"Have you ever had a spiritual paranormal encounter?"

[reformed1689]

I saw that on youtube. Glitter coming out the floor vents, and rising on the wafting warm air.

Much love!

It is absolutely ridiculous, what is more ridiculous is that people are fooled by this nonsense. Strange fire.

 

[brakelite]

I'm asking this to further test out my own 'odd ball' situation.
I personally have never enjoyed anything remotely resembling a 'Road to Damascus' conversion, and maybe that is because, right back to my earliest childhood memories, I have always firmly believed in God and his interaction in my life.
My parents had two devastating life and heath losses before I was born and mother, who otherwise was a very sociable person, invited every visitor in for a drink and goodies. But when the visitor was JW, Salvation Army, Local Evangelicals etc., she always demanded that they should never mention the word 'God' whilst in her house.
(I think I might conversely have grown up to believe that there just had to be a God for her to have been so angry with him)
Amazingly my mother sent me to the Sunday school in the Evangelical Chapel on the opposite side of our road (presumably to get a bit of Sunday afternoon peace).

I remember my neighbour's ex army son giving my a tiny 'Forces' New Testament, to which I attached such value that it never left my shirt pocket whether at nursery school or at play.
I rarely read it but I remember how much importance I still placed on its presence when I later sat for the 11Plus exams for entry into Grammar School.
I was best friends with my desk mate at that time who was much higher placed at school than me, and when I passed the 11Plus exam, and he didn't, I put it down to the magical influence of my pocket New Testament.
When we were older I persuaded him to join the Young Men's Group that proceeded Sunday School and eventually he excepted the Lord as his Saviour, became my 'best man' when I married at the Chapel and, until the chapel closed last year, was their senior deacon.
We still write to each other and he reckons himself to be the "Jewel in my Crown " without which he would never have met his wife and brought up a lovely family of five.
BUT
I have never "enjoyed anything remotely resembling a 'Road to Damascus' conversion".
Is that the reason why I appear to some to be an 'Intellectual Believer' without a Saving Faith?
What say you all?
Have you ever had a Paranormal Spiritual Encounter?
Met Christ Face to Face?
Seen a blinding light?
Enjoyed a life changing moment?
Experienced a Reincarnation?

I grew up as a Catholic. I remember as a 12 yo the day I came home from school to find my father dead on the settee. I was later sitting on my bed looking up at the crucifix on my wall... Not praying... Just numb... When I felt a hand on my shoulder. It have me a fright at first, but then was very comforting. It was the ambulance driver. But who would dare suggest that God was not using him to reach out to me? We often miss what seems routine when all along it was God using his servants, and others, to bless us when needed. Can that be classified as supernatural? I think yes, although indirectly.
Over 20 years later I was lying on bed and asked God to make my life something He could approve of. Up to that time my life wasn't worth a great deal to anyone... Even I was doubting whether or not it was worthwhile to me. Not that I was suicidal or anything... But I wanted out of the rut and mire I was in at the time. I didn't know what to expect. This was the first time I had really genuinely prayed in any other form than rote repetition. It came from the heart, and I meant every word. I do not know who came into my room then. There was no one else in the house. No hand on shoulder this time. But an all pervading sense of forgiveness and love that had me crying and laughing until I fell asleep several hours later. Whether an angel... The holy Spirit...I don't know. But I knew I was then safe and loved and accepted. When I woke up the next morning everything was different. Including me.
Two months later at work I experienced the opposite. A dark cloud appeared and revolved in front of me with what seemed to be several faces within... It emanated such hatred and evil in just a few short seconds that I was left utterly shaken and unable to work I went home. I had never experienced before either the presence of God and angels nor the presence of demons before but after that was left in no doubt that both are very much active in our world and can and do manifest themselves at times in different ways to different people. I have experienced several such episodes in my life... The danger is in thinking that such experiences are evidence of God's presence, or his favour, or even you're maturity... And then depending on such experiences as validation that your faith is real or "going places". Similar to those who believe tongues is evidence that they are more mature or real than those who don't speak in tongues... it is utter nonsense... No pun intended.

There is nothing in the Bible that requires a paranormal spiritual encounter, blinding lights, and reincarnation is just a falsehood. In fact, Jesus said blessed are those who believe and DO NOT SEE. In other words, we are saved now by the Word of God. That is how we come to faith. It's not normal for a spiritual supernatural event as you are describing to happen. Most of those, from what I have seen, aren't even real. They are influenced by things people have heard already. For example, the Heaven is for Real book, not real. Why? Because it directly contradicts the Scriptural depictions of Heaven. It's fake. It's people wanting attention.

You don't get out much do you.

