Chapter 1

Does Christ Exist

Christ, who is He? Most of us do not see Him nor hear Him, which can easily make one feel that He is a mythological character. So how can we be certain the things we have heard about Him are true?

I would like first of all to write about those who claim they see or talk to Christ or His Mother, Mary. Such claims warrant investigation, as adults and children alike have declared through the ages that they have received such visitations. So are these seers genuine, frauds, or insane?

When I try to decipher if a seer’s ability is genuine or otherwise, it is done in a simple fashion. I ask myself can so many people be fraudulent or insane?

In most instances seers refuse any type of support, monetary or otherwise, so there is nothing to gain in that respect. So are they looking for attention? Some seers have spoken of future events, which have taken place. Still other seers bare bodily marks (which may bleed) resembling the wounds of Christ, (these marks are called, stigmata). Doctors and scientific teams scrutinize many seers, to the point of what I would call harassment. The Church looks into these matters with great disbelief. So if seers seek attention, they certainly do suffer during the process. Yet many seers stand the test of time and remain undaunted, regardless of the misery they endure.

Some seers have been exhumed several years after their burial. In some cases their bodies are found to be incorrupt, (not subject to decay). The incorrupt body of Bernadette Soubiriuos is a good example of a phenomenon, which defies human nature, as we know it.

Born into poverty January 7, 1844, in Lourdes, France, Bernadette claimed (at the age of fourteen) that a Lady was visiting her. A Lady that only she could see. These visits occurred from February 11, 1858, to March 25, of the same year. During one of these visits, this Lady calling herself, "The Immaculate Conception" had Bernadette dig in the earth, eat of the plants and wash her face with dirt.

The local authorities now seeing Bernadette act in this manner thought she was quite insane. Suddenly a spring of water appeared in the place where this ritual had taken place. This spring has been a source of healing for many sick and terminally ill people throughout the world even to this day.

Through the years, doctors have documented many cases of these ill-fated people who were miraculously cured. These events have left the scientific community unable to explain these most unusual healings in a rational humanistic way. The miraculous cures at Lourdes are so astonishing they prompted a 357-page book called, "The Miracles of Lourdes."

Bernadette's body was first exhumed thirty years after her death on September 22, 1909. She was found to be completely intact maintaining her natural skin tones. The second exhumation took place on April 3, 1917, she was found still preserved. At this time, the incorrupt body of Bernadette was placed in a gold and glass coffin and can be viewed (to this day) by the public in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette in Nevers, France.

In Fatima, Portugal, beginning May 13, 1917, three young children, Lucia dos Santos, age ten, and Jacinta and Francisco Martos, ages seven and nine respectively, also made claim to visitation from a Lady that others could not see.

The Lady asked the children for daily recitation of the Rosary, penance and acts of sacrifice for the conversion of sinners. The Lady also told the children of a great evil in Russia, which sort to take peace from the world. The Lady ended by saying that, in the end Russia would be converted to her Immaculate Heart.

People laughed at the children of Fatima hearing this prophecy. Russia was a poor country without means of becoming such a power. However Russia did rise to new heights with spoils obtained from the defeat of the German army during World War II. Adorned in new riches Russia spread its socialistic communism throughout the world, leaving the earth in great turmoil. This fulfilled the prophecy the Lady gave to the poor children of Fatima. Nonetheless, the Lady's ending prophecy of this event had has also come true. Russia has been converted and the great wall, which divided East and West Germany, has been torn down.

The last apparition of Fatima took place on October 13, 1917. On that day having been promised a miracle, a crowd of some 70,000 people witnessed the unnatural rotation of the sun for some ten minutes. The miracle was of such magnitude that the secular newspapers ran an article about the miraculous event. (Note; secular people believe that man has evolved through time, and were not created by God.)

When I look at such phenomenon I also find it to be beyond a rational humanistic explanation, from this I can only determine that something unnatural has taken place.

