Religion

[Logan]

The tragic accident yesterday I am sure was not planned by God, Ecc. 9:11. However, I pray for the family. That they will find only one set of footprints in the sand as the Lord carries them through this terrible loss.

[Tazz]

I don't know what the "God" is under my name. I didn't put it there. Lance, can you remove it please?

I don't know who did it either.

Did that word appear after I had 500 posts or something?

[Ynot]

LMAO.......Bet it is supposed to be "gold' star memeber lmfao

[Warren]

tazz said:

I don't know what the "God" is under my name. I didn't put it there. Lance, can you remove it please?

I don't know who did it either.

Did that word appear after I had 500 posts or something?

Looking into it. It is automatic after 500 posts. I am checking with ProBoards for an answer. I have temporarily reduced your post total by 100 to 405 and it disappeared.

[Warren]

Congratulations Tazz on your 500 posts. You are now the only Executive Senior Member on the board.

PS, I fixed your problem.

[osiferred]

Jeez, I thought Id be the first one there.....congrats Tazz.

[Tazz]

I don't mind necessarily having 500 posts, I just don't wanna be named "God". How about Fishbrain, fartface, bonehead...........anything but "God".

Okay....now I see it......"Executive". mmmmmm, I can live with that!

Thank you Lance!

[Tazz]

Now having the "executive" name makes me realize something. I have a few more than 500 posts. That tells me that I have spent way too much time on this puter when I should be cleaning up around here or reading a good book. Perhaps I should be in pursuit of being "spirit filled". It is definitely a "one of a kind" feeling and I truly miss that.

[knuckledragger]

Ya know, I'm probably gonna get a shit load of hate mail, but **** it. With this accident that happened this week with the little kids and the semi driver, I think all these preachers and people who say it was the "will of God," that innocent lives were taken, need a good slappin'. It wasn't the will of God. God had nothing to do with it in my opinion. It was the "will" of one man. If you must put God in the equation, then look at it like maybe this guy is being punished by God, by surviving.

[Tazz]

No hate mail from me Knuck. It is very distressing when we see this type of tragedy. As I said before, I don't know why this kind of stuff happens but it does and it happens for a reason. To be perfectly honest, it doesn't matter why. God allows certain things for certain reasons. That's when your faith steps in. I would bet my own life that each and every one of those children are in a better place than we are.

Lotsa people wonder whether or not there's a God and all that stuff. But when something like this happens, suddenly they want to blame God.

No hate mail from me Knuck.

[lizzy]

where is god in times of suffering.


It’s been a heart-wrenching few days in Florida The images of the children in Lake BUltle left all of us, speechless.Much like the hurricanes this last year left american speechless.The hurricanes left millions more homeless. For those of us who don’t live in the south or in the path of the devastation, our knowledge of the reality may have limits, but our sympathy cannot. The most popular question in the midst of this disaster, or after the tsunami, or following acts of terror is “Where is God in all of this?”

Others have reflected and written on that question. Millions have forwarded emails about it. Nothing I could say would be original or profound. No words that could come from my keyboard can do justice to God’s enduring presence through all that has transpired. No email I send will give someone back their lives or loved ones. We just cling to God and reflect, as life almost stands still. But we can cling to God in both the storm and the calm.

We look for God in the drops of rain, but miss Him in the tear drops of those in need.
We look for God in the overflowing rivers, but miss Him in the rivers of loving support.
We look for God in the families torn apart, but we forget that we are part of His family. We wonder how love can exist in such pain. It’s the same human response in all of us, and it isn’t wrong…it’s just a little short-sighted sometimes.

People often make the mistake of thinking that a God who allows suffering must not, by definition, be a loving God. There are several problems, though, with that notion.

First, to say that love and suffering cannot coexist empties the cross of its meaning. No one can look at the cross of Jesus Christ and claim that there was no suffering. Likewise, no one can look at the cross and claim there was no love. With love comes suffering: look at a delivery room. There is love in the midst of suffering, we just have to look a little closer sometimes to see it.

Second, to think that a God who allows suffering must not be loving is to misunderstand God on a foundational level. No parent ever wants to see their child suffer. No parent wants to ask their child to suffer. What God demonstrated about love on Good Friday shows us what true love is…a willingness to sacrifice ALL for the other, even to suffer. The pain in the sacrifice that Jesus endured can only be rivaled by the pain His Father knew in sacrificing His only Son. Parents understand this concept. Teens, (if you are called to be parents) one day you will, too. There is love in sacrifice, it’s just not comfortable.

