Update:
Wednesday was another beautiful day outside and I wanted to get out in
it; but I chose to stay in and apply myself since the day before I was out all
day. I could tell that my hospital
visitation trip on Tuesday drained my energy reserve; my stamina has increased
so it didn’t deplete me but I felt like I had less energy for most of the day
on Wednesday.
I worked hard during my exercises and really felt it in my muscles and
joints all the rest of the day. For the
longest time, most of my exercises were fairly simple for me. Now most of them are taking mental and
physical effort to perform. I know that
if I keep my routine up that soon these exercises will become easier too.
On the Wednesday evening, I decided to sweep and wet mop our hardwood
floors. I got a lot of the winter grit
up that we had tracked in. It took me almost
two hours to get it done and gave me a good workout in my shoulders too. I made dozens of trips back and forth in my
wheelchair to the sink to clean the mop; but I think the result was well worth
the effort.
This morning we were able to reduce the amount of insulin that I take
before breakfast each day. As I get
healthier and lose weight, the hope is that my pancreas will increase its
output and I can continue to reduce my insulin amounts across the board. So this morning’s small change to my usage
chart is a step in the right direction.
The forecast calls for heavy snow this afternoon, so I am staying home
today and not going to the office.
Trying to go anywhere in the snow with a wheelchair is at least a two
person job. It’s better for me to stay
home so I don’t get stuck. I cannot wait
until spring when the weather shouldn’t be as big as factor for my
schedule. Spring is coming soon! Yeah!
Thought for the Day:
When faced with evil, great pain and suffering, people often wonder,
“Why?” Modern man has carried that
question to a whole new level, and has made the argument that:
1. A truly good God would not want evil to exist; an all-powerful God
would not allow evil to exist.
2. Evil exists.
3. Therefore a God who is both good and powerful cannot exist.
On the surface that sounds pretty conclusive; except there is a hidden
premise in their argument. This argument
is based upon the assumption that God does not have any good reason to allow
evil to exist. “If God does have a good
reason for allowing suffering and evil, then there is no contradiction between
His existence and that of evil” [Timothy
Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].
A skeptic would then need to prove that God could not possibly have any
reasons to allow suffering and evil to exist; that is a nearly impossible to
prove. We ourselves will often allow
pain/suffering in someone’s life for a greater good. As parents, we discipline our children by
punishing bad or dangerous behavior.
Doctors will often inflict pain during a treatment knowing that in the
long run the patient will be healthier.
“So the principle of allowing pain for the good reason of bringing
about a greater happiness is valid and one we understand and use
ourselves. That means there is no
automatic inconsistency between God and the existence of evil and suffering”
[Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].
Keller also points out that there is “another implicit assumption
inside the first hidden premise. The
assumption is—‘if I cannot see any reasons God might have for permitting that
evil…then probably he doesn’t have any’”
[Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering].
As a Christian, I believe that God is not only all-powerful, but He is
also all-wise. His knowledge and wisdom
far exceeds our human understanding. If
God’s knowledge far exceeds our limited understanding, then it stands to reason
that God could have morally sufficient reasons for allowing evil that we can’t
think of. Just because I can’t see them
or can’t imagine there could even be a reason; does not make it so. In fact, assuming that “if I can’t think of a
good reason, then God cannot think of one either” is a mark of great overwhelming
pride in our own cognitive abilities.
So I am left with the decision whether to continue to trust in God’s
wisdom, care, and power despite the reality of evil, pain and suffering. As an alternative I guess that I could decide
to not believe in or worship a God who will not remove evil, pain, and
suffering; but then I would still have to face the reality of those things
without the benefit and support of God Himself.
Seems like a no-brainer to me!
As I have stated before, I don’t like pain, suffering, or evil; but
none of those things is a logical reason why I should question the reality of
God, or question His loving care, wisdom, or power. There
are just some things that I will not ever be able to comprehend—but I trust in
Him anyway.
Daniel 2:20-22 “Praise
be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He
gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and
hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”
Job 12:13 "To
God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.”
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