Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? And, What Does This Say About God?

These are likely questions we have all grappled with at least once as we've tried to make sense of this obviously imperfect life. What we really do when we ask questions like this is cry out for an explanation of the real meaning of life itself. I mean, by asking such questions, aren't we really trying to state something far more general about life or God than is explicitly stated by these questions alone?

Uncle Albert...

When I was young, my uncle Albert lived a couple of blocks down the road from us. But, even though he lived close by, I never really got to know him very well or, truthfully, at all. Actually, he was my father's uncle which made him my great uncle. He was always very old by my reckoning, so it was difficult for a person as young as I was to know what to say to him, or if it would even be OK for a child like myself to say anything at all. Because he too was of a very reserved nature, he never spoke to me either. I never really had a conversation with him. He was a very private man, so even my father rarely spoke to him, but he spoke of him often and held him in very high regard.

The Amazing Power of Peer Pressure...

When I was fourteen I was invited to go rappelling with my friends. Rappelling is a sport where a person descends a cliff or rock face using a harness and ropes to assist them in their descent. It's sort of like rock climbing in reverse. It sounded like a lot of fun and I was very excited to go.

A New Day Dawns, Christ's Church Is Restored...

In an earlier post, I talked of the early church of Christ and how that church was lost through apostacy (Apostacy Was Foretold). Some in my faith refer to this as the primitive church, but I don't like that designation because it connotes a rough, unfinished, or incomplete condition which simply was not the case. Christ's church was complete and perfect both in its organization and in its theology. It was, after all, instituted by the master Himself. But if the sole intent of the term primitive is to signify early or first, then why not use those less ambiguous terms instead of  the more nuanced, and thus, less clear term which might convey unintended meanings. Clarity, in principle, is a simple thing, but on occasion can be difficult to achieve.

Can Mercy Rob Justice?

Most of our sins directly affect others in one way or another and have a negative impact on their lives. As an example, when we speak unkindly or in anger, the wounds inflicted can be very deep. They may be hidden, but the effects of this sin are real and the damage to self esteem can be real as well. Even if the person being attacked in this way is strong, and secure enough that our words don't impact their self esteem directly, those hurtful words certainly color the thoughts and feelings of those who hear them.

Faith Without Works Is Dead...

Scriptural Base: James 2:14-26

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

When works, which means doing good, are mentioned in some Christian circles, eye-brows are raised and the subject carries with it a stigma and a large amount of prejudice. Grace is the redeeming battle cry of many and they simply refuse to consider salvation outside that context. It is believed that works, when factored into redemption somehow diminish what the Savior did for us. That somehow, if a person believes that good works may be important, they are less Christian or their faith less anchored in the Lord. Many even take talk such as this personally feeling that to speak of these things is blasphemous. That grace and grace alone is all there is.

It Is No Accident that Sin Brings Despair...

Sin colors a life and leaves its mark. It has a very real way of altering our perceptions and changing the way we think and feel. Sin has the power to narrow one's view of the world and of themselves and therefore, is limiting, robbing a person of possibility and hope, diminishing their very potential. And make no mistake, these limits placed by sin are real because perception is reality, at least for that person. Therefore, sin quite literally is damning by its very nature. Sin also limits our potential in God's kingdom and in the next life and therefore, if not repented of, has eternal consequence. But in this post, I want to focus on the consequences of sin on our lives right here, and right now.

Apostacy Was Foretold...

One of the things Christ did while he walked among us was to establish His church. His church was organized with prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The Lord organized His church to perfect the saints, to carry on the work of the ministry, and to edify the body of Christ, the body of Christ being those who had joined His church. Its purposes included bringing men and women to a unity of the faith and to a knowledge of the Son of God, that we would no longer be deceived by false doctrines or the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:11-15).

We Are Saved By Grace...

Grace is a term used frequently throughout the Christian world. It is commonly understood as coming through our Savior and is the gift and the means by which the guilty are redeemed despite the fact that they have not fully lived the law of the gospel and kept all of God's commandments. It is a gift offered freely by God to all people and is made possible because the Lord, who is perfect, offered himself as a sacrifice, and out of His love for us, and His father, atoned for our sins, paying the awful price of our redemption.

Pride, the Universal Sin...

I believe pride is something with which most, if not all, struggle, or, perhaps not. But even if you don't struggle to remove it from your life, pride can be a part of who you are without your even being aware of it. It is something that I seem to be able to detect in others easily, but something which I struggle to see in myself. Yes, I am a hypocrite. I know I'm filled with pride and I struggle to find ways to rid myself of it. But honestly, I'm not sure how.

Why Prophets...

Throughout the scriptures we can read the words of the prophets. For thousands of years, the Lord has seen fit to call prophets. So, what is a prophet, and why does the Lord call prophets?

