On God being blameless

*in a previous post i wrote that God was blameless, and then offered that this statement was predicated entirely on His love. i admit that this was written primarily in defense of God's relationship with mankind but feel that it suffices as an explanation (and justification) of the more comprehensive view of His nature and character as well; for "God is love" and "love is the fulfillment of the Law."

A few years ago, I was driving in my car and I came across a radio station and there was a preacher talking about God and how He wasn't to blame for the terrible things both in our lives and in this world. To make a long story short, he summed it up in this (paraphrased) parable:

"Imagine a home. In this home there is a father, a mother, and two children. Now, imagine that a criminal breaks into the home with a knife and begins to murder the children, rape the mother, and take off with all the family's possessions. And yet, while all of this is happening, the father does nothing but sit and watch. He does nothing to try and save his family. Now, (without beginning to argue this analogy's theological implications) what would we say about this father? Honestly, what would we think about a father who stood by as his family was destroyed right in front of his eyes? We would think that he was the worst father in the world. And yet, this is exactly what some Christians (unknowingly) imply about God when they say that He is sovereign over the earth and in control of everything and that He has some mysterious plan and reason for this child dying with leukemia or that child being brutally raped or this school being shot up, or that entire people group being wiped out in ruthless genocide, etc. They don't realize what an indictment against God's love this is! How could we ever think that someone who would love us so much so as to give up their own "flesh and blood" would ever want or allow all kinds of evil in our lives for some better purpose? How could we say that a loving, heavenly Father would give His Son one moment and then in the next give us a cancer to teach us something? That just doesn't compute!"

Jesus used similar logic in the sermon on the mount: "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father who is in heaven give to those who ask Him!" basically Jesus is saying that if messed up humans know that a loving earthly father does good things for his children and not evil things, then why would we ever think less of our heavenly Father? (James 1:13-17; Jer. 29:11; 1 John 3:16; Rom. 8:32; 1 John 4:8)

what will we say when we stand before Him? what accusation will we be able to level against Him in the face of all that He has done? when we realize that we (humans) were the father in the parable and not God? (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:23; Hosea 4:6; Gen. 1:26,28; Ps. 8)

What does it mean to be a kid?

it means talking to yourself - with impunity. it means not just making a simple pass to your friend on the soccer field, but incorporating a crazy kungfu kick and hand motion all at the same time (hi-ya!). it means not needing a song (or a reason) to dance. it means making a random noise and then repeating it over and over again with infinite pleasure and self-satisfaction. it means having your bestest friend become your worstest enemy (and then bestest friend again) all in a matter of 30 seconds. it means being in awe over the commonest of things; like patterns on the floor made by light thrown through a window. it means continually discovering something, creating with next to nothing, and loving everything.

Eremia

Here I am, sober and stilled,
Open-eyed and wonder-filled,
As a cloud-born child weeps
O'er the pale-lit desert steeps.

"My heart's torn! is torn!" he cries-
A thousand sorrows from his eyes
Pour to soften the hardened earth,
And jar Jacob's dreams from birth.

Little Known Facts about Big Men

George Washington: Father of America, military hero, ardent Christian

George Washington: Destroyer of Villages (name given him by Iroquois)

Washington had assumed that Sullivan would be on the march by early June and outlined the mission objectives for the "total destruction and devastation" of the Iroquois villages so "that the country may not merely be overrun but destroyed." The villages would be burned, the crops destroyed, and as many prisoners as possible to be taken as hostages to guarantee any settlement.

Washington warned Sullivan not to accept any offer of peace before "the total ruin of their settlements was effected." He feared that the Iroquois would "amuse" them with insincere peace proposals to spare their homelands. "Our future security," Washington wrote, would rest on the "Terror" inflicted upon them. He urged Sullivan to act aggressively and employ his men "in a loose and dispersed a way ... It should be impressed upon the upon the minds of the men where ever they have the opportunity to rush on with the war whoop and fixed bayonet, " to "discourage and terrify" their foes.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/1998/sullivan.html

worship

i lift my gratitude,
the whole expressed
from every part;
the old and the new
of the life i've lived,
all, from the heart.