Why do you believe?

[median]

Hi,

I believe in God due to the experiences I have had with God. Miracles and the like. To read about it see my website at http://www.futureandahope.net I have also included one of my favorite true stories from my life here for you to read.

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice that I believed was God say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was known as the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

This is an interesting story. I, in fact, had what I used to call a "supernatural" experience with Jesus when I was a Christian. However, I have now come to understand that my interpretation of the facts was in error. As a Christian I went to many "healing and miracle" services, and as I investigated those places (little by little) I found them lacking in solid evidence for anything supernatural or mysterious. In reality, their claims were just built up emotional "want" or desire. Their desire for miracles to be "real" was so HEAVY, that they would accept ANY "sign" as a confirmation (even when things had a clear practical explanation).

Do you know what that is called? BEING GULLIBLE.

So the question I have for you is this, how do you tell the difference between an event that is natural (or coincidence) and an event that is supernatural?