is near the tree eating a nut and maybe that was forgotten three days ago.
The butterflies and hummingbirds are busy flying to one flower to another. The garden is full of colorful flowers like daisies, roses, daffodils, lilacs, sampaguita, orchids and many more. Springtime is always here. It is like waves of flowers.
The lions are eating grass with the zebras in the field. The elephants are playing with the mice near the pond. Far ahead she saw the ostrich and cheetah having a race. Mel enjoyed watching all the animals. It is really wonderful to witness the wonder of creation in perfection.
She loved having coffee, enjoying the scenery, looking at the birds, and laughing at the different shows and acts of the squirrels. All animals are friendly. They enjoy playing with each other and with people too.
Her chair is very comfortable. It is made of bamboo with very soft cushion and it made her doze off.
“Hi! I am Dismas and you are Mel Sanchez I presumed.” He extended both hands and hugged her.
She jumped up and gave him a hug too. “I am her.” She answered back.
Smiling at her and showing his white teeth. His big brown eyes were so bright, thick eye brows and the lashes make him look so good. His white robe with yellow lining looks good on him too and he gestured to sit down and I just followed him.
He looked around and smiled at the lady next to our table. The lady smiled and waved back at him too. Mel knows that all people in Paradise are friendly. The waiter came and gave Dismas a glass of water. “Thank you, Mario.” and Mario answered. “You are welcome, Mr. Dismas.” Then he looked at me and asked. “Is there anything I can give you?” “No, thanks any way.” I replied. He turned his back and walked towards the two men wearing shorts and white T shirts. He showed them to the next table.
Thank you is the only payment in all the restaurants and a shake would be a tip. A hug would be a big one. The people here work for free and enjoy serving others. It makes them happy to serve others.
“Miss Sanchez, how nice of you to come and visit me and talked about many things here in Paradise.” He started. “I can be with you as long as you want because as you know we are in Paradise and we don’t have time limit we have forever.”
"I know and I am glad you gave me a chance to talk with you." She smiled.
She switched on my video cam recorder on. “Well, we will start our question and answer portion.” She made a little joke and I do hope to make our conversation casual. He just smiled at her and put his hands on his lap and then he lean back on the chair. “My first question is what came into your mind when Jesus told you that you will be with him in Paradise?”
"He replied to him, Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:43
He looked up the sky and looked at her. “I was in pain that time and really don’t have time to think but I felt contentment and happiness inside. I know deep inside me, that my soul will have place to go to. A place called paradise. I have no idea what it is? But I know that I have a place.” with a sad face. “It is really hard to be alone and to be with friends who just used you in their ambitions in life. My former life is pathetic.” Then his face became so calm and radiant. Dismas stretch his arms and said “I am happy now because I am in Paradise.”
Looking at my notebook and then looked at Mr. Dismas. “I learned that you are the thief that helped Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus while they were going to Egypt. You paid Gestas 40 Drachmas to leave them unmolested. Why did you do that?” “Yes.” He scratched his head and show humbleness in his face. He continued. “We were just waiting for some more victims at that time and I saw Joseph pulling the donkey with Mary riding on it
and carrying the baby Jesus.
Joseph looks afraid at that moment and very alert because he doesn't want anybody to harm his family. Mary was so sweet always looking at Jesus and making sure he is not crying. Jesus is so cute and looks powerless. I cannot allow Gestas to hurt this family and so I told him not to harm them and I will just pay him. I did not know someday, Jesus, the powerless baby will save me.” Dismas put his hands on his chin and then shake his head. “Now He is a mighty King and ruler of the Kingdom of God in Heaven and on Earth. Jesus made the Heavenly Father very happy and proud.”
He looks straight at her. “I just hoped that Gestas got his second chance and will be able to stay in Paradise.” Then he added. “Miss Sanchez I have been all over the place and I have not met Gestas yet.”
Mel smiled or maybe chuckle a little looking at the next question. She thinks the next question is silly. But she asked him anyway. “What happened after you died?”
He was not able to answer it immediately because a little girl, brown hair and wearing a pretty blue dress came and hugged him. Then the little girl ran back to her smiling mother.
“Where were we? Oh, yes. When I died I fell asleep and that was it. I completely know nothing. I am dead you know.” He made a joke and laughed. Then raise his right hand and said. “I was sleeping, sleeping and just sleeping until the time for me to wake up. It is the time when Jesus calls me to