Lastly, to think that “allowing” suffering means that God causes the suffering, or wishes it, is to misunderstand sin and mercy, life and death. Suffering is a result of sin, of an imperfect world, not the result of an imperfect God. Mankind would have been immune to bodily death and suffering if we had not known (and did not know) sin. It’s easier to abandon God in times of suffering if we claim that He abandoned us, first. Deep down, we know the truth.

It’s difficult to “trust” God when you feel like He has abandoned you. It becomes easier to trust God when we look at just how faithful He has always been to us. It gets harder to trust God when we look at our faithfulness toward Him. The truth is that we abandon God, each and every day, in little and big ways. During tragedies and through suffering, we are far wiser to become more abandoned TO God, than to abandon Him outright.

Good Friday didn’t seem too good at the time. There wasn’t much to bring a smile. Hearts were heavy. Tears shed. Life lost. The future was dim. Jesus quoted these words from today’s Scripture passage, “why have you forsaken me, God?” Bystanders and onlookers unfamiliar with the Scriptures mistakenly thought that Jesus, too, was feeling angry and abandoned. They thought even Jesus was wondering “where” God was in the midst of His suffering. Those closest to Jesus, though, who knew their God and their Scriptures, understood that Jesus was not showing His “doubt” or “anger” with God, Jesus was showing His love and faithfulness, and calling others to see it, as well.

When Jesus quoted these beginning words of Psalm 22, He was pointing to the entire Psalm. Take time to read it. You’ll notice that what He was drawing reference to was NOT a God who abandons His children. On the contrary, Jesus was using a time of suffering to point out that God is always faithful, that He loves and cares for those who cry out for Him, and that (in time), all the people will praise and worship God for His mercy and deliverance. If we don’t read the entire psalm, we can get trapped in today’s verse (the first verse) and miss the rest of the truth being revealed. Jesus saw the big picture in the midst of the pain. In the same way, don’t lose hope or get short-sighted in the midst of this present suffering; be like Jesus. See the opportunity to love, find the life in the midst of death.

Don’t let your compassion for others remain inactive. Pray. Give. Make it a point to serve in some way. Open your hearts, homes and wallets to those in need…that is abandonment to the God Who will never abandon you.


SALVATION GIVEN
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish? My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.” – Psalm 22:2-3



“Life Himself came down to be slain; Bread came down to suffer hunger; the Way came down to endure weariness on His journey; the Fountain came down to experience thirst. Do you, then, refuse to work and to suffer?” - St. Augustine
Peace to all of the families who are suffering right now. May the feel GOds loving arms around them .

[Tazz]

Thanks you Lizzy. You are much better with words than I. I have a tendency to "feel" things more I should and therefore, sometimes I cannot phrase certain things. Anyway, Bravo.

For the scripture I mentioned on ages in the "New Heaven and Earth", read Isaiah 65 V. 20. This scripture indicates that there will be no babies or old folks in heaven. That is also indicative that everyone will be the same age. Some people believe that all folks in heaven will be the same age as Jesus was at the time of his ressurection. (Somewhere around 32)

[lizzy]

Thanks for the kind words Taz, it is not I who is good with word, it is God who helps me to know things to say. Having suffered the loss of a child, the pain is immense my heart goes out to any parent who outlives a child. Loss of any kind hurts the ones who remain in their earthly bodies. What we need to do is get to the point of knowing, that in order to not have this pain, you would have to give up all the pleasure your love ones gave you. I don't know about anyone else , but I wouldn't give up one second of the pleasure. Being a parent is the best gift god gives us , I was honored he chose me to raise a angel.
It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life.
May perpetual light shine upon those 5 new angels.

[knuckledragger]

Had to give ya a karma there Lizzy for the post's. Impressive. Sorry to read about the loss of a child. I know I'd be devastated. My daughter is EVERYTHING to me. Kinda hard to believe someone like me has a kid huh? lol. I know if somebody did something bad to her, they would indeed suffer MY wrath. And I don't give a damn about prison. If she got sick and died or death was due to an accident, well, I can't even describe how I'd feel. Maybe emptiness would be the only way I could describe it. One thing is certain though. I wouldn't blame God for it. Death is a part of life. I wouldn't turn my back on God at all. I might be devastated, but God is my strength.

[knuckledragger]

For some reason I rather like this poem. The Footprints poem is cool I think. Heres a link www.markhargrave.com/index_012.htm If anyone out there knows me, or thinks they know who I am, and calls me soft, feel free to meet me and we'll "discuss" it. lol