I comment from time to time about the incredible amount of joy and peace that Jesus pours into my life. Despite the death of a child, despite the challenges, joys and sorrows of raising brain damaged children, despite almost five decades of crippling arthritis, childhood sexual abuse and on and on, the presence of my Redeemer and Saviour causes me to feel as though I’ve lived a charmed life. Peace and contentment are simply part of the package that Jesus has delivered to me along with His salvation. The Holy Spirit, His assurance of my standing with my Creator, His comfort, counsel, discipline and guidance has provided for me the greatest source of joy and peace available to a human being.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The second source of joy for me and for all other Christians who have cast in their lot with Creator God is that our lives have congruence. We are not forced to live under constant contradiction of circumstance as are those who believe there is no God. Our feelings match our beliefs. We have hope. We have a future. We have protection and wisdom and insight. Living with the knowledge of a Creator God brings to one’s life meaning and context and purpose.
This is simply impossible for atheists. For them, all of life is logically and reasonably absurd, ludicrous, preposterous. Their belief system must of necessity lead to the conclusion that life is a farcical tragedy because they are an accident and so is the universe. As atheists must admit they are nothing but a mass of firing neurons and chemical exchanges. The only logical conclusion to atheist beliefs regarding their existence is that their lives possess no inherent meaning or purpose, no intrinsic value or worth. If atheists experience joy and hope in this life it is only because they are fraudulently stealing these things from a reality they don’t believe in. For atheists to experience meaning and purpose in this life, they must either pretend to have or they must believe in a delusional manner that something in this accidental life can have and/or give meaning and purpose to them.
John 8:32 “Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set your free.”
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Just Goofin Till Tomorrow.
“Hey! Whacha doing?”
“Packing. I’m getting ready to go.”
“Oh ya. I heard about that. Someone said you’re leaving for Bejing this afternoon. You got chosen to cover the Olympics?”
“No. I’m not packing for that. I’m going to the movies. I’ve got a couple bars to sneak in and I’ve got this jacket which is just the right size and weight to smuggle in the popcorn that I made this morning. They never catch me bringing in my own stuff.”
“But where’s your suitcases, and your passport? I thought you were to catch the plane at 2:00pm? That’s in less than half and hour.”
“Oh, I’ve got lots of time to prepare for that. This movie is way more important. Besides there no guarantee that the Olympics are even going to happen.”
“Well, dude, your boss is sending you there to cover the event. There’s no doubt that you’re going. Shouldn’t you be preparing for that instead of going to a movie?”
“Mmm, nope. I don’t think so. People who are always thinking about and planning for what might happen in the future are the ones who do the worst job of enjoying today.”
“But dude . . .”
“Look! Now you’re starting to irritate me. I’ll live my life the way that I want to live my life. I’m not going to spend every day focussed on something that might not even happen.”
“But it’s GOING to happen. You’ve got a ticket. Your plane is leaving whether you’re ready or not.”
“You know what? You’re starting to sound like some kind of a fundamentalist. I’m out of here. Kung Fu Panda here I come.”
Stupid right? Who’d be so short sighted? Well, nearly everyone, that’s who. Every single one of us is headed into eternity whether we’re prepared or not. This is a certainty. And yet, most people give tomorrow as little thought as the person in the above example. Their focus is on this moment of today instead of the most important part of their journey, their eternal tomorrow.
Rather than just taking advice from the goof next door, you need to give this some serious thought. If you should die today, where will you spend your eternal tomorrow, and what evidence do you have for supporting your answer?
“Packing. I’m getting ready to go.”
“Oh ya. I heard about that. Someone said you’re leaving for Bejing this afternoon. You got chosen to cover the Olympics?”
“No. I’m not packing for that. I’m going to the movies. I’ve got a couple bars to sneak in and I’ve got this jacket which is just the right size and weight to smuggle in the popcorn that I made this morning. They never catch me bringing in my own stuff.”
