I LOST MY FRIEND TODAY

Today I lost my best friend after he battled a short but aggressive illness. He was a friend I felt closer to than my own brother. Someone I thought about and prayed for almost every day. We knew each other for over 50 years, went through thick and thin together, got lost in the dark, were found in the light, tasted good and bad while living our dreams.

Even though we had been separated by two continents for the last 25 years, we never lost sight of each other.

Now he is gone, and so is a part of my life that now has to be filled with only memories. But they are good memories. Memories of overcoming, of redemption.

As we both believed that those who believe will not be parted forever, he will live on in my heart for now, until I see him again.

I'm sad and I miss my friend Thomas, but I hold on to the hope of seeing him again. A hope that brings joy in the midst of grief

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW CATASTROPHES?

Someone asked me the old question, what is God's reason for not preventing disasters like babies getting cancer, terrorist attacks, the Holocaust, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.? 

I believe an answer to this question can only come from a deep understanding of the entire narrative of Scripture, including the nature of God, the significance of His love, and the concept of sin. 

The realization that has brought me some light into this horrible world in which I live is that I exist in a fallen and cursed place where sin has tainted every aspect of life. From our very human nature to the state of the planet itself, everything is damaged by corruption.

The question is, what's the point of living in a world where you're either going to be eaten away by disease or killed by someone or something? And my answer is to find God, to rekindle our perfect relationship with Him that we once had.  That's why Jesus is playing the role that He is playing in this world: a rescuer, Savior, redeemer - the most significant sign of God's love for us.

It comforts me that the ultimate hope and purpose of my life as a believer lies in what comes after this life. The Christian saying that "this is not our home" couldn't be more true if there is indeed a God.

When God permits individuals to pass away "before their time" (though that term can be presumptuous, as it implies we understand what our time should be), He grants them the gift of eternal life in His presence. He protects them from descending into a state of evil from which there may be no escape.

Isaiah 57:1-2 says: "The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.  Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."

Trying to answer the question of why this world is so "evil" may not be satisfying or meaningful if you are not seeking God.

I believe that in the midst of the pain and suffering of this broken world, we can find hope and meaning in God's enduring love and promise of salvation.

Life's challenges can deepen our faith, draw us nearer to God, and prepare us for the eternal joy that will come when this life is over. When viewed from this perspective, even the most difficult times can serve as pathways to a deeper appreciation of God's grace and the eventual renewal of all creation.