SO YOU THINK YOU ARE SO BAD ... just somethin' stuck in my craw

As I was writing the previous post earlier today, I started wondering why some people think they have to find some excuse as to why God won't, or can't, love them. In my years in ministry, occasionally someone would tell me that, "God can't love / forgive me because ... blah ... blah ... blah".

On one of the blogs I frequent, the topic of conversation over the past few weeks, off and on, has been the existence of God. People seem to think that when bad things happen to good people, God should intervene and make everything alright. So, they think, that when bad things do happen to good people, God is either not there, or doesn't love His children enough to make things right.

What a "me, me, me" mentality! If God lets His people suffer, then He must not care for them. Then the decision is made that, "If God is mean and acts like that, He is mean, and I don't want anything to do with Him."

Just for a minute, let's consider what would happen if God decided not to let suffering happen to us. First, nobody would die. Life would go on, and on, and on ... until every single person, from Adam and his lovely wife Eve, would be roaming around the earth. Nice, huh? Think of all we learn about life through our trials and tribulations. Face it, take that away, and we take a lot of who we are away.

This reason for not believing in God makes no sense. We (mankind) made the decision at Creation to "go our own way". With that decision came a great responsibility and burden. God watches out for us, and shares out burdens, but they are ours to bear to conclusion.

I commented on one of these blogs that our lack of belief in God doesn't make Him cease to exist. He doesn't require our acceptance and belief in order to be real. One of my favorite quotes is explained below:

"Bidden or not bidden, God is present."

Carl Jung, the eminent psychologist, had this quote carved over the front door of his Zurich home, as well as on his tombstone. It is an English translation of the Latin "Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit", a quotation he came across when studying Erasmus. The words are said to originate from the reply given by Delphic Oracle to the Spartans when they were planning a war against Athens: "Yes, the Gods will be present, but in what form and to what purpose?"(http://www.irishongrand.com/detail/179)


We live in this corrupt, dirty, violent world and, face it, it's not easy. We need to know the obstacles and dangers that get in our way, and how to avoid them. Living here, on this planet, in these times, takes special skills that we can only learn through trial and error or through the experiences of others. God gives us the tools we need to live; it is up to us to use them.

So give God the benefit of your doubt.  Realize that He knows what is best for us. Know that He is with you always, live your life as He leads, and where you are is where you are supposed to be.

Waiting On God's Call?

When does God call us into ministry?

After leaving the workforce over 8 months ago, I have been asking myself, "When will God call me again?" I didn't realize how important it would be for me to have a constant goal / objective / project in the works. For most of my life I had more than I could accomplish. Now I find it difficult to find one or two that are both meaningful and interesting.

Then I realized that God never calls you OUT of the ministry. As His children, He will use us, in many varying capacities, until we meet with Him face-to-face. And just like the jobs available in the workplace, the job might be simple, private, with no public recognition at all, and the impact we may never know. And then at other times it might be highly visible, stimulating, and effect many, many people. We must decide that we will do what He wants, and go where He leads, and be the best at the task at hand.

There might well be times when we are not doing what we want to do, but rest assured that when we follow God, we will always be doing exactly what He wants us to do.

Isn't that wonderful !

Be Careful What You Pray For

A few years ago Connie and I were discussing our future, and how we would be able to retire. We have changed jobs so often over the past 20 years that we didn't have much retirement to count on. Connie would retire in about 6 years, and I would follow 5 years later. Or at least we thought.

We prayed about it, and turned it over to God. Little did we know that He would answer our prayer soon after, and not in a way we had imagined.

A few short months afterward, Connie had a massive stroke, spent seven days in Intensive Care and an additional 23 days in Rehab. Due to the associated problems, she is on permanent disability, and is receiving disability pay. Ding. Ding. Connie is not working and receiving pay ... a type of "retirement" in a sense.


Fast forward one and one-half years. My health has gotten to the point where I am no longer able to work. I too am placed on permanent disability, and receive disability pay. And, ding, ding. I am not working and getting paid ... again a type of "retirement", not asked for, but provided.


God most certainly answered our prayers, but not in the way we would like; but they were answered. When we pray, we must be willing to have our prayers answered in any way that God sees fit. He knows our lives, and He knows what is best for us. How He chooses to get us through life is His. I feel it is most important to pray for His guidance, and our acceptance of where that leads. 


So pray, not for your goal in mind, but for His guidance and leading to wherever we need to be. That is true "trusting and obeying"!


The greatest tour guide in the world: just hop on the bus, and he'll take us where we need to be.