“But where’s your suitcases, and your passport? I thought you were to catch the plane at 2:00pm? That’s in less than half and hour.”
“Oh, I’ve got lots of time to prepare for that. This movie is way more important. Besides there no guarantee that the Olympics are even going to happen.”
“Well, dude, your boss is sending you there to cover the event. There’s no doubt that you’re going. Shouldn’t you be preparing for that instead of going to a movie?”
“Mmm, nope. I don’t think so. People who are always thinking about and planning for what might happen in the future are the ones who do the worst job of enjoying today.”
“But dude . . .”
“Look! Now you’re starting to irritate me. I’ll live my life the way that I want to live my life. I’m not going to spend every day focussed on something that might not even happen.”
“But it’s GOING to happen. You’ve got a ticket. Your plane is leaving whether you’re ready or not.”
“You know what? You’re starting to sound like some kind of a fundamentalist. I’m out of here. Kung Fu Panda here I come.”
Stupid right? Who’d be so short sighted? Well, nearly everyone, that’s who. Every single one of us is headed into eternity whether we’re prepared or not. This is a certainty. And yet, most people give tomorrow as little thought as the person in the above example. Their focus is on this moment of today instead of the most important part of their journey, their eternal tomorrow.
Rather than just taking advice from the goof next door, you need to give this some serious thought. If you should die today, where will you spend your eternal tomorrow, and what evidence do you have for supporting your answer?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
“Slavery? 2 Thumbs Up” - God
When a member of the government, who happens to be a vegetarian votes to improve living conditions for cattle on the nation’s farms, does it mean that person is in favour of eating meat?
When city officials decide that it would be better for prostitutes to work within a controlled, supervised (safer) environment, does that mean those officials support prostitution? (Ok maybe that’s a bad example but bear with me).
When city officials provide clean needles to drug addicts are they saying that IV drug use is great?
When an animal rights person supports limits on hunting, does it mean that person is in favour of hunting?
The answer to all of these, of course, is a resounding “No.” These people are working with what they have available. They are working within a culture that is already established.
It's the same when God lays out specific guidelines for the treatment of slaves:
. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Col. 4:1
. Do not rule over [your slaves] ruthlessly but fear your God - Lev.25:43
. [Your slave] is to be treated as a man hired from year to year, you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly - Lev. 25:53
. Masters treat your slaves in the same way you want them to treat you. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with Him. Eph. 6:9
. In another place Paul encourages slaves to take freedom if they can. As well God has laid out specific punishment to come for “Slave Traders.”
God / Bible is NOT supporting slavery anymore than city officials are promoting IV drug use by establishing safe places for addicts to inject their drugs. God was working within an established culture. Why didn’t God forbid slavery among the Jews like He did with idol worship or child sacrifice? God allowed slavery to operate under His guidelines for at least two reasons. One was to establish Israel as a nation which probably couldn’t have been done without extra help. Two, was that slavery or servanthood served as a social safety net. It was that or starve.
Have people abused the concept of slavery? Of course. Each of us abuses other people virtually on a daily basis in all manner of ways. They did it back then and we still do it today. However, we can only abuse our fellow man, be it within the confines of slavery or elsewhere by disobeying the guidelines of our Lord and our Creator.
When city officials decide that it would be better for prostitutes to work within a controlled, supervised (safer) environment, does that mean those officials support prostitution? (Ok maybe that’s a bad example but bear with me).
When city officials provide clean needles to drug addicts are they saying that IV drug use is great?
When an animal rights person supports limits on hunting, does it mean that person is in favour of hunting?
The answer to all of these, of course, is a resounding “No.” These people are working with what they have available. They are working within a culture that is already established.
It's the same when God lays out specific guidelines for the treatment of slaves:
. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Col. 4:1
. Do not rule over [your slaves] ruthlessly but fear your God - Lev.25:43
. [Your slave] is to be treated as a man hired from year to year, you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly - Lev. 25:53
. Masters treat your slaves in the same way you want them to treat you. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with Him. Eph. 6:9
. In another place Paul encourages slaves to take freedom if they can. As well God has laid out specific punishment to come for “Slave Traders.”
