There's an old story about a skeptic who continually harassed the local pastor. His one delight in life seemed to be making the pastor appear inadequate intellectually. The pastor bore those challenges to his theology and faith with great restraint.

One day the skeptic was heckling the pastor about his views on miracles. "Give me one concrete example of a miracle," the skeptic taunted. "One concrete example." This pastor hauled off and kicked the skeptic in the shin as hard as he could.

The skeptic couldn't believe it! "What did you do that for?"

The pastor asked, "Did you feel that?"

"Yes," the man said as he nursed his sore leg.

"Well, if you hadn't," said the pastor, "it would have been a miracle!" (1)

I'm not sure that was the best way to explain miracles, but there have been tim…