The Sunrise

Being a teenager is tough.

Over the last couple of months my husband and I have been reminded of all of the pressures that bombard teenagers as we have watched our oldest daughter struggle through some rough times. 

This past week she simply could not face the pressure.  And we had to face the fact that we could not take care of the problems without help.  Immediately doors were opened for a referral, an assessment, and therapy one day after another.  After two months of trying to get in to see someone who could help along with lots of prayer from us and many others, this sudden progress seemed miraculous.

It had been a long week on Friday as we drove an hour away for her final appointment of the week.  No, scratch that.  It had been a long couple of months.  Usually when I drive her somewhere I play her favorite band, McFly, on my iPod.  However, on this morning I chose Bruce Springsteen.  He sang to us as we quietly enjoyed the drive and the music.

As we headed east, the light from the sun started to filter into the sky.  Living in “fly over” country, there were several plane trails streaking in different directions like long, thin white clouds in the sky over a flat landscape that stretched on for miles and miles. 

The first flash of sunlight was brilliant.  As we continued to move eastward and the time continue to tick by, the sun rose a little further.  “Isn’t it beautiful?!”  Honestly, it nearly took my breath away. 

We both watched in awe as a bright orange-yellow globe rose until it was halfway up, peeking at us over the horizon.  “I’ve got to pull over and take a picture!”

A little further in front of us, a dirt road stretched from north to south.  I put on my left blinker and waited on a car to go past before turning off the highway onto the road.  As I was doing so, I was thinking, Why didn’t I just turn right?  I would not have had to wait on traffic and the sun would’ve been right outside my own window.  Tana also noticed and verbalized this thought, “Why didn’t you just pull off to the right?”  I laughed.  “I don’t know!”

We rolled down the window and I snapped a couple of pictures while leaning over my daughter.  Then I turned us around and pulled back out on the highway to head to our destination.

Once we arrived, the doctor called Tana back and I decided to take a look at my new photos.  When I opened the picture, I was awestruck.  That was NOT there when I took this picture!  I waited for Tana to return to me feeling much more peaceful than I had when we walked in the door.

A while later as we prepared to leave, I handed her my phone.  “Look at the picture, Tana, and tell me what you see that wasn’t there when this picture was taken.”

“There’s a cross!” she exclaimed.  “Yes,” I answered.  As a smile lit up her face, I thought God wants us to know that He is here.  He’s with us.  He cares.  And we will get through this with His help.

It’s a sign.  Not just figuratively, but literally.  When I blew it up larger I could tell that it was a road sign that was turned at just the right angle that it looked like a cross in the shadow of the picture.

If I had turned onto a different road, no cross.

If I had turned right, no cross.

If the time of day had been a little earlier or later, no cross.

If the sign had been turned at a little different angle, no cross.

What a strange place for that type of sign.  Have people wondered for years why that sign was on that road out in the middle of nowhere?  Was it put there all those years ago just for this one day…just for this one picture?

I believe in the providence of God.  Everything is going to be okay.

Rob Bell and Universalism

I want to start out by saying that I have learned much from Rob Bell's teaching.  He is engaging and insightful.  The man has been a leader in taking the art of preaching to a new level...one that teaches and also delights the listener.  

This is even more cause for concern over his theological views.

The Bible supports this stance when James says (3:1-2),  "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."

Nobody is perfect.  There are times that we get things wrong.  There are things in the Bible that are hard to understand and vague.  Many things are subject to interpretation.  Everybody has an opinion.

However, this is not one of those things.

Jesus taught us that hell is real.  It's a place of eternal torment.  Once you are there, there is no leaving.  We get one shot at life and then we are judged.  If we have chosen a life without God, He loves us enough to grant us what we desire...an eternity without him. 

This is not my teaching.  This is Jesus' teaching.  I have many questions about hell that may never be answered.  I actually hope that most of these answers are never revealed to me.  However, God has revealed the facts above to us all through the Bible.

What I'm sharing here is not special insight that God revealed specifically to me.  It is not vague.  It is not something we have to interpret.  Jesus makes this quite clear.

However, it is not currently politically correct.  This view is not culturally acceptable.  People simply don't want to hear the truth.

"That is not fair!  God would not do something that is not fair!"  Correct.  God is just.  However, we are all sinners so "fairness" would indicate to me that we should ALL pay the price for our sin.  So if we are going to use this view, shouldn't we all go to hell?

