Have you ever witnessed or experienced a bona fide miracle?

[Gryphon Rider]

I have seen many talk religion but the question from Gryph was have you ever witnessed or experienced a bona fide miracle,

So what about it Gryph, Have you? I dont see any post from you about the miracles the Lord has done for you.

I am also curious why you posted this question.

I answered your first question in reply #36  a couple of pages back after it was posed my meathead.  Here's the link to it:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,102736.msg1025120.html#msg1025120

"I am also curious why you posted this question."

The "fictional" example I gave of old2soon finding an ancient pen from a Bible school that wrote when none of his newer ones did was based on a story that a co-worker, let's call him Bob, told me earlier in the week.  Bob is quite a colourful personality, the son of a pastor but not serving the Lord, he was recently at home looking for a working pen and came across a pen from a Bible school he had inquired about many years ago.  That pen was the only one that actually worked, making him go, "Hmm..."  While I don't discount that God may be getting him thinking through this circumstance that He arranged, I wouldn't classify the event as a "miracle", as old pens are not unknown to be perfectly functional, and if that pen happened to only say "Bic" or "Paper Mate" on it, it wouldn't have been remarkable in the least.

That got me wondering about the actual frequency of bona fide, verifiable miracles.  Miracles that, like the ones recorded in the Bible, would be completely and incontrovertibly impossible without divine intervention.  I figured that I have a community of people here who would not be predisposed to suppress such an event if it actually happened to them, so the VRCC would be a good place to find these stories.

A lady I know who is a nurse comes into my business and we talk. She has the gift of healing and wants the Lord to use her in her gifts. She has a bubbly personality and quick wit and is observant. Well as she has sought the Lord in her gifts and wanted to be used she has seen many miracles in the hospital and dr's office. In fact it has gotten to the point that the doctors have been asking her to pray for the people. I have not heard to many of her stories but one lady in the hospital had terrible back pain, I don't know if that was all that was wrong with her but the doctor asked this nurse to pray for her and she went in asked if it was ok to pray for her and did so. After she was done she asked the lady, any back pain and the lady answered NO.

God is looking for those He can use.

For the purpose of my original question, I'd like to only read stories that either happened to you, e.g. you were the one with his withered hand restored, or you saw someone else's hand restored before your own eyes, or stories that you can confirm first-hand, e.g. you've seen the before and after MRI images and know the person well who has had her brain tumour healed.  There are thousands of second-hand stories floating around out there, but very few that hold up after an unbiased investigation.  When Jesus healed lepers, he always sent them to priests to have their healing confirmed so they could be restored to normal contact with the community.  His enemies never challenged the veracity of His healings, as they happened before many witnesses, but rather either challenged His authority to forgive sins, or the lawfulness of healing on the Sabbath.  Also, stories of reduced or eliminated pain are not difficult to explain as being caused by other than supernatural intervention.

[Gavin_Sons]

A lady I know who is a nurse comes into my business and we talk. She has the gift of healing and wants the Lord to use her in her gifts. She has a bubbly personality and quick wit and is observant. Well as she has sought the Lord in her gifts and wanted to be used she has seen many miracles in the hospital and dr's office. In fact it has gotten to the point that the doctors have been asking her to pray for the people. I have not heard to many of her stories but one lady in the hospital had terrible back pain, I don't know if that was all that was wrong with her but the doctor asked this nurse to pray for her and she went in asked if it was ok to pray for her and did so. After she was done she asked the lady, any back pain and the lady answered NO.

God is looking for those He can use.
 

My grandma was sick once and the doctor gave her sugar pills, she was cured. Just goes to show if you believe it works it probably will for you. Lots of pains are made up, especially by older folks.

[Willow]

Im not going to get into this splitting hairs like any of us has all this completely figured out.

My point is this All religions are created by man.  They re all flawed..

The way to return to a right relationship with God through repentence and faith was designed by God.

Anyone from any denomination or any religion can come under conviction of their sin and come to know Christ as savior. No doubt their participation in whatever their religious practice used to be will now be changed.

Here's one question.  So you say a Catholic and a Baptist are simply different denominations.  No.  I grew up Catholic and converted to being a Christian. I chose to worship in Baptist churches because I feel comfortable there.  The two are separate religions

Splitting hairs?  Jeff you're not in the same time zone.

You have a question but you asked no question.  Perhaps it's just the punctuation.

