Tag: Jesus

DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?

BLOG 417

January 25, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

            DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?

            The skeptic is certain prayer is an illusion. The struggler hopes something might happen but he’s not for sure. The informed know how to pray and the Holy Spirit prevails. The difference makes all the difference.

            The informed have explored the principles of intercession that can be found in the New Testament. They know that reaching out for the Hand of God is not an act of desperation but a disciplined daily exploration of the principles of living in the continual presence of our heavenly Father. They live with constant awareness of God’s presence and that’s how they pray.

            Lert’s apply that insight.

            Revs. Eddie and Michelle Mann pastored Christ Church for a number of years as a house church, offering a warm and inviting setting to people in need. Gail  Conway (anonymous for personal reasons)  had come to worship with a problem. For over two years, she had struggled with a kidney problem that didn’t improve. With time, the difficulties deepened. Gail was faithful in attendance but always knew that her condition could become critical.

            A week earlier, her urologist made another examination. When he returned with the results, a frown covered the man’s face. He shook his head and said. “The indicators aren’t good, Gail. Your kidneys are only function at a 6% capacity. I’m afraid we are looking at a continual downhill slide that may quickly become critical. The situation is serious.”

            Gail came to church this week with a heavy heart. She fully realized how bleak the  future could be. When the prayer time came, Gail went forward for the team to pray for her. The guest preacher Bishop Beth Owen joined Bishop Wayne Booshada and her husband Bishop Michael as they gathered around Gail and anointed her with oil. As the groups prayer unfolded. Beth felt a special urge to pray, not just for the next report to be good, but to intercede for total healing. The service ended and Gail went home.

            The next day she went back for the next examination. The doctor came in with an astonished look on his face. Her kidney were now functioning at 96%! She had gone from a disastrous 6% to a normal 90%! Gail’s eyes widened. “Doctor, how did this happen?”

            “You’ve had a miracle!” he nearly shouted.

            And how did it happen? Someone who lived a disciplined prayer life knew how to pray. Start digging into the Holy Spirit’s promises and realize them by praying for others … and yourself!

            Rember: Miracles never cease.

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

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RIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES

BLOG 415

January 10, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

            RIGHT OUT OF THE MOVIES

            The Pew Research Center reports eight out of ten Americans believe in miracles. Half of those not affiliated with any particular faith still say miracles are possible. Why such a significant number?

Belief in miracles is on the rise because people are frantically seeking meaning. With the omnipresent political upheaval and increased talk of military intervention, citizens need hope as seldom before. Miracles supply an answer for that desperate need. A renewed openness is increased.

            The movie Miracles From Heaven touched that vacuum in many hearts. The story from a true life experience happened in Burleson, Texas on the Beam family farm. Nine-year-old Annabel Beam had developed a rare incurable disease that made her body unable to process food. The family had many doctors, but nothing had been found that helped.

            Devout Baptist, Kevin and Christy  Beam believed in the possibility of miracles, but didn’t think one would happen to them. Of course, they prayed everyday and considered miracles as probable, but that was it.

            Annabel was climbing in an old hollow cottonwood tree when her foot slipped. She tumbled headfirst down 30 feet. Unconscious in the bottom of the tree, no one was sure how to get her out. A rescue team struggled to find the best way to free Annabel. Finally, they broke her free while a helicopter waited to fly her for emergency treatment. The child remained unconscious.

            Kevin and Christy prayed liked never before in their lives. Their only hope was an intervention by God. They begged, knowing their daughter might not survive.

            The doctors immediately began numerous scans to identify where surgery or similar treatment should begin. They stopped and repeated the process. They could find nothing wrong. In addition, to no lingering injuries from the fall, Annabel’s incurable condition was gone. The next morning Annabel and her stunned parents went home.

            What had happened? Annabel Beam could only be described as a miracle.

            Are miracles happening today? You bet. Everywhere!

            Need hope? Here’s where you find it. You have a heavenly Father who always listens. He waits to hear from you.

            Remember: Miracles never cease.

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

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A SURPRISE AT A TRUCK STOP

Blog 413

December 28, 2026

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

A SURPRISE AT A TRUCK STOP

            Ready or not, 2026 is coming straight at us! Here’s an experience to help you get ready.

            Junior Neece had a deep and unique love and concern for the poor. Having grown up under difficult circumstances, he knew how hard poverty can be. In the 70’s even though he could neither read nor write, Junior went off to a southern university to play football. Because he was unusually big and strong, they weren’t worried about something as unimportant as going to class or passing a test. So, Junior rocked along knocking people out of his way on the gridiron.

