Why Bad Things Happen

I am often asked, "Why is this hapening to me? Why is God doing this thing to me?"

No one has a completely easy life. Obviously, some have more challenges than others due to health and other unavoidable obstacles. Regardless of how bad you think your life is, you need to realize that other people have trouble too.

First, God does not usually MAKE bad things happen to people. Sin, Satan and our fallen natural world make a lot of bad things happen. God has allowed it to be so, due to our sin. So, pain and suffering can be blamed on sin, (disobediance to God) but sin must be blamed on humanity, we who have chosen to sin. Your pain may be the result of another person's choice to sin. Don't blame God, he did not victimize you, a sinner did. On some occasions God has made bad things happen as acts of judgement. Unless God has very specifically told you that your pain is an act of judgement, it is not an active action of God to cause you pain or trouble. You find in Scripture, that wehn God sends acts of judgement, he also sends warnings (three visitors, the prophets, John the Baptist and others warned of judgement).

Second, some of our suffering is simply paying the price for our past choices. If you eat in an unhealthy way, don't blame God that you are too heavy. If you smoke, don't blame God for lung disease. If you drink heavily, don't blame God for addiction and liver problems. If you have sex outside of marraige don't blame God for unwanted pregnancy. If your relationships never work out you need to evaluate where and how you are finding relationships.

Third, if you are a follower of God's Son, Jesus Christ, there is another element to consider that gives you amazing hope. As one who is forgiven of their sins, you are an heir to some promised goods like healing and other miracles that God provides to his Children. Most importantly, when you are in right standing with God, trouble is not seen as judgement, but as attacks from the enemy of our souls, the Devil. Believers should strive to serve God with perfection and then fight the Devil and his schemes to harm us. His schemes to harm us always are intended to drive us away from God thourgh doubt, bitterness, anxiety, hatred, or various other things that are not God's will for our lives.

Never give up, hope in God! God loves you and paid for your salvation. Fight your trouble like you are fighting the Devil. "What shall we say then in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.

What is Next?

This week is really busy for me because of the fair parade outreach and the work that I must be ready for at the Optimist Club food stands next week at the fair. Also, this Sunday I will be starting a new series in the Sermon on the Mount and the first sermon in a series always takes more time to get prepared. This series may last through December, but the topics in it are extremely varied.

Finally, keep our building committee and Elders in prayer. The Elders have sent off our first offer on another location. We are waiting to hear back. With our relatively limited funds we need a miracle to buy anything in the Washington area.

Have a great day!

Thursday at Camp

We had a great Wednesday. God did some great things in some boys who were filled wtih the Holy Spirit! I am really excited about what might happen tonight.

Ben in the carpet ball area.
Our boys watching Aiden play carpet ball.

Gabe enjoying lunch.

Below is Pastor Paul doing a head first water slide with a flip at the end.

Camp Wednesday

Gabe playing football.
Our boys getting wet.

Ben on the rock wall.

One of the great helpers from our church. She has worked crazy hard this week. Below is Gabe getting blobed by Pastor John.

Camp Candy Sales

I thought I would take the time to mention to you the importance of camp candy sales. because a bunch of our kids worked to sell candy, each student went to camp for $40 per student! $40 for a week of fun and great Bible time and evening church services is a real deal! There are still a couple boxes that can be sold following camp and it will saved up for next year. Looking over these pictures helps you to see what a great deal camp is for your kids. For a week of fun like this and great time with God, no parent should ever put off camp because of money, we work hard to get your kids there if you just indicate that you want them to go. Remember, if you need help going to camp, just ask.

Video Test From Camp

Thought I would try to upload an iphone video from camp. This is Ben Scheperle going down the two story water slide. There is about an 8 foot drop off at the end.

Camp So Far

Swimming with (killing) Pastor John.

Singing Monday night with the camp chior. So glad Pastor John gets the boys into this!

Lunch!

We stopped at the capital in Jefferson City for a short tour. If you want your kids picture on the blog let me know and I will try to get a pic of them for you!

Arrived

We have arrived at camp! We have settled into our rooms and the kids have finished eating dinner. In a little while we will prepare for the first evening service. This week is the most crowded week of camp in the history of the camp! There are just over 1,100 people on the campground this week. We have brought 17 children and five adult workers.

I will get some pictures later tonight and will post them so that you will get a fell for what the kids are doing. Keep us in prayer that God moves and every child has a great week. God can do amazing things in just a moment, and we are trusting that our kids will each have an encounter with him.

Kids Camp Updates

Watch the blog for Kids Camp updates next week. I will try my best to get a few pictorial updates for you about kids camp. This is a great way to stay informed and get a feel for what your kids are experiencing.

What I am Reading

This summer has been an interesting reading journey. Here are some things I have read or am reading.
1. The Real Estate Gift by Jim Wootton.
2. Poyama by Russell Stuart Irwin (Russ is a Christian Author from the Washington, MO area)
3. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
4. What in the World is Going On? by Dr. David Jeremiah

Number one and four I am finished with, two and three I am still working on. When finished I will also be reading a book titled, God Without Religion by Andrew Farley.

While I challenge you to read, do not neglect your daily Bible reading.
Remember: Leaders are Learners

God is Faithful

I am so thankful for God's faithfulness. We are often in need, but God always provides right on time! We don't like the drama of the stress of being in need, but when God clears up an issue that seems impossible we are always extra aware of his provision.

Last night in Wednesday Night Bible Study, we prayed for a woman who was bitten my something (she did not know what) while working in her garden. Her hand was noticabely swollen. While ladies prayed for her, in a matter of a few seconds, the swelling appeared to simply deflate and the discomfort left her. A small red mark was still located at the puncture point, but it was not the least bit swollen. Though small compared to witnessing people healed of cancer and big illnesses, this was the fastest, most visibly obvious healing miracle I have ever seen in person.

God is faithful.

Back to Blogging

It has been weeks, since I posted my last blog entry. The last entry listed how busy we have been this summer. We did a week of vacation, Mega Sports camp, a week of Youth Camp at the Lake of the Ozarks, made a presentation at the Faith and Science Conference, my wife was out of town for six days at a family wedding in Seattle, and we had a family funeral out of town. Next week we leave for Kids Camp and my parents 40th wedding anniversary celebration we are helping to throw. I have also completed teaching one Intro to Philosophy Directed Study and I am three weeks into the first eight week session of World Citizen at Missouri Baptist University.

Now that the travel part of the summer is slowing down (I think), I want to refocus on getting blog entries completed.

Have a great Summer!