16 Hours in Heaven

By Bill Hembree

If you are a Christian
Read this book!
If you need to receive eternal life in Heaven with family and friends
Read this book!
If you have cancer or health problems
Read this book!
If you need the healing power of God
Read this book!
If you are facing trouble in life
Read this book!
If you need renewed faith and inspiration
Read this book!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664279490

Bill Hembree

Bill Hembree is a stage four cancer survivor who was taken to heaven during surgery. Jesus directed him to return to Earth and share his story about life. He is a sinner saved by the grace of God. He is a Christian, a husband, and a father. His faith has guided him on his journey.

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Copyright © 2022 Bill Hembree.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked ESV taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from The New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7948-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-7949-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022918084

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/14/2022

CONTENTS

In The Beginning

Honor Your Father And Mother

Honor Your Mother

Honor Your Mother 2

Brothers And Sisters

A Grandmother’s Love

Elementary School Years

Mistakes In Life

Alcoholism

Adolescence

Young Men And High School

Deca

German Exchange Student

Johnson & Wales University

Semester At Sea

Norway

Scotland And Europe

Marriage

Politics

Work

Children

Grandmother’s Help

My Pilgrim’s Journey To The Holy Land

The Grand Canyon: God’s Masterpiece

Western Beauty

One Nation Under God

America: God’s Work

Church

My Favorite Bible Verses

Jesus, The Great Physician

God Can Heal You

The Face Of God

Hello, Beth

Monta Raye

Usa

Georgia

Florida

Beer

Graduation

Thanksgiving

Cancer: The Worst Day Ever

Where Can I Find A Cancer Doctor?

Cancer Shock

Angels Watching Over Me

Cancer Infusion Center

The Light Of Jesus

Ring The Bell Against Cancer

Failed Cancer Surgery

Home From The Hospital

Bad News

Second Opinion

A Message From God

January 11 And Hope

We Beat Cancer

Sixteen Hours In Heaven

Cancer Strikes Again

My Advice For You

I would like to

dedicate this book to my wife Beth and my three sons: Will, Thomas, and Miles. My greatest accomplishments in life are marrying Beth and being a father to Will, Thomas, and Miles. Life is measured in many ways. The joy of a relationship that is filled with love carries the highest measure for me.

Beth is my soul mate, wife, best friend, lover, and mother of my children. She is also the love of my life, my partner, and my mate for life.

You may not believe in love at first sight, but it can happen and it happened to me. I was in the lunchroom at Douglas County High School when I saw Beth the first time. I asked my friend John McLarty, Who is that girl? She is so beautiful! John said, Her name is Beth Camp, and she is taken! I was disappointed that she had a boyfriend. I would see her occasionally in the high school hallway and she was always with the other guy. The year passed by and I was still all alone with nothing but an image of this pretty girl in my mind. I was nearing the end of my senior year in high school.

It was springtime in Georgia and that also means tornado season. During the month of April, our high school had a mandatory tornado drill to prepare the students for severe weather. An alarm sounded and the principal announced that everyone should leave their classroom and sit in the hallway. The hallway was the safest place in school away from glass windows and open doors.

I was in my senior psychology class at the time and suddenly realized this would be my last tornado drill. As we sat in the hall with our backs against the wall, I had a feeling someone was watching me. Someone had their eyes on me. Someone wanted me to look their way. As I turned my head to the right and glanced down the hall, I saw her. I was a little embarrassed and quickly turned the other way. Was she looking at me or someone else? I looked again and she gave me a smile and a wink. I smiled back and with silent lips asked, Are you looking at me? She smiled again, and with silent lips, she said yes. I was so excited that I turned the other way. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly, the alarm sounded and the principal ordered everyone to return to class. As I stood up, I got the courage to walk down and meet her. I said, My name is Bill. She said, My name is Beth. The teacher was calling, so I asked Beth if I could meet her after class. She said yes. So I walked her to class that day and every day during our high school days together. Beth became my high school sweetheart, and later she became my wife.

God blessed Beth and me with three incredible sons. They are an amazing gift from God. Fatherhood has been the most enjoyable job I have ever had. The job of being a dad never ends. It is highlighted with the greatest reward of love and respect. Helping a baby grow to a little boy. Helping a little boy grow to a teenager. Helping a teenager grow to become a young man. Helping a young man grow to become a respectable adult.