Many such remarkable occurrences happen around the globe today. Seers from Russia, Middle East, United States, Asia, Europe, Nicaragua and so many other places are popping up and making claim to unusual visitations. It would also seem that in the past twenty years these apparitions have been on the increase.

Some apparition sites such as Garabandal Spain, are most convincing though not yet approved by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has approved other apparition sites such as Betania, Venezuela, by officially stating that Betania is of supernatural nature.

One apparition site (though not yet approved by the church) is Medjugorje located in Bosnia Herzegovina. Medjugorje once part of the "former Yugoslavia" remained unscathed during the civil unrest in this war torn country. Could it be that this Lady has spread Her mantel across the region of Medjugorje protecting the people from the war? In any case Medugorje has become a major apparition site, possibly ever to occur. Millions of people from all walks of life, cultures and religious backgrounds have been to this little village. Millions of others who have not been there strongly believe in the extraordinary event taking place since June of 1981, and still going on daily.

Peace, prayer, fasting, penance and reconciliation, these are the messages given to the six Medjugorje visionaries, by the Lady who is known as the "Queen of Peace." The Lady adds, "return to the ways of God, pray for the world, and offer penance to God by giving up useless things in your life." The visionaries of Medjugorje say this Lady is the Holy Virgin and that Jesus Christ is sending these messages through His most Holy Messenger, and Mother, Mary.

Over the years Mary has disclosed 10 secrets to each Medjugorje seers which will be revealed to the world at a predetermined time. These secrets are chastisements to the world to convert their lives and live the messages of prayer, fasting, penance, peace, and reconciliation. Upon receiving the ten secrets the Lady said She would no longer appear to that visionary on a daily basis. Presently (as of January 2000) three of the seers have received all ten secrets; the remaining three have each received nine.

Mirjana, one of the seers who has received all ten secrets was concerned that she would not remember all the secrets given to her. The Lady gave Mirjana the secrets written on a parchment. Mirjana was asked by the Lady to give the parchment to a priest of her own choosing ten days before the first chastisement was to come. The priest who would not be able to read the parchment would pray and fast, then with the help of the Lady, he would be able to read the writings. Three days before each chastisement to come, the priest will reveal the secrets to the world.

The parchment has been scientifically studied. The scientific community has been unable to determine what the parchment is made of, there is no known substance on the face of the earth. Linguistics experts have studied the writings; there is no known language.

We must admit that today's technology is most impressive. Yet science has failed to explain the parchment. They have also failed to explain the Medjugorje phenomenon through a battery of scientific tests performed on the seers. In short science has failed to prove that the seers are fraudulent.

When the apparitions first began the government of Yugoslavia did not delight in the happenings in Medugorje. The seers were considerably harassed by the socialistic ruled government, who sort to put an end to the going-on's in this tiny hamlet. On one occasion the seers were forced to be with some government officials. During this time an apparition took place. The government officials experienced the power of the apparition to some degree. Later they all resigned from their post.

The State Department of the United States also investigated Medjugorje. David Anderson (now deceased) ambassador to Yugoslavia was told to send someone to take a hard look at the events that the State Department was hearing about. The ambassador sent two men to Medjugorje, one a failed priest the other an Irishmen. Upon returning these two men told the ambassador, "You're not going to believe this but something is happening there."

Millions of people have now been to Medjugorje. They come from all around the world. Thousands have witnessed miracles all at the same time. While others have difficulty finding words to express how they have been touched personally, in ways that no human being can touch. Still there are others who have been cured either physically or emotionally.

The testimony of thousands from all around the world has only increased the believability of the events taking place in Medjugorje. These events seem so credible that it has at least made the world take notice and listen. These testimonies which have made the world take notice are not just from what some call "pious Catholics" but from other religious denominations and atheists as well.

