Faith

All this month we are still talking about real authentic faith with our youth and I found this old email from a friend that I thought fit perfectly.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

ON MARCH 27, 2000, A U.S. STEALTH FIGHTER PILOT WAS SHOT DOWN OVER YUGOSLAVIA AND HE LATER TOLD TIME MAGAZINE THAT: "GOD HELPED HIM SURVIVE." THE PILOT, WHO WAS NOT NAMED IN A REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE AIR FORCE, EJECTED DURING A NIGHT MISSION, DEEP IN SERBIAN TERRITORY. HIS F-117A NIGHTHAWK HAD BEEN HIT BY A YUGOSLAV SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE MILITARY SOURCES SAID. THE PILOT SAID: "THE EXPLOSION WAS SO VIOLENT, THAT HE ASKED HIMSELF, "AM I GOING TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO GET OUT?" IT IS THE QUESTION ON EVERY FIGHTER PILOT’S MIND. HE THEN SAID: "I WAS SO SCARED THAT I COULDN’T PULL THE (EJECTION SEAT) HANDLES, SO GOD TOOK MY HANDS AND PULLED. I KNOW IT WAS GOD BECAUSE I FELT HIS POWERFUL HANDS." HE LANDED IN A FIELD AND HID IN A CULVERT FOR SIX HOURS UNTIL HE WAS RESCUED BY HELICOPTERS FROM THE AIR FORCE’S 16TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP. WHILE IN HIDING, HE SAW FLASHING LIGHTS AND SAID A SEARCH DOG CAME WITHIN 30 YARDS OF HIM. THE AIR FORCE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING: "THE PILOT HAD AN AMERICAN FLAG FOLDED UNDER HIS FLIGHT SUIT, WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT CERTAIN DEATH AND HE HAD A BIBLE IN HIS FLIGHT SUIT POCKET." "FOR ME, THE PILOT SAID, "IT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO I KNEW WERE PRAYING, AND IT HELPED ME NOT LET GO OF HOPE AND GRAB HOLD OF FAITH, BECAUSE FAITH GIVES YOU STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE."

FAR TOO MANY CHRISTIANS NEVER MAKE THE TRIP FROM HOPE TO FAITH AND THEREFORE THEY LIVE THERE LIFE: HOPING THEY WILL GO TO HEAVEN INSTEAD OF KNOWING, BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, THAT THEY WILL!!

Noah spent 140 years building an ark when it had never rained.
Abraham left his home and set out on a journey with no real place in mind.
Gideon charged into an enemy totally outnumbered because God promised victory.
What is the difference between hope and faith?
Between confidence and faith?
If it was proven to you today that God doesn’t exist, how would your life change? What would you do differently?
If Jesus—in the flesh—were to walk into the room and talk to you right now, what would you do? How much would your belief system be changed?
These last few questions can help you determine just how real your faith is. My real definition of faith is that God is who he says he is and will do all that he has promised to do.

Sorry about the caps, apparently P.J. hit the button while I was getting ready to type. I caught it half way through.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!