"But God is loving!  A loving God would not send people to a place of torment for eternity!"  God is loving.  He is so loving, in fact, that He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins so that we would not have to pay this price.  What a beautiful gift from a loving God!  All we have to do is accept this precious gift through faith in Jesus.

1Timothy 2 tells us that God "wants us all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."  He must mourn when we choose to deny Him.  How would you feel if you sacrificed to give your child a gift, and he/she took it and just threw it in the trash?  He loves us all.  He desires that we all choose Him.  And He gives us the free will to decide for ourselves.

(Although I do not want to start a discussion of election here, I will say that I am convinced that God also "chooses" people He will save.  Since the Bible indicates that he wants all people to be saved, the defining factor seems to be faith.  Does faith come through our free will or through God's grace?  I think both.  But we can discuss this at a later time.)

Honestly, as I've listened to Bell's podcasts and also as I read his book, "Velvet Elvis", red flags were raised in my mind.  And I have conveniently dismissed them.  Darn it.  I like the guy.  I like how he teaches!  I love that he loves God and has made it his life's mission to bring more followers to Christ!  I did not want to find fault with him!  Christians get enough criticism without other Christian's pointing fingers at them!

However, Bell should be rebuked for this misleading theology.  In fact, other Christians have a responsibility to call him out...especially on such a foundational issue.

The recent press about his new book, "Love Wins", was not my first inclination that something was wrong, it was the tipping point.  I was finally pushed over the edge...just by the video promo.  Yes, I'll read the book when it comes out. 

In fact, I listen to and read many different teachers that have different points of view.  Even atheists.  I think it is important that Christians hear different perspectives and work to improve their ability to discern with the help of the Holy Spirit.  If we only listen to one side of a story, we never really consider the others sides after all.

So, even after the hubbub started last week, I found myself listening to one of Rob's podcasts on my way to an appointment out of town.  The podcast was on Matthew 25. 

Take a listen.

First of all, Bell misses the point when discussing this parable.  Every commentary I've ever read on this scripture agrees that this story is about those who will not be "ready" when Jesus comes for them.  Bell seems to think being "ready" means something different than I do.  His emphasis is on works while mine would be faith (which, by the way, leads to works).

But he actually goes on to say that grace is for us all. "That's why religion can be so destructive. That's why being a part of a faith system can be so lethal. Because it can ever so subtly teach you, 'Well, if I do the right thing, you know if...I'm moral. I'm righteous. I believe in Jesus.' No. It's grace. It's grace."

What?  Bell equates moralism, self-righteousness, and belief in Jesus?

I agree, being moral doesn't give us grace.
I agree, being righteous does not give us grace. (Well, it would if we could, but we can't, so it won't.)
But, I do NOT agree with the last statement.  Believing in Jesus DOES give us grace.  We are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ!

Those who do not believe do not receive this free gift.  

Rob Bell is preaching universalism.

How dangerous is this?  So what if he's leading listeners to believe that all people will go to heaven?  Why is this a big deal?  At this point, I'm not sure if Bell even believes there is such a thing as hell.  But the rub comes when one considers that Bell is choosing to teach doctrine that is in direct opposition to the teaching of Jesus.  

If Bell has this wrong, what else does he have wrong?  What exactly is Jesus' message to us through His teaching?  Can we rely on a teacher who lacks discernment about a matter that is directly addressed by Jesus to have discernment over more controversial matters?

I believe that God reveals himself to people in His time and in His way.  Maybe God closed Bell's eyes to this truth for a reason, and He will open them now.  I pray that this is the case.  We need engaging preachers to fight to bring more people to the truth of the Bible...

...to the TRUTH of the Bible.

We need teachers who are willing and able to share the truth.  As Bell would ask, "Are you with me?"

Comforts of Home

It's official...tomorrow is my kids' third snow day in a row.  Well, it's actually not the snow that's the problem, it's the temperature.  Wind chills in Kansas are currently dipping down to about -25 degrees.  It's insane.

The kids, however, are giddy!

It's always exciting to have unexpected days off.   They've already enjoyed two full days of lounging around the house in their PJs.

I, on the other hand, always work from home.  But, I've also enjoyed the company of the kids on these bitterly cold days.  There is something nostalgic about these lazy days with the kids that make them special.

This morning as I sat at the table with my laptop and fresh cup of coffee, I considered the fact that my kids were still tucked into their beds...all warm and cozy...sleeping in.  They're warm.  They're with me.  They're safe.