God / Bible is NOT supporting slavery anymore than city officials are promoting IV drug use by establishing safe places for addicts to inject their drugs. God was working within an established culture. Why didn’t God forbid slavery among the Jews like He did with idol worship or child sacrifice? God allowed slavery to operate under His guidelines for at least two reasons. One was to establish Israel as a nation which probably couldn’t have been done without extra help. Two, was that slavery or servanthood served as a social safety net. It was that or starve.
Have people abused the concept of slavery? Of course. Each of us abuses other people virtually on a daily basis in all manner of ways. They did it back then and we still do it today. However, we can only abuse our fellow man, be it within the confines of slavery or elsewhere by disobeying the guidelines of our Lord and our Creator.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Hardwired for God
I’ve often written about the unique ability of the human mind to comprehend the universe and it’s workings. Some would say this is an accident, a coincidence. I say hog wash. This is as purposefully designed as anything could be.
The fact is, we are built for relationship and we are most of all built for relationship with our Creator. Many if not most people spend their whole lives virtually consumed with developing intimate relationships. Many people become emotionally incapacitated when important relationships go awry. Because the most dysfunctional among us are also the most visible and therefore carry the most influence, their inability to function intimately has come to be the standard or model by which the young and inexperienced humans attempt to develop their intimacy. Ergo, many people never get beyond a physical connection to another human being.
Nevertheless, this obsession with the many facets of relationship (getting, losing, betrayal, death etc.) consume most people from birth till death. This is especially true for those who do not have the most important relationship of all; an intimate, healed and forgiven relationship with Creator God. Without our Creator as our singular source of all that we need to function as emotionally and spiritually healthy individuals, all other relationships will suffer to one degree or another. Only Jesus can teach us love. Only Jesus can bring about in us patience and mercy. Only Jesus’ Spirit can communicate clearly to our spirit the direction that God wants us to take in our lives. We can hear this direction. We can know God’s will for our lives. We are hardwired to communicate with our Creator.
The fact is, we are built for relationship and we are most of all built for relationship with our Creator. Many if not most people spend their whole lives virtually consumed with developing intimate relationships. Many people become emotionally incapacitated when important relationships go awry. Because the most dysfunctional among us are also the most visible and therefore carry the most influence, their inability to function intimately has come to be the standard or model by which the young and inexperienced humans attempt to develop their intimacy. Ergo, many people never get beyond a physical connection to another human being.
Nevertheless, this obsession with the many facets of relationship (getting, losing, betrayal, death etc.) consume most people from birth till death. This is especially true for those who do not have the most important relationship of all; an intimate, healed and forgiven relationship with Creator God. Without our Creator as our singular source of all that we need to function as emotionally and spiritually healthy individuals, all other relationships will suffer to one degree or another. Only Jesus can teach us love. Only Jesus can bring about in us patience and mercy. Only Jesus’ Spirit can communicate clearly to our spirit the direction that God wants us to take in our lives. We can hear this direction. We can know God’s will for our lives. We are hardwired to communicate with our Creator.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Citizen of Heaven
God’s kingdom is part of my life - right now. I am a citizen of heaven. I am an ambassador of heaven. I am a representative of heaven informing others of opportunities that await them, opportunities so grand that they cannot imagine the possibilities. Must one wait until heaven to get a glimpse of what the kingdom is like? Absolutely not. For those in a right relationship with Jesus, we can experience in the here and now, peace, hope, joy, security and belonging - all despite circumstance and all within the context of the suffering that we experience during our life on earth. We can know what it is like to experience a presence of love so powerful that at times I’m tempted to holler “Stop Father! It’s too wonderful. Let me catch my breath.”
