A Challenge

[HappyFork]

I'm not a christian. My girlfriend is. She wants me to believe but I just can't. I don't have enough proof. I'm sorry to say that I'm not a very faithful person. I need evidence to believe something.

So what I'm asking is for the kind folks here to give me hard evidence that Christianity is true. As for my current beliefs, I believe a condensed version of Judaism that I could get into upon request but won't bore you with at this time.

Essentially, if you can convince me in some way that Jesus really is the son of God and everything he did really happened, I'll convert. And just a forewarning, I would prefer you don't use something along the lines of "it says so in the Bible" as proof. Let's just go off the assumption that I don't believe in the Bible. I apologize if this offends anyone. I'm not meaning to. I just want to find the truth.

 

[bling]

The best way for you to know Christ is to meet Him first hand eyeball to eyeball. He is alive and will living in and through true Christians, but there are a lot of people that call themselves Christians (that is the title given them) that get in the way of seeing true Christians.

Trying to find Christ in a book is tough, but possible. The Bible is really meant to support the Christian and not to convert the nonbeliever.

The best group of true Christians I have worked with where prisoners behind bars. They had their life on the line each day, were beaten daily, stuck together constantly, studied/prayed/shared/ Loved all the time and were truly Christ like (Christian is a descriptive term meaning Christ like and is not a title).

What I have read and heard about; the Christians in China and some Arab nations make me think they are true Christians.


Since you may not meet a Christ like person first hand we can talk about this academically, but that takes time, thought and study. I can’t just tell you something and expect you to accept it, you will have to think it out for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

We need to start were we agree, so let’s talk about the Jewish God.

Do you feel God is the most Loving being that could ever exist?

Could a truly wonderful Love (Godly type Love), be measured in a being by the amount that being was willing to sacrifice (give up)?

Since we know; how a wonderful mother’s Love for her innocent infant can compel her to do all she does and if God’s Love is greater, can we assume God’s Love would compel Him to do all He does? (There are apparent exceptions, but we can assume for now they can be resolved.)

Would the ultimate Lover be totally selfless toward those he is Loving?

If this Love compels God would it also be the most powerful force in all universes?

If God is truly selfless then His Love would have compelled Him to make beings that could obtain this powerful force for the sake of those that would obtain this Love. So, how do humans obtain such Love?

If God instinctively provided humans with this Love would that not be like a robotic Love and not like the Love He has?

If God forced this Love on humans would that not be like a shoot gun wedding with God holding the shoot gun (could a Loving God do that)?

If God is not going to force this Love on anyone, would it than have to be accepted by the receiver as a free undeserving, unconditional gift? Would the gift truly have been accepted if the receiver was given a choice and understood the choice to be: take it or be tortured? So what is the choice Humans have?

What all might God do or allow to happen in order to help humans accept His gift of Love as Charity since that is what it is?

Do humans have a hard time accepting Charity as charity from a giver that has made a huge sacrifice to give the gift and why should this be a huge sacrifice for God?

Would God allow or make a huge personal sacrifice to help humans to accept Charity?

Could God allowing humans to even sin in order to help them be humble enough to accept Charity?


We can start with these.

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

Have you even read the Bible, specifically the Gospels in the New Testament? If you haven't I highly suggest you read them before drawing your conclusions.

 

[SavedByGrace82]

Yes I believe there is a hard evidence for that Jesus is the Son Of God!

The Diciples who fallowed Jesus for ca. three years died for they belief that Jesus had risen from the dead. Now you might say: "Hey, the muslims die for there belief to. Does it make Islam true?" The aswer is No! Because the muslims dies just for a belief. Jesus diciples died for something they had seen with there own eyes. And touched with there own hands. Even skeptical and enemies were converted to this belief - because incording to them self: They had seen Jesus alive after his death!

And let us look at these this way: The diciples who had seen Jesus according to them self, was really knowing if this was true or not. And we all know that someone does not die for something he know is a lie! And these dispiles was really knowing the truth - because this whole story on Christ Jesus is built on theirs testimony! I really think that these thing its a hard evidence for the resurrection of Jesus!

If i spell in the wrong way - you can correct me! I Im not that good in english!

 

[HappyFork]

Thank all of you. Bling, allow me to answer your questions in order.

Do you feel God is the most Loving being that could ever exist?
- Honestly I think of God more as a watchful creator. Like an artist, or an owner of an ant farm. For instance, love isn't necessarily required, but it very often is the motivation for the creation. And if it isn't the case, it usually follows anyway.

