When tragedy, pain, or hardship occurs one may ask this question.  The theoretical and theological link will inevitably be made to God, who is the source of life.  Why did God allow for the possibility of guns, war, death, and pain?  Furthermore, why is there oppression, injustice, disparity, and poverty?  There is a devil, and sin is the result of His disobedience, and our subsequent disobedience.   Yet God has a plan that allows for both the good and bad to exist simultaneously.  Jesus gave the illustration of a garden where weeds were sown in with the good seed by an enemy of a landowner.  The land owners servants suggested starting over, but the landowner was prepared and told them to wait until the harvest and separate the two at the end.  While this parable may help explain that God allows evil and sin, the reality of how evil and sin are involved in tragedy and pain remains.  In this matter, God extends His grace and love, justice and mercy, and we may be drawn closer to God as a result.   Jesus did not try to sugar coat discipleship, He pointed out that "the road is wide that leads to destruction and the road is narrow that leads to life and there are few who find it. "  I have yet to have anyone who has not experienced pain or suffering, rejection, or some degree of loss or disappointment, or injustice.  The "storms" fall on all of us at one point or another.  Does this mean that God is the author of evil?  No.  It means that God allows for the existance of a dynamic universe where His Sovereignty allows for the consequential freedom of interdependant beings.  Our choices may not be affirming of the will of God, but they will never go beyond the scope of God's ultimate purposes and design.   For now that design includes cause and effect, choice and consequence, freedom and responsibility, faithfulness and disobedience, truth and error, blessing and curse.  This is not to put the universe into a dualism, or some sort of complementary oppositive philosophy of Eastern religion.  This is just to say that we live with tensions, there is pull in many directions. The fact is, God allows tragedy and pain because He has a plan that allows for it temporarily, with the ultimate work of His grace and truth prevailing.  This work of God is at hand in Jesus Christ and the community of those who believe and serve Christ for the sake of being a healing, reconciling, truthful, presence in a broken world.  Jesus identified with our brokeness by being broken, and then through His resurrection and healing power brings new life and healing to people who trust in Him and receive Him as Savior.   The Great Physician is alive and well, and is ready to bring life and wellness to all who turn to trust Him.   Tragedy and pain can be answered by the faith of believers, and by the caring actions of those who allow God to work through them to help others.  Compassion has indeed been born through this difficult tension, and ultimately God's children grow and God is glorified.

     -  Scott Arnold

   Many times when God calls us to wait for an answer to prayer it is because we must learn to fully rely upon Him. It's not that God does not understand, it is precisely because He understands us that our waiting is more than obedience, it is trust.  When we trust in the Lord we don't have to insist upon our own way, we can actively wait by being faithful and ready.  God teaches us more than patience, He teaches us humility and brings us close to Himself in the process.   What Peter said is right:  "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and in due time He shall lift you up."         -  Scott Arnold

   Jesus was not in a hurry.  His holy pace was different.   You might say He walked to the beat of the Holy Spirit and to that of His Father,  yet even so He was uniquely Himself.   His disciples did understand His actions until He explained things to them directly.   Jesus would take time to make decisions, He would find direction and refreshment from time alone with God the Father.  When a storm came he was even in the back of the boat asleep.  Why?  Jesus understood that the disciples needed to come to the end of themselves.  He waited until they came and asked Him for help.  Jesus strategically waited, withdrew from direct intervention until they understood their limitations.  Jesus taught me recently to allow church leaders to work out matters that would require them to trust less in themselves and more in Jesus Christ.   It is a difficult lesson, and sometimes we wait too long to admit we are in trouble and are facing spiritual forces greater than our resources alone can handle. -  Scott Arnold

    Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.    As difficult as this is,  the Lord indicated that by these acts of compassion believers heep coals upon the heads of those who mistreat them.   What does this mean?   I believe Jesus was referring to how goodness and unconditional love has a way of being heavy and uncomfortable upon the consciences of those to whom Christians show mercy, forgiveness, kindness and grace to.   The Lord helped his disciples understand that loving the unlovable is how God builds HIs kingdom.   In the times we live in the need for Christians to love those who persecute us is even greater.  In fact, there were more martyrs for the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the last fifty years than of all the time since Jesus died on the cross and rose again.    Along with this the gospel of Jesus Christ is making great inroads in parts of the world that were before hand unreached and unconverted.   The solution is not violence repeated causing more violence,  but mercy renewed causing a witness and openess to salvation.   -  Scott Arnold

The nature of Jesus was different from others in that He was one with God the Heavenly Father.   He came to accomplish what no other relligion could accomplish through works, rituals, prayers, or sacrifices.   Jesus lived to show us the nature of God, as well as live in a way that would lead us into living the way that God desires for us.   But more importantly,  only Jesus could defeat sin and death on the cross,  and when we believe in Him the way is opened to a right and saving relationship with God the Father.   When a person believes in their heart, and professes iwth their tongue, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior,  then it is that God sends the gift of His grace and the personality of the Holy Spirit to bring new life born of God.    In Christ a person is a new creation.   In Christ a person is promised eternal life.   Without Christ Jesus in one's life there is no assurance of salvation.    All the religions of the world emphasize following the proper ritual or works that will lead to truth and righteousness. The difference of being a Christian is that the believer is welcomed into a relationship with God,  based upon a Savior who takes away our sins, and leads us into a right and vibrant personal relationship with God.   Other religions of the world are speculative,  the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ was backed up with the evidence of Christ's life and miracles,  His promises that came true,  the sacrifice of God's love on the cross,  and the evidence of God's victory through the resurrection.  

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