*This is Awesome*

[Destroyer2000]

>>This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago
>>at USC.

>>There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed
>>atheist.

>>His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire
>>semester attempting to prove that God couldn't exist.

>>His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his
>>impeccable logic.

>>For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one had ever had
>>the courage to go against him.

>>Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really
>>gone against him because of his reputation.

>>At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his
>>class of 300 students, "If there is anyone here who still ! believes in Jesus,
>>stand up!"


>>In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was
>>going to do next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a >>fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground
>>and breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He
>>can't do it."

>>And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom
>>and it would shatter into a hundred pieces.

>>All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare.

>>Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a
>>number of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been >>too afraid to stand up.

>>Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll. He >>was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor. He was >>requi! red to take the class for his major, and he was afraid.

>>But for three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would
>>have the courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the
>>class thought.

>>Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.

>>Finally, the day came. The professor said, "If there is anyone here who
>>still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300
>>people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the >>classroom.

>>The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!!

>>If God existed, he would keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit
>>the ground!"

>>He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers, >>off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and ! off his shoe.
As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken.

>>The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the
>>young man, and then left the lecture hall.

>>The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room
>>and shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed
>>and listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through
>>Jesus.


>>You have 2 choices:

>>1. Delete this and never look at it again.

>>2. Pass this along to your Christian and non-Christian friends, giving them
>>encouragement we all need every day.

>>When you choose option 2, you have chosen to STAND UP.

[Straylight]

That was quite a cool story, even though I don't like email chain letters.

[Destroyer2000]

Hm? Oh, that part. I was thinking about cutting it off before I posted it here...but it could be useful in spreading the message.

[Locke]

good idea

very very cool story

[Minawa]

Ive heard that story before, its a pretty good one

[Little T-chan]

I love stories like this one! God is too cool for words! ^_____^

[Rashiir]

Awesome!

[Savior_Sora]

That's great!! Shows that God can show his prominence through anything!! Awesome story!!

[Bobtheduck]

Hmm... I've got enough first hand stories that I don't need a third generation story that may or may not be true. I have seen enough proof and can tell people a little closer to the source of things that I've seen myself.

[Saint Kevin]

I don't trust e-mail chain letters period...way too many hoaxes.

[cbwing0]

Good story. I heard it myself many years ago, and I don't know whether or not it is apocryphal.

I've got enough first hand stories that I don't need a third generation story that may or may not be true.

That is true for me as well, although I must admit that I haven't done a good job of sharing my testimony.

[uc pseudonym]

This (cbwing0's and Bobtheduck's) also applies somewhat to me. I'd also wonder if the story is actually true.

Here's my issue with it: why would God care in the slightest that the piece of chalk breaks? We've seen from God's actions in the past (though to the professor they are the alleged actions), that miracles do not produce lasting faith of any sort. So why would God want to try to convince the class that He existed by saving the piece of chalk? This, especially, would be easy for anyone to relegate to mere chance.

While the story may be nice for us (being already Christian), I don't feel that it would at all affect someone who begins from another position. So while I really have no issue with it being posted, I can't with a clean conscience be too positive.

[wiggins]

Here's my issue with it: why would God care in the slightest that the piece of chalk breaks? We've seen from God's actions in the past (though to the professor they are the alleged actions), that miracles do not produce lasting faith of any sort. So why would God want to try to convince the class that He existed by saving the piece of chalk? This, especially, would be easy for anyone to relegate to mere chance.

I don't know anything about chain letters, but I think I will believe this one.
Personally, I believe and feel, that God would save the piece of chalk even if for nothing else other than to reward that student's faith in Him. Also perhaps God was not just trying to convince the Class that He existed, but the atheist professor. After all, God does want as many people as He can get to love and believe in Him, and accept Jesus into their hearts, selves and lives, and surrender themselves over to Jesus. God loves each and every one of us so much that He sent His One and Only Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins and to give us salvation and eternal life as long as we put our faith in, believe in, and love Jesus. That extends to the atheist professor and the other students as well. I believe God would keep on trying to get them to believe in Him, love Him, and surrender themselves to Him using any and every method - even miracles, even id He had tried before and it had not worked before. I believe He loves us enough to just keep on trying, until we hear His Voice calling and turn to Him regardless of the method and the past. He didn't give up on the Israelites after the many times they had rebelled against and ignored Him; I believe He would also not give up on the atheist professor, and the other students and that He will never give up on anybody. As for how long theiir faith would last, who are we to say? But I know for certain that God has the power to keep them close to Him. How many of us Christians have strayed away, until He brought us back. I don't know if I am or have strayed away from God, but I do know that it I have or am straying away from Him, God is looking for me, like the sheperd who left the rest of his flock in the pastures to search for the one lost sheep, and He will show me that I'm heading into the wrong direction, or otherwise help me to realize I'm going the wrong way, and help me and bring me back to Him. And when we turn to Him, I'm sure He will welcome us back into His Arms as lovingly as the prodigal son's father welcomed back the prodigal son when the prodigal son returned. I don't know if all I just wrote is all relevant to what you said UC, but that is what I feel and believe. God's Love for us is so much that there is no way we could ever fathom it.