Could a truly wonderful Love (Godly type Love), be measured in a being by the amount that being was willing to sacrifice (give up)?
- Yes.

Since we know; how a wonderful mother’s Love for her innocent infant can compel her to do all she does and if God’s Love is greater, can we assume God’s Love would compel Him to do all He does? (There are apparent exceptions, but we can assume for now they can be resolved.)
- In accordance to my previous artist analogy, yes.

Would the ultimate Lover be totally selfless toward those he is Loving?
- Yes.

If this Love compels God would it also be the most powerful force in all universes?
- I don't know if love is exactly the source of his power. I imagine it as some incomprehensible... well, paintbrush.

If God is truly selfless then His Love would have compelled Him to make beings that could obtain this powerful force for the sake of those that would obtain this Love. So, how do humans obtain such Love?
- I'm sorry, I don't think I understand the question.

If God instinctively provided humans with this Love would that not be like a robotic Love and not like the Love He has?
- So, free will?

If God forced this Love on humans would that not be like a shoot gun wedding with God holding the shoot gun (could a Loving God do that)?
- No. So, free will.

If God is not going to force this Love on anyone, would it than have to be accepted by the receiver as a free undeserving, unconditional gift? Would the gift truly have been accepted if the receiver was given a choice and understood the choice to be: take it or be tortured? So what is the choice Humans have?
- I have no idea. Feel God's love or don't?

What all might God do or allow to happen in order to help humans accept His gift of Love as Charity since that is what it is?
- I'm not sure.

Do humans have a hard time accepting Charity as charity from a giver that has made a huge sacrifice to give the gift and why should this be a huge sacrifice for God?
-I think I see where you're going with this.

Would God allow or make a huge personal sacrifice to help humans to accept Charity?
- I suppose.

Could God allowing humans to even sin in order to help them be humble enough to accept Charity?
- Yes.

As for Bear.Fr00t and SavedByGrace82, I don't expect a source to validate itself. And Happy Pride, I would still like to try.

 

[joey_downunder]

IF Christianity really is true, shouldn't there also be lots of evidence OUTSIDE of the Bible as well? Well there IS an awful lot of historical evidence out there that supports the Bible and especially the Gospels. Non-christian sources in fact. e.g. Jews mentioning Jesus Ancient Jewish Accounts of Jesus

From an academic website: Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: Christian Origins

Christian website showing the historical evidence that other non-christians i.e. pagans knew about Jesus secular sources which mentioned Jesus http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexisthub.html

Can you think of ANY other religion that has non-believers (regarding that particular faith) writing about a religion's prophet/gods/God and backing up some of the events mentioned in that religion's writings like Christianity has? Remember that 2000 years ago Jesus was not a ruler or even a major Jewish leader - and therefore should not have been have been at all famous in ordinary circumstances.

 

[bling]

Thank all of you. Bling, allow me to answer your questions in order.

Do you feel God is the most Loving being that could ever exist?
- Honestly I think of God more as a watchful creator. Like an artist, or an owner of an ant farm. For instance, love isn't necessarily required, but it very often is the motivation for the creation. And if it isn't the case, it usually follows anyway.

Could a truly wonderful Love (Godly type Love), be measured in a being by the amount that being was willing to sacrifice (give up)?
- Yes.

Since we know; how a wonderful mother’s Love for her innocent infant can compel her to do all she does and if God’s Love is greater, can we assume God’s Love would compel Him to do all He does? (There are apparent exceptions, but we can assume for now they can be resolved.)
- In accordance to my previous artist analogy, yes.

Would the ultimate Lover be totally selfless toward those he is Loving?
- Yes.

If this Love compels God would it also be the most powerful force in all universes?
- I don't know if love is exactly the source of his power. I imagine it as some incomprehensible... well, paintbrush.

If God is truly selfless then His Love would have compelled Him to make beings that could obtain this powerful force for the sake of those that would obtain this Love. So, how do humans obtain such Love?
- I'm sorry, I don't think I understand the question.

If God instinctively provided humans with this Love would that not be like a robotic Love and not like the Love He has?
- So, free will?

If God forced this Love on humans would that not be like a shoot gun wedding with God holding the shoot gun (could a Loving God do that)?
- No. So, free will.

If God is not going to force this Love on anyone, would it than have to be accepted by the receiver as a free undeserving, unconditional gift? Would the gift truly have been accepted if the receiver was given a choice and understood the choice to be: take it or be tortured? So what is the choice Humans have?
- I have no idea. Feel God's love or don't?

