Hello ,

I haven't been able to determine or authenticate whether the following story is true, or just a parable.  In fact, I can't even recall where I heard it,  but it certainly made me think:

In a small town in America, a person decided to open up his bar business, which was right opposite to a church. The church & its congregation started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayed daily against his business.

Work progressed. However, when it was almost complete and was about to open a few days later, a strong lightning struck the bar and it was burnt to the ground. The church folk were rather smug in their outlook after that, till The bar owner sued the church authorities for $2 million on the grounds that the church through its congregation and prayers was ultimately responsible For the demise of his bar, either through direct or indirect actions or means.

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection that their prayers were reasons to the bar shop's demise. In support of their claim they referred to the Benson study at Harvard that inter-cessionary prayer had no impact !

As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork and at the hearing and commented:  'I don't know how I am going to decide this case, but it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and we have an entire church and its devotees that do not.

Sometimes, our actions speak louder than our words ever can about our belief in the God of Heaven.  Do those around you really know that YOU believe what you claim...by the way you live your life?  

"Lord, please help me to be an authentic representative of You today.  In Jesus name, amen!"

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word 

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