Weekly News + God’s role when disaster strikes

IT’S NEWS TO ME

Iran army chief vows to raze Israeli cities if it makes “wrong move”

ISIS Encourages Attacks on US Hurricane Relief Centers

When the Terrorists Come Home

ESPN President Tells Staff That Sports Network Not A Political Organization

Recorded: “Moderate” Muslim Preacher to Children: Martyrdom is Better than Success at School

Hobby Lobby Blasted on Social Media for RIDICULOUS Reason by SJW’s

Fatah welcomes Hamas pledge to try ending Palestinian split

What You Can’t Say Anymore: “I Tried to Stop the Jihadists”

Obama Returning To Politics This Fall, Will Hold Summit To “Change The World”

Who Are the Houthis and Why Do They Shout “Death to America”? 

“Pay-to-play” at Clinton State Department exposed in new emails, watchdog says

JUDGE SAYS SHOOTINGS AND DEATH FILLED VOID AFTER REMOVING GOD FROM SCHOOL

Violence Wins! St. Louis mayor to meet with protesters after nights of violence

Sickening New Protest Move Hits NFL… Now It’s Happening on the Field

Report: Hillary Clinton Gave $800K To Fund Antifa Groups

CNN Reports: Government Lied, Trump Campaign and Trump Tower were Wiretapped

 

SETTING OUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE

Finding God in our Storms

 Even with Trump’s UN speech in the mix, the barrage of hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and other assorted catastrophes top the list of news events worth discussing. People are asking a lot of questions. Are these a portend of the end times? Are they from the hand of God? Is God punishing us? Why does God allow so much death and destruction? Does God enjoy watching people suffer?

Each question reflects the inquirer’s understanding (or lack thereof) of God’s true character-His blend of mercy and righteousness. At the same time, biblical scholars disagree on the meaning of what we’re witnessing. Each one filters world events through his theological belief filter to find and answer that fits with his beliefs.

So, what are we to make of all the disasters we’re witnessing? What can we know for certain? Well, for starters, the Bible tells us that when sin entered into the world through man’s disobedience, everything suffered, including our weather. Therefore, the cause of these “natural disasters” is sin, not God.

In some cases, the disasters aren’t exactly natural. Those of us who have chosen to live on a barrier island, built our home on a known fault line, or chosen to reside in an area prone to forest fires must be willing to accept the consequences of our decisions. Those who have chosen to save some money by “cutting corners” while constructing their homes are likewise, taking a calculated risk. We make all sorts of decisions that force us to assume part of the blame for the disasters that strike us.

 The other conclusion we can draw with certainty is that God uses adversity to reveal Himself and to bring out the best in His children as shown in a previous article. In the early years of the Church, Christians ran toward plagues and disasters, not away from them. The same is true today. Ministries like Samaritan’s Purse are displaying the love of Christ in an unmistakable way. As Christ’s ambassadors, these volunteers put God’s love on display, as do thousands of other Christians who choose to bring help and hope to those who are hurting.

My final fact in understanding these disasters is that God is in everything He allows to happen to us, and if we belong to Him, we can know for certain that everything He has allowed is filtered through His love for us. The question of His love for each one of us was settled on the cross. That should no longer be an issue. Our challenge is to find Him in the midst of our storms, and if we seek Him, we will find Him. It’s a shame that it takes a disaster to force us to seek Him, but He will use whatever it takes to get our attention.

 We can debate the meaning of all the disasters we are experiencing, but there’s no debating God’s unending love for us, especially in life’s storms, earthquakes, and fires.

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