Why Would God Allow Natural Disasters?

No one likes natural disasters. They can devastate entire areas and cause human suffering and death, leaving people to wonder why God would allow such calamities. If God created the earth for the benefit of humanity, why is it sometimes inhospitable to its inhabitants?

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Evil, Suffering, and Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job

“My friends cautioned me not to write this book. They warned me, ‘No one who attempts to write any kind of commentary on Job can escape without some new experience in suffering.’ They had a point.”

  -Hugh Ross, Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job

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In the years it took Hugh to write Hidden Treasures in the Book of Job, he (and his wife, Kathy) endured profound personal suffering. Some of those trials, including the loss of their fathers and almost losing their son, are shared in his latest book.

Hugh’s intent was to write on the science content in Job. Instead, the book developed into a conversation about the connection between creation theology and evil and suffering.

 

Two Days Late but Right on Time

***Sandra and Maureen are taking a week off of blogging fun to attend a writers conference. They’ll be back to their usual schedule next week. In the meantime, please enjoy this guest post by RTB staff member Michelle.***

Last week a friend texted me asking if I had received the gift she mailed. “Not yet” I replied, though, according to her, it should have already been delivered. Two days later the packaged arrived: a beat-up envelope stuffed with a card and a CD. The hand-written note read, “I’m not sure what you are going through right now, but the Holy Spirit whispered to me to send this to you.” The CD was a compilation of worship music.

 

The Dark Side

Choosing not to believe in the devil won’t protect you from him.

-Father Lucas

Four years of seminary and one step from becoming a priest, Michael reveals he doesn’t believe in God. Before he can walk away, he’s asked to train with senior exorcist Father Lucas—and to view firsthand the darker side of his faith.

 

Blog of the Living Dead

I love zombies. Always have. As kids, my brother (also a big fan of zombies) and I would gurgle lines from classic zombie films and record them as the outgoing message for our answering machine. Our mother was less than thrilled.

 

Why Would a Good God Create That? Part 3

Human Disease

Every day I use an inhaler to control asthma symptoms. Since childhood I’ve struggled with asthma and although a cure does not yet exist, I can’t help yearning for a day when this weight will be lifted from my lungs.

Disease touches everyone. We battle chronic illnesses, like asthma or diabetes. We pray for triumph over cancer. Every flu season we wait hours in line, hoping there will be enough vaccine to go around. Sometimes we watch as loved ones fall under the shadow of Alzheimer’s. And sometimes we send gifts to help children orphaned by AIDS.

Why does God allow disease to wreak such havoc on us? Why did He even create the bacteria and viruses responsible for many diseases?

 

These Vamps Don’t Bite

It’s the day Twilight fans around the country have been dying for. Some have squirmed and squealed—with Team Edward or Jacob shirts at the ready—for the long awaited 12:01 AM premiere. (Count me in that group!) Others have had the willpower to hold off ’till daylight. Whichever camp they’re in, Twilight fans are salivating over New Moon, the latest film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling saga.

But Meyer’s vampiric phenom is more than just a story about an average teenage girl and her vampire boyfriend.

 

Hurts So Good

2009 has been a big year for The Beatles. Their original catalogue was digitally remastered and released, along with the highly anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band video game, on 9/9/09. And today marks what would’ve been John Lennon’s sixty-ninth birthday.

 

Great Balls of Fire!

Photo courtesy of Deputy Chief Mike Bell

My sister’s friend, who is from out-of-state, once complained about the smoggy atmosphere of Southern California’s Inland Empire, to which my sister replied, “Hey, I don’t trust any air that I can’t see.”