Being part of God’s kingdom now entails the knowledge that we are already in an eternal relationship with our Creator. This is not something for which we must wait. His kingdom power supplies all my needs and fulfills all my dreams. For those who are now part of God’s kingdom, satisfaction, excitement, expectation and longing are expanded to their fullest meaning possible. My life, right now is “hidden with Christ in God” “What can mere man do to me.” Because I am a son and an heir with Christ Jesus in spite of all the tragedy that has befallen me, I am more than a conqueror unbowed by the circumstances of life. I have worth and I have value because I am a child of God, a citizen of His kingdom and an heir to His eternal riches. I am blessed beyond my most extravagant dreams. Never did I ever thing that my life would be this good.
Thank you Heavenly Father, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Being part of God’s kingdom now entails the knowledge that we are already in an eternal relationship with our Creator. This is not something for which we must wait. His kingdom power supplies all my needs and fulfills all my dreams. For those who are now part of God’s kingdom, satisfaction, excitement, expectation and longing are expanded to their fullest meaning possible. My life, right now is “hidden with Christ in God” “What can mere man do to me.” Because I am a son and an heir with Christ Jesus in spite of all the tragedy that has befallen me, I am more than a conqueror unbowed by the circumstances of life. I have worth and I have value because I am a child of God, a citizen of His kingdom and an heir to His eternal riches. I am blessed beyond my most extravagant dreams. Never did I ever thing that my life would be this good.
Thank you Heavenly Father, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Faith and Folly
As I age, learn and grow in my relationship with God I seem to be coming to some sort of resolution. My journey began with Denial and roughly followed to > Rebellion > Awareness > Acceptance > Desire > Fulfillment > Joyful Resignation > Contemplation.
In hindsight the temporary folly in my journey was an obsession with and an over emphasis on the importance of reason in one’s relationship with God. Contrary to all that Jesus taught (eg. John 6:44) I allowed myself to be distracted by forays into evidence, proving, justifying and convincing others and myself that what I believed, was in fact true. Notice, it wasn’t what Jesus said that was my emphasis. It wasn’t His gospel of salvation that I wanted to communicate. Rather, what I believed and why I believed it took on a importance that again, in hindsight was not only distracting but probably destructive to those with whom I was interacting.
It was like, Now that I know this is true, now that I have a solid, vibrant, exciting relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ, I need to lay out the evidence for what I already know to be true. For some reason I needed to justify to myself my relationship with Jesus. It was like I was convincing myself all over again. In truth, out of fear that others might think less of me, I had this need to justify my relationship with Jesus to non believers, especially to those who seem condemned to live within a very narrow band of awareness. Yes we are to be able to give an explanation for why we believe, but we must not confuse that explanation with the work that the Holy Spirit does in a yet-to-be-believer's soul in bringing that person to salvation. People are not saved by evidence. They are saved by hearing the Word of God in general and being exposed to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Those that demand further proof are simply not at a place where any decision for redemption can be made. God may bring them to that point some day but for now, simply laying out God's plan of salvation through Jesus is all that can be done.
I now see that an emphasis on reason, while interesting in it’s own right, is superfluous to, unnecessary for and theoretically at least contrary to the initiation and development of faith. It is God who calls, God who grows, God who saves and sanctifies. Anything that we are or ever will be is from God and God alone. Knowing Him, really knowing Him is a purely spiritual affair, devoid of any need for proof save that of God Himself and His stirring in our souls.
In hindsight the temporary folly in my journey was an obsession with and an over emphasis on the importance of reason in one’s relationship with God. Contrary to all that Jesus taught (eg. John 6:44) I allowed myself to be distracted by forays into evidence, proving, justifying and convincing others and myself that what I believed, was in fact true. Notice, it wasn’t what Jesus said that was my emphasis. It wasn’t His gospel of salvation that I wanted to communicate. Rather, what I believed and why I believed it took on a importance that again, in hindsight was not only distracting but probably destructive to those with whom I was interacting.
