life lessons: part 2

{Check out part 1, if you haven’t already}

My reading/studies coming into this week have been very {unintentionally} fitting, for what has happened.

Here is the breakdown:

• Job
• Rob Bell’s The God’s Aren’t Angry (video)
• Romans 1:18-3:31, especially the first two sections entitled in the NIV God’s Wrath Against Mankind & God’s Righteous Judgment
• Karl Barth’s The Epistle to the Romans, on the above section

As you can see, those are some heavy preparatory materials for what was to come.

While I was in the middle of the worst of it, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Job’s peril or the judgment which the world deserves. I wondered about why it was happening, was this some type of judgment against us; what had we/I done to upset God.

Though I had those certain questions, they really came from my sense of confusion at what was happening. My heart had a very different reaction; I felt such a sense of peace and security about the whole event. Even though we lost power and did without many of the luxuries of modern life for most of the week, we still had a warm house and enjoyed warm meals where I could eat my fill. I felt nothing but a sense of blessing throughout it all.

I guess there was a sense of feeling like Job, I couldn’t really explain what was going on, but I knew that God was still there the whole time taking care of everything. I definitely wasn’t going to give into those who would want to curse God, or blame my unrighteousness.

My continuing studies through these sources should be extra fulfilling after seeing such a community wide event.