Abortion News of February 2013

To many people, abortion news is like “old news”.  Even this post may not interest you, and you’ll decide to not give it your time of day.  Regrettably, our general public has become dulled and numb to the realities of abortion in our country.  Abortion has been legal for four decades, and it’s a subject of heated debate that seems to have no end in sight.  Does that mean we should stop caring and verbalizing the truth and close our ears, mouths, and eyes to it? 

Some people in our nation cry out and mourn over the death of a newborn baby or of the violent shooting of elementary school aged children, boycott and call out against the injustices of innocently slain animals or endangered species, and battle against the decimation of the rain forest all the while ignoring the daily ongoing murder of unborn babies and the adverse effects upon the women who are their mothers. 

God Will Have His Perfect Way, Part 2

Back in March of 2010, I read a blog post by David Flowers titled Hell: Eternal Torture?  I was prompted to comment on David’s post and also posted my reply here on this site and titled it God Will Have His Perfect Way.  At that time, I checked a little option box at David’s blog saying that I wanted to get emails of any future comments pertaining to that post.  Over the past three years, comments have come and gone, and I’ve not been compelled to comment again, until last night.  

Yesterday, a man named Andrew posted his comments and asked particular questions beginning with “Is anyone up for this subject?”  His comments caused me to want to immediately reply. 

Andrew’s comments were as follows:

Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding through Job, Part 2 – Facing Tragic Loss

Part 1 can be read at Where is God When Bad Things Happen?  Finding Understanding through Job, Part 1 –Asking Hard Questions

Part 2 – Facing Tragic Loss

Time and time again, I can’t help but return to Job when I experience suffering or when I see or hear of the suffering of others.  Corresponding to the extensive suffering he endured, the literal meaning of Job’s name in the Hebrew language is “persecuted”.  The story of Job, the man who was persecuted, begins this way:

The Art of William Blake

JOB 1:1-5 (NAS)

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³  His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “ Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. 

Where is God When Bad Things Happen? Finding Understanding Through Job, Part 1 - Asking Hard Questions

Part I – Asking Hard Questions

Where is God when our greatest fears become a reality?

When tragedy strikes or the unthinkable happens, where is God? 

Does God hear us when we beg and plead Him to prevent something bad from occurring in our lives?

Is God aware of the terrible things that go on in this world every single day? 

Why doesn’t He stop them?

Doesn’t God care about the evil in this world or the tragedies that take place?

When we face trials that overwhelm us, where is God? 

Where is He when we face suffering and trials that feel way too much for us to bear?

Why doesn’t God relieve us from our sufferings?

Is the world and mankind’s behavior spinning round and round out of His control?

Why doesn’t God put an end to evil once and for all?

DAILY TRUTH – God’s Grace Superexceeds All Sin

“Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds…”

(Romans 5:20, CLNT)

Those are some of the most beautiful words in the Scriptures, so I’ll type them again:

…where sin increases, grace superexceeds…

Read them over and over again.  Say them aloud, slowly.  Let them sink in.  Do not just read them or hear them, allow them to plant and take root in your soul. 

Are you aware that you cannot outdo God’s grace?  God’s grace cannot be outdone or outsinned.  The Scriptures tell us that God’s grace superexceeds all sin, no matter how much sin increases.  His grace extends above and beyond all sin.  There is no sin that can trample over God’s grace.  His grace is immeasurable.  It is boundless.  It has not limits.  God’s grace is superior to all our wrongdoings. 

We are Losing the Art of Listening

I wanted to write this post as an extension of my previous post titled Feeling Alone in a Technology Driven and Social Media Society. 

There is an enormous difference between hearing someone’s voice and actually listening to what they are saying.  Hearing involves sound, while listening involves the mind and emotions.  As we find ourselves more focused on digital technology, I believe we are losing the art of truly listening to what people are saying.  We may be hearing them, but what they are saying is not sinking in.