It was like, Now that I know this is true, now that I have a solid, vibrant, exciting relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ, I need to lay out the evidence for what I already know to be true. For some reason I needed to justify to myself my relationship with Jesus. It was like I was convincing myself all over again. In truth, out of fear that others might think less of me, I had this need to justify my relationship with Jesus to non believers, especially to those who seem condemned to live within a very narrow band of awareness. Yes we are to be able to give an explanation for why we believe, but we must not confuse that explanation with the work that the Holy Spirit does in a yet-to-be-believer's soul in bringing that person to salvation. People are not saved by evidence. They are saved by hearing the Word of God in general and being exposed to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Those that demand further proof are simply not at a place where any decision for redemption can be made. God may bring them to that point some day but for now, simply laying out God's plan of salvation through Jesus is all that can be done.
I now see that an emphasis on reason, while interesting in it’s own right, is superfluous to, unnecessary for and theoretically at least contrary to the initiation and development of faith. It is God who calls, God who grows, God who saves and sanctifies. Anything that we are or ever will be is from God and God alone. Knowing Him, really knowing Him is a purely spiritual affair, devoid of any need for proof save that of God Himself and His stirring in our souls.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Has there been even one miracle?
“I don’t believe in miracles.”
“You mean you believe miracles don’t happen or that miracles can’t happen.”
“Don’t happen. Can’t happen. Both. There’s no such thing as a miracle.”
“Like Jesus rising from the dead.”
“Right. Can’t happen. Didn’t happen. Either He didn’t die and somehow escaped from the guarded tomb without being noticed, which itself is impossible, or the people who wrote the Bible were lying about what they claim to have seen.”
“Which doesn’t seem likely either. I mean, people don’t allow themselves to be tortured to death for a lie that they themselves invented.”
“True, er, whatever.”
“So what is a miracle? What’s your definition of a miracle?”
“I told you. There’s no such thing as a miracle. If something has happened then it has a natural explanation.”
“Meaning, it’s happened according to natural laws, scientific laws, the laws of physics.”
“Exactly.”
“So if something happened outside of those laws . .”
“That can’t happen.”
“Ya, but for the sake of argument, if something did happen outside the laws of physics, like Jesus turning water into wine . .”
“Jesus didn’t turn any water into wine, and he didn’t command diseases to leave people and he didn’t . . .”
“Let me finish. If He did turn water into wine or if He did walk on water, that would have been something that was outside of the laws of physics and therefore it could / would fit the definition of a miracle. ”
“Yes, but miracles don’t happen and Jesus didn’t do any of the stuff that are called miracles.”
“No miracles - ever.”
“That’s right.”
“But if there could be miracles, no wait, if there could be one miracle, if it was possible for even one miracle to take place then there might very well be bzillions of miracles.”
“I suppose but miracles are understood as out of the ordinary events so a bzillion of anything would make it ordinary, therefore it wouldn’t be a miracle.”
“Good point. Let me try again. If there could be one miracle then there is no reason why there couldn’t be two miracles or three miracles or whatever.”
“I guess. If there’s been one miracle then any number of miracles are possible but there hasn’t been nor will there ever be even one miracle.”
“Nothing outside the laws of physics has or ever will take place.”
“You got it. Can we talk about something interesting?”
“So what was there before the laws of physics?”
“What do you mean?”
“The laws of physics came into being with the Big Bang. What was there before the Big Bang that caused the Big Bang and the laws of physics to come into being?”
“There wasn’t anything there before the Big Bang. It just happened.”
“Matter just created itself.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I think you did.”
“ I . .:”
“Look, whatever caused the universe and the laws of physics and time for that matter existed outside of time and the universe and outside of and above or over the laws of physics. Whatever created the laws of physics, whatever controlled the laws of physics whatever brought the laws of physics into being has to be greater than the laws of physics. Therefore the bringing into being or the Creating of the universe or the Creating of the Big Bang is a working definition of a miracle. And, you yourself just said, if there can be one miracle there can be any number of miracles. If Something from outside the laws of physics can make and manipulate energy and matter once, there is no reason It can’t do it any number of times. If we call the Cause of the universe, if we call the Cause of the Big Bang God, then God is the only one who is capable of causing a miracle.
