van Diest - Do You Believe in Miracles?

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Verses marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cover photo Hemera / Thinkstock

Published in association with the Van Diest Literary Agency, David Van Diest (agent).

Do You Believe in Miracles?
Copyright 1997, 2012 by John Van Diest
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Unsolved miracles.

Do you believe in miracles? / compiled by John Van Diest.

p. cm.

Originally published: Unsolved miracles. Sisters, Or. : Multnomah Publishers, c1997.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-7369-3802-0 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-4041-2 (eBook)
1. Miracles. 2. Angels--Christianity. 3. Healing--Religious aspects. 4. Religious
biography. I. Van Diest, John. II. Title.
BT97.3.U57 2012
231.73--dc23

2012006822

All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

First to Christ, our coming King, who began our familys journey of faith and dedication through my parents.

To my parents, John Sr. and Tress Van Diest, whose sacrifice and vision were used of our Lord to begin the ministries of the Portland Rescue Mission and the Shepherds Door.

To my brother, Gale Van Diest, and sister, Fae Singletary, whose lives exemplified commitment to Christian ministry at Interact Ministries and the Multnomah Literature Ministries.

To my wife, Pat, who has surrounded me with love, support, and companionship for many years.

To our children Pamela Cummings, Brenda Jacobson, and David Van Diest, whose continued commitment to Christ and His kingdom would make any parent proud.

And finally, to my eleven grandchildren who are just starting on their journey with Christ and through whom I am confident Christ will continue His work.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

It would take pages and pages to list everyone who influenced my life for Christ. But four people stand out from my journey:

Dr. Edwin C. Swansonpastor of a small rural church in Lyman, Washington. Dr. Swanson led me to faith in Christ. He made the saving message of Christ relevant and clear to this rambunctious adolescent.

Dr. Harry Ironsidepastor of the Moody Memorial church in Chicago. Dr. Ironside gave me spiritual guidance at a time when my world had been turned upside down.

Dr. John G. Mitchellpastor of the Central Bible church in Portland, Oregon. He gave me a thirst for Gods Word and let me share in the ministry. I know of no one that knew the Bible better.

Dr. Howard G. Hendricks (I call him Prof) distinguished professor at the Dallas Theological Seminary whose motivational teaching increased my desire to do ministry. It was his creative approach to mentoring that heightened my desire to transfer Gods love to the masses through publishing.

While all but Dr. Hendricks have gone to be with our King, I owe each of them a debt of gratitude for believing and investing in me.

I dont know about you, but Ive always been a bit skeptical when it comes to the subject of modern miracles. Its one thing to trust scriptural accounts of unexplained phenomena. But contemporary miraculous events? Im a reasonable, educated man. Im not impressed by supermarket tabloid headlines. Yes, I believe God works in mysterious ways. But such mysteries have never been a part of my everyday experience. The world I live in is rational, ordered, easily explained.

At least, I used to think so.

A couple of years ago, I pictured all miracles as dramatic, Technicolor events. If you had told me then that you had experienced a miracle, I probably would have smiled politely and scanned the room for the nearest emergency exit. I might have questioned whether you knew the definition of the word, or wondered aloud if you had ever seen Cecil B. DeMilles The Ten Commandments.

Now those were what I call miracles. A burning bush that was not consumed by fire. Wooden staffs turning to snakes. Moses parting the Red Sea. I could accept those miracles as true because they were straight out of the Bible, which I believe in quite literally.

Through years of study, Ive discovered that miracles occur throughout the biblical text. Peter walking on water, Jesus healing the blind man, Lazarus being raised from the deadits all there in black and white. Biblical times called for biblical miracles. I can accept that. But as the saying goes: that was then, and this is now. Its a commonly held belief that God doesnt intervene in the natural order of things anymore. It isnt that He cant, He just doesnt.

Or does He?

Despite my skepticism and doubts, I have ultimately been confronted with overwhelming evidence to convince me that miracles still occur today. Not all are the sweeping, major motion picture type (although many would rival todays typical Hollywood story lines). Yet to the individuals who experienced them, these miracles are every bit as dramatic, every bit as life-changing as the emancipation of Israel.

In compiling this collection, Ive sifted through hundreds of amazing stories about modern-day miracles to find the most interesting, the most compelling accounts. These include stories written by respected authors such as Billy Graham, James Dobson, Corrie ten Boom, Mother Teresa, and Adrian Rogers, as well as writers you may not yet know but whose words may forever impact what you believe about miracles.

These stories defy what most of us consider reasonable explanation. Yet, like me, you may soon find evidence that convinces you what is reasonable is not always the same as what is true. You may come to believe that a loving God is active and present and involved in our worldand that this God is a God of miracles.

Of course, you dont have to take my word for it. Examine the evidence for yourself. Within these pages, youll find dramatic accounts about the occurrence of modern-day miracles. Of the hundreds of stories reviewed, the ones selected were chosen because:

1. The sources were highly credible.

2. The events or circumstances were not only improbable, but there was no evident natural explanation for their occurrence.

3. The uniqueness of the miracles illustrates the wide variety of examples of supernatural intervention.

The purpose of this book is not to give miracle believers ammunition to blow away the doubts of their friends, nor is it to prove to the skeptics among us that modern miracles really do occur. In compiling these accounts, I have not attempted to resolve any philosophical or theological questions regarding miracles.

What I have tried to do is give you something to think about. Stories to consider. Claims to ponder. Its up to you to decide what you believe. So go ahead. Dig in. Weigh the evidence. Open your heart. God may surprise you yet, even reach into your life to do something you never thought possible.