Although I have become a great believer in the visitations of the Lady in Medjugorje, "Mary Queen of Peace, " God decided that my faith should take a step beyond believing. The events which I witnessed both exterior and interior while in Medjugorje, has brought me from believing, to knowing! I no longer believe that God exists, as I feel that to believe is to have remaining doubt. I no longer doubt, I know that God exists! In this I state that; "I will never again doubt in the existence of God again."

To make the statement; "I will never again doubt in the existence of God" is a marvel in itself. I did not believe in God during my growing up year. I wanted to believe but I saw no sign of Him. In my mind I had come to believe that God was something for the elderly to believe in because they feared death. It was my own brush with illness, which lead to my change of heart.

On April of 1984, I was not feeling well so I visited my doctor. After an EKG it was discovered that I had a myocardial infarction. The events of my heart condition is a long story to tell in full detail but to summarize, God healed me of the heart attack after I entreated Him to prove Himself to me. A tingling sensation started in my toes and spread very fast to my head. The top part of my head felt as though it had been removed and poison was pouring out.

After many consultations with my regular physician and a heart specialist, an appointment was made with a heart surgeon to discuss options. The night before my visit to the surgeon’s office was when I experienced my healing. The next day at the surgeon’s office, he looked at the information from the two other doctors. At the time there was talk of putting in a pacemaker. I told him that God had healed me of the problem the night before. Not believing this, he hitched me up to an EKG machine and there was no sign of the infarction. On June 20, 1984, I was given a test known as a Radionuclide Ventriculogram, overall conclusion, normal, no evidence of anterior myocardial infarction.

With my new lease on life I began to read the Bible, although I couldn't make heads from tails of what I was reading. Though I did not understand what I was reading, somehow I was compelled to continue.

The Bible began to open up for me. It slowly revealed itself in such a manner that I was dumbfounded by its amazing insight. It was like being a blind man, then all of a sudden, I could see! The secrets of the Scriptures unlocked themselves protectively, as a mother would guard a child.

Having not believed in God, I had thought the Bible to be the creation of man. I had heard that from one Bible to the next, each was as different as night and day. Now I know that one should not question the authenticity of the Bible's writings. It is not important if the writings are true or false (though I view the Scriptures as truth). The significant fact is that I believed or have faith.

If we are taught right from wrong, and we of our own free will decide to do wrong, then we are held accountable for our actions, by the law. But, if we were not taught right from wrong, how can we be held accountable for our actions if we are ignorant of the law?

I know fully that if God hid Himself, there must be a reason. Therefore, He would not hold us responsible if we were ignorant of His law. God would instead slowly reveal Himself, making the truth known. A sovereign God would forgive those who sought after Him in ignorance. And, the ignorant would be judged by their faith alone.

In ignorance it is through repeated attempts of failure that we initiate understanding. Understanding the Bible is no different. We must feel compelled to comprehend that which we want to know. Ignorance in time becomes endurance and endurance in time achieves understanding.

What do you think? Which child would respect and appreciate a bicycle more, one who received it for no reason, or one who worked and saved his pennies till he had enough to buy it? Though this is a strange analogy, it is a simple and true story. As the child who has paid for his own bicycle would respect and appreciate the bicycle more, having worked for it, so also are those who search the Scriptures to find God. They will respect and appreciate God more than someone who is given understanding for no reason. In this process that which is hidden is no longer hidden.

So does Christ exist? Where does one find Him? Christ can be found in many different places. Yet for those who desire to know Him best and wish to become Christ like themselves, one must pray, be patient and work to understand the Scriptures. In due time and place your reward will be untold treasures unknown to this world. There are no other secrets. All our good consists of this and for those who pray and search the Scripture, you will certainly come to be most grateful having worked for it, as the boy who worked to pay for his own bicycle.

Scripture can be very frustrating, and may appear fragmented, like a puzzle. Yet for those who steadily search for truth in its pages, you will not be disappointed! Truth will come to light, even as a puzzle piece fall into place. As the pieces come together, you will come to know without doubt that "God Does Exist!"