By James C ~ H ow many of you have wondered, as did I, at tales told by ministers? I originally felt that the questionable ones generally came from visiting ministers (being not too worried about anyone questioning what they said). One visitor got really intense about how badly America needed a revival because of its sinful ways. And he used a couple of examples of how a true revival could reverse the bad stuff in an entire country. First example, in a country in Africa (conveniently the name of the country was not mentioned). He observed (that's what he said) people walking with signs saying they had been HIV positive and were now totally cured! Marvelous!! Next was Wales in the UK. Such a country-wide revival that the jails were empty, police standing around with nothing to do, and the bars closed. Can you imagine that in this age of instant communication and battles for ratings, that someone's media would not pick up on the HIV "miracle" and tell ab...

By James C -- T he other evening a TV show-biz show mentioned the January 2009 ditching of a US Airways jet with 155 people on board after experiencing a double engine failure due to bird strikes just after takeoff. Thanks to the pilot's ( Sully Sullenberger ) calm demeanor and piloting skill, all survived the ditching in the Hudson river . Which it seems almost all the media call a "miracle", something those of us with active skepticism would question in a couple of ways. Miracle? Why would an all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful and loving God choose to subject all those aboard with the fear of dieing, the misery of surviving in a cold river in N ew York in January, and a couple of broken bones when all He/She would have to have done was adjust the flight paths of the innocent birds that caused the problem (and died for doing so... making one question Jesus' comments about sparrows). And further on.... there are a few places where miracles are badly needed ...