I don't know Fred,
I really don'tthink too much about that kind of stuff. I think that calamities are opportunities for Christians to reach out.I think about Katrina ...many Christians and non Christians rushed down there with chain saws, generators food and water. I know we are called "To be a blessing."
Trials can either make us or break us.
They can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks
I remember the Words of Caleb and Joshua ."Yes , there are giants in the land but our God is able."
Remember the words of the 3 Hebrew teenagers as they were about to be led into a fiery furnace.
"Though he deliver us or not we will not bow down to this idol."
Remeber Christ 's words during his horrific trial facing the shame and the cross."Not my willbut thy will be done."
Fred we are also comforted through this promice. 1 Cor. 10: 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
11I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all. 12For man also does not know his time. Just like fishes that are being taken in an evil net, and like birds that are being taken in a trap, so the sons of men themselves are being ensnared at a calamitous time, when it falls upon them suddenly.
I've always thought in a world of free choice that people make their choice (oft times foolishly) and then pay the consequences. If you move to New Orleans knowing the leveees are not built high or strong enough for potential hurricanes, you're just gambling with your life. Sometimes bad choices (like that) catch up to you. It's not always your specific individual choice but often the poor choice of somebody else, like spending federal levee money on other things, not doing proper maintenance on bridges, using inferior materials on a bridge, etc. Life is full of chances, whether you take them knowingly or unknowingly.
__________________
Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
__________________
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
Genesis 3 3-17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Bad things come about because of sin. Our tribulations are to humble us before God, to seek his forgivness and guidance.
__________________
For ever running, but losing the race. If it were not for grace.
"why do bad things happen to good people" You have to understand that we don't have the mind of God... sometimes we simply don't know why. That's OK, even Jesus asked "why"... but the answer to this question is always for the greater glory of God... look at a crucifix, this is the ultimate bad done to the ultimate good,,, but why did God allow this? For our salvation... the next time something is not going your way, offer this suffering to God and he will unite it with the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ... and this will be an ultimate good for us all in this journey we call life. God bless!!
__________________
"A single shot rifle and a one eyed dog"
1 Thessalonians 5:18. Paul writes, "In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul simply says very directly, "In everything give thanks." No exceptions, no excuses, nothing is outside those parameters, in everything give thanks. That little phrase enpante in the Greek means in connection with everything that occurs...in connection with everything in life give thanks no matter what it might be, with obvious exceptions of personal sin. He is saying no matter what happens to you in life, be thankful. No matter lot, no matter what circumstance, no matter what struggle, vicissitude, trial, testing, be thankful, give thanks. No matter what the situation we are to find reason to thank God. This is not some nebulous thanks fired off into space, it is a thanks given directly to God.
By the way, we should remind ourselves that thanksgiving is the essence of Christian living
and attitude. And being unthankful is the very essence of the unregenerate heart. The
Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 1 identifies the ungodly with some very direct words. In
verse 21 he says, "They knew God," that is through conscience and creation God was
visibly manifest to them, and experientially manifest to them, but even though they knew
God through creation and conscience, he says, "They did not honor Him as God or give
thanks." There is the indictment on unregenerate man. There is the indictment on the
non"‘Christian. He refuses to do what is basic and that is to thank God for everything.
__________________
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
why do bad things happen