What all might God do or allow to happen in order to help humans accept His gift of Love as Charity since that is what it is?
- I'm not sure.

Do humans have a hard time accepting Charity as charity from a giver that has made a huge sacrifice to give the gift and why should this be a huge sacrifice for God?
-I think I see where you're going with this.

Would God allow or make a huge personal sacrifice to help humans to accept Charity?
- I suppose.

Could God allowing humans to even sin in order to help them be humble enough to accept Charity?
- Yes.

.

You did an excellent job and for the most part we are in agreement.

Does an artist have a driving need to paint (create)?

Many see God this way and that is their reason for the creation, but that suggests God has a void that needs filling (a need), so would an all knowing and all powerful God have any “needs”?

We understand our God to be the greatest Lover possible (selfless), so would He not be trying to fulfill a need in others and not His own need?

As the greatest Lover God is willing to do almost anything to help others fulfill their objective and obtain this Love (the most powerful force in all universes that compels even God).

(I do not mean to suggest Love is the power God has, but Love controls God’s Power) The New Testament describes God as being Love, so God is controlling Himself.

Hopeful we would agree that the greatest “commandment” is to: “Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and energy”, with the second following right behind of: “Loving others as self”. I combine these to be our mission statement controlling all our decisions.

This becomes our overriding objective, but the problem comes with this “Love”. A Love that requires all of what we are; goes way beyond instinctive loves or even human logic.

I am suggesting that there is absolutely nothing in it for God to Love us , but he does Love us (in spite of what we have done or will do), since that is the way He is.

So if there was absolutely nothing in it for me (except shame, hardship, disappointment and suffering), why should I Love?

You do not have to believe the story of Adam and Eve is true to get the ton of information out of the story. Adam and Eve are the best human representatives we could ask for (the best mind and body and taught [programmed] to maturity by the best parent). They had tons of freedom with only one thing not to do. The problem is to truly obey God we are taught you must “Love” with this Godly type Love first and this is not something Adam and Eve had instinctively (robotic love). God was Loving them with Godly type Love, but as obedient Children of a wonderful parent A&E did not have to “accept” God’s Love as Godly type Love, but would have accepted it as obedient Children being Loved by a wonderful parent (they deserved to be love in such a way).

To recognize and accept Godly type Love you have to humble yourself enough to accept “charity” (you in no way deserve to be Love like this). A&E had done nothing wrong so they had no reason to be humble.

After A&E did sin then they had a reason to be humble especially before God, but now it took trust (faith) to believe God’s Love was great enough to forgive them. Humility can come from such “faith” since that is an act of humility (trusting God over trusting self). They also had Hope of a better relationship in a better situation (heaven), but God had shown them (and us) where He wants us to be (the garden situation).

It is truly unfortunate that humans could not accept God’s Love in the garden situation and needed: sin, limited recourses (this enables us to extend charity to others), death, satan to tempt us, another place to dwell under different circumstances, hell and (yes) Christ going to the cross.

Is the only way for humans to initially accept God’s Love as pure charity is by: Accepting God’s forgiveness of our sins?

I have not seen or read of it happening another way, so is this just the best way or only way?

I do see people coming up with all kinds of scenarios to avoid having to humble accept God Love as charity (earning it, pay it back, deserving because of birth, being selected for no good reason).

There is lots of good God given reasons to have a strong ego, but that seems to generate pride. Humans do not like accepting Charity as charity.

To really understand Godly type Love would it help to have God Himself come to earth and show His Love to us one on one?

Would God do such a thing to help us?

What would God himself do differently from Jesus to show His Love to those around Jesus in the first century?

 

[SavedByGrace82]

HappyFork - even Roman historians said that the Christians was killed for their belief!

Tacitus wrote this:

"But all human efforts, all the emperor's gifts and propitiations of the gods, were not enough to remove the scandal or banish the belief that the fire [summer, 64 C.E.] had been ordered. And so, to get rid of this rumor Nero set up as culprits and punished with the utmost cruelty a class hated for their abominations, who are commonly called Christians. Christus, from whom their name is derived, was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius. Checked for the moment this pernicious superstition broke out again, not only in Judea, the source of the evil, but even in Rome, the place where everything that is sordid and degrading from every quarter of the globe finds a following. Thus those who confessed (i.e.. to being Christians) were first arrested, then on evidence from them a large multitude was convicted, not so much for the charge of arson as for their hatred of the human race. Besides being put to death they were made objects of amusement; they were clothed in hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others were set on fire to illuminate the night after sunset. Nero threw open his grounds for the display and put on a show at the circus where he mingled with the people dressed like a charioteer and driving about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, evens towards these men who deserved the most exemplary punishment since it was felt they were being killed, not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.

