Questions on Pain and Suffering

I recently had these two questions asked of me from a friend of mine that has come to know Christ during this past year. I feel these two questions are pretty popular questions so I figured I would share them with ya'll (waino) to work out as well so we can be equipped whenever someone comes at us with these questions again.

1. Why are some people born in extreme poverty and sickness and others born healthy and prosperous?

2. Is death by warfare, sickness, or by accident predetermined by God?

*** To answer your first two questions I want to change our perspective on things such as poverty, warfare, and sickness. The popular question is how could a loving God allow such terrible things to happen to people here on earth, but when we ask this question we are thinking of God's love as something that is only concerned with our happiness and comfort here on earth. Here's the problem with that way of thinking. We were created to be in a certain relationship to God. Christ said it was difficult for the "rich" to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23) referring no doubt to "riches" in the ordinary sense but also this could cover "riches" in every sense - good fortune, health, popularity, and all the things one wants to have. All these things for some people can be dangerous because these things tend to make you feel independent of God, because if you have them you are happy already and content with your life. This could lead to feelings of not needing anything else let alone God. Consequently, because God loves us so much, He may have to take all these riches away from you because if He doesn't you will go on relying on them. This at first may seem cruel, but who wouldn't trade a short life span of pain here on earth for an eternity of happiness with our Lord who loves us enough to save us from ourselves no matter what the cost! So we must change our perspective of what true love really is and what it is not. Paul talks about this a little further in 1 Corinthians 5 when he describes a situation going on in the church there. Apparently, some member of the church in Corinth was having an affair with his step-mom (straight off the Jerry Springer show I know). Paul addresses this issue because apparently the other members of the church were not addressing the man caught up in this terrible affair. They were just letting this man get away with his double life without any acknowledgment whatsoever. Paul demands that the members of the church address the man and throw him out of the church which again seems like a very unloving and cruel thing to do but Paul explains why in verse 5. Paul says that they are to throw him out so that hopefully he will hit a point of extreme brokenness in his life and recognize his sin therefore leading to repentance and saving his life. So what is true love? Is it allowing someone to continue down a path of self destruction just as long as they are content and happy? Or is true love, a tough love that seeks to save a person's life no matter how uncomfortable the costs or pains may be?

I like an illustration used by CS Lewis on this topic. He says, "If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad. Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable."

A quick opinion on warfare.... I often wonder how many young men out on a battlefield with their lives on the line have searched out and found their Creator because of their heightened awareness of death? Personally, I have to think that war can sometimes lead a person closer to God than a normal content everyday lifestyle but that might be just me.

-TEvans

Make Sure You Got A Ticket To The Show

Everybody wants to go to the show right? You know the show; the best act in town, the act that nobody wants to miss for fear that they will miss out on the coolest event ever and have to listen to everybody talk about how unbelievable it was? The show! You have to have a ticket to get in, you can't just show up and expect to get in those gates, there are only a certain amount of seats set-up and they are only for the people who received a ticket. You don't want to miss out do you?

Petey Pete (Simon Peter) our favorite denying disciple lays it down for believers in his 2nd epistle. He lists eight (some say seven because they count faith as already attained) things people need to make sure their lives aren't unfruitful and by doing this we will know that we have a ticket to "the show".

2 Peter 1:5-8 "... add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perserverance, to perserverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:10 " Therefore brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble."

Man; I want to make my election sure, I don't want to have to ever doubt whether I'm going to make it or not. I was talking with Brian Manfred recently and we talked about the idea that if our lives ended today would we be going to heaven or hell? We should know how to answer that question, God wants us to know whether or not we have a ticket to the show. We can't let the flesh and enemy fill us with doubt, if we do feel doubt remember the gospel and this epistle from Peter. Peter tells us plain and simple how we can make our election a certainty, go to your bible and read the scripture (seven things to add to your faith). Election is we choose Jesus and become God's elect to live in eternity in heaven. If we are certain that there is a seat waiting in the theatre with our name on it, a ticket to the show, people will see that and want to know what we have. That is producing fruit, we should be living and breathing this stuff. Let's make sure we make our election a certainty and receive the ticket of eternity.

Take Heed in Your Ministry

Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 to "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, an in purity". Paul list ways in which we are to be examples to those around us. We as ministers of the faith (if you share the gospel then you are ministering whether you like the title or not) are to be examples in our speech, in righteous living, in self-sacrificing service to others, in our relationships, in our commitment to Christ, and through a pure and genuine character. Good advice that I just recently went over so I wanted to share with everyone. I'm going to marinate on this verse for a while before I attempt to unpack it so enjoy my unusual briefness.