Not everyone is so lucky.

As I sat in my warm home drinking my hot cup of coffee, I tried to imagine spending the night outside with dirty clothes, a coat, and an old blanket or two to keep me warm.  I tried.  I failed.  I simply can't imagine it.

This line of thought led to the next:  What is my responsibility?

The answer is...I don't know.

What I do know is that I can think of lots of excuses for inaction.  There are shelters, right?  I donate to charities that help these people so I'm doing my share.  What could I do to help anyway...bring strangers to my home?!  I don't even know where to find these people!  Yes, lots of excuses.

And even when I start brainstorming things I could do, other issues enter my mind.  After all, there are millions of problems in this world and I only have so much time available in a day.  Starvation.  Lack of clean water.  Loneliness.  Homelessness.  War.  Abuse.  Neglect.  The list is endless, global, and overwhelming.  Pain and suffering are alive and well.

I honestly don't know where to begin.

This is why it's so important that I pay attention to what God is calling me to do.  God has blessed me with specific gifts that will allow me to fulfill a specific purpose in His plan.

To be quite honest, I have not yet figured out my purpose.  No matter.  God knows...and He'll lead me as long as I continue to pay attention.

This world is as close to hell as I ever plan to get.  Sadly, this world is as close to heaven as some will ever get.  All of the issues of pain and suffering I listed above take a back seat to this one fact.

So tomorrow in the warmth of my home with my kids lounging in their pajamas, fuzzy socks on my feet, and something tasty simmering in the crock pot, I will thank God for my blessings.

And I will feel guilty for my blessings. 

Lord, use me!  If not to bring comfort to others in this world, use me to bring Your children to You.  So they can be warm.  They can be with You.  And they can be safe.

In the comfort of Your house.

For eternity.

No Strings Attached

"Ma'am, can I help you out with this?"

"No...I can get it.  Thanks."

Why is this always uncomfortable to me?  As I was walking out to the car, I was pondering this.  It is just awkward to accept "no strings attached" gifts from others.  Dillons' policy says that they cannot accept even tips for helping.  There is absolutely no incentive for them to be helpful, but it's part of their job and they always dutifully ask.

And I always decline. On the few occasions that I have accepted, I felt guilty.

After all, I'm perfectly capable.  There are others who may need help...but not me.

Hmmm...

After loading up the groceries, I headed home.  On the way I found myself thinking, "Now if the kids have surprised me by cleaning the house while I've been gone, THAT would be a gift I could accept!"

Why is that?

Well, they owe me.

Wow...I sound like a great parent.  But you know what I mean. I do things for them all the time--make their meals, wash their laundry, help them with homework, etc.  It would've been a great surprise, but it most certainly would not have been a gift that I was uncomfortable to accept.

No worries...it didn't happen.

But now I was pondering both situations.  What was the difference?

It's simple.  I feel the need to earn my gifts.  With my own kids, I earned the (much wished for) surprise of a clean house but I didn't earn the favors of a grocery-toting kid.

I think the same is true of the free gift of grace we receive from God.

Many simply don't accept it, because they didn't earn it and they don't want to "owe" God.  It just can't be the truth. No other "gods" give away salvation without expecting something in return.

Jesus, however, paid the full-price for my salvation...and yours.  It's free.  Take it!

I need to focus on simply being grateful for this gift...humbly accepting and cherishing it.  Stop with the guilt!  My energies would be better spent helping others see the beauty of this free gift that they, too, can receive.

No strings attached.

American Idols

Worship [wur-ship] verb: to feel an adoring reverence or regard.

Idol [ahyd-l] noun:  any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.

The first warning by God toward the human desire to worship was written on the tablets brought down from Mount Sanai by Moses.  The very first commandment written with God's own "finger" is:

 ³ “You shall have no other gods before me.
 ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.  (Exodus 20:3-6)


We all have a desire to worship.  It's an instinct that was built-in to our design by our Creator.  What we worship, however, is a choice that we make with our free will.

Will I worship the Creator?  Or will I worship the created?

It seems like an obvious choice!  Who would struggle with this one?  I have no interest in making a golden calf and asking it for blessings!  That just seems ridiculous.  We look at the Israelites who waited impatiently at the bottom of the mountain for Moses to return and just shake our heads at their stupidity.  (Exodus 32) As if we are any better.

