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In view of some of the realities we are confronting on this thread;

In view of the hideously tortured and torturing existences of the rabid Jihadi's and their victims and even some of their cultures; . . .

In view of the likelihood of nukes striking our land with intense widespread devastation and suffering; . . .

And in view of this Lord's Day, here are some comments and ponderings on suffering triggered by some precious comments and questions of a very precious TMMMer Loved One:

There are many mysteries . . .

It seesm to . . . satisfy, suit the Lord God Almighty to subject Himself (as in Christ) as well as all Creation to suffering.

I have noticed that the animals in The Bible which were most . . . used . . . for food were/are those animals which are among the least intellectually blessed . . . sheep, chickens, fish, cows.

We know that God knows when a sparrow falls. And, that He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, sufferings, failings. He intimately feels the pain. And, He must feel the pains of all Creation. He knows our thoughts afar off. He must know the thoughts of all Creation afar off. Certainly He doesn't delight in our suffering but in our peace, joy, comfort.

But . . . he DOES have an eternal perspective. Christ's sufferings yielded authority, power, honor beyond measure or conception. Our own feeble sufferings will yield, for those who truly Love God, authority, power, honor and joys beyond measure or conception.

God says that in eternity, the joys we will have then will be so incredible as to not be WORHTY TO EVEN COMPARE with our sufferings now . . . kind of like getting Fort Knox's, The Kremlin's, Buckingham Palaces' and all the Arab's and India and China's gold besides--all in exchange for a gnat's fart's worth of suffering, so to speak.

Hard to imagine but I do believe God means what He says and that it is incredibly true.

I know that God is so incredibly all together Good--regardless of our feeble perspective--that no small or large suffering of the innocent goes wasted. I don't understand what that would mean or how that works at the krill level but I know it's true.

Evidently, all this earth business is primarily for the boot camp training of those who will rule and reign through eternity with Christ over endless galaxies and endless ages.

I'm NOT a pantheist. However, I do believe that in a sense--because of God's great, complete knowledge and sensitivity--it is almost AS THOUGH all that IS, IS part of HIM . . . even the krill.

I have suffered enough pain, sometimes, I've wondered if God were sadistic. But I really do know that such a thought is a hideous unwarranted insult of God Almighty's incredible Love and sensitivity.

I don't have all the answers to the questions of pain, at all. I do know God is Good. God IS LOVE AND IS LOVING.

C.S. LEWIS' book THE PROBLEM OF PAIN may be helpful to you. I know it ministered to me years ago.

I know that part of the issue is--God's desire for a loving--a truly LOVING--RELATIONSHIP with humans made in key ways IN HIS OWN IMAGE, AFTER HIS OWN CHARACTER, HIS IMPRINT, HIS NATURE.

AND, I KNOW, THAT FOR THERE TO BE TRUE LOVE,

THERE MUST BE TRUE CHOICE, TRUE FREE WILL.

Without the option to choose NON-LOVE, THERE CAN BE ****NO**** LOVE.

And, when one chooses, NON-LOVE, SOMEHOW, TO SOME SERIOUS DEGREES, THE CHOICE MUST RESULT IN NON-LOVING CONSEQUENCES = SUFFERING or else the choice is not really a choice and the love would not be really love but only meaningless bumps of chance in ROBOT LIVES in the great pin-ball machine of life.

I know we are NOT robots. I know the Love God is training us in and toward is REAL, AUTHENTIC LOVE.

I know that the rewards for choosing God, His Love are incalulable.

I know that when it's all said and done--ALL CREATION--INCLUDING THE KRILL AND EVEN THE ROCKS, THE TREES, THE MOUNTAINS--WILL PRAISE GOD AND CALL IT GOOD.

I don't understand all the mysteries. But I know that much, is true.

BLESS YOU AS YOU GROW IN AND TOWARD GOD'S HEART AND LOVE FOR YOU AND YOURS.

LUB,
B/Q