“Yes but we don’t . . .”
“Wait! Just let me finish this thought and then you can reply. Jesus said to the people that were checking Him out, “You don’t have to believe Me when I say that I Am God just because that’s what I tell you. But your should believe that I Am God because of what I do.” Why would He say that?”
“I don’t know. Why are you asking me? I don’t even read the stupid Bible. Why do you think He said it?”
“I think that Jesus made that statement because He was doing things that were clearly outside of or contrary to the laws of physics as they/we understand them. Those people knew that a disease doesn’t respond to someone talking to it. Those people knew that water doesn’t just turn into wine at someone’s command. Those people knew beyond a shadow of doubt that normal people don’t calm a storm or forgive those who are unjustly killing them and those people for sure knew that dead people don’t come to life again.
Neither could they just toss these events aside. People were healed. The wine was real. Storms were calmed, people were forgiven, the blind were made to see, the lame were walking, people's lives were renewed and changed and Jesus was seen to be alive in ways that disallowed the idea of hallucinations. Those are things that only a God can do. Jesus was saying that He was doing these things in real space and real time and He was doing it for their benefit. And as it turns out He was doing it for our benefit as well. He did those things so that we could know that He was and is the real deal.
A guy named John, who was an eyewitness to the ministry of Jesus describes Jesus’ manipulations of matter and energy as “signs.” They were signs that Jesus has mastery over the natural elements of our universe. That kind of manipulation that kind of power is only possible in the Being who brought into reality the elements and laws that govern those elements in the first place. Those demonstrations by Jesus were signs that He used to show that something from another dimension had physically and visibly entered into our dimension. Something totally “other” happened when Jesus walked the earth and the Christian faith, the body of believers the Church, even with all it's faults, is an ongoing evidentiary miracle in it’s own right. There is no reason for the Christian faith to exist let alone be the driving force beyond virtually all we know as good for the human race if Jesus was and is not God incarnate. Sorry, I’ve talked too much. It’s your turn.
“Um, well, let me think about this.”
“Fair enough. Just one more point. All I know is that there is no basis upon which a person can unequivocally claim that miracles can’t or haven’t happened. Jesus, who is the Logos, the Word, the Mind, the First Cause, the Creator of the universe has proved that miracles can and do happen.”
“Well, maybe.”
“You mean you believe miracles don’t happen or that miracles can’t happen.”
“Don’t happen. Can’t happen. Both. There’s no such thing as a miracle.”
“Like Jesus rising from the dead.”
“Right. Can’t happen. Didn’t happen. Either He didn’t die and somehow escaped from the guarded tomb without being noticed, which itself is impossible, or the people who wrote the Bible were lying about what they claim to have seen.”
“Which doesn’t seem likely either. I mean, people don’t allow themselves to be tortured to death for a lie that they themselves invented.”
“True, er, whatever.”
“So what is a miracle? What’s your definition of a miracle?”
“I told you. There’s no such thing as a miracle. If something has happened then it has a natural explanation.”
“Meaning, it’s happened according to natural laws, scientific laws, the laws of physics.”
“Exactly.”
“So if something happened outside of those laws . .”
“That can’t happen.”
“Ya, but for the sake of argument, if something did happen outside the laws of physics, like Jesus turning water into wine . .”
“Jesus didn’t turn any water into wine, and he didn’t command diseases to leave people and he didn’t . . .”
“Let me finish. If He did turn water into wine or if He did walk on water, that would have been something that was outside of the laws of physics and therefore it could / would fit the definition of a miracle. ”
“Yes, but miracles don’t happen and Jesus didn’t do any of the stuff that are called miracles.”
