What would you do if a doctor told you that you only had two years to live?

In this episode, John Burke interviews Mike Olsen, who faced that exact reality.

After receiving what felt like a two-year notice, Mike began living with new urgency and clarity - only to later actually die, experience a profound near-death encounter, and return with life-altering insight. 

In this powerful conversation, Mike shares what his NDE revealed about suffering, trials, fear, purpose, and how God uses even our darkest moments for transformation.

If you are walking through hardship, illness, loss, or uncertainty - this episode will deeply encourage you.

Mike Lewis lived for years under the weight of horrific things that had been done to him - and what he had done to others. Shaped by childhood trauma, buried shame, and a constant sense of condemnation, he believed God could only be disappointed, if not disgusted, by who he had become.

Then, in a near-death experience, he met Jesus face to face and everything changed.

Brian Dickinson is the only person in history to solo summit Mount Everest and make it back alive after going completely blind.

During his descent from the top of the world, Brian lost his sight, faced certain death, and encountered a Presence that changed the course of his descent.

This is not just a survival story - it’s a powerful testimony of faith, surrender, and the Presence of God in our helplessness.

📖 Read Blind Descent by Brian Dickinson: https://a.co/d/crUQKvD

📘 Read 3 FREE chapters of Soul Revolution (click “Read Sample”): https://a.co/d/2euoQoB

Do you have a guardian angel? What are angels really like - and what role do they play in our lives?

In this special audio-only episode, John Burke shares four powerful angelic encounters told by near-death experiencers he has interviewed over the years.

These firsthand stories reveal the many ways God uses His angels to guide, protect, and comfort us - often in moments we never even realize. From announcing and watching over the first Christmas to quietly guarding our lives today, angels remain deeply involved in God’s work and in your story.

This audio was originally recorded for The Unfolding Podcast, where you can hear more angel stories throughout the Christmas season.

What if you died… met God… saw Heaven… and then woke up believing it was 1969? That’s exactly what happened to Doug Knake.

One moment, Doug was slipping into darkness, chased by terrifying beings that looked like silhouettes made of fire. The next, a presence filled everything around him — powerful, peaceful, unmistakably God — saying, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.”

In an instant, he was lifted into a world bursting with color, a city bustling with life, streets and buildings he couldn’t describe. A place so alive he didn’t want to leave. God showed him the effect of all his choices, then told him he had a purpose still to fulfill on earth. But God wasn’t finished.

He sent Doug back to his body — and Doug woke up in 2006 with no memories of the past 30+ years. Not his wife. Not his job. Not even the existence of modern technology. He remembered Heaven… but not his own life.

This is one of the most shocking and moving NDE stories we’ve ever shared — a real-life “50 First Dates” journey of love, loss, identity, and the presence of God that never left and redeemed it all with love.

Imagine God Devotional Audiobook: https://a.co/d/hJyE1pp
Imagine Heaven Audiobook: https://a.co/d/50bh49l
Read Doug Knake's full story: Being 20 Again At 50 - https://a.co/d/amK88LD

When Mike McKenzie, a construction superintendent, nearly dies from a burst appendix, God answers a prayer he made as a little boy - to see Heaven. In this incredible near-death experience, Mike is shown how deeply God cares about every detail of our lives.

From the biggest life-and-death moments to the smallest tasks on the jobsite, he learns that nothing is too insignificant for God’s attention. Even something as ordinary as finding a missing screwdriver becomes a powerful reminder that Heaven is closer than we think - and that God is personal, present, and involved in it all.

Hear how Mike’s encounter revealed God’s precise love, purpose, and faithfulness, and why his story will strengthen your faith in a God who truly sees you.

LISTEN to the Imagine Heaven Audiobook now: https://a.co/d/ew5xTnj

In this special episode, John and Kathy Burke explore how the way you imagine God--His heart, character, and attributes--shapes every part of your life. The thoughts you hold about God are the most important ones you have, because they influence how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. How can near-death experiences help us better understand what Scripture reveals about God’s true nature?

John and Kathy share insights from years of studying NDEs and introduce the Imagine the God of Heaven Devotional - a companion to Imagine the God of Heaven designed to help you live out its powerful truths every day.

Through daily scriptures, guided prayers, handpicked NDE stories, and inspirational teaching, this devotional will help you experience deeper peace, renewed purpose, and a closer connection with God--while cultivating a joyful anticipation for the Life to come.

Imagine the God of Heaven Devotional: https://a.co/d/gtOl6Yn

In one of the most mind-blowing near-death experience stories ever shared, software engineer Steve Boyls reveals what he saw while in a coma from COVID. His journey through Heaven is unforgettable - from walking through his father’s woodshop in his Heavenly home to witnessing the warhorses of Heaven and discovering a personal gift God had waiting for him when he returned.

📘 Check out Steve and Kathy Boyls’ book → https://a.co/d/j7m6dhZ

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Stay Connected

📖 Books by John Burke

• Imagine Heaven on Amazon: https://a.co/d/grDeHUb
• Imagine the God of Heaven on Amazon: https://a.co/d/grDeHUb
• Imagine Heaven Devotional: 100 Reflections to Bring Heaven to Your Life: https://a.co/d/fDRHWcH
• Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended: https://a.co/d/a4D16mR

Can modern neuroscience point us toward the reality of the soul? In this compelling conversation, neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren joins pastor and author John Burke to explore the intersection of near-death experiences, brain science, and faith.

From his time as a brain surgeon in the Iraqi war -- where he faced trauma and later endured the devastating loss of his 19-year-old son -- Dr. Warren has sought both scientific and spiritual answers to life’s biggest questions.

Together, he and John dive into:

• How neuroplasticity and epigenetics reveal the power of our thoughts to shape our brains--and even future generations
• Why free will vs. determinism matters for our understanding of the human spirit
• How trauma and PTSD can be healed through intentional thought and God’s promises
• Why near-death experiences align with the truth of Scripture about heaven and eternity

Don’t miss this fascinating episode that blends hard science with profound hope, showing how we can truly be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” 

For more from Dr. Lee Warren: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzIZ9JVpX6mZJf8xCvPlkfA Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify: http://bit.ly/46bode3 His books: 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://amzn.to/42fqKn0 Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://amzn.to/3mAqGLG. Sign up for his weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://bit.ly/3Xc26iW. (Get his free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe)

What began as a fun day on the lake with a friend ended in tragedy when a jet ski accident took 19-year-old Riley Huddleston’s life. In that moment, she was transported to Heaven, where she discovered a "lit" new life and a God more personal and loving than she ever imagined. But amid the joy and wonder, Riley received a startling message from God — one that would quickly turn the best day of her life into the worst. In her first-ever interview, Riley shares her near-death experience with John Burke — and the urgent message she now carries for her generation.

🌐 Connect with Riley:
Instagram/TikTok/YouTube: @RoseHuddy007
Facebook: Riley Huddleston


Music Credits:
Joshua Spacht - “The Plot Thickens”
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Cody Martin - “Every Life Matters”
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Enoch Yang - “War”
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