-TEvans

Who Is Jesus To You

Luke 9:18 "...Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Luke 9:20 "...But who do you say that I am?"

Jesus was asking the disciples these questions and I thought it might be relevant for all of us to ask ourselves who we say that Jesus was and is. If we say He is only one thing (example- Savior) I think we are missing the point. It might be more poignant to ask who He isn't.

Intro For Jesus The Christ

This is comedian Steve Harvey (Kings of Comedy). I don't know where he is spiritually but I felt the Holy Spirit move in me when he closes this thing out, it felt real to me. Please post comments on what you think about the video.

Little Monday bread

Not much to say tonight but I defiantly feel God pulling me to write some thoughts down. Now just like all of you I have some great days spiritually and some not so great days. My great days are days that consist of...

Prayer- starting my day off with it and praising him through out the day
Study-reading God's word or listening to it
Fellowship -talking with fellow believers on and off the team
Serving- it can be the smallest thing to the biggest thing but doing so with a pure heart! genuine service.

Now my bad days or spiritually numb days shall I say...

Laziness- over sleeping, and procrastinating with my study habits
Media- TV, music, magazines, internet.
Money- enough said
Lust- looking around the stadium, fiance, and conversing about women with fellow teammates

I'm sure I could think of more on both sides of the list but here is my point and I'm heading right for God's word...

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."- Romans 7:25 KJV

My flesh is holding on and fighting for things of this world daily. So why am I feeding it? You will only get out of yourself what you put in.

I know that it's time for me to increase my spiritual intake and crank this thing up a notch. Somebody else feeling this way? Let's go! No more excuses.

Arm yourselves before you wreck yourselves

Studs, sorry for the tardy delivery of this message. Tonight I wanted to talk about something that I feel is very important. i think i may have written about this before but if that's the case then lets recap. Memorization is my focus tonight.

This past offseason I began committing myself to verse memorization, not whole-heartedly as I wished I would have, but at least a start. The past few weeks I have gotten back into that good habit with "the knife". We started with 1Thess 2:4 if anyone wants in. Heres what I have to say about that though. You all know that we are taught to be armored with the word of God right...well...how's that going? Ask yourself that question and be honest. I know most of the stories and parables but how about all the times when I cant exactly remember a verse that would go perfectly with a problem someone is having.... Or I'm having. So, lets get crack-a-lackin on that and start really arming ourselves. Parents, are you doing this with your children if they're old enough? I used to think before I was saved that parents were forcing God and His word on their kids. Well, thinking back I was right, but for good reason. When kids are young, parents and teachers teach them the alphabet don't they? Man, what a buncha junk that out parents forced the abc's on us. Pretty glad I had that forced on me I think. That's pretty important.... But what about our eternal salvation. That sounds a lot more important to me. So why wait to share the good news with your youngins....arm their hearts from an early age.

Our chaplain just gave me an index card book for my memory verse action. He told me to write the verse on one side and the address on the other. As I learn them I can write them in and and every now and then scroll through so as not to forget.

Just some food for thought that i think might help with our shields...

-waino

Good Stewards of the Truth

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

What gifts have you been given? What book, sermon, podcast, conversation, fellowship, or bible scripture have you heard or read lately (those are blessings too)? What testimony do you have over the past year of your life, how is God moving in your life? Please help me out here.

We need to share these things with others so others (being good stewards) can be blessed by our experiences which will allow them to grow closer and know God is more real. We can't be silent, we can't just chalk up coincidence to the energy of the earth, it is God so give him the credit and brag about His awesome power.

How great is our God? Sing with me!

From a Chain Email (might be familiar to some)

Who is Jesus? HE IS JESUS
WHO IS HE? - IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE. IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION; IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN; IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD; IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS, IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINN ING AND THE END; IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE;
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM;
SO. WHO IS HE? HE IS JESUS!
JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM;
HE IS WORTHY. IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING!

The Greatest Man in History Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him.. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us! Don’t ignore his calling on your life. For He said,'If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father (Matthew 10:33).

PAO

Just want to remind you all about PAO conference this December 1-4th. You can sign up at WWW.PAO.ORG

I finally took that step tonight and I'm excited about it. It will be great to lay that foundation down for Courtney and I to start off our marriage on the right foot. Good work Waino for being an ambassador for it!