And according to the churchfathers Paul and Peter was killed here.

You can read more about this here The Christians as the Romans Saw Them

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

As for Bear.Fr00t and SavedByGrace82, I don't expect a source to validate itself.

When you read the gospels you read the testimony of four men who tell about what they heard and saw. Are they lying and making this stuff up? When you read the remainder of the New Testament you read other men supporting what was said in the gospels and proclaiming their own experiences with God. Are they also lying? Because really you have two choices, it is all a bunch of lies, or it's the truth.

Don't forget that every book written in the NT was written by a man who died horrible deaths for what they said was the truth. The only exception (correct me if I'm wrong) was John.

So read what they said, and make a decision.

 

[salida]

I repeat this a lot-but this is very informative info.

Are you a good person? www.livingwaters.com/good/

Below is the tip of the iceberg:

Research the credibility of the bible concerning overwhelming evidence which is very high compared to other religions even though it’s a spiritual decision first.
Visit: www.TheBibleProofBook.com, (you will need acrobat reader for this), read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell a former agnostic- (its overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster a former athiest/The Case for Christ and The Real Jesus by Lee Strobel a former athiest. www.equip.org (articles), http://www.gotquestions.org/,
http://christiananswers.net/

http://www.reasonableanswers.org/12-Eyewitnesses-of-the-resurrection.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/canon-Bible.html
http://equip.org/articles/a-defense-of-sola-scriptura
http://equip.org/articles/bible-reliability

Internal Evidence (prophesies confirmed within bible)
Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen 49:10 - Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Lukes time period 60-70 AD)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5 - Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60 - 70 AD)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14 - Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60 - 70 AD)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 - four kingdoms are described in the interpretation of a dream of
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek - Daniel 8:21, 10:20/and the fourth
great kingdom to follow- part iron and clay-which is the Roman Empire. During this empire Christ came and his church was established.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historical Accuracy
The bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago and has not
been proven incorrect in any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament starts - at 25 years between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years
Caesar - at 1000 years
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Manuscript Copies-New Testament - 5,686/Homer - 643/Demosthenes - 200/
Plato - 7/Caesar -10
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency/Written by God
Written by at least 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years and has no internal inconsistencies.
It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. No other religious book makes such claim.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
External Evidences (prophesies outside bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never built again.
Nineveh - Nahum 1:10, 3:7,15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon - Isaiah 13:1-22
Tyre - Ezekiel 26:1-28
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Bible before Science- He hangs the earth on nothing-Job 26:7/Earth is a sphere-Isaiah 40:22
Air has weight-Job 28:25/Gravity-Job 26:7, Job 38:31-33/Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6
(Job was written at least 1000 BC; some scholars think 3000 BC)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Documents that Prove Bible is True
Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles
Archeological Finds
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

 

[Catherineanne]

Let's just go off the assumption that I don't believe in the Bible. I apologize if this offends anyone. I'm not meaning to. I just want to find the truth.

The problem with this approach to faith is that it is the wrong way round. How do you convince someone that it is possible to learn to swim, except by sticking them in the pool and showing them how it is done?

No matter how long you stand on the side asking us to prove that you will not sink like a stone, until you actually get in and find out for yourself, you won't be able to believe it.

To be a Christian you do not have to believe in the Bible; you simply have to look at the life and example of Christ, and decide, is this a man I can trust or not? If you can, then you can safely place your life and soul in his hands, and all else will follow, in time.

 

[JesusFreak4L]

regardless of where you are at Spiritually and with your walk with the Lord, I will be thinking about you man and praying for you! check out my ministry if you have time! Oneofthethirsty's Blog and check out some of the blogs that I have written!

Blessings!
-Cameron

 

[E.C.]

I'm not a christian. My girlfriend is. She wants me to believe but I just can't. I don't have enough proof. I'm sorry to say that I'm not a very faithful person. I need evidence to believe something.

So what I'm asking is for the kind folks here to give me hard evidence that Christianity is true. As for my current beliefs, I believe a condensed version of Judaism that I could get into upon request but won't bore you with at this time.