Yes.  All Christian churches, large and small, are differentiated as denominations.  Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, and Christianity are religions. Many people have chosen to change denominations and local churches.  No one comes to Christ and remains a muslim, a Buddhist, or a Hindu.  Everyone who comes to Christ becomes a Christian.  Honestly there are many, many people who attend or join any number of denominations but have not truly accepted Christ.  These I would refer to as social christians.  The Bible refers to these as having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.  A simpler explanation is that these people's Christianity is not real but pretended.  We cannot know who these people are but God knows.  Truthfully almost all who are Christian were at one time social christians prior to acceptance and surrender.

Just as every denomination contains some who are not truly Christian, every denomination too has some or most members who are believers and followers of Christ.  

All religions are created by man?  The problem with that assertion is when the Bible refers to pure religion.  All are flawed?  That would claim there is no "pure and undefiled religion" and would therefore claim the Bible provided a false statement.  You've painted yourself into a difficultly defended corner.

Churches and denominations purpose is to support and assist the Christian in living the Christian life.  Most churches also see their purpose to be ministering to and bringing to Christ unbelievers.

It is very possible for an unbeliever to become a Christian without attended or even ever setting foot into a church.  Once one has become a Christian the Bible instructs such a one to gather with other Christians.  That is difficult to do without churches as any gathering of Christians ultimately gets identified as a church, an element of religion.

In my view everyone, Christian and nonchristian, each lives by a personally selected religion.  In simple terms one's religion is the rules which form his world and life view.  The Christian's world and life view are determined by the instructions of the Bible just as the muslim's world and life view are dictated by the Koran.  One can reject any number of elements of organized religion and even lay claim to having none but everyone does even if it's just his own made up set of boundaries and guidelines.  Everyone has a religion.  No one lives free of them all.    

[Robert]

A lady I know who is a nurse comes into my business and we talk. She has the gift of healing and wants the Lord to use her in her gifts. She has a bubbly personality and quick wit and is observant. Well as she has sought the Lord in her gifts and wanted to be used she has seen many miracles in the hospital and dr's office. In fact it has gotten to the point that the doctors have been asking her to pray for the people. I have not heard to many of her stories but one lady in the hospital had terrible back pain, I don't know if that was all that was wrong with her but the doctor asked this nurse to pray for her and she went in asked if it was ok to pray for her and did so. After she was done she asked the lady, any back pain and the lady answered NO.

God is looking for those He can use.
 

My grandma was sick once and the doctor gave her sugar pills, she was cured. Just goes to show if you believe it works it probably will for you. Lots of pains are made up, especially by older folks.

yup happens but what about the ones that are real?

[Gavin_Sons]

A lady I know who is a nurse comes into my business and we talk. She has the gift of healing and wants the Lord to use her in her gifts. She has a bubbly personality and quick wit and is observant. Well as she has sought the Lord in her gifts and wanted to be used she has seen many miracles in the hospital and dr's office. In fact it has gotten to the point that the doctors have been asking her to pray for the people. I have not heard to many of her stories but one lady in the hospital had terrible back pain, I don't know if that was all that was wrong with her but the doctor asked this nurse to pray for her and she went in asked if it was ok to pray for her and did so. After she was done she asked the lady, any back pain and the lady answered NO.

God is looking for those He can use.
 

My grandma was sick once and the doctor gave her sugar pills, she was cured. Just goes to show if you believe it works it probably will for you. Lots of pains are made up, especially by older folks.

yup happens but what about the ones that are real?

i'd say first prove they are real.

[Gryphon Rider]

So is Billy not saved because he is a Calvinist? We have so many labels and things that divide when all that I need to know is Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I can be saved.

A religion never did and never will get someone to heaven.  Just the opposite, there will be thousands of Catholics, Baptists, Methodists you name it hell because they thought membership in their club (religion) of choice could save them.

On the other hand anyone of any faith background can come to a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith.  There will be people from all religions in heaven because they trusted in Christ not religion.

I believe the question was addressed to me.

You've made the anti-religion false statement repeatedly.  One problem is that you mistake the terms religion and denomination.  Everyone who arrives in Heaven will be of the Christian religion.  There will, of course, be members of many if not all denominations in both groups, saved and unsaved.  The problem with those who are not saved is that they placed there hope in fulfilling the requirements of a particular church (little c) rather than in saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

A more important problem with your statement is that the Scriptures instruct us in what is true religion.  That instruction would be meaningless if we as Christians were not to be following true religion.  

Im not going to get into this splitting hairs like any of us has all this completely figured out.

My point is this All religions are created by man.  They re all flawed..

The way to return to a right relationship with God through repentence and faith was designed by God.