“No miracles - ever.”
“That’s right.”
“But if there could be miracles, no wait, if there could be one miracle, if it was possible for even one miracle to take place then there might very well be bzillions of miracles.”
“I suppose but miracles are understood as out of the ordinary events so a bzillion of anything would make it ordinary, therefore it wouldn’t be a miracle.”
“Good point. Let me try again. If there could be one miracle then there is no reason why there couldn’t be two miracles or three miracles or whatever.”
“I guess. If there’s been one miracle then any number of miracles are possible but there hasn’t been nor will there ever be even one miracle.”
“Nothing outside the laws of physics has or ever will take place.”
“You got it. Can we talk about something interesting?”
“So what was there before the laws of physics?”
“What do you mean?”
“The laws of physics came into being with the Big Bang. What was there before the Big Bang that caused the Big Bang and the laws of physics to come into being?”
“There wasn’t anything there before the Big Bang. It just happened.”
“Matter just created itself.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I think you did.”
“ I . .:”
“Look, whatever caused the universe and the laws of physics and time for that matter existed outside of time and the universe and outside of and above or over the laws of physics. Whatever created the laws of physics, whatever controlled the laws of physics whatever brought the laws of physics into being has to be greater than the laws of physics. Therefore the bringing into being or the Creating of the universe or the Creating of the Big Bang is a working definition of a miracle. And, you yourself just said, if there can be one miracle there can be any number of miracles. If Something from outside the laws of physics can make and manipulate energy and matter once, there is no reason It can’t do it any number of times. If we call the Cause of the universe, if we call the Cause of the Big Bang God, then God is the only one who is capable of causing a miracle.
“Yes but we don’t . . .”
“Wait! Just let me finish this thought and then you can reply. Jesus said to the people that were checking Him out, “You don’t have to believe Me when I say that I Am God just because that’s what I tell you. But your should believe that I Am God because of what I do.” Why would He say that?”
“I don’t know. Why are you asking me? I don’t even read the stupid Bible. Why do you think He said it?”
“I think that Jesus made that statement because He was doing things that were clearly outside of or contrary to the laws of physics as they/we understand them. Those people knew that a disease doesn’t respond to someone talking to it. Those people knew that water doesn’t just turn into wine at someone’s command. Those people knew beyond a shadow of doubt that normal people don’t calm a storm or forgive those who are unjustly killing them and those people for sure knew that dead people don’t come to life again.
Neither could they just toss these events aside. People were healed. The wine was real. Storms were calmed, people were forgiven, the blind were made to see, the lame were walking, people's lives were renewed and changed and Jesus was seen to be alive in ways that disallowed the idea of hallucinations. Those are things that only a God can do. Jesus was saying that He was doing these things in real space and real time and He was doing it for their benefit. And as it turns out He was doing it for our benefit as well. He did those things so that we could know that He was and is the real deal.
A guy named John, who was an eyewitness to the ministry of Jesus describes Jesus’ manipulations of matter and energy as “signs.” They were signs that Jesus has mastery over the natural elements of our universe. That kind of manipulation that kind of power is only possible in the Being who brought into reality the elements and laws that govern those elements in the first place. Those demonstrations by Jesus were signs that He used to show that something from another dimension had physically and visibly entered into our dimension. Something totally “other” happened when Jesus walked the earth and the Christian faith, the body of believers the Church, even with all it's faults, is an ongoing evidentiary miracle in it’s own right. There is no reason for the Christian faith to exist let alone be the driving force beyond virtually all we know as good for the human race if Jesus was and is not God incarnate. Sorry, I’ve talked too much. It’s your turn.
“Um, well, let me think about this.”
“Fair enough. Just one more point. All I know is that there is no basis upon which a person can unequivocally claim that miracles can’t or haven’t happened. Jesus, who is the Logos, the Word, the Mind, the First Cause, the Creator of the universe has proved that miracles can and do happen.”
“Well, maybe.”
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