Monthly Archives: April 2010

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Evolution and the Problem of Evil

One question that human beings come face to face with time and time again, as they face the trials and struggles of life on this earth is the question of evil.  Why would God – an all good, all powerful, and all knowing creator – allow evil and suffering to haunt His creation?

As we travel life’s road, we work hard – sometimes too hard – to feed ourselves.  In our families and communities, we see illness and accidents take the health and lives of those we love.  Sometimes violence affects us in terrible ways, whether that violence is inflicted by chance, or by the intention of others.

Why?  Why does life seem so hard?  Why does death come too soon?

Through all of these challenges, throughout history, people have turned to a being (or beings) larger than themselves for the answers.

...continue reading →

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When traveling

I have a couple of kits that I call redundancies - I can just throw the kits in the car or luggage and go without having to worry about whether or not I forget some essential "stuff".  There's stuff I have to pack, but this list cuts down on packing anxiety.  I have way more hair picks and can openers than any human being can use because I've had to stop and buy one.  I haven't checked these kits this spring and had to go buy toothpaste in Marquette...

Electric Stuff:

  • power strip
  • camera charger (this is the one thing I have to move, so I'm picking up another one
  • cell phone charger
  • computer power cord
  • iPod charger and sync cord

The power cord is an essential so that I don't have to pull out tables and things in a hotel room and use lots of outlets.  I've left a cell phone charger in a room so I plug in one power strip and use that for all of my "pluggables."  When it's time to leave, I grab the power strip and if I have everything attached to it, I have all my cords.

Kitchen Drawer:

This is more for long distance driving and camping.

  • paring knife
  • plate, bowl, cup, flatware
  • can opener
  • a few herbs and seasonings (include salt and pepper)
  • foil packets of tuna or salmon
  • foil packets of mayo, lemon juice, relish and mustard
  • EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
  • coffee "pod" singles
  • artificial sweetener packets
  • single serving packets of almonds, cashews, walnuts

Bathroom stuff:

travels size:

  • shampoo
  • conditioner
  • body soap
  • body lotion
  • contact solution
  • advil
  • toothpaste
  • toothbrush

Other stuff:

  • nasal rinse bottle and packets
  • contact case
  • extra pair of contacts
  • razor
  • deodorant
  • emery board
  • face moisture
  • lip balm
  • hair clippies and ponytailers
  • pick or comb

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Interesting article...

I often get books on psychology sent to me by publishers, and the other day I received Jeffrey Kottler’s On Being a Therapist. The book is now in its fourth edition, and this latest edition “puts the spotlight on the therapist’s role and responsibility to promote issues of diversity, social justice, human rights, and systemic changes within the community and the world at large.”

Whoa: I thought the therapist’s role was to increase the client’s well-being and treat mental illness.

It used to be that therapists just saw clients and sent them a bill. Now — perhaps because the “sending them a bill” part has gotten more difficult in these days of managed care and public skepticism about the profession — they are transforming themselves into superhuman beings who think they can save the entire world. Therapists may have been narcissistic before, but it takes a special kind of narcissism to see one’s own self as a world-saver.

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“All should be forgiven, and the thoughtless especially.”

Leo Tolstoy, Where Love Is (New York, 1915), page 20.

The Lord taught us to forgive at two levels.

Deep in our hearts, forgiveness is unconditional, since God has forgiven us: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). This forgiveness is absolute, before God.

At the level of our relationships, forgiveness is conditional: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). After all, how can one forgive a sin that hasn’t been confessed? For the relationship to be restored, the sinning brother must repent.

But what if he doesn’t repent? Or doesn’t even realize the harm he has done? Sadly, the relationship remains broken. But deep within, “. . . and the thoughtless especially.” This is the most costly forgiveness, because it is unseen, unthanked.

But God sees. As in everything else, all that ultimately matters is who God is, what God says, how God works.

Thoughtless is a post from: Ray Ortlund

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If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the police officer's credibility .....

Q: 'Officer --- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'

A: 'No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'

Q: 'Officer -- who provided this description?'

A: 'The officer who responded to the scene.'

Q: 'A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?'

A: 'Yes, sir. With my life.'

Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'

A: 'Yes sir, we do!'

Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'

A: 'Yes sir, I do.'

Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?'

A: 'Yes sir.'

Q: 'Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'

A: 'You see, sir -- we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'

The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's 'Best Comeback' line -- and we think he'll win.