[Technomancer]

I doubt that the story has any veracity. No professor would behave in that fashion, or use an argument so patently abusurd; never mind the man's mean spiritness (I wonder if has more to do with the author's carictures of atheists or professors). It's a little bit of feel good self-congratulation and not much more.

[Bobtheduck]

This (cbwing0's and Bobtheduck's) also applies somewhat to me. I'd also wonder if the story is actually true.

Here's my issue with it: why would God care in the slightest that the piece of chalk breaks? We've seen from God's actions in the past (though to the professor they are the alleged actions), that miracles do not produce lasting faith of any sort. So why would God want to try to convince the class that He existed by saving the piece of chalk? This, especially, would be easy for anyone to relegate to mere chance.

This is true... If a hole opened up in the roof, and the washington monument dropped into the class on que, if someone didn't want to believe, they'd chalk it up to chance or an elaborate hoax. When people don't want to believe, they won't believe... They're not going to believe in that case until 1. God Soften's their heart. 2. They're at judgement. If you don't believe me, read Revelations... A lot of supernatural things (without explanation) will happen, and most of the people who, by that point, haven't surrendered to God are not going to change with all the signs. Signs are for the believer to banish doubt, not the unbeliever to create faith.

It is a wicked generation to ask for a sign. You shall not test the Lord. God won't honor a request like that unless the circumstances are extreme and it would fulfill some purpose. Just to spite a proffessor isn't much of a purpose, but I'm not God...

[glitch1501]

thats a really awesome story, thogh i dont like chain letters

[Bobtheduck]

I doubt that the story has any veracity. No professor would behave in that fashion

This just isn't true... You haven't met some of the proffessor's I've seen in the past. A Ph.D doesn't always come with wisdom and maturity. I can't tell you how many still use "Evil in the world" as proof of no God. It's a matter of their own personal dogma.

(oh, and this is a side note, my primary note was my last message in this thread.)

[cbwing0]

Signs are for the believer to banish doubt, not the unbeliever to create faith.

That is true, but they are also primarily for those that are wavering between belief and unbelief, like some of those that witnessed Jesus' miracles.

One of my favorite passages on the subject is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16: 19-31. Lazarus is a poor man begging outside of the gate of the rich man's mansion. Lazarus dies and goes to heaven, while the rich man goes to hell. The rich man can see Lazarus in heaven, and vice versa. The rich man says something that is very enlightening:

"He [the rich man] answered, 'Then I beg you, father [Abraham], send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead'" (vss.27-31).

This passage is amazing for a number of reasons, but notice what it says in the last verse. If unbelievers are not convinced by the miracle of a man rising from the dead after three days, then lesser miracles will do nothing to make them believe.

[uc pseudonym]

One distinction I'd like to make, though I'm in support of what cbwing0 said by large (and the Lazarus story does have a great deal to teach us): Notice the results of the miracles, and by this I mean the overall results. Approximately half of them resulted in a "and many believed" message, but the other half are not so. After one of the feedings, the people tried to crown Jesus king. Note also that regardless of miracles he performed before, almost all these people deserted Him at the cross.

[cbwing0]

Note also that regardless of miracles he performed before, almost all these people deserted Him at the cross.

Even the 12 disciples deserted Jesus at that time, and they were forgiven when they regained their belief.

[The Grammarian]

http://www.snopes.com/religion/chalk.htm says it's an urban legend.

[Needle Noggin]

I heard this letter is fake,but it is still a pretty good story.

[wiggins]

awww too bad, but regardless i retain my previous stance.

[Destroyer2000]

Dang, fine. I just won't post anything else like this if it's going to cause so much arguement. Sheesh...

[uc pseudonym]

Hmm... Destroyer2000? This is hardly argument. We're being exceptionally civil about this... perhaps because the ground has already been covered. Please, don't view those individuals that posted more negatively as hard-hearted party-crashers, just Christians doing our best to be discerning and avoid triumphalist argumentation.