            Rev. Michael Owen knew about Junior’s work with the poor and invited him to speak in a church he was pastoring. The effect was electric as Junior’s message was so powerful and personal that people were moved to be more generous than usual. Mike wondered where this capacity had come from. Junior told him this story.

            He stopped at a filling station to fill up for the long trip to Alabama. Junior figured that ought to take him maybe to Memphis, Tennessee. A disheveled  old man walked up and ask if he could catch a ride south. At first, Junior was hesitant. Hitchhikers weren’t particularly safe, but something nudged him to give the man a ride.

            “Sure,” Junior said. “Get in my pickup.”

            As they rode down the highway. The old man began to ask questions. “Did you ever tell your wife and boys about your struggles growing up?”

            Junior stared. How could this guy know he was married and had children?

            The old man kept pressing. “You’ve had lots of painful experiences, haven’t you?”

            Junior could feel his words cutting into him. The man began describing in detail some of Junior’s hardest moments. Tears started running down his face. He coughed and sputtered. This old man had touched the deepest places in his life, places he had tried to avoid. Junior began to feel the love of God shinning into his heart and moving him deeply. His road trip had turned into an epiphany.

            Finally, the gas gauge indicated a need to fill up. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he pulled into a gas station and got out. “I’ll be right back,” he told the old man. He hung up the gas pump and got back in the truck. The old man had disappeared.

            Long ago, the Apostle Paul told us to pay attention because some of have been visited by angles unaware. Expect them to be around you in 2026. Look for their touch. Such a visit forever changed Junior Neece’s life and it can yours. By the way, Junior learned to read and write through studying the Bible.

            HAPPY NEW YEAR!

           I’ll be back in 2026!

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

You can find I MARCHED WITH PATTON on Amazon.

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MAGIC OR MIRACLE?

Blog 412

December 21, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

             Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

MAGIC OR MIRACLE?

            Hey! Christmas is just around the corner. And what are we celebrating?

            From what I’ve seen on television since the big Thanksgiving Day parade are about Santa Claus, Mrs. Santa Claus, elves, and flying reindeer. All the commercials proclaim the “magic” of Christmas. The opportunities are everywhere for everything from exotic perfume to unpronounceable names for antibodies that 90% of the population will never need.  But! Magic is here at Christmas time. That’s the word. Magic!

            “I’m a little confused because I visited the tomb of St. Nicolas (the original Santa Claus) when I was in Bari, Italy a number of years ago. Nicolas was a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity and miracles. His relics were brought to the Basilica di San Nicol that became a magnificent church. The key word? Miracles.

            Here’s an example that demonstrates the difference.

            Jack Traynor was injured in the war when sprayed with shrapnel. The assault left his right arm completely paralyzed with the muscles atrophying. In addition, his legs were partially paralyzed. The war left him incapacitated. Moreover, the operation to remove the shrapnel from his head left an inch-wide hole in his skull. His injuries were so serious that the British War Pension Ministry gave him a 100% pension for the rest of his life.

            Struggling with these serious problems, Jack Traynor saw no hope except for a trip to Lourdes, France to the shrine where Bernadette encountered the Virgin Mary that resulted in the grotto where people came to wade in the water and receive healing. The stories of marvelous recovery were repeated everywhere. Jack decided to exercise his faith and be released into the pool where so much had happened.  Was another miracle still possible? You know the result. Complete restoration followed and Jack Traynor left a whole person.

            Not only were his conditions mended, Jack went into the coal and hauling business that required moving 200-pound sacks of coal. Magic? No. A miracle.

            In the final days of this joyous season, let us focus on Bethlehem and remember that the Christ child is still making people whole. With the singing of church choirs and the glow of candles, we can still live in the promise.

            Just remember: miracles never cease.

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

by Categories: angels, Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A HOT-WATER BOTTLE AND HOPE

Blog 410

December 7, 2024

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

A HOT-WATER BOTTLE AND HOPE

            I first met Dr. Helen Roseveare at a Inter-Varsity Conference in the dead of winter. It was cold outside, but she made you feel warm inside. Dr. Roseveare had been one of those marvelous dedicated missionaries from early in the last century who gave up the comforts surrounding them to reach out to countries like Uganda. During the day she was a medical doctor, but at night she worked in a brick factory to be personal and close to the natives. Tender hands needed for surgery were tested by the rough, abrasive surface of bricks. That’s a story unto itself.