When I consider in my own life that things that I worship, I ask myself these questions.  After my physical needs are met:

1. To what do I give my time?
2. To what do I give my energy?
3. For what would I risk my health?
4. To what do I give my money?
5. What could I not live without?

Ask yourself these questions.  It may reveal your false gods to you.

Idols come in many forms with some being more obvious than others.  It's not likely that you have a little statue in your home that you worship, but you very likely have one in your heart.

How about...

Your home.  How important is that house you live in?  Is this where you extra money goes?  Do you spend your extra time decorating and cleaning?

Your bank account.  If your account was wiped out tomorrow, would you be suicidal?  Find yourself working long hours to make your bottom line grow?  Do your kids see you as much as your co-workers do?

Food.  When you need consolation, do you turn to food rather than God?  How about when you are celebrating?  Is extra money spent on buying soft drinks, expensive coffees, and eating out?

Your children.  Are you teaching your kids that they are more important than anything else...including God.  Do you make sacrifices to assure that all their wants are met?  Is your time spent running from one kid activity to another?  Do they feel that the world revolves around them?

Technology.  Drugs.  Your looks, favorite NFL/collegiate/NBA/NHL...etc team, spouse (or boyfriend/girlfriend), pets, bands, college degrees...

The list goes on and on.

In reality, this is one of the biggest issues that we, as Christians, face in our daily lives.  I wish the issue was as simple as avoiding little statues. 

Just a bunch of sheep...

 
The first time I thought of people as "sheep" was in Mr. Ison's Composition II class my first year at Fort Hays State University.  We read the short story A&P by John Updike.  I really liked that story and have read it several times since that discussion one day in the Spring of 1992.

Sheep.  Yes, I think that's a good analogy.  At Answers.com and Wikipedia.org I found characteristics of these animals and narrowed them into 7 broad statements.  Sheep are:

1. social.  They live in herds and are inclined to follow a leader.  When separated from the flock, they suffer stress.
2. prey animals. They are vulnerable and defenseless.  Even when not killed by a predator attack, they may die of their injuries or just from panic.
3. jealous and competitive.  There is a pecking order.
4. food-oriented but must be led to good sources of food and water.
5. extremely unintelligent with a herd mentality.  They are easily panicked.
6. creatures of habit.
7. stubborn and often go astray, needing patient and reliable shepherds.

Consider the vast intelligence and power of our God.  As the Creator of all things, how does our intelligence as humans (His creation!) compare to His intelligence?  What is a good analogy?  Man:X as God:man - man is to "X" as God is to man.  What is X?  A chimpanzee?  A gnat?  How about a sheep?

When scientific "discoveries" are made the offer evidence that contradicts the Bible, it always amuses me.  For example, I was reading about the Big Bang Theory just last night.  That theory has evolved over the last 25 years so that it barely resembles it's own previous definition.  Yet scientists in every year along the way have been fully convinced that this theory was/is absolutely the truth.  It will continue to change and they will continue to have absolute and firm faith in their flawed knowledge.  And they proclaim their faith with such arrogance!  It is laughable.

What makes this dangerous is that many of us sheep listen to them proclaim this absolute and firm faith and follow them.  It's interesting that the one sheep that other sheep follow is not the smartest, most reliable, or even most fit--it is simply the first one who moves.  With scientists looking for answers to questions only God can answer, they are often the first ones to move.

I have said this before and I continue to believe it:  I am not afraid of science.  The laws that govern our world were created by God.  Science only supports the Bible.  It is man's flawed theories of science that contradict the truth.

But there are other sources of wolves out there that attack the sheep...false religions, temptation of sin, and a herd mentality (our current culture) that prefers to worship the created rather than the Creator.
 
In a quick search, I found that sheep are mentioned 200 times in the Bible.  Many of those are direct comparisons to humans.  Shepherds are mentioned 118 times.  Abraham, Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds.  This was NOT a glamorous job!  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  It was a lowly position requiring reliability and patience.  Yet God chose these humble people to accomplish great things.

When Jesus was born God sent His angel, Gabrielle, to proclaim the birth of our Savior.  Where did Gabrielle go?  One would think that this announcement would come to someone important and well-known...say the king, or the Jewish leaders (Pharisees), or at least the socially and culturally influential.

