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Post subject: Faith healing
 Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 03:57 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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Another controversial subject I guess, but we seem to be doing
OK on these 
I believe in God, that he still heals today, that God can heal
anyone of any affliction.
What I don't believe in are alot of these faith healer preachers
we all see on TV. Many are charlatans making $mega-bucks$
using the weak and vulnerable.
I'd like to be independently wealthy(wouldn't we all) 
and do a study traveling all over the land.
Going into churches, hospitals, radiology departments...etc
documenting the follow-ups to these preacher's claims of a healing.
To be able to say...this is real, this is not
IMO we'd find many real healings, and expose many real fakes.
What do you think?  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 07:47 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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I remember a young girl who passed out and fell down while walking down some concrete steps. When she fell, her head hit full force on the sidewalk so hard that her brain slammed into the side of her skull. (I am not a doctor so that is the best way I can describe it.) She was rushed to the hospital where the doctors did not think that she would make it through the night and if she did, she would have brain damage and not be the same.
Bob and I went to the hospital and sat in the intensive care waiting room. I knew that I would not be able to see or touch her that night, but I knew that I could pray. I prayed a simple prayer, "Lord, I offer myself as a channel for your healing touch on this young girl." With that, I just opened my arms and hands and sat there quiet.
Have you ever felt electricity running through your body? That is what I felt. I sat there with that energy moving through me. When it subsided, I felt at peace and somehow knew that, without seeing the girl, that she would be alright.
The next day, I got a call from her parents saying that their daughter was awake and talking. The doctors were running tests and finding no brain damage. They wanted to know what I had done. I simply said, "I prayed for her, that's all."
Did I do anything special? NO! I will not take the credit for something the Lord did. I was mearly a channel. I do not possess some magical powers and will never proclaim to do so. Could He have done it without me? Of course he could have. Did he also work through the doctors. YES!
I have another story to tell but will do it on another post. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:04 AM
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Joined: Nov 13, 2002
Posts: 20774
Location: The Netherlands
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There are always 2 sides to everything...
The positive and the negative...Ying and Yang so to speak.
In my experience those that can really heal usualy dont advertise what they are able of or brag about it.
They use the "gift" in silence and rearly go public .
On the other hand going public can help people to understand and see what wonderful and mysterious treasures are hidden in some of the chosen ones...
I'm sure faith healing exists but I'm equaly sure some are fake's . |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:12 AM
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Joined: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 8410
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I would have thought going on television to ask for money is an automatic sign of quackery. I have felt that electricity you mentioned Sue, one of the quotes I try to bear in mind is "there's more on heaven and earth, Horatio..."
well, it makes sense to me! |
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Yes we can!
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:14 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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In 2004. my parents were sitting in an adult Sunday School class that was conducted by the rector and his wife. The rector is also a trained paramedic and his wife is a registered nurse.
It was very warm that day, and my dad was wearing a suit and tie. Mom looked over at him once and Dad was fine, but a few moments later she looked again and my dad was white and clammy and not responsive. Mom thought he had died right there.
Then Mom gently kissed him on the cheek and he woke up. (My Mom, the Princess Charming!)
The priest and his wife knew exactly what to do and went to work, keeping Dad stable until the ambulence came.
We learned at the hospital that Dad had had a heart attack, probably brought on by getting overheated.
He is doing just fine today. Was this a healing miracle? I believe it was. Dad is a walking miracle anyways because he had three brothers who died of heart attacks when they were in their fifties. Dad was 77 when he had his heart attack and lived through it. He is 81 now.
Was there faith involved in this? You bet! I believe that the right people were in place at the right time and my mom has a very strong faith. Believe me, when she prays, God listens. 
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And while I am talking about my mom. She has bone cancer. A couple of years ago, I thought that I was going to loose her. She was getting frail and was in a lot of pain. She has pain patches that are quite potent. She had to go to the hospital one night because dad said she was turning a grayish color and was not doing well at all. It just so happens that the doctor on duty was an expert in the type of surgery that mom was going to need immediately if she was going to survive the night. If they had had to wait for someone else, mom would probably not be here today.
Of course, my mom said that she would be ok which ever way she went, either home to the Lord or home to us.
Mom just turned 80 a few weeks ago.
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These may not be the sort of stories that you think of when you hear, "faith healing," but I believe that faith had a hand in taking care of my parents who also just celebrated 58 years of marriage. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| Pippa wrote: | | In my experience those that can really heal usualy dont advertise what they are able of or brag about it. |
Our tribal elders have a saying to the effect that if someone tells you that they are a medicine person, chances are they are not, and if the person tries to charge you for his/her services, it it a definite sign that they are NOT medicine people. A true medicine person does not charge for his/her services because the gifts of God are free.
I rarely tell the story I just told in my post, primarily for the reason that I don't ever want to become the focus of anyone's attention as having some sort of magical powers. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
Last edited by SMB on Sep 16, 2008 - 08:32 AM; edited 2 times in total
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| greenchick wrote: | I would have thought going on television to ask for money is an automatic sign of quackery. I have felt that electricity you mentioned Sue, one of the quotes I try to bear in mind is "there's more on heaven and earth, Horatio..."
well, it makes sense to me! |
I totally agree with you Sue. I definitely believe that there is more than what is in heaven and on earth. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 08:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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The quote is from Hamlet...