There are many who have, but the fear of being torn apart by the religious, stops them from writing, of that I have no issues, i expect no less from the religious. God will do as God will do, and if any man says He cant, is just denying the power of God. As teh bible puts it

6 Do not give that which is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and tear you.

As to why God or Jesus choose to reveal themselves to some, maybe its because they know He can. Without faith we cannot please God.

I have my flak jacket on.

Your judgement my friend regarding who is "religious" and who isn't, could be up for debate.

 

[reformed1689]

You don't get out much do you.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Willie T]

I saw that on youtube. Glitter coming out the floor vents, and rising on the wafting warm air.

Much love!

You saw a video that showed stuff coming out of floor vents?

 

[Waiting on him]

About 3 years ago a lady stopped at my house and said that she owned multiple homes and needed for me to take a look at the A/c on one of them, so I got her information and about two days later I arrived at the job.

Stepping out of my truck I’m greeted by a very spastic young man, maybe 32.
As we are walking toward the house and talking I notice he has a miter saw set on a piece of plywood, where he’s cutting shoe moulding finishing up the house making it ready for rent.

We walked in the house and I immediately notice the furnace is sitting half way out in the hallway, I turned to him and said this is very dangerous and we’re going to approach this as if I was never even here, I refused to work on it due to all the potential dangers.... it needed to be condemned, so we’re walking back outside and he’s right in my heals his phone ringing repeatedly and I don’t believe he’d stopped talking the whole time since I stepped out of the truck except for when I refused to work in the unit.

At this time I’m in my truck with the window up and he’s standing there still talking, and my motor is running.

Something spoke within me..... I turned the motor of and rolled down the window. I asked him, What is your name, “my name is Joe”. Ok Joe you seem to be caught in a storm. “I am, I feel like if I could just get into the center of the storm maybe I could breathe”.
Who is that that keeps calling on the phone and screaming at the other end?
“That’s my girlfriend we’ve got 5 kids and they drive her crazy and all I do is work all the time”.

This boys hands looked like shoe leather so I definitely believe he was honest about hard work.
So tell me something Joe, do you know Jesus? “ Oh yes I go to the Calvary Baptist Church and tabernacle Baptist Church and I’ve been baptized and I know all about it”.
Well the reason I’m asking is because where you have that chop saw set up like that is very dangerous, and I notice you have no vehicle here. What would happen if you cut your hand on that saw and you bleed out before anyone could help you, and the next thing you know your standing before a holy God, and he says... Joe what have you done that I should allow you in to my heaven?

He thought very intently for a couple of minutes and answered. “I’d say I’m a good person, I always give good prices to elderly people, I spent a couple of years in prison, but that wasn’t my fault” do you use drugs? “ oh no I don’t even drink can’t stand the taste, I don’t lie, I don’t steal, I just work all the time.

I look him in the eye and say, that’s sad, you don’t know Jesus. “I always wondered about that” that’s the storm.

So I step out of the truck and we move towards the house to sit on some cheap lawn chairs previous tenants have left behind. We’re standing there and I’m reading from the book of John and he’s listening intently. Suddenly a bag of marijuana falls on the ground between us, he looks at me and says “I don’t understand what’s happening I didn’t even have my hands in my pockets, you saw it just popped out” I was rather shocked myself. Then he says look at this he turns his hand over and there’s this huge pink fresh scar where he’d nearly cut his hand off a few weeks prior to our encounter.

Maybe it was all a coincidence?

 

[reformed1689]

You saw a video that showed stuff coming out of floor vents?

Ceiling vents too. Look it up, it is the most ridiculous thing ever.

 

[Willie T]

Ceiling vents too. Look it up, it is the most ridiculous thing ever.

I tried to look it up, and found nothing about that. That's why I asked about the video he saw. I would like to see it too.

 

[FHII]

I've had some minor oddball stuff happen. I've done some speaking before the congregation and not remember how it went and had "bent" vision (hard to explain, but it was like seeing things crystal clear but distorted). But that could've just been lazer focus...

The most remarkable thing that happened to me isn't so remarkable at all. I got a flat tire at work and when I saw it, my first thought was, "yes! Praise God! He's delivering me from something!". I don't always do that (though I should). Sometimes I cuss like a sailor. But not this time.

I fixed it and got on the road. 5 to 10 minute delay. On the way home there was a huge telephone poll down in the middle of the road that just happened within the last 10 minutes. I got goosebumps at that. I had a very haunting feeling about it. It happened 15 years ago and it still chills me.

I suppose it doesn't count as a "road to Damascus" experience, but it certainly made an impression on me.

Sometimes, I suppose, the greatest miracles you have are the ones you don't even know happened.

 

[reformed1689]

I tried to look it up, and found nothing about that. That's why I asked about the video he saw. I would like to see it too.