Essentially, if you can convince me in some way that Jesus really is the son of God and everything he did really happened, I'll convert. And just a forewarning, I would prefer you don't use something along the lines of "it says so in the Bible" as proof. Let's just go off the assumption that I don't believe in the Bible. I apologize if this offends anyone. I'm not meaning to. I just want to find the truth.

Reformed Judaism? I knew an Orthodox Jew one time and he taught me a little bit about the various Jewish groups.


Historically, the reasons why Jews haven't believed that Christ was the Messiah are quite simple.

1) the Roman guards stationed to guard the tomb first went to the local politicians after Christ's Resurrection. Unfortunately, the politicians told them, if asked, to tell everybody that Christ's body had been stolen by His followers.

2) Christians were considered Jews until the Jewish Revolt of the 70s AD. The various Jewish groups at the time (Pharisees and Essenes lead by the Zealots) followed a man whom they thought was the Messiah who would bring about a resurrected Jewish kingdom of sorts. The Christians did not participate in this Revolt because the Messiah is not one who would bring about a new Jewish kingdom on earth, but would bring about the Kingdom of God. When Christ was crucified, He defeated death and therefore destroyed the barriers between God and Man and with that made Man able to attain the Kingdom of Heaven.

The "New Israel" is not the geopolitical State of Israel founded in 1948. Rather, it is the Christian Church.

I met an Eastern Orthodox Christian priest one time who converted from a long line of Jewish rabbis. He wrote a book about it titled, "Surprised by Christ". While I've not read it myself I've heard enough good things about it to recommend it to others. While I've not known many Jews besides this priest who became Christians, I would imagine that if somebody who is Jewish could rethink the two items I mentioned than perhaps they would be more inclined to lean towards Christianity. I don't know.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

I'm not a christian. My girlfriend is. She wants me to believe but I just can't. I don't have enough proof. I'm sorry to say that I'm not a very faithful person. I need evidence to believe something.

So what I'm asking is for the kind folks here to give me hard evidence that Christianity is true. As for my current beliefs, I believe a condensed version of Judaism that I could get into upon request but won't bore you with at this time.

Essentially, if you can convince me in some way that Jesus really is the son of God and everything he did really happened, I'll convert. And just a forewarning, I would prefer you don't use something along the lines of "it says so in the Bible" as proof. Let's just go off the assumption that I don't believe in the Bible. I apologize if this offends anyone. I'm not meaning to. I just want to find the truth.

There is actually a great deal of historical evidence that is extra-Biblical which supports the notion that Jesus lived, was crucified, did spiritual healings, was a prominent figure, had a following who believed him to be the Messiah, etc. There is also a great deal of historical evidence to back up the stories of the apostles, of Paul and much of the early church and its many sects.

However, I don't think, with all this historical research, you will ever believe in God in the way that a "Christian" does. And I can say that from experience because I also require lots of evidence. Based on this evidence I believe in much of Jesus' historicity and his message of repentance, forgiveness, love of God, helping the poor, loving your neighbour, and not valuing material possessions. In this sense, I feel that I am a "Christian" (aka "Christ-like") because I hold these as high ideals to strive towards. And I find that this functional and pragmatic view of Jesus' message is much more fulfilling for an evidence-based, science-y person like myself.

As far as salvation and Christ's divinity goes. Both these theological notions are impossible to "prove" within an evidence-based, scientific framework. This is because it largely comes down to personal faith and personal experience. Often you'll get responses from Christians which go along the lines of "You just have to go meet Jesus face to face and accept him into your heart". And I don't doubt them that this is the most foolproof way to go about it but, for me, it is ultimately subjective and doesn't really "prove" the truthfulness of the claim.

If you're looking for concrete, historical evidence of Jesus as a historical figure then that evidence is plentiful. If you're looking for concrete, historical evidence that Jesus is God who came to wash away all your sins then you won't find it. If you want to believe it, you just have to make the leap of faith and plunge head-first into the whole system of belief. Try it, see if it makes your life more fulfilling, more God-centred, more truth-seeking.

(But I would advise you to not date the girl who is Christian because I've broken up with two girlfriends based on their strong beliefs in Christianity causing conflict with my more loose, scientific, wandering beliefs).

 

[Fatally.Yours]

Don't convert to Christianity just because of your girlfriend.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[Danus]

I'm not a christian. My girlfriend is. She wants me to believe but I just can't. I don't have enough proof. I'm sorry to say that I'm not a very faithful person. I need evidence to believe something.

