Congregational Development - Means of Grace, Hope of Glory

Today's news includes -

A sailor from the USS Theodore Roosevelt died

3,300 deaths in US nursing homes

New York City's death's topped 10,000

USA deaths 23,485

In the world 119,212 deaths

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this. I've been watching Grey's Anatomy. Yes, the show about brilliant surgeons with little ability to manage their emotions. Sometimes it's background noise. Sometimes I follow the story. On occasion I find something helpful.

The rabbi says, "God's not indifferent to our pain."

Here's the link -- https://www.aish.com/j/jt/Jtube-Greys-Anatomy-When-Bad-Things-Happen.html

It includes this -

Eli: ‘You know, it's human nature. You face enough hardship, then you can't help but think that you're being punished, that you did something to deserve it.

April: ‘I did nothing to deserve- My whole life, I followed His rules. I studied, I believed, I practiced what I preached. I did every single thing He asked of me.’

Eli: ‘And that guarantees you what?’
April: ‘Excuse me?’

Eli: ‘Well, where is the guarantee? In the sequel? 'Cause, I have to admit, I'm not as up on that as I used to be. No, no, where is it written exactly that if you do this or that, that everything in your life's gonna be good, hmm? Nowhere, in any faith, is there a guarantee.’
April: ‘I'm not asking for everything to be good all the time. But fair I think that I –

Eli: ‘Fair? Was it fair when Isaac went blind and then his child betrayed him? And where was the fairness when Sara had to wait 99 years before she had a child, and God said, "Sacrifice him"? And Moses couldn't even get past the bouncer to the Promised Land. And like I said, I'm not up on the sequel, but from what I hear, Jesus got a raw deal. Nobody in the Bible lived a life free of suffering or injustice, or it wouldn't have been a best seller. And if they lived lives like that, why should ours be different? Now, if people only believed in God when things were good, I guarantee you, after the Holocaust, not a single Jew would be a believer. […]Faith wouldn't be real faith if you only believe when things are good. Well, so, what? The world is just cruel and random, and there's nothing anyone can do about it? Terrible things happen. Terrible, wonderful, devastating things happen. Who the hell are you to know why? Who are you to know why some people live and some people die?’ Season 14, Ep. 17

Jesus got a raw deal

The Resurrection doesn't change that. The "raw deal" remains unjust, unfair, unreasonable.

There's the Cross. There's the Resurrection. We get both.

Reflections:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians:2:20)

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. ... By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land ... Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect. ... Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (from Hebrews 11 and 12)

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

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Postings on the inner life and the virus

You know, and they know, that they are offering their lives

Intercessions and the virus

Solitude

The mystery of the cross

Solitude in Surrey

We'll meet again

God's not indifferent to our pain

Endures all things

Becoming an Associate of a Religious Order

People Touch