You can see it here http://videos.gty.org.s3.amazonaws.com/download/V82TM13-11.mp4 start at marker 20:18

 

[Waiting on him]

I tried to look it up, and found nothing about that. That's why I asked about the video he saw. I would like to see it too.

The wife and I have a very close friend who is and has been involved with this church for a very long time, and I do have to say they practice some bizarre things. They’ll lay on the graves of passed Christian people to try and receive the residual of their anointing?

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Paranormal Spiritual Encounter?

paranormal encounter? No.

Seen a blinding light?

Have seen His unfailing love. Does that count as blinding light. I’d venture to say yes. Sometimes it is an overwhelming joy when there shouldn’t be any. Peace when in times I should be afraid the most. Could share countless encounters with Him but they are all centered around Faith as I can’t prove them. Some might call them coincidence but to me there is no other explanation.

Enjoyed a life changing moment?

it has been about four years now, I’m guessing. Back then God was not even on my radar. I despised whenever my husband brought up God. It was so embarrassing. I claimed I was Christian and knew God but was so embarrassed over people who always talk about Him as if He is everything to them. And here I am ...so yeah something life changing happened.

 

[Waiting on him]

You can see it here http://videos.gty.org.s3.amazonaws.com/download/V82TM13-11.mp4 start at marker 20:18

I could simulate this very easily with a faulty commercial air conditioner.. I’ve even experienced it in my car. But who knows maybe that was a glory cloud.

 

[Willie T]

The wife and I have a very close friend who is and has been involved with this church for a very long time, and I do have to say they practice some bizarre things. They’ll lay on the graves of passed Christian people to try and receive the residual of their anointing?

I know. They lie on my aunt's tombstone all the time.

 

[Waiting on him]

I know. They lie on my aunt's tombstone all the time.

Why?

 

[Waiting on him]

I know. They lie on my aunt's tombstone all the time.

I’m kinda envious in a sense, even if I had hair I’d never have that much zeal to let it down long enough to participate.

 

[Willie T]

Why?

Because she was a world famous healer.

 

[Heart2Soul]

I'm asking this to further test out my own 'odd ball' situation.
I personally have never enjoyed anything remotely resembling a 'Road to Damascus' conversion, and maybe that is because, right back to my earliest childhood memories, I have always firmly believed in God and his interaction in my life.
My parents had two devastating life and heath losses before I was born and mother, who otherwise was a very sociable person, invited every visitor in for a drink and goodies. But when the visitor was JW, Salvation Army, Local Evangelicals etc., she always demanded that they should never mention the word 'God' whilst in her house.
(I think I might conversely have grown up to believe that there just had to be a God for her to have been so angry with him)
Amazingly my mother sent me to the Sunday school in the Evangelical Chapel on the opposite side of our road (presumably to get a bit of Sunday afternoon peace).

I remember my neighbour's ex army son giving my a tiny 'Forces' New Testament, to which I attached such value that it never left my shirt pocket whether at nursery school or at play.
I rarely read it but I remember how much importance I still placed on its presence when I later sat for the 11Plus exams for entry into Grammar School.
I was best friends with my desk mate at that time who was much higher placed at school than me, and when I passed the 11Plus exam, and he didn't, I put it down to the magical influence of my pocket New Testament.
When we were older I persuaded him to join the Young Men's Group that proceeded Sunday School and eventually he excepted the Lord as his Saviour, became my 'best man' when I married at the Chapel and, until the chapel closed last year, was their senior deacon.
We still write to each other and he reckons himself to be the "Jewel in my Crown " without which he would never have met his wife and brought up a lovely family of five.
BUT
I have never "enjoyed anything remotely resembling a 'Road to Damascus' conversion".
Is that the reason why I appear to some to be an 'Intellectual Believer' without a Saving Faith?
What say you all?
Have you ever had a Paranormal Spiritual Encounter?
Met Christ Face to Face?
Seen a blinding light?
Enjoyed a life changing moment?
Experienced a Reincarnation?

I have....many times. I don't put God or my faith in a box so to speak. The carnal mind rejects most supernatural experiences....the "Road to Damascus" experience like Paul had is rare. So if I may humbly suggest...you will experience a deeper understanding and relationship with Him when you can be spiritually minded like He is and He will begin to open your eyes to see into the supernatural....or spiritual realm...as Peter did, and Paul...and even John in Revelation.

 

[Waiting on him]

Because she was a world famous healer.

Wow!!

 

[Giuliano]

Just curious, has that ever been explained? I mean, it's been eight or nine years, I figure someone has had to have the answer by now.

According to the Babylon Bee in 2016, the "cloud" stopped appearing after a gas line break that had been making people feel sick was fixed.

https://babylonbee.com/news/glory-cloud-turns-dangerous-gas-leakd a few feet in front of me.

 

[Willie T]

Wow!!

I guess so..... I always thought she was a little nuts.