Anyone from any denomination or any religion can come under conviction of their sin and come to know Christ as savior. No doubt their participation in whatever their religious practice used to be will now be changed.

Here's one question.  So you say a Catholic and a Baptist are simply different denominations.  No.  I grew up Catholic and converted to being a Christian. I chose to worship in Baptist churches because I feel comfortable there.  The two are separate religions

Willow didn't say that, he said there are some people who are saved and some who are unsaved that are members of many if not all denominations.  I agree with that.

There are an increasing number of Christian denominations that have long been, or are becoming, unfaithful to Biblical Christianity.  I know well a number of faithful Christians who continue to attend those churches, thinking of themselves as a faithful remnant, hoping to influence as many of their friends as they can while their presence is still tolerated.  I, personally, could not sit under unfaithful preaching.  I might sit under an Arminian, if he were of unblemished Christian character and other aspects of his theology were sound.

[Robert]

A lady I know who is a nurse comes into my business and we talk. She has the gift of healing and wants the Lord to use her in her gifts. She has a bubbly personality and quick wit and is observant. Well as she has sought the Lord in her gifts and wanted to be used she has seen many miracles in the hospital and dr's office. In fact it has gotten to the point that the doctors have been asking her to pray for the people. I have not heard to many of her stories but one lady in the hospital had terrible back pain, I don't know if that was all that was wrong with her but the doctor asked this nurse to pray for her and she went in asked if it was ok to pray for her and did so. After she was done she asked the lady, any back pain and the lady answered NO.

God is looking for those He can use.
 

My grandma was sick once and the doctor gave her sugar pills, she was cured. Just goes to show if you believe it works it probably will for you. Lots of pains are made up, especially by older folks.

yup happens but what about the ones that are real?

i'd say first prove they are real.

I guess I have seen enough to know that if its not real it shows up pretty fast. If you are healed then you are healed.

[Gavin_Sons]

I know a guy that was in a car crash.  Got t boned, killed his wife instantly and he was in a coma.  7 year old boy in the back didn't get a scratch.  Doctors told his dad he was brain dead and there was no hope for him.  Dad wanted to give him 48 more hours than pull the plug.  He was in a coma for 2 months.  48 hours later there started pulling his vent and noticed he was breathing on his own. Then he woke up. He is a little slow now but otherwise fine.

[98valk]

Im not going to get into this splitting hairs like any of us has all this completely figured out.

My point is this All religions are created by man.  They re all flawed..

The way to return to a right relationship with God through repentence and faith was designed by God.

Anyone from any denomination or any religion can come under conviction of their sin and come to know Christ as savior. No doubt their participation in whatever their religious practice used to be will now be changed.

Here's one question.  So you say a Catholic and a Baptist are simply different denominations.  No.  I grew up Catholic and converted to being a Christian. I chose to worship in Baptist churches because I feel comfortable there.  The two are separate religions

Splitting hairs?  Jeff you're not in the same time zone.

You have a question but you no question.  Perhaps it's just the punctuation.

Yes.  All Christian churches, large and small, are differentiated as denominations.  Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, and Christianity are religions. Many people have chosen to change denominations and local churches.  No one comes to Christ and remains a muslim, a Buddhist, or a Hindu.  Everyone who comes to Christ becomes a Christian.  Honestly there are many, many people who attend or join any number of denominations but have not truly accepted Christ.  These I would refer to as social christians.  The Bible refers to these as having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.  A simpler explanation is that these people's Christianity is not real but pretended.  We cannot know who these people are but God knows.  Truthfully almost all who are Christian were at one time social christians prior to acceptance and surrender.

Just as every denomination contains some who are not truly Christian, every denomination too has some or most members who are believers and followers of Christ.  

All religions are created by man?  The problem with that assertion is when the Bible refers to pure religion.  All are flawed?  That would claim there is no "pure and undefiled religion" and would therefore claim the Bible provided a false statement.  You've painted yourself into a difficultly defended corner.

Churches and denominations purpose is to support and assist the Christian in living the Christian life.  Most churches also see their purpose to be ministering to and bringing to Christ unbelievers.

It is very possible for an unbeliever to become a Christian without attended or even ever setting foot into a church.  Once one has become a Christian the Bible instructs such a one to gather with other Christians.  That is difficult to do without churches as any gathering of Christians ultimately gets identified as a church, an element of religion.