Desiring God

So I have come across this quote from John the Pied Piper that has messed me up a little. The following quote forced me to search within myself in order to find out just how much I desire to be with Jesus Christ. Read the following quote (some probably have read this before) and tell me if this doesn't mess with you a little as well.....

“The critical question for our generation-and for every generation-is this: if you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?” - John Piper

Now obviously I know what the correct response to this question but do I truly feel that way? I know all the right words to say here but that's not the point of the question. Also, some may be quick to answer that the things mentioned above are not possible without Christ but again that is missing the point of the question. The question raised is hypothetical and is meant to be used for self-evaluation rather than theological answering. Do you desire Christ or just what Christ has to offer? Do you love Christ more... or His salvation? Lets not lie to ourselves here... the heaven that Piper describes here without Christ sounds like an awesome place that I would like to experience. This leads me to question myself a little about whether or not I love Christ more than what He has to offer. That's a pretty convicting feeling to say the least and that's why this quote messed me up enough to do some serious soul searching.

Some other questions that I feel this question raises are.....

Are you serving Christ or desiring to be served by Him? Are you attempting to use Him or letting Christ use you? Did I desire to come to Christ so He could make me happy? As I have matured in my faith, I have come to know and understand that Jesus Christ is more concerned with my joy and holiness than He is my happiness. I know I am called to serve Him in obedience no matter how difficult the mission He lays before me may be. I am here to be used by God for His glory and that in no way guarantees me the easiest or happiest lifestyle that I desire. Ok, so I don't want to get to far away from this quote that shook me up so I will end this here but please let me know what you guys think about the questions raised here or any other thoughts you may have because I have been meditating on this pretty hard here lately.

Love you guys,

Terry

Superstition... You can have it!

Do any of y'all have little superstitious things you have to do all the time because they're lucky. I used to. It started in high school and carried on into the minors. The night before I pitched I had to eat pizza. Papa Johns if I wanted an extra good start. I had to sleep in the same shirt the night before I pitched... every time. If I forgot to wear it then I was up the creek. The day of my start was filled with superstition. I couldn't wear blue, including blue jeans, and had to wear my lucky boxers. If someone said "Hey, you're having a great year", or "you're gunna throw a no-hitter" then immediately I thought they had jinxed me. A few years ago I decided that all those little superstitions were tremendously holding me back. I realized that by putting my faith in all those goofy things I wasn't putting my complete faith in God. And, not just that. All the sudden I realized I might be a talented pitcher without wearing the same shirt and boxers and eating pizza. You know what I've figured out...by putting your faith and trust in God you are freed up to live a confident and fearless lifestyle. We know that God has great things planned for us because He tells us....

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


-waino

Ravi

Flashlight's In a Room With Roaches

Have you ever flipped on a light in a dark room and seen the way cockroaches scatter back into the dark, they move pretty fast, ever wonder what their doing in the dark when nobody can see? Must be something terrible because they sure don't hang around for questioning.

Have you ever noticed how people hate, I mean hate to be shown up by someone living the right way when they are living in sin? They berate the guy doing right just to cover their sin and make themselves feel like less of a "jockstrap". Pretty awful when you think about all the dynamics that play in that situation. However. I must admit I've done it and I'm not proud. Now that I know the truth I undertstand why I acted the way I did. I was blind!
John 9:25 "...that though I was blind now I see."

God has explained it in scripture here it is in Paul's letter to Ephesus

Ephesians 5:8-14 "For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light."

Please take your time and read that closely, what an amazing explaination, how true is this verse? How great is our God? I'm amazed just to know Him!

Service Time

"In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be the weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7 NLT

Summary from bible of that text- If a man is not considerate and respectful of his wife, his prayers will not be heard, because a living relationship with God depends on right relationships with others.

Umm that just rips me open right there. You guys think God is listening to your prayers and requests after you've been lusting all day at the office? Evaluate your relationship with your wife and see if your treating her with the respect and love God requires? Cutting out the sarcasm? Being honest? Washing her feet and doing things for her when your not asked? How about making Sunday after church her day not yours to watch football!? Whooooo that's tuff right there!

I'm not married yet guys but I know that if I'm obedient first to God... then my marriage will thrive. That's just a fact. Let's step up our game men and love us some QT with our ladies. Serve em'!!!

PS. The kid is back and I'm taking names on here. Terry aka C.S. Lewis has been piggy backin the whole group. I gotta learn his copy and paste program ;)