            Out in the jungle, a native woman died during childbirth leaving behind a premature baby and a grieving two-year old daughter. Without electricity and no incubator as well as few supplies, the baby’s life was in grave danger.  The only hot water bottle in the makeshift hospital had burst when filled with hot water to use to warm the baby. They also needed food. Dr. Roseveare asked everyone to pray. The situation was desperate. One faith-filled little girl named Ruth prayed aloud for a hot water bottle.

“Please God send us a hot water bottle,” Ruth prayed in her childish way. “It will be not be any good by tomorrow. The baby will be dead so please send it by this afternoon.”

 The prayer did seem presumptuous to Rosevearae and she feared the girl had pushed her petitions too far, but the situation was desperate so she let it go. Dr. Roseveare knew God could do anything up to a point, but wasn’t the girl’s prayer beyond the limits? The prayer made her nervous.

            Doing the best they could, the small native staff went back to work. A couple of hours later a car dropped off a twenty-two-pound parcel sent from the doctor’s homeland. She had never received one such package in the four years she lived in Africa. Everyone gathered around this unexpected gift from Ireland. The orphans began opening the box and sorting through the large bundle. Bandages were found for the lepers and even some badly needed food.

Food for them! Little Ruth dug to the bottom of the box and found it! A new hot-water bottle to keep the baby warm! And more! A beautifully dressed doll was waiting for her.

            Dr. Roseveare said. “I cried. I had not asked God to send the bottle.  I had not believed that He could.” The child did.

            But there’s more.

            The parcel had been packed five months earlier by Roseveare’s former Sunday School class. The leader had felt prompted to include a hot water bottle (for hot Africa?) and a girl contributed the doll.  This package was the only one ever to arrive and it was prayed for by the faith of a child.

            God’s miracles are never too late and always on time. What’s needed to experience miracles today? Could it be the simple faith of a child? Trust.

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

WHEN DOUBT FADES

Blog 409

November 30, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

 WHEN DOUBT FADES

            Doubt is still around. I often run into people who think of faith as a form of neurosis and a way to avoid reality. The pressure of a disintegrating society with threats of war on the horizon send many people into a tailspin. Others just turn the television and don’t listen to the news anymore. Al Watkins (names changed for anonymity sake) can respond to those doubts.

            Al’s eight-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with two holes in his heart. This condition also brought pressure on little Jack’s lungs. Surgery had to be done immediately.  As the day for the surgery approached, Jack began giving his toys and keepsakes away. He did not believe he would survive. Finally, Jack asked his father, “Am I going to die?”

            Taken back, his father assured him that people survive open heart surgery but some don’t.

            Jack asked, “Can Jesus heal me?”

            “A few days later after anguished prayer and reading Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through him who strengthens me). Al told his son that whether he recovered or not, he would have the gift of eternal life. A visiting pastor came into the room and asked Jack if he believed Jesus could heal him. Jack said that he did. They prayed together.

            The next morning Jack was wheeled into the operating room for a four-hour surgery. However, after the first hour, the doctor came out. He showed Al two sets of x-rays. The first film clearly showed the two-holes. Then, he held up the second picture. No holes.

            The doctor shook his head in amazement. “You can count on this as a miracle,” he concluded.

            The hospital’s risk manager reviewed the situation. “You can see from the films this was not a misdiagnosis. Somebody somewhere must have been praying.” When their insurance agent called after reviewing the submitted claim, he asked, “What is a spontaneous closure.”

            Al replied, “a miracle.”

            In a time when doubt is certainly out there, you have an alternative. The answers don’t often come as dramatically as they did for Jack, but they come. Your prayers and trust in divine Providence are the best hope anyone anywhere could have.  Hang on. There’s always more to come.

            Remember miracles never cease!

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

WHEN LIFE ENDS AND BEGINS AGAIN

Blog 408

November 23, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D., Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

 WHEN LIFE ENDS AND BEGINS AGAIN

            I have been surprised by the number of people I have met who had “out-of-the-body” experiences  (NDE) as they were dying. When they came back and became conscious again, their reports always left me intrigued. A month ago, I shared Ron Carte’s journey after he had a heart attack and crashed into a tree. This week I interviewed him for a coming YouTube video that you will want to see. Just look for Miracles Never Cease by Rev. Robert Wise.

            One of the fascinating aspects of an NDE event is the extremely accurate memory that these persons had of what they saw from the other side or often the top of the room. One woman having an out of the body experience saw a red label on the hidden side of a ceiling fan. The nurses were amazed as no one had discovered that red tab before. The uncanny but precise description of what they saw when out of the body is difficult to repute.

