The things you are talking about are not miracles, Aquila. They're just being human. Good humans do that kind of thing, and not just Christians. And some Christians are not very good at it!
We could discuss all the possible meanings of the word "miracle". However, I'll do better than that. I'll see you your "not miracles" and I'll raise you a categorical distinction...
"Feeding the hungry would be a greater work than healing severed limbs."
We could discuss all the possible meanings of the word "miracle". However, I'll do better than that. I'll see you your "not miracles" and I'll raise you a categorical distinction...
"Feeding the hungry would be a greater work than healing severed limbs."
lol!
I am visualizing two men standing side by side. One is hungry and one has no arm. One is given a bowl of stew and one a new arm. When the hungry man needs food again, the other man still has his arm.
I am visualizing two men standing side by side. One is hungry and one has no arm. One is given a bowl of stew and one a new arm. When the hungry man needs food again, the other man still has his arm.
I'm thinking the arm is a miracle.
Please consider closely what I'm saying...
In fact, a church fired up to serve and feed the needy as their purpose for being here would be a greater miracle (or work) than raising a man from the dead.
Don't believe me? Consider how many gather together in their vast buildings every Sunday for a chance to see some miracle. Then compare it to how many regularly volunteer to keep the local homeless shelter or food pantry open.
It would take a miracle in the hearts of men to reverse those numbers.
What will happen to people when they die? Not one person here, there, or anywhere can answer this question. You can say until you're blue in the face that you know, but you don't.
Every Religion claims to know, and the Afterlife has become the Benchmark of manipulation within these Religions to control people with ideas that cannot be proven.
Over the Millenniums of time, we have watched this process evolve from not knowing, to knowing, yet nothing has really changed accept Religion. And Religion has learned, when there are no more chips left on the table, there is one left no one can see but them, called, the Afterlife.
It's Religions Ace in the Hole! The Grand Finale! The Last Straw! The Perfect Ploy to control the Weak with Fear! It's The Feast and Table Spread of the Superstitious!
I heard the answer today playing on the radio!
"I Can Only Imagine"
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
Yes... we can only imagine, and believe, but we do not know. Yet... what a hope we have to know that even though the reality of the world to come is not ours to know yet... even as we walk in the realm of this world that we do know, there are many signs and natural lessons that point us towards a greater reality, and existence in the eternal life to come. For that reason... we can only imagine!
We could discuss all the possible meanings of the word "miracle". However, I'll do better than that. I'll see you your "not miracles" and I'll raise you a categorical distinction...
"Feeding the hungry would be a greater work than healing severed limbs."
lol!
Well, I suppose I might agree with that.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
In fact, a church fired up to serve and feed the needy as their purpose for being here would be a greater miracle (or work) than raising a man from the dead.
Don't believe me? Consider how many gather together in their vast buildings every Sunday for a chance to see some miracle. Then compare it to how many regularly volunteer to keep the local homeless shelter or food pantry open.
It would take a miracle in the hearts of men to reverse those numbers.
Everyone is NOT called to run a homeless shelter or food pantry. And, frankly, I am tired of the guilt trips. Everyone doesn't have the same calling or burden placed on their lives. Some people are not capable of handling the work of running a homeless shelter or food pantry. I am not called to work in a country like Sis. Alvear. I am not going to feel guilty about that.
I think it's a bit ridiculous to call such a benevolent Christian nation a bunch of slackers on helping those in need. There are people getting help and there are people who don't want God, they just want a bunch of freebies. So, do we continue to feed them? Certainly, it's not for me to worry about their mindset.
God taught me a lesson one day when I was at a concert with my son. We came to see a Christian group who were not the headliners. A massive group of young people were in attendance. They weren't there to see the Christian band, but the headliner group.
I had such a burden for them. God spoke to me and said that I should pray that ONE person in each community would rise up to reach them for the Gospel. All He needed was ONE person in each community to get the ball rolling. It wasn't my job to go and feed, clothe or proclaim the Gospel to them. It was too much for me to handle. All He asked me to do was pray, and He would do the rest.
Not one person at a homeless shelter would call getting fed a greater miracle than someone standing in line suddenly growing a limb.
Everyone is NOT called to run a homeless shelter or food pantry. And, frankly, I am tired of the guilt trips. Everyone doesn't have the same calling or burden placed on their lives. Some people are not capable of handling the work of running a homeless shelter or food pantry. I am not called to work in a country like Sis. Alvear. I am not going to feel guilty about that.
I'm just saying that most of the saints I know have made little room to even volunteer once every three months. Many of these shelters desperately need hands. And I'm primarily talking about those healthy and strong enough to volunteer. And I'm also talking about only maybe four hours on a Saturday or another day once every three months. Something.
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I think it's a bit ridiculous to call such a benevolent Christian nation a bunch of slackers on helping those in need. There are people getting help and there are people who don't want God, they just want a bunch of freebies. So, do we continue to feed them?