No.  Gabrielle came to the humble, socially inept, and culturally unimportant shepherds.  These people were not even named in scripture.  After getting past the fear that gripped them when their peaceful evening in the field was interrupted by an angel's voice, they went to see the Baby for themselves.  They shared the whole story with Mary and Joseph then left that stable with their lives forever changed...glorifying and praising God.  Luke tells us that "Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."  (Luke 2:19)  I love this verse.  Mary is a new mom!  What a beautiful beginning to Mary's new journey as a mother.

Psalms 23:1 tells that the Lord is our Shepherd (Old Testament).  John 10:11 tell us the Jesus is the Good Shepherd (New Testament).

There is, apparently, something about this analogy.

We, as sheep, are easily led astray.  We do not want to be separated from others, which is what happens when we live counter-cultural lives.  It is so much easier just to go with the flow.  We are jealous and competitive, trying to raise ourselves up by pecking others down.  Compared to God, whether we like it or not, we are extremely unintelligent.  The problem is that many of us cannot grasp the fact that we simply do not know the things we do not know.  We are creatures of habit with routines, friends, and surroundings that provide us with a nice little comfort zone.

We do, however, have a Shepherd.  One that is reliable and patient.  In fact, He is so devoted to our care that He gave His life to provide us (the vulnerable and defenseless) with eternal protection.  Through the Holy Spirit, He leads us to the spiritual food and water that will sustain us and help us to grow strong in our faith.

With the Holy Spirit within us, then, God expects us to also go into the world and help shepherd his people...our fellow sheep.

When Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times between the time Jesus was taken into custody and dawn of the next morning, Peter could not fathom that he would do such a thing.  But he did.  This trusted friend of Jesus found himself being a scared, lost, vulnerable sheep.

After His resurrection, Jesus talked to Peter again about this incident.  Peter was devastated by his own failure.  Jesus asked him three questions giving him three opportunities to make up for his three denials.  The question:  Do you love me?  Three times Peter answered positively.  (John 21:15-17)  After each of the three questions and each of the three answers, Jesus gave him a command.

Feed my lambs.
Take care of my sheep.
Feed my sheep.

In Updike's story, Sammy chooses to leave the flock when he realizes that the herd's beliefs contradict his own.  He is warned that life will be harder without the security of the flock (the culture at that time).  Strangely enough, Queenie and the others that he is defending neither acknowledge his existence nor realize the sacrifice he made on their behalf.   And he goes out into the day knowing that life will be hard.

And it is.

Thank God we have a Shepherd.

Tough Issues: Why do bad things happen?

The problem of "Evil" confronts many Christians suddenly and in a very emotional way.  Often we have to address this issue with the loss or devastation of ourselves or someone we love.  This seems to often have a polarizing effect...either pulling one toward God or pushing one away from God.  I am, however, a firm believer that Christians who struggle with this issue will find their way back to the God who loves them. (Romans 8:38-39)

God created man and woman, giving them a beautiful garden, food, companionship with Him, and dominion over all things created.  It was perfect!  However, God also wanted to give them something else--free will.

It was important for God to give us free will.  He did not want his creation to love, worship, and obey him because that was the only thing they could do.  He was very capable of making us His puppets with no ability to reason or option to rebel.  But that was not His plan.  God wanted His people to have the ability to obey Him...or not.

With this in mind, the Garden of Eden had to contain an option to rebel.  Without an option to rebel, there could be no free will because every option would be God's will.  So, a tree was included in this paradise, just one tree (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) from which Adam and Eve were not to eat.

We were not the only creatures that God created and gave free will.  Angels were also given this opportunity to choose.  The only creatures that are mentioned in the Bible as being made in God's image, however, are men and women.  Just as we experience envy, it seems very likely that these other creatures with the ability to reason would feel the sting of this emotion on occasion.  This probably made it especially tempting to entice us to rebel against our maker.  And Satan, a fallen angel, did just that.

I am not particularly mad at Adam and Eve for doing something as stupid as eating the one fruit that God forbid them to eat.  It is my belief that I would have done the same.  In fact, those who would criticize the decisions of our first parents are suffering from what C.S. Lewis refers to as chronological snobbery.  After all, how many choices have I made in my life that are in direct violation of the commandments of God?  And I will also add that you can't blame only Eve.  Read the verses for yourself to see just where Adam was.  (Genesis 3:6)  That's right.  He was right there with her...not off gallivanting through the Garden as is often depicted when this act is recreated in artistic works.

We chose to rebel.  Just as God knew we would.  Yes, of course He knew we would.  He knows everything.

