As we look with excitement towards another New Year (Yeah 2005!!!!!), I declare that am blessed! However, I must admit to feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness over the magnitude of lives lost and disaster caused and around Asia. My prayers are with all affected by this awful tragedy.

As a theologian, I am always challenged by the question of suffering and why bad things happen. Scripture can provide me with many answers - the book of Job being the most familiar treatise on the question and answer to suffering. Here is an interesting article: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/158/story_15866_1.html

What are your thoughts?

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2004

Answers

My heart and prayers also go out to those who have suffered this great catastrophe. Some years ago I read a book by the Rabbi, Harold S. Kushner, who attempted to make sense of such occurrences as these and God’s abiding presence and response to it.

The book is entitled. “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” I would suggest that those who have read it would revisit what he said again and that those who have not would purchase their own personal copy of it.

The link below also give a good summary of this book and might prove to be helpful in facing and making some sense of life’s many tragic occurrences and events.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2004

TA,

You know the tusnamis devastation has really saddened me as well. So many lives lost and the future so uncertain for many. Man can do only so much. We have to pray for the people and give as much as we can. Only God knows why He allows such things to happen. We as a people must respond in His name.

Scientists say that when the earthquake occurred, the earth spinned 3 micro seconds faster and tilted an inch on its axis.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2004

The Bible teaches us that the whole creation (Romans) is flawed, slated for destruction and will be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth (The Revelation of Jesus Christ). This earthquake and the resulting tidal wave no doubt is related to the flood in Noah's time (the various plates of the earth shifting etc). The Bible also teaches us that when the end of this earth comes, the dead will be better off than those who are alive. If the end were to come today (Joel), then we would suffer through no fault of our own, but we know as Christians that the suffering is not to be compared to the glory that awaits us [Romans]. I beleive that those who must endure suffering during the end times will be rewarded in the new heaven and new earth.

That earthquake and the resulting tidal wave should be a warning to all of us to get our houses in order, saints and sinners alike. There will be a record number of people accepting Christ as savior this Sunday, or rather this week.

Be Blessed pastor paris

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2004

Well, what is clearly despicable is the UN official who insinuated that some nations (read: US) aare acting in a very "stingy" manner in humanitarian relief efforts. Secretary Powell was correct in chastising the UN official. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by trying to make the US the "bad guy" in the wake of this human tragedy. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should fire this person immediately!

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal provided an interesting editorial stressing the importance of promoting economic development to help countries respond to the likelihood of tragic events. Developed economies are able to have upgrade communication infrastructure necessary for evacuation. A year ago a devastating earthquake killed 42,000 people in Iran. In 2004 4 major hurricanes swept thru Florida and killer tornadoes ravaged the Midwest. Now, we witness an incredible tidal wave (initial speed of 500 miles per hour) precipitated by a massive earthquake under the Indian Ocean.

The death toll from the Asian tsunami may well exceed 100,000 with a cholera scare lurking behind. Surprisingly, few animals were killed and found safety in the higher elevated areas in Sri Lanka. What do animals know that humans don't know about impending danger? These ecological events should make folks realize what is truly important and what is frivolous in life. QED

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2004

Prof. Dickens,

I find the fact that few animals' remains were seen very interesting as well. I wondered if they are more in tuned with nature than we mortals.

Does this verse in Romans 8:29 have anything to do with this? "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."

In Christ, Carmen Rose

-- Anonymous, January 04, 2005

The United States deserved the criticism it received. The initial aid promise was too low. And since Mr. Powell has already been fired, no others need to be fired. Let us continue to lift those affected by the tsunami in prayer.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2005

Harold -

A resignation is different from a firing. Powell expressed his desire to resign from office. If he wanted to stay on as Secretary of State the White House would have not objected. Powell resigned, he was not fired. Koffi Annan on the other hand should take a cue from Powell and do the same thing. The scandalous Oil for Food Program demonstrates that Annan is unfit to serve as Secretary- General of the U.N. QED

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2005

We, citizens of the United States will be critized as long as we remain the only super power on the planet. That comes with the territory. I do have a question: Are we not all citizens and when our nation is critized unfairly they critize us unfairly too?

Be Blessed

pastor paris

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2005