Faith & The Resurection

[Liz]

Direct evidence....I think I have talked about this story before but maybe not here...this was a miracle that happened directly to me....

I was 16 and in a highschool club called Office Education Association (OEA). We had decided that we were going to have a party around Halloween. The attendee's were only the students that were part of this school club--upper and lower classmen. We were having it at another student's house--who happened to be an upper classmen. I rode with a friend, in her car, to this house. After the usual party stuff, the teacher left to go home. And some of the girls pulled out a Ouiji board. I immediately didn't want to be there anymore. I asked my friend if she was ready to go, her dad was a pastor of their church so I thought she wouldn't want to dabble with that either. I was wrong. She wanted to stay. So I started praying, and praying hard. I did not want Satan to enter that room, or come near the house. I had my eyes closed tightly while I was praying, but I could hear the frustration in the girls' tone of voice because the board "wasn't working".

I kept on praying, but I opened my eyes for a minute to once again ask my friend if she was ready--since she had "played" with it, I was hoping she was done. No such luck. Right before I started praying again, though, this girl stood up and said, "Are you ready to go?" I said yes, and told my friend I was leaving. When we got out to this girl's car, she said, "I am so glad you wanted to leave." I did not have to give this girl directions to my house, I didn't even tell her where I lived, yet, she drove me right home. I also was looking at her and realized, I didn't know her and I hadn't seen her at the party. But I was still shaken up about the whole Ouija board thing, and didn't think to ask her name. When we got to my house, I thanked her for the ride, and again she thanked me for wanting to leave.

The very next Monday at school, I looked up my friend who stayed at the party. She said, that as soon as I left, the Ouija board started working and they talked to several dead people. She chastised me for having left to soon. I asked her if she saw who I left with, she said I didn't leave with anybody, because I was the only one missing from the party. Sure enough, I never saw that girl again, and believe me I looked for her. She didn't show up in the year book either.

So I believe my guardian Angel drove me home. I also believe that that is why she was happy I wanted to leave, because otherwise she would have had to hang around too.

So that is my miracle story, and while in that instance I got a miracle, there have been plenty of times, especially when I was younger where I wasn't "saved". But like Gail said, only GOD knows the why, the where, and to whom they are going to happen. And like Neil said via C.S. Lewis "He isn't a TAME lion".

[karl]

Unless you have DIRECTLY been involved, it is all filed under "anecdotal evidence".... Proximity doesn't count here unless you saw it personally.

John 20:29

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen , and yet have believed .

John 17:20

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

[karl]

Direct evidence....I think I have talked about this story before but maybe not here...this was a miracle that happened directly to me....

So I believe my guardian Angel drove me home.

Thanks, Liz.

This was a marvelous recounting of an event that must have impressed you deeply. Very similar to the accounts in the book, "Angels at Pincher Creek."

Do you mind if I use it for the kids in my class?

[Liz]

Do you mind if I use it for the kids in my class?

You sure can.

[karl]

I had one seemingly providential thing happen to me. Not a miracle, per se, but it spoke to me.

Background: In the tradition of our Founding Fathers, I am very cynical about politicians and gummint agencies.

Once when we were facing some financial and professional uncertainty, we got a check from the IRS for $15,000. It just came out of the blue one day. Called the accountant and he said "Don't cash it."

But just the same, we had been praying for a sign of God's leading and it spoke this to me, "Don't worry. If you need anything, I have lots of ways of getting it to you. I can even have the IRS send YOU money."

It was kinda cool.

[Dr. Shane]

As for coincidence not being "coincidence", again, that is a matter of opinion...

Only to a certain degree. There is also a matter of probability involved. There are just so many coincidences that happen that the probability of them all just being coincidences becomes rather unlikely.

[Bravus]

Neil's got it right, though: more examples of miracles that happen to other people actually just makes it worse in a way. If He'll do miracles for other people, why not us? You see what I mean?

[Dr. Shane]

Why was God silent for 400 years before Jesus was born? Why did He let the children of Israel stay in slavery in Egypt for 400 years? Why did He allow the papacy to torment the saints for 1,260 years?

The Bible is only a small collection of stories that have occurred throughout history. I don't think God works any differently today than He did in the past.

