I spent the day with giants in the field. Moving among our workers in Whittlesea today, I witnessed first hand the powerful grace of God through our people on the job. Each one giving themselves unselfishly, they are preparing and serving food, meeting victims and offering financial support, and crisis counseling as needed. Amazing.
The stories that people are sharing about their escapes and those that didn't make it are reminders that these people are in need of understanding, hope and grace. We are there for them as best we can. Many other good people too are there. It is an extraordinary moment of beautiful people helping others simply because they are in need.
Lord, help us.
Job 16:21 (MSG)
21 I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
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love the scripture verse the the translation. And the team effort in this tragedy. Will be praying for everyone there. God Bless you Jim and co.
I think humanity can be at its best when in the midst of tragedy. When all the seemingly important stuff is stripped away and we are left with the need and desire to comfort those who mourn, weep with those who are weeping, to nourish the body, and provide rest for a weary soul. It is in opportunities like this that we see humanity rise up. Praying for all those affected by this shocking event and for your Salvo teams in there serving.
David, Everytime I hear or read that question about where is God when disaster strikes, I think, where would we be in this world if in fact God was not here and what incredible tragedies are being averted because of his presence? There is an amazing writing by a prisoner at Auachwitz which I would post on my blog should you want to see it. I think it is too graphic for here. It involves that question being asked by a prisoner witnessing the first hanging of a young boy. To make a long quote short, the answer to the question was, He is there hanging in that small boy. God is suffering along with us David until this world's time is up. And He is suffering for you also, waiting for you to lay your questions at His feet and accept his unconditional love for your life.
http://joymadecomplete.blogspot.com/2009/02/posted-in-repsonse-to-comment-made-on.html
the Auschwitz quote in response to David's question. You'll have to copy and paste
not up for a debate David, just sharing what I read that was interesting to me.
The response is amazing. I want to be part of the solution, not one of the finger pointers. This is NOT the time for arguing, it is time to work together for those who have been devastated.
Where was God when my life was seemingly destroyed by the selfish acts of another person? Where was God when my sister was killed in a tragic collision? Where was God when I sat with a mother dying of cancer as her 3 year old sat by her side? He was right there with us!!
It was BECAUSE of God that I got through my own experiences. I didn't understand why I had to face these things, why does anyone have to deal with such pain and loss, personally my preference would be to not have to face such hardship. But it was in those times that I experienced the overwhelming peace, strength and protection from God. My personal experiences cannot be argued because I felt His presence, I know His love and I now minister to others who face pain and grief. God is not a distant God, He is crying with us, loving us and has promised to never leave us.
Not sure what verse or the actual wording of scripture but it goes something like "the joy that is to be revealed cannot even be compared to the suffering we experience in this life". Or "no eye has seen and no ear has heard of the glory that is yet to be revealed"
Thos who have passed away in this tragedy will have comfort now, a greater joy than they have ever known. I would hate that there is no God, because I would hate to believe that these people perished and that's it, the end, no hope. That would not be fair.
Anon, you said "Those who have passed away in this tragedy will have comfort now, a greater joy than they have ever known" - according to traditional Christian theology, the majority of those that perished are now in a place of eternal fire. What are your thoughts on that?
It's because God gave us free-will and our disobedience of Him that these things happen David - it's our choice, not His. He gets blamed for a lot of things, but not often thanked - yeah?
Vanessa
Jack, if you take the bible literally in the areas of Hell and what gets you to Hell, then the answers would have to be YES, majority of the people who perished in the fire were not saved, and therefore will be in Hell. But thats NOT my view, and I am NOT a fundamentalist Christian. I don't take everything in the bible literally, and therefore I don't condemn people to Hell, I can't see a loving God would do this. In years gone by, the threat of going to Hell was a guilt tripe used by churches in an attempt to keep the numbers up in the pews, and its not working these days with people in society. A better approach is to love everyone, and accept everyone, an all inclusive church, where no one is condemned to Hell.
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