So what I'm asking is for the kind folks here to give me hard evidence that Christianity is true. As for my current beliefs, I believe a condensed version of Judaism that I could get into upon request but won't bore you with at this time.

Essentially, if you can convince me in some way that Jesus really is the son of God and everything he did really happened, I'll convert. And just a forewarning, I would prefer you don't use something along the lines of "it says so in the Bible" as proof. Let's just go off the assumption that I don't believe in the Bible. I apologize if this offends anyone. I'm not meaning to. I just want to find the truth.

Hi Happy Folk. You might find this amusing but I joined this site just to answer your post and offer you some encouragement. I was once on the same journey as you.

If your looking for proof of God, it's great to ask others who claim him, but that's the wrong place to look. Search your heart and you will find him there. He will provide the proof. Good luck, and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I will share with you some stories from my life that prove to me God is real, I hope they do the same for you. There are a few more if the following don't convince you at Megga Fund - Jobs for winners

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice that I believed was God say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was known as the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

Some time after the second Gulf War an Australian man Douglas Wood was captured by terrorists in Iraq, who made demands for a ransom or he would be executed. I set about fasting and praying for his release, I said to God "You know where he is....tell me". Three words entered my mind ABC, Bizaar and "A-meal". I thought "I am going crazy what has all that got to do with him. Bizaar I though "this is Bizarre". I thought maybe "A-meal" is a town so I searched a map of Iraq for a town of that name, but found nothing that really matched. Some time latter Douglas Wood was freed by US troops who came across his captors. It was not until latter that I actually discovered what the three words meant. I was on a forum libertyunites.us and came across a post by a user called ABC in the post she appealed to the captors to release Douglas Wood because he had gone to a/or the Bazaar and bought food for homeless people and had provided them with "A-meal". I believe God saw this action too and blessed Douglas Wood with an escape from his captors.

One time I thought about suing some one but felt bad about it because I did not want to give a bad impression about what a Christian is like. So I prayed and asked God to show me clearly what to do. Latter that day I opened my bible at random, selecting a random verse and it opened to 1Co 6:7 "Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?" So I knew what God was thinking, no lawsuit. From this I do not believe God was saying all law suits are wrong just this one was.

At one point in my life I was praying for scientific cures for illnesses like cancer. Because I was on a science kick I thought would it not be fun to create a real life dinosaur. I wanted Jesus just for fun to show me how to create a Real Live Dinosaur, he can show us anything you know if he wants, but when I asked him how to start recreating a Dinosaur. Jesus spoke into my head the sentence "bood, a term I had never heard before. I decided to look it up on the Internet and I found out the following: You see, the children of Semai are taught from an early age, the concept of "bood." If a parent asks a child to do something and the child replies " bood," it means in other words, "I don't feel like doing that," and the matter is closed. Bood means gently No.

One day I was witnessing to a Muslim and he asked me why we ate pork. I used the verse out of the bible which says "It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the mouth". After some general discussion I finished for the night. I asked God to give me a verse from the bible to encourage me. I opened the bible at random and selected a random verse. It opened to the exact same verse that I had used with the Muslim. The one about food not defiling. So I knew that God was approving of what I had been talking about.
"What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean.'"- Mat 15:11

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. - Ecc 7:11 I have always considered it wise to seek God for every thing in life. By this I do not mean “God, what should I eat” or “what should I wear”. Not small insignificant things but things that matter. God cares about the things that we see as significant, things that are important to us. There was a point in my life where I was single, unmarried and constantly bombarded by the worlds system of doing things, a system to which I was diametrically opposed. I wanted to find a partner, but was not really sure how to go about it. By trade I am a computer programmer so the Internet was very familia to me. So I tried internet dating. I remember getting to a point of meeting quite a few people but not really fully clicking with any of them. So I prayed and said out of all the thousands of people that are online in the world there must be some one who could make a good partner for me. So I deliberately listened for God’s voice, and prayed once. The word “Grace” entered my mind. So I typed “Grace” into the search box (that was used to search for profiles). The first profile to come up was of Ru Chen. I had been contacted by Ru Chen once, but we were unable to send messages to one another over the site for some unknown reason. So I tried to contact her again, but again with no success. Some time latter Ru was able to contact me using an email I had sent to her when she had first contacted me, after chatting online for some weeks we decided to meet. We went out together to the movies and just eating out, and seeing each other for some time. Eventually we decided to marry. We went out and bought a ring. Some months latter we got married.