When I am feeling angry, Galations 5:19 always puts things in perspective for me.
" Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. "
Theodicy is the fancy theological/philosophical term for the attempt to justify the ways, acts, justice and goodness of God in the face of suffering, death and evil to an incredulous jury of humans. We Christians have floated some doozies.
Christian and Hebrew theologians, philosophers and kibitzers for thousands of years have struggled to come up with a plausible defense of God's goodness and power, given the daily reality of evil, because, well, God hasn't really produced an alibi for himself.
Once, at the end of the Old Testament wisdom book of Job, God could have explained it all, but He didn't. God makes a personal appearance out of the whirlwind just as the argument between Job and his so-called friends gets really interesting, meaning the finger finally gets pointed directly at God. God appears dramatically and essentially tells Job that it's none of Job's business why he's suffering and that Job wouldn't understand anyway.
The writer's elaborate, but single, point of the story of Job is that human speculation on such matters is folly at best, and idolatry and heretical at worse. But Job's message and warning don't seem to give us pause.
We Christians today, however well-intentioned, often fall off the horse on one side or the other by speculating with pious platitudes about why some terrible event has occurred. And indeed, all theodicies are pure speculation unless God has directly and specifically revealed His will and purpose to a credible prophet who comes to us with "Thus saith the Lord."
Once the speculation has begun, there's no way to judge it, evaluate it, or refute it because speculation by definition is completely subjective and unverifiable. Unchecked, the likelihood of theological mischief and stupidity is great amongst theodicy speculators.
Theodicies are theological and philosophical La Brea Tar Pits. Once we take the plunge, we're stuck forever, and all of our struggling only sinks us deeper and deeper into the pit. First, we're hit with the question: How can we offer a defense of God that's considered depraved when invoked by humans? Second, once we engage in the parlor game of second guessing God, anything goes.
One of my favorite examples of such speculation is provocative, subversive and highly effective at taming our wandering ways. It comes in the form of a poem by highly-acclaimed poet and Vanderbilt Professor of English Mark Jarman.
Jarman playfully pens a poem entitled "Unholy Sonnet 12:"
There was a pious man upright as Job,
In fact, more pious, more upright, who prayed
The way most people thoughtlessly enjoy
Their stream of consciousness. He concentrated
On glorifying God, as some men let
Their minds create and fondle curving shadows.
And as he gained in bumper crops and cattle,
He greeted each success with grave amens.
So he was shocked, returning from the bank,
To see a flood bearing his farm away--
His cows, his kids, his wife, and all his stuff.
Swept off his feet, he cried out, "Why?" and sank.
And God grumped from his rain cloud, "I can't say.
Just something about you pisses me off."
Excerpts from American Wasteland
A Commentary:
D. Marty Lasley
Hmmmmmmm
Reserve unit eh? (or not, you were plenty vague)
I don't know if this helps my FRiend, but it was like that in 69 as well.
I don't know what it is about our reserves inability to maintain esprit decor and keep the head up without the trash talk. If that is not the problem, then it could be something I am not aware of.
There was a lot of animosity between the NG's and the RA's and it started all the way back in boot.
I don't have the answer, just the time it takes to say I admire you guys for the job you do.
You are so much better in a lot of ways than we were. Perhaps much better supported by the public as well. I envy you.
Try to get them guys to check the attitude. We hope this will be among the last deployments as Iraqis gain in self confidence. We have to show them what it is. If we don't show them, they will not know.
Good luck and stay safe. Bring them all back.
I'd have liked more information but will respect your wishes. Feel free to elaborate if you wish.
I know you'll be committed to those who serve with and under you. Don't give up on yourself. God's will is perfect.
You have a right to be angry in my opinion...but I hope you get over it and realize that you have been dealt a heavy hand ---- for a reason.
Wait a minute, you've been reactivated, in your 40's, after being out of the service for 12 years? Call me skeptical.
Um...does this post have any point?
My father is a WWII vet, I am a Vietnam War vet and my son is a Gulf War vet. War is hell but somebody has to do it.
God bless you!
You sure won't get that from me.
I have been a good boy in all the ways a "conservative" guy can. After years of service and crazy jobs that took me around the world, I finally got serious about my relationship with God and I got married to a great gal, and I even became proactive in politics and other worthy endeavors.
This part of your post troubled me. As a sister in Christ, I don't understand why you would lable yourself 'conservative'. God doesn't lable His children and neither should we. I also don't understand why you chose politics over studying God's word.
And after 2 years of being good, I get Cancer, and I did not give my Cancer a little pet name and have a Mommy come to my rescue
Perhaps you need to get back to the relationship with God that you told us about earlier.
Exactly why did you feel the need to post this immature drivel on Free Republic? You're a douche.
Nice rant.
8 out of 10.
Sorry, I said something good. How about "work harder to get the other 2 points"?