It was unusual for me not to attend my home church on Sunday morning.
This particular Sunday began with a feeling of being “unsettled”. I was troubled in my spirit, and nearly compelled NOT to go to my home church.
Instead, I drove to an Assembly of God church which I had only been in a couple of times. When I entered the sanctuary I noticed an elderly man I had known for many years. As I sat toward the back, I thought to myself, “Fred doesn’t look well this morning”.
It wasn’t long before the church began filling up. Fred’s daughter arrived with her family and sat next to me. It seemed like just another service. The congregation was singing praise songs, and as I recall they were in their seats, rather than standing. Suddenly, Fred’s daughter touched my hand and said “It’s my Dad”. That’s all she said, but she stood to go to him. I stood and followed, without even thinking. It seemed “instinctive”.
When we got to her father he was laying on the floor. I knelt beside him and placed my hand on his chest as I began to pray. Someone loosened his tie. He was dead. There was no pulse. He was not breathing. The stench of death was in the air. I thought to myself as I prayed, “Someone should give him CPR.” As quickly as that thought came, it left. I learned later that a nurse who was also at his side had just completed teaching a class on CPR. Still, no one made any attempt. The Pastor encouraged everyone to continue praising, praying and singing. I prayed. It was an extended time that Fred lay on the floor. Not breathing, no pulse and no life. His color was gone and his face was an ashen grey. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind he was dead.
Then… Fred began to stir. His heart began beating (completely on its own) and he started to breathe. Within a few minutes he was helped to his feet and ushered out the door. I had just witnessed God raise him from the dead.
As I left the church after service, it seemed like just another day. Indeed. Just another day for God. The report of the story was written in a national magazine. The facts are undisputed. When a heart STOPS beating, it does not just “start up again by itself”. There was unquestionably no heartbeat in Fred, as he lay dead on the floor.
I have learned that I can trust God. He can do whatever He chooses to do, even when it seems impossible. Even when He does not perform a miracle, it isn’t because He can’t. I know the stories of God’s deliverance and power sweeping in at the very last minute when all hope is gone. I have seen Him do it in my lifetime and in my life. I know I can trust Him.
The duty of man is simple. Ecclesiastes 12:13 sets it out very clearly, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
*** Gordon Howie *** is an author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media 
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