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I understand that my grandmother treated her diabetes with prayer. She died of a stroke around the age of 60, before I was born. That was probably best, though. Long term effects of untreated diabetes include blindness, loss of legs... not a pretty way to go.

I'm reminded of a quote from Carl Sagan:

"If you want to save your child from polio, you can pray or you can inoculate... Try science."

Here's a related story on faith healing that many Christians here might can relate to:

http://tinyurl.com/gh78a

Eric:

I agree with you that diabetes is a horrible way to die. My mother died from diabetes three years ago. It was painful watching her suffer.

I don't care too much for Word-of-Faith preachers. I some do more harm than good to the body of Christ. Especially those that blame someone's health problems or financial woes on a lack of faith.

I don't want to speak for you on this, but I suspect we can both agree on this.

Yeah, I agree that these guys are a load of bad apples that turn many folks against Christianity. It's a shame, I agree. It makes it too easy for those outside the faith to say "they're all bad people" and that's hardly the way any group of people ought to be treated.

Eric:

The bad actors make a bad impression in lots of peoples minds who then ridicule all Christians thinking we all share the same theology. I don't know if you can tell yet in our dialogues, but I don't take blind leaps of faith. I have done a lot of reading and research to bring me to the conclusion that the claims of Jesus in the Bible are true. Others may not know why they believe what they believe, and still be right about the belief itself. It would sure help if more Christians were careful thinkers.

Have a good evening.

"I don't know if you can tell yet in our dialogues, but I don't take blind leaps of faith. ...It would sure help if more Christians were careful thinkers."

I am coming to appreciate that you do care a lot about being able to support your views, and I admire that. That sort of care is vital these days. Actually, it always has been important, but it's becoming more so as time goes on. Take care, sir.

There was one of these guys in GSO last weekend. He was at the Koury Center. The lady that does my mom's hair was telling about it on Monday morning.

He passed offering "buckets" three times; the first for "offerings" of $1,000, the second for "offerings" of $100, and the third for "offerings" of anything less than $100.

She also said that he never opened his Bible, never preached. He did read from his "book of memories." He also was good at bashing other evangelists, etc.

There was also an instance of a woman who was supposed to have been healed previously, that was not! When she stood up to question, she was removed!

Now, do not get me wrong, I believe in healing. I believe that it can be the total and complete miraclous with doctors baffled as to how/why. And then I believe in healing that takes place due to medical science. The knowledge has to come from somewhere; I attribute that knowledge to God. Others may attribute it to something else. That is not the relevant point.

When I was 4-6 years old, my parents some friends from church and myself went to one of these events in Charlotte, NC. My parents were seeking healing of my diabetes. Thankfully, I am still a diabetic. Healing was not in the picture for me. Aside from the finances involved, I have no major complaints becuase of this disease. I have learned many lessons due to it that may not have been learned otherwise.

So, there is a time.....

Shalom