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy
It doesn't mean exactly there are more things than Heaven and Earth... |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 09:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 13, 2002
Posts: 20774
Location: The Netherlands
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| SMB wrote: | | Pippa wrote: | | In my experience those that can really heal usualy dont advertise what they are able of or brag about it. |
Our tribal elders have a saying to the effect that if someone tells you that they are a medicine person, chances are they are not, and if the person tries to charge you for his/her services, it it a definite sign that they are NOT medicine people. A true medicine person does not charge for his/her services because the gifts of God are free.
I rarely tell the story I just told in my post, primarily for the reason that I don't ever want to become the focus of anyone's attention as having some sort of magical powers. |
Sometimes it's useful to tell about your own experience to make people aware of what is possible .. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 03:29 PM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 8171
Location: CA
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| ...sometimes it is best to just DO...and say nothing.... |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2008 - 10:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 5682
Location: Corn country in Illinois
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| littlestar wrote: | | ...sometimes it is best to just DO...and say nothing.... |
Amen to that!
DianaG |
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LT. Star Fleet Ship's Chaplain/Councelor, USSBlackhawk
"Jesus said to her I am the Resurrection and the Life ..." John 11:25
"O Death where is thy sting?.... the Victory is thru Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15:54-56
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rdb |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 12:12 AM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 735
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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I can say a couple of things about this. The first part is negative, the second positive.
The negative- many churches who emphasize "miracles" and "miracle gifts" are well known for telling people who have chronic illnesses that (1) they are sinners because they aren't healed, (2) they lack faith because they aren't healed, or (3) they're faking it because if it was real, God would heal it. I've experienced all three statements- and many people I know with chronic health issues have had the same experiences I have.
At age 35, I was finally diagnosed with severe to profound Fibromyalgia syndrome. I'd had the symptoms since I was a kid- and most of the doctors told my parents "It's all in his head- he's malingering!" SORRY, CHARLIE- NOT TRUE.
THis is also what I consider one of my greatest healings- to find a doctor that LISTENED, and to find out that what I'd been experiencing for decades was for real. He gave a name to what had been denied and nameless. I cried for some time when that happened - it was such a relief and healing-pain to finally have someone in the medical establishment reaffirm my reality.
My second greatest healing- finding medicine that although it doesn't stop the pain, it DOES allow me to recover very quickly from overdoing it. It used to be if I overdid things, I was down for at least a few days. Now, I can rest up for 30 minutes or so, and get back into action!!! My friends have all commented that I'm able to do things that I wasn't able to (and they could see that) just 6 months ago.
The third greatest healing was when another doctor listened to me- and it turns out that I'd been dealing with a particular type of non-typical migraine since I was around 12 (38 years ago). There are meds that relieve the symptoms somewhat (it's connected with Fibromyalgia).
4th greatest- I had a benign tumor eroding the bones in my hand. The hand was hurting, but I can't afford the surgery. I asked for specific prayers in my church about it- and the hand stopped hurting. That was about 7 years ago- and the bone that was being eroded should have shattered 6 years ago.
And then there is this major inward healing- I belonged to a "Bible-based coercive religious group" ("Christian denomination" that is really a cult) between 26 and 29 years ago. I've been going through healing since then- it's been a rough road unlearning all of the nonsense they pumped into my head (based upon a literal interpretation of scriptures) and undoing the brainwashing. I DID find out three years ago that what I've been going through AND what I went through back then is a very common story (also something that was healing). That is one that is a long-term work in progress- and one that certain churches would have very big problems with because it goes against their core teachings- but they were the cause of the problem in the first place!
I've learned that those who preach "healings and miracles" are generally there to manipulate and control people. Those who have the real gifts, don't advertise. And, then there is the truth that Sue related (from the Square Ground). There is more to reality than just what is in the Bible, and reality is far more complex than any of us can really grasp!!! |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 01:00 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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I've known people that were healed. Some in church,
some just thru prayer.
These "miracles and wonders" promotions for meetings?
stay away
stay far away |
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Piglet |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 01:32 AM
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Member
Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 130
Location: Colchester, England
Status: Offline
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When you lose a loved one, I believe they become part of who you are. It's almost like their energy is transferred to you. You become infected by their energy. It's a possitive force that motivates us to want to do the things we do.
I don't know about healers, I've never met one.
But I do believe even strangers can help heal each other. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 11:26 AM
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Member
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 5199
Location: standing here shaking my head in disbelief....
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I guess my opinion is the same as many. I do believe in faith healings. The fact that I'm not dead certainly makes me believe in a higher power. Apparently sledding headfirst into bales of hay with no platelets is a bad idea...... 
However, if someone makes a huge show of healings, and charges or asks for money, then I question their sincerity.
Wasn't there a scientific study where they had two groups, one was prayed for, the other not? The people who were prayed for did significantly better (I'd have to look up the actual facts). And it couldn't have been a placebo effect, because they didn't know who was the group that was prayed for. I guess that would be somewhat conclusive evidence of something being higher than us...... |
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When you try to make others look small, you only show how truly tiny your own spirit is.
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