Could God have chosen to stop Adam and Eve from eating the fruit?  As I mentioned earlier, the tree was necessary to provide an option for us to exercise our free will.  Stopping Eve from taking that first bite would have done likewise.

So why didn't God just kill the serpent (Satan)?  Didn't Satan's interference unfairly affect Eve's ability to make a rational choice?

God will not (and cannot) contradict Himself.  As Paul tells Titus, God cannot lie.  (Titus 1:1-4)  Since the angels have free will, God would/could not interfere with Satan's plan.  Since we have free will, God would/could not interfere in Eve and Adam's decision.  If He had interfered in any of the evil events that happened at that time, He would have stripped his creations of free will.

So sin entered the world.  With consequences.  God had to banish them from the Garden.  You see, there was another tree there from which God had to save us.  This was the Tree of Life.  Eating from this tree would have made the consequences from the first sin eternal.  Adam and Eve would have lived forever in sin.  God showed them mercy by banishing them.

We all have choices to make.  We are given free will to make our own choices.  And we all have consequences (good and evil) from those choices.  We cannot forget that other people also have free will.  Just as Satan's free will affected Eve's free will, which affected Adam's free will resulting in consequences for all of us, the same cycle happens today.  The sins of others have consequences for them and for us.  Our sins have consequences for us and for others.

We ask things like, "Why did God allow Hitler to kill all those people?"  Hitler had free will.  The people that influenced Hitler had free will.  This doesn't mean that God ordained these things to happen.  St. Augustine's conclusion in his book On Order (386 a.d.) aligns with my view, "God judged it better to bring good out of evil than to suffer no evil at all."

The reality of the situation when facing this evil overwhelms us as beings with limited knowledge and power.  We forget when facing the evil on this earth that our time here is very short in the scheme of an eternity.

And next comes the question, "But what about disease?  Why does God allow cancer (or AIDS, M.S., Alzheimer's, etc.) to kill good people?"

I have two thoughts on this; first, we live in a cursed world that is deteriorating.  I have no idea where and how these diseases began, but they may be related to this deterioration...which was caused by our first sin.  Without sin, humans would've lived forever in companionship with God in a perfect world.  Our human lifespans were eternal!  Once sin entered the world, however, we started deteriorating...aging.  In early Bible recordings, the world was still "healthy" enough that humans lived very long lives.  In fact, theologians estimate that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark and he was about 600 when the rain came!  Was he a freak of nature?  No, that's just how it was.  Our lifespans got shorter and shorter until man's knowledge of science allowed us to develop medicines and easier lifestyles through technology.  But the world has continued to decay and we are suffering the consequences.

My second thought is that they may be related more directly to sin itself.  Some diseases may come from the sin of the sufferer or the sufferer's parents.  For example, some diseases can be linked to sinful habits--overeating, sloth, drunkenness, mistreating one's body with drugs and even cigarettes, promiscuity, etc.  But I have to wonder if diseases that seem to have no cause actually started through some mutation that occurred many, many years ago due to a single sinful act.  Let me make it clear, I am NOT blaming the victims of disease for their own suffering.  My thought is simply that this evil had to have an origin.  Sin and deterioration are the only options I see.

Thankfully, as St. Augustine indicates, God uses these things for good.  In fact, Paul says as much in his letter to the Romans.  (Romans 8:28)

There are also philosophical reasons for the presence of evil.  Could there truly be "good" without it? At what points in your life have you drawn closer to God?  Really consider this.  Was it during times of contentment...or times of struggle?  So, is suffering necessary?

I think it is.  And we need to remember that Jesus Christ suffered FOR us in the most brutal of ways without deserving it.  God knows exactly what it means to physically and emotionally suffer.

Peter talks about the trials that we face here throughout his books of the Bible.  He reminds the new Church (the believers--not the people in a specific building) that "Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."  (1 Peter 3:18)

We are promised in Isaiah and reminded again in Revelations, "The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth."  (Isaiah 25:8, Revelations 21:4)

One day the sins will be erased and evil will be gone.  I hope you are back here to enjoy it with me.
_________

Suggested Resources:

CS Lewis:  The Problem of Pain.  (1940)
Mars Hill Church Sermon Series:  Trial
Ravi Zacharias:  How Can a Good God Allow Evil in the World?
RC Sproul:  The Problem with Evil
St. Augustine:  The Confessions of St. Augustine, Book 2: The Anatomy of Evil, multiple translations/editors