Yes it still stands. Some can’t access it because of others greed. I’ve been heartened by the distribution of vaccines to countries that can’t afford it - perhaps, just perhaps, it might lead to less selfishness and more of the same in the future by wasteful first world countries
Edit: Genesis 1 tells us that mankind was given the job of caretaker over the whole earth. We’ve failed in our job, not God
Last edited by Paula; 01-03-21 at 03:41 PM.
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
Suzi (01-03-21)
Luke 13:1-5,14
[1] Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. [2] Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? [3] I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. [4] Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them---do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
"Apparently those making the report were looking for Jesus to offer some explanation of why bad things happen to normal people—in this case even while they were worshiping. The "sin and calamity" issue involves a presumption that an extraordinary tragedy in some way must signify extraordinary guilt. It assumes that a victim must have done something terrible for God to allow something so tragic to happen to them........ Jesus responded to the question, answering that the calamities suffered by the victims of the falling of the tower of Siloam were not related to their relative sinfulness. He then diverted the focus onto the interrogators, wanting them to focus on their own souls.
His mention of the fall of the Tower of Siloam added a nuance to his prior point: accidents happen. Therefore, even in the absence of persecution, death can come unexpectedly to anyone, irrespective of how righteous or how sinful they are”
(NB I don’t usually use Wikipedia as a reference source, but this says exactly what I wanted to say)
The issue of why people suffer is extraordinarily hard, and i don’t claim to have all, or even any, of the answers - this is an issue that has been debated as long as mankind has existed.......
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
I'm struggling to get my head round this one today.
Do a little of something that makes you happy every day!
Yeah, me too, every day. I know the teaching around this subject, but it’s so hard to accept. I don’t have blind faith (I’ve spent most of my life studying Christianity to try to figure out what I believe), but this is one of those topics where I try to accept that true faith is trusting God even (especially) when I struggle to accept something, and that I won’t ever understand everything about Him itms. I don’t always succeed in acceptance.....
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
I do try, but it's just something that I really struggle with.
Do a little of something that makes you happy every day!
Luke 13:10-17
[10] On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, [11] and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. [12] When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” [13] Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. [14] Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” [15] The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? [16] Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” [17] When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.
This is partly about the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders (you work to give you donkey water!) but also about what is the purpose of the Sabbath. The book of Isaiah chapter 55 verse 13 calls the Sabbath a ‘delight’ and the passage above tells us the people were ‘delighted’.
Jesus says, in the Gospel of Matthew,
Matthew 11:28-30
[28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
“Jesus reminded the people of God’s actual intent for the Sabbath: unity with God, creation, and each other that was first found in Eden on page one of the Bible”. (Bibleproject.com)
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
This seems straight forward, but also difficult too.. I know it's about sharing love and healing every single day, but wasn't one of the commandments not to work on the Sabbath? So why is it therefore OK to do so?
Do a little of something that makes you happy every day!
Does this help?
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/ch...e-sabbath.html
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
It does, thank you.
Do a little of something that makes you happy every day!
Luke 13:22-30
[22] Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. [23] Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, [24] “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. [25] Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' “But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' [26] “Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' [27] “But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' [28] “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. [29] People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. [30] Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
The questioner is not asking the question he wants to. What he wants to ask is ‘Lord, will I be saved?’ So, Jesus answers with ‘you need to come to the door and try to get in now, because eventually the door will be locked. And don’t confuse having heard me, or about me, with actually knowing me’.
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
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