PDA

View Full Version : Here's an interesting news article .....


John * Thunder!
06-24-2006, 12:44 AM
`

THIS NEWS ARTICLE DATES BACK TO 2003, BUT I STILL THINK
IT IS FASCINATING, AND SOMETHING WE CAN POINT TO WHEN
CHALLENGED ABOUT OUR FAITH IN YAHWEH'S EXISTENCE! AMEN? ;)


A congregation in the United States was left stunned when lightning struck
a church moments after a visiting preacher asked God for a sign.



Church members in the town of Forest in the state of Ohio said the preacher had been emphasising the importance of penance when, in the course of his prayers, he called on the heavens above.
The lightning struck the steeple, then hit the preacher himself when it travelled through electrical wiring to his microphone.
Local authorities said he was not injured.
"It was awesome, just awesome," said church member Ronnie Cheney, who was among the congregation when the strike hit, told the Findlay Courier newspaper.
"You could hear the storm building outside... he just kept asking God what else he needed to say.
"He was asking for a sign and he got one."
Afterwards services resumed, however churchgoers realised after 20 minutes that the building was on fire and evacuated.
"It was kind of interesting hearing the preacher talk about what had happened," Forest Fire Chief Doug Hawkin admitted. The fire was put out after three hours, but damage to the church is estimated at around $20,000.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3044178.stm

InTheWind
06-24-2006, 09:19 AM
Sounds more like a scolding to me. :( faith needs no signs:):

CoreIssue
06-24-2006, 11:11 AM
Sounds more like a scolding to me. :( faith needs no signs:):
My thoughts exactly. :nod:

John * Thunder!
06-24-2006, 01:09 PM
`


Well, you can see it any way you like, a scolding or a reply, it still stands
as a "Sign", especially when there are about 100 people there to
verify and talk about it afterwards.

And i doubt it was a scolding, Bro. If it were, the person Scolded would
definitely know it! GOD doesn't Make mistakes, and we have His Holy Spirit
within us to discern either or.


`

InTheWind
06-24-2006, 04:38 PM
And i doubt it was a scolding, Bro. If it were, the person Scolded would
definitely know it! GOD doesn't Make mistakes, and we have His Holy Spirit
within us to discern either or.


More than likely a coincident, he just happened to ask for a sign when the lightening hit. :):

John * Thunder!
06-24-2006, 04:55 PM
`


:scratch: :scratch: :scratch: :scratch:


Okay.

InTheWind
06-24-2006, 07:06 PM
`


:scratch: :scratch: :scratch: :scratch:


Okay.

How do you discern that it wasn`t just a freak accident, or a sign from God or a trick by Satan?

John * Thunder!
06-24-2006, 10:13 PM
`


NOTE: Although it may appear to the contrary, in no part of my reply
is there any intention of smugness/rudeness/disrespect, ITW. :hug:


How do you discern that it wasn`t just a freak accident,
or a sign from God or a trick by Satan?


Well, does GOD Exist??

Yes.

Does He Know what we are doing and saying, for the most part?

Yes.

So, answer me this, then. What are the chances that --while this pastor
was emphasizing the importance of penance and in the course of his prayers,
called on the heavens above-- lightning struck not only his Church, but
the preacher himself?? GOD Knew that he was calling for a "Sign", and He
didn't Reply, but lightning struck the Church?? Sorry, that's too coincidental,
and I don't believe in coincidences. ESPECIALLY not in these circumstances.

I will not say for certain though that it was not a trick by Satan. I know that
he sees and hears a lot, as well. However, in either case, my point was that
we can use this news story as further evidence of our Father YAHWEH's
Existence when seekers ask why we believe as we do.

And yes, I am aware that believing is by Faith, not necessarily by sight. But
seekers don't know that until they find JESUS. Amen?


`

CoreIssue
06-24-2006, 11:23 PM
Well, the thing is the fire.

If not coincidence, which the odds do stand against, then it would be a warning.

If a sign, sure sounds like shape up or burn.

But truly hard to put a definite answer on.

Jessie
06-25-2006, 12:31 AM
Well, the thing is the fire.

If not coincidence, which the odds do stand against, then it would be a warning.

If a sign, sure sounds like shape up or burn.

But truly hard to put a definite answer on.

I've gotta agree, and why was he going on about pentence?
we dont do pentence.

InTheWind
06-25-2006, 08:17 AM
Well i sure don`t buy it was a sign from God for the benefit of the members, burning their church isn`t very cool.
I`m leaning toward a freak accident or a warning but could be deception by Satan also. :):

John * Thunder!
06-25-2006, 09:11 AM
`

I see your point there, ITW. However, what did
Jessie mean by her statement ...

and why was he going on about pentence?
we dont do pentence.

Jess may indeed have discovered the reason behind
the lightning strike. LOL! ;) He was preaching a
doctrine which The Almighty Himself is not an Adherent to.

i.e. Penance! Good observation, Jessie. This was almost
like a trick question, eh? You're so taken aback by
the lightning strike in response to the pastor's
calling on the LORD for His Own Input that the very sermon itself
can sort of slip right past your speed-reading eyes.

LOL, Jessie! Your mom would be jealous. :nod:

Unless she is a proponent of penance.