These steps are wonderful achievements. Building character and watching the boys grow to display my teachings give me overwhelming pride. I taught them to lead by example and make wise decisions. They each have unique gifts and talents. They are disciplined and motivated to find success in life. I once heard that life has no roadmap, so the best way to travel is listening to the advice of your dad.

I am rewarded when they asked me for advice and seek my help. I have made a lifetime of mistakes and hope they are not repeated. It is so pleasing to watch my sons grow and experience the goodness of life.

I want to thank my wife and sons for helping me and inspiring me to become a better husband and dad. I want to thank them for loving me unconditionally.

I dedicate this book to my four greatest accomplishments in life: Beth, Will, Thomas, and Miles.

BookDedication.jpg

The Hembree Family.

IN THE BEGINNING

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.

And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.

And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so.

God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth. And it was so.

The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.

And God made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.

And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.

And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beast of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so.

And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have domain over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

—Genesis 1:1–31 (English Standard Version)

Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

—Genesis 2:1–2 (ESV)

The creation of all things was from God. Man and woman were created in the image of God. Life is a gift from God. Children are a gift from God; they are a reward from Him. Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

—Matthew 19:14 (New International Version)

I was born at 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 1966. The hospital was in a small town called Villa Rica, Georgia. My mother was Monta Raye Buchanan Hembree, and my father was Aubrey Herman Hembree. I was their fifth child, and they named me William Aubrey Hembree. My sisters are Arubra Gardner and Vista Richardson. My brothers are Phil Hembree and Johnny Hembree. Remarkably, all five children were born at Villa Rica Hospital and delivered by Dr. John Powell.

This is the beginning of my story and my journey through life.

InTheBeginning.jpg

Bill Hembree as a baby at three months old in 1966.

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

—Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

W hen you are poor as a child, it often goes unnoticed if you live with a family that is rich in love. My family was rich in love and poor in spirit. The seven members of my family lived in a two-bedroom and one-bathroom home. I never noticed how small our house was or the limited food that we had, but I do know that I was happy. Our tiny house was filled with love, joy, warmth, and happiness. These wonderful emotions were instilled in us by our parents.

Monta Raye and Herman Hembree were exceptional parents. The foundation of who they were and how they acted was based on their Christian faith and hard work. Monta Raye had the most difficult and rewarding job in the world as a mother of five children. She was a homemaker and spent her days taking care of the children. Herman was a very hardworking blue-collar man. He had the very difficult job of finding water and drilling water wells for homes and businesses around Georgia. This hard labor job required strength and knowledge. He was involved in a constant search as he bore holes deep into the earth to find life-giving and thirst-quenching water. The cold days of winter and the hot days of summer never stopped this hardworking man from finding water.

In the Bible, the word water is used as a symbol for salvation and eternal life. God offers us salvation and eternal life in the kingdom of heaven through faith in his son Jesus Christ. Water is very important in our Christian walk of faith. God mentions the word water 722 times in the Bible. Water is used more than faith, hope, prayer, and worship. John 7:37–38 (NKJV) says, On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’

The Bible also tells us the story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus by the well.

Jesus said, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock. Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. (John 4:10–15 ESV)

John 3:5 (NIV) Jesus also said, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. In water baptism, you are being baptized in the name of Jesus, with the purpose of cleansing your body and washing away your old sinful ways and a new life of forgiveness in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have three strong and lasting memories of my father. The first was a simple act that filled my heart with joy and excitement. Going to work with my dad. It was just the two of us and we were up early on a Monday morning to begin our adventure. We loaded up in his blue Chevrolet truck and started the drive to Atlanta. I sat right next to my dad in the front seat. Car seats did not exist so I snuggled close to him and he made me cocaptain of driving the truck. My dad checked in at the company office on Monday so he could get his weekly work schedule. He was so proud of me as he held my hand and introduced me to his boss and the ladies he worked with at the office. The office had just installed a new water fountain and my dad lifted me up to take a drink from this new and amazing water machine. I was so excited and happy to spend the day with my dad.

My father traveled during the week drilling water wells across the state of Georgia. This time away from home made him lonely, and he missed the presence of his family. The