[Liz]

I give up in this thread. It absolutely is a no-win situation. You can't tell anecdotes about GOD helping people, because that is rubbing people's nose in it, you can't tell personal experience on how GOD has helped you, because that is rubbing people's nose in it. You can't say GOD is good, because it appears that HE is not good to everyone in the same way at the same time. So what else is there? There appears to only be one opinion allowed here, and if you have a differing view, then you are told it doesn't help and you are rubbing people the wrong way.

So out of frustration I am done with this thread. I will continue to uplift all the participants of this thread in prayer.

Peace and Blessings.

[karl]

One thing we could do is pray that God will open our eyes - like He did Gahazi's - to the miracles we're already receiving.

[Dr. Shane]

There appears to only be one opinion allowed here, and if you have a differing view, then you are told it doesn't help and you are rubbing people the wrong way.

I am sorry if I gave this impression. I really appreciated what you have shared so far. Thank you.

[John317]

Quote:

Neil D:

This is stuff that I was talking about....Unless you have DIRECTLY been involved, it is all filed under "anecdotal evidence".... Proximity doesn't count here unless you saw it personally.

What I wrote about happened in the presence of my father along with a nurse and a well-known medical doctor, and all three of them saw it.

It doesn't make sense to say that nothing counts unless it actually happens directly to us. If that's the case, we might as well not talk to anyone or read the Bible, because none of that is what we directly saw. Dr. Luke in the Gospel is telling us about something that he was told about by eye-witnesses. Doesn't that count? If it doesn't, then we can forget about any evidence that Christ rose from the dead or that Christ is going to return.

I don't see much difference between getting it from someone who saw it and getting it from someone who was told about it by people who were there and saw it.

[Liz]

Originally Posted By: Liz

There appears to only be one opinion allowed here, and if you have a differing view, then you are told it doesn't help and you are rubbing people the wrong way.

I am sorry if I gave this impression. I really appreciated what you have shared so far. Thank you.

No, I didn't get this impression from you, and I have appreciated your insight as well. Blessings.

[John317]

Quote:

Bravus: Neil's got it right, though: more examples of miracles that happen to other people actually just makes it worse in a way. If He'll do miracles for other people, why not us? You see what I mean?

I doubt some people would know a miracle. Even if it were to happen, they would reason themselves into doubts and finally a rejection of any thought that it was a miracle.

What is a "miracle"? Isn't it, fundamentally, evidence of God's activity?

Does it have to be something that absolutely could not possibly happen without supernatual intervention? In other words, does it have to be something that cannot be accounted for according to what we understand to be the ordinary laws of nature?

I'm thinking of the change in people because of the Holy Spirit in the life. Has anyone ever seen such a change or experienced it themselves? Does this qualify as a miracle?

[John317]

What do you consider a legitimate "miracle"? Can you give an example of what you'd be looking for, or what you expect?

[phkrause]

I give up in this thread. It absolutely is a no-win situation. You can't tell anecdotes about GOD helping people, because that is rubbing people's nose in it, you can't tell personal experience on how GOD has helped you, because that is rubbing people's nose in it. You can't say GOD is good, because it appears that HE is not good to everyone in the same way at the same time. So what else is there? There appears to only be one opinion allowed here, and if you have a differing view, then you are told it doesn't help and you are rubbing people the wrong way.

So out of frustration I am done with this thread. I will continue to uplift all the participants of this thread in prayer.

Peace and Blessings.

Very good points Liz, I basically said the same thing in my post a few pages back. God does things differently for different people. He meets our needs in different ways. And like it was mentioned, I think we'd be surprised at the miracles that God has done for us and we were not even aware of.

pk

[Bravus]

Sorry, Liz, that was definitely not what I was trying to say either. You thanked me for my sharing earlier in the thread, and I thank you for yours throughout. These testimonies *are* valuable and important.

The thread shouldn't be about me and my issues, either: I'm happy to step back and let it head back to Shane's original intention.

[karl]

I'm thinking of the change in people because of the Holy Spirit in the life. Has anyone ever seen such a change or experienced it themselves? Does this qualify as a miracle?

The difference from BC to now is, according to those who have known me throughout, a complete transformation. I'm not going to bore you with the sordid details, but suffice it to say I was a danger to myself and everyone around me.

Miracle?