Bible Talk

By Fred

January 15, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this

When we get to heaven; we are all going to be shocked and surprised in just how powerful prayer actually is in this life. A mother’s prayer is stronger than an army of ten-thousand policemen.

By GJ

January 16, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

Has anyone wondered why God does not heal amputees?

By mike

January 16, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

I can attest to the fact that prayer heals. I was relieved of alcohol and drug addiction and all I did was pray. My family came back and an illness left me. My life has been greatly changed from those simple words: “God if you are there, help me or kill me”. If you saw my life today as opposed to the person I was over ten years ago, you wouldn’t think it to even be the same guy. I know that God hears, cares and answers prayer.

By Risu

January 17, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this

I don’t think I’d agree with the assessment that “an increasing number of studies” shows prayer works. In fact, I’d venture that the opposite is closer to the truth.

The 1988 San Francisco General Hospital study did show patients who were prayed for fared better. However, that study has been called deeply flawed, and to my knowledge it has never successfully been replicated. At least two or three other studies have found that prayer had no effect on healing the patients involved.

The lead of a 2006 Associated Press article reads: “In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that having people pray for heart bypass surgery patients had no effect on their recovery. In fact, patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.”

A year earlier, a study of 700 Duke University Medical Center patients found intercessory prayer for heart patients had no effect. The BBC reported: “Praying for patients undergoing heart operations does not improve their outcomes, a U.S. study suggests. A study found those who were prayed for were as likely to have a setback in hospital, be re-admitted, or die within six months as those not prayed for.”

This isn’t to say that prayer doesn’t have some kind of effect. But I haven’t heard of the increasing number of studies you’re referring to that support prayer’s effectiveness.

By Pastorjac

January 17, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Way to go bloggers- I love the interaction! My entries are not written to prove my views, only to make us all think why we believe the way we do. We all build our beliefs on some foundation. For me, that foundation is the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ. for you it may be reseach studies, experience, or life experiences. But for others, it just might be a mindset built upon actaully nothing but your thoughts.I feel my job is to make you consider just what your beliefs are founded on. Keep sending in your responses fellow bloggers!And by the way, let your friends and family know about the blog so they can join in also ok?

By ANGEL

January 17, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

I believe the only way prayer can work is by the faith of the one receiving the prayers if we don’t believe in healing by prayers more than likely it won’t happen but if a person has faith of a healing the chances are greater they will receive the healing.It all depends on the faith of the person being prayed for.

By Brenda Dickenson

January 18, 2008 5:22 AM | Link to this

My husband has cancer an with out all of the prays that has been for him we would not have made it. There has been so many people praying for him. He just had a stem cell transplant in Dallas they told us that he may be there 6 weeks but he has been there since Dec. 27 to Jan.18 He is a strong man whom has faith, love, for the Lord an his family. He has so much faith for the Lord we belive that the prays an the Lord has healed him.

By Brenda Dickenson

January 18, 2008 5:22 AM | Link to this

My husband has cancer an with out all of the prays that has been for him we would not have made it. There has been so many people praying for him. He just had a stem cell transplant in Dallas they told us that he may be there 6 weeks but he has been there since Dec. 27 to Jan.18 He is a strong man whom has faith, love, for the Lord an his family. He has so much faith for the Lord we belive that the prays an the Lord has healed him.

By KDF

January 18, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

I have a primary brain tumor that was operated on June 13, 2005. Following the operation, my surgeon gave me 1 1/2 to two years to live. A large portion of the tumor is still present, due to its inaccessability; as of my latest MRI taken two weeks ago, it has not grown. Now, two years and seven months later I am alive and quite well. My family, my church folks, my Christian friends — all have held me in their prayers during this time. Will I die from this tumor? Yes, I believe I will. It is my belief, though, the prayers held for me have blessed me. Every breath is a miracle.

By Pastorjac

January 18, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Special shout out to Brenda Dickenson and KDF: Thank you so much for sharing your personal journeys with the readers of this blog.It is amazing to hear of your faith in such a diffucult time. I know there are many who will read you entries and be encouraged to continue their battles with renewed strenght and faith. Thanks again!

