The pic is a thumbnail one; literally. But I can see the cobweb alright, which seemed to freak you out. You're just weak hearted. I have had a spider costume kid a min ago. I think he's naturally ugly hence more scary with his mum's make up on. I was still not scared. Good mannered kid with a beautiful heart, though. I gave him two Seal Bars from Aldi, not just the one; for being respectful to me.

 

chocolate dipped brussels

 

To be honest, I agree with you. For the doctors to tell us to gather the family one last time to the next day being told that all that remains is a self healed shadow of what was, is a million to one, if not greater. The fact that we had word from over 2000 people from churches over the weekend in England and Canada all praying for healing that then led to this 'self healing' is another million to one.

I guess that my sister in law who was told by doctors that she could never conceive and had someone approach her, who she had only just met, telling her of her exact medical condition is another million to one. And then to have them pray over her and for her to conceive 4 weeks later and give birth to my niece, when it was impossible for her ovaries to do so, is another million to one, but nevertheless a possible coincidence.

While I am very blessed to have witnessed these miracles, it is not what has formed my faith. I could, as you suggest attribute it all to amazingly, freakish occurences. My true believe came through nothing more exciting than discovering God on a personal level. No evidence, proof, circumstance etc, replaces the experience of knowing God.

 

Here you go:



Not just a 'web'... But also populated with 'spiders'!

I dare you not to jump in the same circumstances. I was looking at the ground until the last second; hence me 'jumping', internally. The silhouette of spiders engender an ancient 'flight' reflex. It's a primeval response.

 

This is better! I can see the triggers for your flight response, now.

Regarding the silhouette of spiders, I'm not bothered by them at all.

 

Oh, I've just had eight teenagers at my door, with absolutely amazing costumes on! The clown was just out of this world! I gave them a Seal bar each. Nice kids.

 

Look up on channel 4 on demand -

"Derren Brown - The Miracle"

It just goes to show, collective healing, miracle cures etc are not a religous or divine act, but actually one created by your own will and mind power.

Maybe the religous and divine support helped your wife, but I would not put it down as the "reason" for the cure.

I would put it down to your wife and sister in law having an amazing will to survive and the will power to overcome adversity that mentally they did this on their own....

What ever god does or does not exist, the human brain is far more powerful than any divine being could ever dream of....

 

Yeah, not everybody, obviously.

 

The human brain has created God and harbours God. It certainly is a powerful one.

 

Perhaps it's a hint at reincarnation - people who are scared of spiders might have been blue bottles in a previous life!

 

After opening the door and they say, "Trick or treat?!", reposte with "TRICK!"...whilst chucking a bucket of water over the annoying little sh¡ts.

 

Yeah.

My primeval fear response was towards small lizards, who I irrationally perceived as threats to my safety. I'm no more frightened of them, but still can't sleep with one on my bedroom wall. I like the UK because you don't have invasive wall lizards here.

 

 

Sir Cliff Richard has just spoken on a Sky news that the ordeal he has been through, he wouldn't have been able to survive it without his faith.

Faith is a powerful thing. The faith YOU harbour. In YOUR mind.

Mind is a powerful thing. It either contains faith or no faith. If no religious faith, then the faith in no faith.

 

"Nature herself has imprinted on the minds of all the idea of God" - Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Each of you puts the cart before the horse, acknowledging the created rather than the creator.

 

Yes, I know what you mean and poetically, it sounds good. It also sounds acceptable as a scientific assumption. I'm against the over-dependency on God and constant religious preaching to teach the common sense, though. It's not rational. Nor is the blind following of any faith. Then again, many people do blind follow their faiths since they have a tremendous need for doing so. Free country, I suppose.

 

I dont know a huge amount about Darren Brown but could he be likened to the Egyptians trying to show Moses that his God wasn't the only one who could perform miracles? Or an example of what the Bible describes as false prophets performing signs and miracles in an attempt to deceive?

 

Blind faith would not sustain the Christian faith for thousands for years. I can see how people who do not understand or are yet to experience faith may deem it to be 'blind'. If you do not see it for yourself then you are blind.

 

Yes, I would place myself in this category, after all, eternity is at stake.

 

No, he doesnt claim to work miracles, divine interventions or anything else. Just shows people the power of their own conscoiusness..

A very intelligent man... watch it and make your own mind up

 

I love Derren Brown's work, it's fascinating and I'm particularly fond of his ability to out charlatans. As far as I recall from his book Tricks of the Mind, he was an evangelical Christian in his youth, but struggled to reconcile this with his homosexuality.

 

I guess I would need to see it to fully understand, but as you suggest, he performs signs and wonders that he then attributes to the human mind, in a sense making ourselves 'God'. I guess I'm incredibly mindful of what the Bible has said would happen. People leading others away from believing in the miracles that God performs through the performing of these supposed healing/miracles etc.themselves.

 

Think Simon Magus.

 

Always have a lot of respect for atheists - it takes a lot of faith to believe there is no God.

 

James, I have just seen the video (didn't have sound on my other computers). What a fantastic video, your friend is very gifted. Interestingly the poem is in-line with my post (#59).

 

Glen's a top bloke! Glad it encouraged you, brother.

 

Are the people, who do not believe in Christ, blind? That's despite them following the common sense? That's despite them having no issues with the Christ followers? Can they have other faith than Christianity to be two-eyed (both in perfect order)!regulars? Or, does it have to be the Christianity in specific that they need to follow?

I know that common sense isn't that common; even for a Christ follower, but if some do have it but they choose not not to follow Christianity, are they deficient of the right faith?

 

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

 

So what are your opinions of other religions then JT?

 

If I thought all religions had it right I'd still be pursuing Integral Theory. If I thought just one had it right apart from Christianity, I'd be practising that. As it happens I was called by Jesus like a shepherd calls his lost sheep and I responded. I think some religions, whilst misguided, are well intentioned and others, led by false prophets, are simply dangerous. As for the individuals outside the body of Christ, I pray they'll each hear His call and be courageous in their response.