In my view everyone, Christian and nonchristian, each lives by a personally selected religion.  In simple terms one's religion is the rules which form his world and life view.  The Christian's world and life view are determined by the instructions of the Bible just as the muslim's world and life view are dictated by the Koran.  One can reject any number of elements of organized religion and even lay claim to having none but everyone does even if it's just his own made up set of boundaries and guidelines.  Everyone has a religion.  No one lives free of them all.    

islam is not a religion.
Islam is a total system of life and contains within itself a particular social system, judicial system, and political system which includes geo-political aspirations - the conquest and administration of territory.
https://newenglishreview.org/Rebecca_Bynum/Why_Islam_is_Not_a_Religion/

“Islam is not even a religion; it is a political system that uses a deity to advance its agenda of global conquest,” said John Bennett, a Republican lawmaker in the Oklahoma state legislature, in 2014.
Google Islam, religion and politics, and it’s easy to find websites like PoliticalIslam.com, which claims to use “statistical methods” to prove that “Islam is far more of a political system than a religion.”

The argument travels outside the Internet fringe of conspiracy theories. “When we discuss ‘Islam,’ it should be assumed that we are talking about both a religion and a political-social ideology,” former assistant U.S. attorney Andrew C. McCarthy wrote in the National Review in 2015.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/02/03/why-do-so-many-americans-believe-that-islam-is-a-political-ideology-not-a-religion/?utm_term=.8f17f9410084

[Willow]

islam is not a religion.
...

It would be more accurate to say Islam is not only a religion.  Islam's devotees follow its precepts so completely that it incorporates worship, politics, national laws and a complete view of the world through the lens of the Koran.

By any definition of religion, Islam certainly qualifies.

Sometimes I wish Christians were as devoted to their religion as are muslims.  I don't wish for Christians to adopt a goal of taking over the world by force but I do wish they could be as completely immersed in following their Christian guidelines as muslims are in following the laws of the Koran.   

[Robert]

I know a guy that was in a car crash.  Got t boned, killed his wife instantly and he wadedin a coma.  7 year old boy in the back didn't get a scratch.  Doctors told his dad he was brain dead and there was no hope for him.  Fad wanted to give him 48 more hours than pull the plug.  He was in a coma for 2 months.  48 hours later there started pulling his vent and noticed he was breathing on his own. Then he woke up. He is a little slow now but otherwise fine.

God is in control of all life, if he lived or died it was Gods ultimate choice. A miracle could be many things, the things that I consider a miracle are done with prayer and foreknowledge of what was going to happen in most cases. But that does not mean in your situation that God was not still in control and it was not his time to go. The bible says a mans days are numbered by God. I did not know God really before I was saved that did not mean He did not know me. It also does not mean He was not working in my situations, it only means I would not have been saved if I died at that time. Some do go before their time, but that is a discussion for another time.

[semo97]

So is Billy not saved because he is a Calvinist? We have so many labels and things that divide when all that I need to know is Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I can be saved.

A religion never did and never will get someone to heaven.  Just the opposite, there will be thousands of Catholics, Baptists, Methodists you name it hell because they thought membership in their club (religion) of choice could save them.

On the other hand anyone of any faith background can come to a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith.  There will be people from all religions in heaven because they trusted in Christ not religion.

I believe the question was addressed to me.

You've made the anti-religion false statement repeatedly.  One problem is that you mistake the terms religion and denomination.  Everyone who arrives in Heaven will be of the Christian religion.  There will, of course, be members of many if not all denominations in both groups, saved and unsaved.  The problem with those who are not saved is that they placed there hope in fulfilling the requirements of a particular church (little c) rather than in saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

A more important problem with your statement is that the Scriptures instruct us in what is true religion.  That instruction would be meaningless if we as Christians were not to be following true religion.  

Im not going to get into this splitting hairs like any of us has all this completely figured out.

My point is this All religions are created by man.  They re all flawed..

The way to return to a right relationship with God through repentence and faith was designed by God.

Anyone from any denomination or any religion can come under conviction of their sin and come to know Christ as savior. No doubt their participation in whatever their religious practice used to be will now be changed.

Here's one question.  So you say a Catholic and a Baptist are simply different denominations.  No.  I grew up Catholic and converted to being a Christian. I chose to worship in Baptist churches because I feel comfortable there.  The two are separate religions

Chrisj CMA, You grew up a Catholic and converted to being a Christian.  It didn't work for you and that is fine and you found something that works for you, good. Tell us why you think Catholics are not Christians? Does CMA stand for Christian Motorcycle Association?

[Serk]

Seeing all these devout Christians argue about who is who isn't a Christian and if their religion is or isn't a religion just makes me say Thank God I'm an Atheist...

Sheesh...

