Thursday, October 9, 2014

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

From My Perspective - - - 

Tuesday morning, I was traveling to an appointed meeting. The most direct route, utilized by many on a daily basis,  was unexpectedly blocked by Police and Emergency Vehicles. The evening news reported that an older adult was leaving his residential area and drove directly into the path of a School Bus. There was no possibility of the bus being able to avoid a direct hit to the car. The unintended consequence was that the man was instantly killed and his car totally destroyed. 

The Wednesday evening news featured a report of an area young woman making a choice to move to Oregon where there is a right to die law. This will enable her to be in a place where she can have and make the choice for the date of her death. She has chosen November First as the date for her “death with dignity” option. She has inoperable brain cancer that is predicted to bring about excruciating pain as death draws near. The picture drawn is that she will be able to die by her own terms that include being in her own bed; her favorite music being played; her parents and husband seated by her bedside and her ability to say her final goodbyes. The unintended consequences in this situation are yet to be determined.

The news last night included an interview with US Army General Jack Keane (Ret) who was addressing the brazen attacks of ISIS on a city near the border of Turkey. While the world literally watches this battle unfold, the Administration of the United States is locked into a policy where full engagement against ISIS-ISIL is not an option. General Keane opined: “The President is paralyzed by the fear of unintended consequences.” As an aside, this is a good reason why the Military should conduct the war and not a passive and pacifying political leader. In the face of this nation’s timidity, ISIS-ISIL is becoming more emboldened to do whatever it wishes and whenever it chooses to do so. 

Today In The Word, Thursday: October 9th, contains these comments about death and unintended consequences: “In his book The Christian Art of Dying, theologian Allen Verhey remarks: Churches have grown too often silent about death. When Christians have spoken, they have too often participated in the denial of the hard reality of death, serving up warmed-over Platonic platitudes as if they were genuine consolation. King Josiah had instituted many spiritual reforms for the kingdom of Judah, including celebrating the Passover. But he disregarded counsel to stay out of a battle against Egypt and was mortally wounded. It was the beginning of the end for Judah: the kings that followed Josiah persisted in evil, and Judah became a puppet state of Egypt and was then destroyed and exiled by the Babylonians (2 Chronicles 36). The prophet Jeremiah did not offer the people of Judah platitudes in response to the death of Josiah. As they mourned their fallen king, Jeremiah composed laments that would provide a corporate vocabulary for grieving (v. 25). When we wrestle with the death of a loved one, it is a blessing to have a leader or friend help guide us in how to lament. We should not minimize the pain of death.”

Our Daily Bread, Thursday: October 9th, contains these comments about perspective: “In C. S. Lewis’ book God in the Dock, he wrote: If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad. Sometimes we expect that life should be happy and pain-free. But that is not what the Bible teaches. For the believer, this world is a place of spiritual development through both good times and bad. Jesus was realistic when He explained what to expect in life. He told His disciples: In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). In facing life’s blessings and bruises, we can have the inner peace that God is orchestrating events according to His sovereign plan.” Are you one who is paralyzed with fear regarding the unintended consequences that may bruise or injure you? It would be to one’s advantage to embrace Psalm 37 as a reed upon which one can lean. When doing so, verse 7 should be an encouragement to: Rest (Relax) in the Lord and wait patiently for Him (for His timing, His will and His purpose to be made known - His way is always perfect). You can know His intended purposes for you! Consider these things with me!

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