Bible's miracles are real because God made them

By DR. BILLY GRAHAM

DEAR DR. GRAHAM: How much of the Bible is literal and how much of it is a myth? Take Jonah and the whale, for instance. Surely that must be a myth, because I can't imagine anyone being swallowed by a whale and then living to tell about it. – S.L.

DEAR S.L.: It might surprise you to learn that there actually have been several documented cases of people who were swallowed by whales and lived to tell about it (although the Bible simply says that Jonah was swallowed by "a great fish," not necessarily a whale).

But the real question is this: Did the miracles recorded in the Bible actually happen – or are they simply myths or legends? The Bible's testimony is clear: They actually happened – and the reason is because God made them happen. If we leave God out of the picture and say He isn't powerful or doesn't have anything to do with the world, then there isn't any room for miracles.

But once we understand that God is all-powerful, and that He cares what happens to us, then the miracles recorded in the Bible won't be a problem for us. The Bible says, "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you" (2 Samuel 7:22). The Bible's miracles were a demonstration of God's power and authority.

The greatest miracle of all, however, is the miracle of God's love for us. We aren't worthy of His love, for we have sinned and turned our backs on Him. And yet He still loves us – and the proof is that He sent His Son into the world to save us and give us eternal life. Don't be ruled by your doubts any longer, but by faith open your life to Christ's transforming power today.

Contact the Rev. Billy Graham c/o Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, phone 877-247-2426, or see the Web site billygraham.org.

Dancing an expression of worship in Bible times

IN RESPONSE to the question posed by Phyllis Murrell – "Is church dance Christian?" I would just like to share some scriptural information with our readers.

There are many occasions in the Bible when we are told that the people danced. Some were just joyful occasions such as victory over oppression. Exodus 15:20: ". . . with tambourines and with dances." 1 Samuel 18:7: "the women came out of all cities singing and dancing . . . ." Return of a loved one – Luke 15:25 ". . . he heard music and dancing".

Dancing also occurred during ungodly worship to idols, sometimes referred to as revelry, such as Exodus 32:19 Moses "saw the calf (idol) and the dancing . . . ".

Yet other occasions were worship to the true and living God. 2 Samuel 6: 14: "David danced before the Lord." Jeremiah 31:4,13" "thou . . . shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry . . . . Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance for I shall turn their mourning into joy."See also Psalm 30:11.

Ecclessiasites 3:4 says: "There is a time to mourn and a time to dance".

Although dancing was misused and abused in idolatry, nevertheless it was not ignored as a valid expression of worship in Bible times and we today are still encouraged to use it as a form of worship to God.

Psalm 149:3; 150:4: "Let them praise His name in the dance . . . ." Church dance is Christian if the participants seek to glorify God in the dance with appropriate dress, behaviour and attitude.

– MAUREEN GRAHAM

Laminin

How we can trust that the God who created the universe and has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart? Do you know anything about laminin.

Here is how Wikipedia describes them: Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.'

You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart.

Do you know what laminin LOOK LIKE? Here is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal'' of it. Just google laminin and this is what you will see:

Amazing! The glue that holds us together....ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross!!

This is what Bible says : Colossians 1:15-17 'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, And in him all things HOLD TOGETHER.'

Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words in Bible. The Creator knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!

From a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together one cell to another....BY THE CROSS!!

Faith of a little child

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.

Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

'W ell, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle.'

'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.

'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now So how much does a miracle cost?'

'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.

'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me

how much it costs.'

The pharmacist's Brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'

' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mom my says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.'

'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago

'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly.

'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'

'Well, what a coincidence, ' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.. '

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live.. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one d ollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.

MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.

When you are scared....I will comfort your fears.

When you are worried..... I will give you hope.

When you are confused.... .I will help you cope.

And when you are lost....And can't see the light, I shall be your beacon....Shining ever so bright.

This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?....Because you're my friend.

Signed: Lord Jesus Christ