God does not kill...

Every time there is a natural disaster or some other terrible waste of life, I see headlines like the following: "Act of God Kills Thousands!" Or there's a quote from some poor soul saying that it was God's will. I have heard and seen these types of statements many times recently with regard to the terrible tragedy in the Indian Ocean.

I can assure you that God does not kill. He does not rejoice in human suffering and he does not cause hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or tsunamis. I believe it is the ultimate insult to blame our Heavenly Father for anything evil. His willingness to take on the punishment due mankind just to be reunited with his children, is not the act of someone who gladly participates in the slaughter of thousands of people, including innocent children.

Jesus himself spelled out the difference in John 10:10:

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have to come to give abundant life. (My paraphrase)

I don't think it gets any clearer than that. God wants to give people all the opportunity possible to accept the free gift of salvation by believing in his son, Jesus. Satan is eager to destroy as many people as possible and prevent them the opportunity to believe. It is a spiritual struggle played out on this temporal world.

So the next time something bad happens in the world or in your life. Take a moment to think about who really is responsible. Stop blaming the only person who truly does love you.

Merry Christmas

How is it possible that anyone can be offended by the words "Merry Christmas"? Having been the only Christian working for a company of Jews, there were numerous times people wished me well during Jewish holidays and I didn't get all upset. I was amused if anything. I don't celebrate those holidays, but I certainly didn't take offense to someone suggesting that I enjoy them anyway!

If you are an atheist or an adherent to a non-Christian religion, you already don't believe that Jesus was the son of God. So, the fact that someone wishes you well on his birthday should be the same as someone saying "Happy Santa Day".

For Christians, the birth of Jesus was the ultimate act of love by God. He sent his own son to live as a man and pay the ultimate penalty for ALL mankind. How can such love and sacrifice be offensive? If you find anything in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus offensive, perhaps you are the one with the problem.

Merry Christmas!!

It Snows in Texas?

I stayed home today to rest and recover from a nasty sinus infection. I rolled over and peered out the window and snow was falling! This after a Tuesday that featured clear skies and a crisp 65. Don't worry, by tomorrow it will all be gone. Such is life with Texas weather.

Lest We Forget Why We Are Fighting...

On this day in 1988, Islamic terrorists linked to Libya blew up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. 259 passengers and crew lost their lives, as well as 11 residents of Lockerbie who were killed by falling debris.

Specifically targeting civilians for any reason, political, religious or otherwise, should never be considered a righteous endeavor. Any group that thinks there is some heavenly reward, or some political adavantage to be gained by this type of attack, needs to be taught a lesson that they will never forget. And we should never forget that incidents like this will continue if we don't take this threat seriously and aggressively pursue those groups and individuals that refuse to grant the basic right to life to those that have different political or religious beliefs.