By JP

January 18, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

Two years ago, I lost my dad to cancer. We prayed for him… he believed… yet he still passed. Did this event shake my foundation of faith? If anything it drew me closer to my God. The reason is about 9 or 10 years ago, I had the opportunity to witness in person the power of prayer and the move of God’s healing hands. I worked as a transporter at Hillcrest. I was taking a lady to get pre-op needle placements for a mastectomy (breast cancer removal). I heard the prayers of the family outside the room right before the trip to the procedure. The woman’s face was overcome with fear and concern. All I could do is to try to keep her spirits up during this trip. We shared about our faith and how God has the power to heal. I left her there for the procedure with a “GOD BLESS YOU!” Returning to pick her up potentially was going to be tough, because I knew this was pre-op. Either God was going to do something THEN & THERE or we chalk this lady up as another statistic in the losing war on cancer. I open the door expecting to see the woman down and distraught… I opened the door, I see her crying. My heart sinks, then she looks me in the eyes and tells me… IT’S GONE!!! THEY CAN’T FIND IT!!! The x-rays showed that there was no more cancer in this woman’s breast. The nurse just shared in the joy and said that indeed this was a miracle. Our trip back to the room was filled with total euphoria. The family hunged me and cried for joy, just for being a part of this mircle. Yes, I had a part. I believed with them! I shed a few tears that day. Because God chose not to heal my dad’s physical body doesn’t mean He did heal his spiritman. My dad gave his life to Jesus. With this, I have total peace in knowing that God called him home. The God that I put my hope in… my faith in… my life in, healed a perfect stranger whom I don’t remember her name… but I will never forget her testimony. Risu, you can throw all the statistics and experiences out there that you want, but I don’t put my faith in those things. I put my faith in God!

By GJ

January 19, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

Risu was not the first one “throw(ing) all the statistics and facts out there”, it was Pastor Joe. People of faith love facts and statistics, until the facts contradict what they’ve previously decided to believe. In that case, the facts have to be wrong (see the evolution “debate”).

I’m sorry that your dad died. My own mom died of cancer - it is a tough way to go.

By Obadiah Sheeply, Jr., skeptic

January 20, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

Risu and GJ have got it right. When I hear that a limb has been regrown miraculously, I will begin to reconsider. Anecdotal evidence of the power of prayer is just that, a story that has no significance outside of a controlled scientific eperiment. For a skeptical view of the San Francisco General Hospital study see http://members.aol.com/garypos/Byrd_study.html

Isn’t it interesting that when it comes to “miracles” we often hear how, say, 3 people survived the plane crash and “it’s a miracle,” yet when the other 197 died in the crash, where was god’s hand in that? Why no miracle for them? Or were they all “not worthy?” I know, “god works in ways that we do not always understand.” And regarding prayer, “god always answers prayer; he just sometimes says ‘no’ .” So, how could we ever tell the difference? Think about it.

It is also interesting that Joe would bring up a study from as long ago as 1988 as his evidence. Even more recent studies, i.e., the infamous Columbia University study from 2001 or so, has been found deeply flawed and rife with fraud. See http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,982245,00.html

By Risu

January 20, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

Good comments so far. JP and GJ, I’m sorry about your losses. I do hope that someday we’ll be able to prevent more and more of these tragedies.

I wanted to throw out one question from ANGEL’s response, when he/she said, “It all depends on the faith of the person being prayed for.”

What would be the cause of that? Would it be that the deity being prayed to doesn’t care about those who don’t worship him, despite prayers on that person’s behalf from the faithful? Or is it that the benefit from faith is a positive attitude that you will get better?

Incidentally, I found it interesting that a study of 1,000 people treated for head and neck cancers found that having a positive attitude could help people cope with the illness but did not improve their chances of survival.

By Brian Hearn

January 21, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this

I regularly pray for people at church and out in public. I see physical healings take place all the time.

Unfortunately, most people, including most Christians, believe in the idea of healing, but they don’t really believe that God will heal them if someone prays for them. That is usually because they have been taught that the Gifts of the Spirit are not for today, or because they have not been around people who regularly see people healed.

I grew up Baptist and went to Baylor and SWBTS and had the same problem until I started studying the Scriptures and getting around people that practiced healing the sick.

Where ever I am, if I see or overhear someone talking about being in pain, I normally ask them if I can pray for them. They usually say yes and are then shocked when I say I want to pray for them right then. They are usually embarrassed and don’t think I am serious.

Sometimes if I feel the need, I will challenge them several times to just take a step of faith and let me pray. When someone lets me lay hands on them and pray, their pain almost always go away within a few seconds. They are always amazed and usually break down in tears when the reality of God’s love for them touches their heart and body.

I have seen God’s power heal more times than I can count and I am more surprised when something does not happen than when it does.

If you want to learn more about the subject of healing check out two of my mentors.

Thurman Scrivner (http://www.tlsm.org)

All his tapes, cd’s and dvd’s are free.

You might also be interested in reading books by my Pastor.

Jack Deere (http://www.jackdeere.com)