The film Big Miracles, currently in theaters, was inspired by Operation Breakthrough, the 1988 international effort to save three gray whales who were trapped in ice off the north coast of Alaska. Operation Breakthrough has been called a miracle not only because of the difficulty of safely freeing two of the three whales but also because the rescue involved cooperation between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., nations who were at odds during the Cold War. As Christians we serve a God who makes miracles happen. This week we’ll look at miracles in Scripture and the ways in which God continues to work miracles in the world today. Key Scriptures: Joshua 10:12-14; Luke 4:1-13; John 9:1-19; Acts 19:11-20. The video “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” featuring poet Jefferson Bethke currently has more than 17 million views on YouTube and has become the subject of daytime talk show segments and countless video responses. While Bethke claims to hate religion, his poem reads like a plea for religious authenticity. He yearns for a faith that is free of hypocrisy and says, “There’s a problem if people only know you’re a Christian by your Facebook.” Next week LinC looks at some of the points Bethke makes, and we’ll discuss what it means to have an authentic faith that goes deeper than mere words and gestures.
