Gods troubling Gift?

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be joy revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

My wife took me to the theatre to see "Amen Corner" at the National Theatre on the South Bank.
As the gospel singing soars, Sister Margaret, uncompromising pastor of her Harlem church, has a congregation already in revolt against her hard-line leadership. Their resentment escalates with the return of her absentee husband, a trombone-playing sinner, and the wayward conduct of her son. Charges of hypocrisy hang in the air and Margaret’s devout world looks perilously close to falling apart.
Beautifully expressed through the rousing beat of the gospel choir, the community’s sense of love, grief and spiritual survival is given full voice.Their church may be humble but their lungs are full with fervour.
The grief is expressed in one scene when a young Mother loses a baby after the church has blessed the baby in His name and dedicated the baby to Gods protection, then we learn this is the second baby she has lost. She asks the age old question of God, "Why the suffering?"
When I was a new Christian, I was listening to the wireless whilst driving along and being stunned by a quote from C.S.Lewis. The broadcaster read a passage from "The Problem of Pain" by Lewis,

"God must have really loved us to have given us pain and suffering"

When I heard that, I, like most others thought "What is he talking about" how do you show love through pain and suffering. What was Lewis talking about, how dare he say such a thing of the God whom I was trying to get to know. The statement stayed with me for days whilst I tried to make sense of the Lewis quote.

 

I believe the Holy Spirit guided me to an understanding which helped me then and it helps me now and I share this with you.

 

When Jose and I were newly weds, we moved into our first house, a small two bedroomed terraced house. My bride wanted a shelf put up in our dining room. My brand new Black and Decker drill, given to us as a wedding present by my Uncle Jeff, was still in its box. If my new bride wanted a shelf, a shelf is what she will get. Whilst drilling the very first hole in the wall a piece of grit flew into my eye. It was very painful, I tried to remove it, the top eye lid over the bottom lid method was used, Jose tried the scientific "corner of a wet handkerchief" procedure, the neighbours all joined in with their own tried and tested methods, I was told to lean forward and blink, then to lean back and blink, I had water splashed into my eye and then to blink, someone blew into my eye whilst I blinked, all failed and my eye was in a terrible sore and blood-shot state. it was off to hospital.

 

Once at hospital, a local anaesthetic was put into my eye, and my eye was washed out and the tiny bit of grit was shown to me, I thought with all the pain they would show me something the size of "Hyde Park", but no, a tiny piece, a spec of grit was causing me such pain. They placed an eye patch over my eye and told me to keep the patch on for 24 hours. The reason? I now had anaesthetic in my eye and if anything else which offends the eye, were to invade and get into my eye, I would not know and rubbing it I could cause a lot of damage. The anaesthetic would stop the pain from telling me that anything was wrong. Pain is our bodies way of telling us something is wrong and it needs to be fixed, tooth ache, appendicitis, aching joints. The bodies warning system.

 

Remembering my experience and the hospital advice of not knowing something was wrong helped me think through the Lewis quote, God must have really loved us to have given us pain and suffering.

I interpret that wisdom as representing how pain tells us that something is wrong. But what is wrong?? I believe the world living without a relationship with God is what is wrong.
When serious pain crashes into our lives I notice we all say "God why me" at that moment we remember Him. Others might say, "If you are a God of Love why all the pain and suffering" at that point we remember Him. The deals made with God when tragedies hit "Grant me this and I will believe in you" and God is remembered. Pain and suffering helps us to remember God. God wants us to remember Him and come to Him, that's how much He loves us. If there was no pain and suffering, would we even give Him a second thought?

 

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. (Psalm 119:50)
 

For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  (2 Corinthians 1:5)
 

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3)
 

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.(1 Peter 4:2)
 

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.   (Isaiah 38:17)
 

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:71)
 

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10)
 

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)
 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be joy revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

(Scroll down to the bottom to see a very funny dentist sketch on anaesthetic)  

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PICNIC IN THE PARK

Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

A great afternoon and fellowship, football, bats and balls, skipping, ice creams, fun and laughter, a great afternoon as BCBC gathered together. Looking forward to the BCBC, BBQ on the 17th August at 4pm until whenever ,at the manse.

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FELLA'SHIP's plans

1. To research and plan for the removal of the organ. This instrument with no musical playing function, which served the church for many years can serve this church again, by raising funds for another project. Please pray for these plans.
2. To organise and hold a "Men's Breakfast" on the 12th October. This will be a relational evangelistic event. Please pray that our men will be graced with good response as they invite family and friends to the breakfast.
3. To host our Youth by taking them out for a "CURRY EVENING" in November (TBA) Please pray that we can make a good deal at the Well Hall Tandoori for a great price and a great evening.
4. Fella'Ship have found a new song to learn and sing to the church, the song is top secret!!! sssshhhhh! Please pray for their voices and rehearsals.

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This weeks message

 

SHOWING CHRIST-LIKE COMPASSION

Luke 10:30-37
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