So... Any more miracles? 

[f6john]

Seeing all these devout Christians argue about who is who isn't a Christian and if their religion is or isn't a religion just makes me say Thank God I'm an Atheist...

Sheesh...

So... Any more miracles? 
quote]

I found a his to be a very interesting and puzzling comment.

[Chrisj CMA]

So is Billy not saved because he is a Calvinist? We have so many labels and things that divide when all that I need to know is Jesus Christ and him Crucified and I can be saved.

A religion never did and never will get someone to heaven.  Just the opposite, there will be thousands of Catholics, Baptists, Methodists you name it hell because they thought membership in their club (religion) of choice could save them.

On the other hand anyone of any faith background can come to a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith.  There will be people from all religions in heaven because they trusted in Christ not religion.

I believe the question was addressed to me.

You've made the anti-religion false statement repeatedly.  One problem is that you mistake the terms religion and denomination.  Everyone who arrives in Heaven will be of the Christian religion.  There will, of course, be members of many if not all denominations in both groups, saved and unsaved.  The problem with those who are not saved is that they placed there hope in fulfilling the requirements of a particular church (little c) rather than in saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

A more important problem with your statement is that the Scriptures instruct us in what is true religion.  That instruction would be meaningless if we as Christians were not to be following true religion.  

Im not going to get into this splitting hairs like any of us has all this completely figured out.

My point is this All religions are created by man.  They re all flawed..

The way to return to a right relationship with God through repentence and faith was designed by God.

Anyone from any denomination or any religion can come under conviction of their sin and come to know Christ as savior. No doubt their participation in whatever their religious practice used to be will now be changed.

Here's one question.  So you say a Catholic and a Baptist are simply different denominations.  No.  I grew up Catholic and converted to being a Christian. I chose to worship in Baptist churches because I feel comfortable there.  The two are separate religions

Chrisj CMA, You grew up a Catholic and converted to being a Christian.  It didn't work for you and that is fine and you found something that works for you, good. Tell us why you think Catholics are not Christians? Does CMA stand for Christian Motorcycle Association?

First I never said all Catholics are not Christian.  The definition of a Christian is a fairly convoluted thing in America, so first off we need to narrow that definition.  Most people in America claim to be Christian because they darken a door of a church that is deemed "christian"but that doesn't mean they are going to the non smoking section when they die.  To be a Christian is simply you have made a personal commitment to follow Christ.  You have made Christ the Lord of your life.  Repentance of sin is pivotal and then an honest relationship with Christ and a willingness to walk in the guidance of God's will and his laws which are not complicated and definitely not the same as the Catholic Church.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this.  Christ (being God himself) died to pay the price for all sin.  We (ever since Adam) are even born broken and in need of a savior.  Jesus Christ alone is the answer, not Christ plus sacrifices (sacraments) Not Keeping a made up set of rules like many religions have concocted to help people stay in line.  Only by accepting the free gift of forgiveness from Christ alone (nothing added) does one become a Christian.

The Catholic Church has complicated the gospel of Christ to the point many don't experience scriptural salvation by going through the training the church gives.  The message seems to be more about the Church, its power, and the rules.  There is also much un-scriptural doctrine that complicates things.  Worship of other things or people than God, and doctrine that is in direct opposition to the Word of God.

There are Christians in the Catholic church no doubt, they do worship God and they have a proper concept of the Father, Son, and Holy spirit.  I just think its more likely that a person being educated in the Catholic religion will not see it properly as I didn't and no one that I grew up with seemed to either.

I hope that helps.

[hubcapsc]

I believe Catholics worship Christ. People who aren't Catholics have told
me Catholicism is just a cult, because they worship Mary and other saints
and not just Christ. Catholics that I know, though, refute that. They pray
with the saints, not to them, and they believe numerous Bible
verses teach them to do so.

When I seek Christ in the Bible (the only place to seek Him really) I have
found him in Romans 14...

Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues...

...Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

I believe Catholics worship Christ. People who aren't Catholics have told
me Catholicism is just a cult, because they worship Mary and other saints
and not just Christ. Catholics that I know, though, refute that. They pray
with the saints, not to them, and they believe numerous Bible
verses teach them to do so.

When I seek Christ in the Bible (the only place to seek Him really) I have
found him in Romans 14...

Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues...

...Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God

-Mike

Like I said and believe, there are Christians in the Catholic Church it's just they have so much going on that isint scripture based, that once you know that it's hard to accept.  Taking the whole doctrine of the Catholic Church in consideration, it's a stretch to call it Christan in my opinion.