The Book of Mormon...

I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but most people know us as Mormons because of our belief in the Book of Mormon. I have read the Book of Mormon many times and have received powerful witnesses that it is the word of God. Every time I read it I feel God's spirit and am drawn closer to Him. The Book of Mormon teaches me of Christ and confirms my faith in Him. I love this book with all my heart and esteem it as I do the Holy Bible, as scripture and as the word of God. It is a second witness, along with the Bible, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Everything that brings me closer to God through His spirit I hold dear. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are two of those things.

The Ultimate Irony: The Blind Could See, The Pharisees Could Not...

Scriptural Basis: John 9
Bible Video (if the video doesn't load, refresh the page): Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

There is an amazing account in the book of John, chapter nine. In this chapter, Jesus is walking with His disciples and they pass by a man who is blind, and has been since birth. The disciples stop and ask the Lord who had sinned that this man be blind, being left to a life of utter dependence and begging. The Lord's disciples asked whether he had sinned, or if it was his parents (John 9:1-2).This question is loaded with meaning.

Peter, the Rock...

All my life I've been taught that Peter is an example of a man who lacked real faith and who, although passionate in his beliefs, was never able to follow through and demonstrate his faith in a consistent, concrete manner through meaningful actions. This is, of course, is utter nonsense and a tell tale sign that a greater depth of knowledge and understanding is lacking, for Peter was, in my view, one of the greatest prophets and spiritual leaders in his time, or any other.

Bold Claims...No Proof; My Journey

I believe in God...that He exists, and loves me. He is my father, and yours. We all share this divine heritage. I believe that His son, Jesus Christ is my saviour in that He paid the terrible price of my sins and that through His magnificent grace, I can be saved, and in no other way, if I choose to accept and follow Him. I believe that when we treat others with kindness and respect this pleases God, and is a way we can appreciate the love God shows us. I believe the scriptures are the word of God, and that by prayerfully studying them we will be drawn closer to Him. They can help us obtain a knowledge and witness which can be gained in no other way.

I have no tangible proof I can show you or anyone else. Many would ridicule me for my beliefs. They are bold claims. They are claims that are not, and indeed can not be supported by any physical evidence. I am not trying to convince you to believe as I do because even if I wanted to, I couldn't. This knowledge comes from God alone and from no other source. But I would like to share with you my journey and invite you to begin a journey of your own if not yet taken.

Let Your Light Shine...

Scriptural base: Matthew 5:6, Matthew 5:13-16

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel; but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

In This Life, We Are Called To Walk By Faith...

Scriptural base:

Doctrine and Covenants 82:3-4

3 For of him unto whom much is given, much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.
4 Ye call upon my name for revelations, and I give them unto you; and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors; and justice and judgement are the penalty which is affixed unto my law.

Alma 32:17-19

17 Yea, there are many who do say: if thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe.
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing, he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?

Have you ever wondered why God requires us to walk by faith in this life? In some ways wouldn't it be easier on everyone if the Lord simply made Himself so undeniably available that no reasonable person could believe otherwise? And an explanation about the meaning and purpose of life given that so many struggle in a world replete with injustices, inequities, and yes, terrible evil would, perhaps, provide comfort, knowledge, and courage to those facing the trials of this fractured and imperfect world.

Loving the Lord With All Our Heart, Soul and Mind...

Scriptural Base: Matthew 22:37

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt ^alove the Lord thy God with all thy ^bheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy ^cmind.

If you think about the subject with all your heart, it is so broad that it encompasses the very reason we are here and maps a path back to our Heavenly Father.  It is the single most important commandment that God has ever given His children and everything literally hangs and depends upon it.  Every other commandment given finds its roots in this one thing, that we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds.  Therefore, all of the commandments of God, and the gospel in its entirety, are encompassed by this one commandment.  And so the challenge before me is to distill something from the flurry of thoughts and feelings which this subject invokes in myself and any who seriously attempt an understanding of it.  I hope you will join me in prayer that the spirit of the Lord may be with us all this day as we discuss the things of God that His will may be done.

I Am Daddyman...

Daddyman is a name given to me by my children and one by which I am proud to be called. It came about because my children had a desire to know their grandfather who passed away before they were born and even before I married. So, I have, at times, told them stories of their grandfather so they could get a sense of who he was and learn to love him even though he is not with us physically.

Why A Guy Like Me Writes A Blog Like This...

Why am I writing this blog? Honestly, I'm the least likely of people to begin such a venture. I absolutely hate facebook, have never sent a tweet and don't even own a cell phone. I know...gasp! And even though I maintain a facebook account, months pass between times when I log in. I'm doing this on what many people would term a whim.  I'm doing this simply because I feel impressed to do so.