            Here’s a similar experience of a man who been an atheist.

            Ian McCormack was scuba diving near the cost of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean when he was stung four times by Jelly Fish. Sometimes called the most venomous creature in the world, one bite can cause the cardiovascular system to collapse with death in two to three minutes. McCormack was bitten four times.

            As he was dying, Ian saw a vision of his mother telling him to call out to God for help. Now in utter darkness, he was terrified and prayed for God to forgive his sins. A bright light suddenly descended on him, drawing him out of the darkness.  The light was unspeakably bright as if it was the center of the universe. Nevertheless, Ian could look into the brilliant blaze.

            The Presence in the light knew everything about him, making him feel terribly ashamed. However, rather than judgement, he felt what he described as ‘pure, unadulterated, clean, uninhibited, undeserved love.” In the middle of the light, he saw a man in a dazzling white robe holding out his arms to Ian. After he returned to physical life, Ian knew he had been in the presence of Almighty God.

            Ian McCormack’s experience is another example of touching the transcendent dimension that is always around us. We are reminded of the ultimate victory over death that laid the foundation for all of these experiences. Certainly, offers us hope!

            Remember miracles never cease!

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

by Categories: angels, Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

THE GOLDEN FISH

Blog 407

November 16, 2025

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

Rev. Robert L. Wise, Ph.D. explores the world of divine interventions from an objective point of view. An Archbishop in the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches with a Ph.D. and the author of 36 books, Rev. Wise relates his interviews with persons who experienced the touch of God.

THE GOLDEN FISH

            Ed had been touched by reading psychiatrist M. Scott Peck’s book People of the Lie that demonstrated evil was real. In addition, he found Thomas Merton’s The Seven Story Mountain to be inspiring. Moreover, Dietrich Bonhoffer’s Cost of Discipleship proved to be equally compelling. At the time he was reading and exploring Freudian and Jungian ideas about the subconscious mind. Ed wasn’t sure what he believed and saw much of Christian thought as a product of the unconscious. He simply couldn’t decide. However, Ed Collins (name used for anonymity sake) continued to struggle with what he should believe. Then came the dream.

            As a boy he fished in Candlewood Lake in Danbury, Connecticut. He had both fished from a boat and through the ice in the winter. In his dream, Ed was back on the ice fishing with a dear friend.  He was surrounded by piles of snow and cold weather. When fishermen cut a hole in the ice, they had to sit there until a fish comes by which could take a long time in the bitter freezing weather.

            To Ed’s surprise, in his dream a fish poked its head out of the hole in the ice. That simply never happened! Ed looked closer. The first appeared to have a golden color. He looked closer. The color wasn’t just yellow; the entire fish was golden. In fact, the fish was a giant Goldfish! (such never happens in that northern cold climate) Everything about the dream was a symbol of his own search.

            Ed began to grasp the meaning of the fish. The Goldfish embodied the ancient Greek word for fish IXTHUS, which the earliest Christians understood was an anachronism for JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD OUR SAVIOR. Far beyond an inner mental gymnastics gyration, His heavenly Father had touched him deeply. Using the symbolic world Ed had been exploring, God spoke to him. Ed knew his spiritual search had been answered. Jesus Christ was the living son of the heavenly Father. His quest had ended in a most surprising way by his Creator using the secret language of his own heart.

            When he returned to work the next day, he shared his discovery with a friend in language that he had never used before. He said he had ‘accepted Jesus.’ As he spoke those words, Ed was flooded with joy. He has carried that joy for the last 31 years.

            What about going “fishing?” Cold water can produce amazing warmth for the soul. Symbols in your own life might take on more meaning than you think for.  The IXTHUS could be swimming by your house. Actually, that happens all the time.

               Remember miracles never cease!

New Podcast: Here’s Life! Do you believe in angels?

WATCH THIS, TOO!

82 Days on Okinawa: One American’s Unforgettable Firsthand Account of the Pacific War’s Greatest Battle

Did you discover something miraculous during the past year? I’d be delighted to hear your story. Please write me. Please email me your story at: miracles@miraclesnevercease.com.

Remember to expect the unexpected! And let the miracles begin!

Readers of my MIRACLES NEVER CEASE blog will be fascinated by my latest book:

MIRACLES NEVER CEASE!

ORDER NOW!

ORDER NOW!

by Categories: Divine Intervention, faith, MiraclesTags: , , , , , Leave a comment