Jesus Appearing...in the bathroom....on the counter....in marble....true story....sort of

Do you remember the episode of "Friends" when Phoebe was channeling a woman who refused to "cross over" until she experienced everything? She crossed over when Phoebe went to a gay wedding. She said, "Now I've seen everything." and was gone.

If I had chosen this philosophy, I would join her, because what I heard on our local news this week made me want to say the same thing...."Now I've seen everything."

I have to admit, God has joined me in the most bazaar places. And many times....MANY times...I've heard his still small voice speaking to me while I was in my bathroom. Let's face it, it's one of the few times in one day I am alone and able to hear ANYTHING!

And, yes, I've seen what seemed to be his face in the grain of wood in my paneling and in the way the cement floor swirls in some places. I believe you could see or hear God wherever you want to or HE wants you to.

But this week, on our local news, a woman says she saw Jesus' face in the swirl of her marble topped counter in her bathroom. And here's what got me....the local TV news people went to her house and interviewed her. (Seriously? Iraq wasn't exciting enough for you?)

The first time I saw the news and they zoomed in on her counter, I didn't see it. The second time....Lo and behold, there He was! Looking majestic, his head tilted ever so slightly up towards the heavens... (true story).

Okay....I really don't have a problem with this woman saying she saw Jesus in her countertop. I mean I DID see something that looked like his face...just like I did in my paneling....BUT...

Bring the media out? And here's the clincher.....she feels this is her answer from God for her financial troubles and is selling her counter on E-BAY for a whopping $50,000. (She will send her daughter to college on this). I also noticed that when they interviewed her, she did not allow her face to be seen and was only presented in a sillouette.


My friend, and Pastor, talks alot about the church having a consumer mentality. We become Christians and go to church to "get something" for ourselves. I myself remember saying of my old church that "I was tired of cookies and milk and in need of meat and potatoes." I went to church "for me". It was ALL ABOUT ME!

This is a striking example of the consumer mentality. Not only does she want something from Jesus, but she's selling Him for $50,000. (I mean that is what she wants......money).

I struggle with this whole thing. I mean is this woman genuine? Am I belittling her desire to send her daughter to college? I don't wish to belittle anyone. But to me this is ridiculous. Again....it's not about what she saw. It's about what she did with what she saw. It's about making Jesus a product.

Have we done this to Jesus? Have we reduced Him to our "quick fix" for all of our troubles? Is that all He is?

Is this REALLY God's answer to her financial woes? I suppose there may have been a time that I may have even gone and worshiped at the altar of marble at the bathroom counter. I am now seeing how shallow I have been. That my relationship with God should be about "a relationship with God." Not about "what could I get from Him today."

Also, I must confess, I have a friend, who, as a teenager said he had seen the Blessed Mother and I believe him. He is not a sensationalist. He's just normal guy who loves God. He did NOT go to the media or run around trying to get attention. And yet, word got out. And when he tried to go to a certain church, they told him that they didn't want that sort of stuff in their church and turned him away at the door. He was incredibly hurt and embarrassed. He did NOT sign up for this.

So, I'm torn. I believe this friend of mine has a good heart. By the way, he eventually found a great church and has been attending it for years. But it was not his intention to create a bunch of drama.

But then there's these people....I went into Google to see if I could find a picture of this miracle. I found out that Jesus has a appeared in alot of bathrooms. Also a burrito, MRI, ultrasound, chimichanga and the underside of a dog's belly. As humorous as this sounds....

Tell me what YOU think. Do you think these people are just trying to get attention? Do they really believe God is sending them a message? What do you think?