I see a big problem with this quote. We don't serve others, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, and offer help in general in order to make them choose God. We do it because it's the right thing to do. The poor we will have with us always. Some are slackers. Some are not. Most suffer from mental illness. Many have been ravished by drugs and alcohol. Most still struggle with drugs and alcohol. It would be nice to see them get clean, but many have given up. We don't cease helping those in need if they suddenly say, "Hey, your Jesus thing isn't for me." We smile, and say, "That's fine. And we're still here for you." Besides, we don't chose God. God chooses us. No man comes to Christ unless the Father draws him. Sometimes, when one is full of the Spirit, one can sense who God is drawing out of the crowd of needy people. Minister to them. Become the door through which the Father can draw one to Christ.
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Certainly, it's not for me to worry about their mindset.
I believe we are our brother's keeper.
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God taught me a lesson one day when I was at a concert with my son. We came to see a Christian group who were not the headliners. A massive group of young people were in attendance. They weren't there to see the Christian band, but the headliner group.
I had such a burden for them. God spoke to me and said that I should pray that ONE person in each community would rise up to reach them for the Gospel. All He needed was ONE person in each community to get the ball rolling. It wasn't my job to go and feed, clothe or proclaim the Gospel to them. It was too much for me to handle. All He asked me to do was pray, and He would do the rest.
Are you saying you couldn't volunteer at a local shelter or pantry for just four hours every three months?
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Not one person at a homeless shelter would call getting fed a greater miracle than someone standing in line suddenly growing a limb.
Of course, that's the carnal mind. The carnal mind wants to see miracles and fireworks. Those who see through the Spirit find that seeing people (who are sinful and selfish by nature) giving of their time and resources to help another without any desire for repayment to be a far greater miracle. It's rare. For example, Mother Theresa's service to the sick and needy in India is a greater miracle than a man's limb growing back. So what, a leg grows back. Medical science is getting to the point where they can grow organs and limbs too. Ah... but overcoming self, pride, ego, and serving others without the desire to be repaid or to have them do as you want... that's truly something. (In my opinion.)
My girlfriend (who works for St. Vincent de Paul) told me one Friday that she wanted me to come and help her "serve Jesus" Saturday afternoon. I said sure and that Saturday we met up, got some coffee, and she said, "Follow me." So, I got in my car and followed her, not exactly sure what she was talking about. She was prayerful that morning... but also giddy and excited. I could see a passion in her for whatever it was that we were about to do. We pulled into the parking lot behind an old gospel mission in Dayton Ohio. As I got our of my car, I began to take it all in. She rushed up the stairs and hugged one of the workers and had short conversation. Then she introduced me. I was handed an old Skyline smock and was shown how to prepare all the food. We prepared food for about an hour. Then the missioned opened and people began pouring in. Men, women, and children. I even saw a few families. Some were elderly. Then I was instructed that I had to begin on dishes if I wanted to get out of there that afternoon. So, I went back to the kitchen and began three hours of dishes. lol Three hours. Talk about back ache and being soaked! LOL Yet I realized, this was perhaps one of the most important things I'd ever done. After clean up we closed in a general prayer (we were from all kinds of different churches) and went our ways. Me and my girl stopped for some food and then I headed home. On the drive home a song came on the radio and it caused me to cry. The chorus says,
If You can use anything Lord
You can use me
Take my hands, Lord
And my feet
Touch my heart, Lord
And speak through me
If You can use anything Lord
You can use me
I felt ashamed. All these years of being a Christian and I never once just did something to serve another simply because it is the Christian thing to do. Yes, I volunteered for church functions... but we always wanted that visitor to become a member. We always wanted something from them in return, or at the very least... good community press for the church. Before this day, I'd not even be able to tell you where the local soup kitchen was... and I had been a Christian over 20 years. It did something to me. So, nearly every two weeks now, I volunteer for at least four hours at the local St. Vincent where my girl works. She flows with it. Last week she helped get vouchers for a family whose house burned down. She helped them pick out furniture, clothes, and various items. Watching her make them smile and give them hope was indescribable. It was better than any sermon I had ever preached. In fact... it was a sermon living itself out in front of me. One day a man who was drunk off his tail came in and tried to sleep in a dressing room. She, myself, and a co-worker woke him up. He reeked to high heaven of urine and beer. He was obviously homeless. We woke him up and explained that he'd have to leave. He took a few minutes to process what we were saying and then my girlfriend told him about the shelter. As he walked towards the door, she told him to stop. She got him a shirt and pants off the rack and gave them to him saying, "Here, you might need a change of clothes." I thought we were going to have to be hard and perhaps motivate him to leave. She was sweet, kind, gracious... and met the immediate needs that he had. She also paid for the things she gave him herself... knowing that she'll never see him again. I asked her about these kinds of things and she says, "While I do these things for those in need, I also do it for Jesus. I don't expect to see most of them again in this life. I pray God saves them and I see them again in Heaven. That's where all the rewards and repayments will be. In Heaven." She does these things for Jesus, only expecting heavenly reward. I was humbled.
I've come to realize that the three hours of dishes might be one of the most sacred things I've ever done.
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