Do you believe in "Divine Intervention"?

To the op, yes. Many times some odd circumstance or combination has arisen that changed my plans, from minutes to life decisions and I look back and can only say "Wow, thanks Lord!".

Do I believe the Almighty could put together the circumstances the OP noted, sure, but I think Fitz nailed it early on.

 

On this last tangent, LC, in my post a couple up. The scripture has the plan for what is desired, what is best for us. Rules in the original books; love, forgiveness, guidance, instruction, relationship advice and a big helping of awe in the layer books.

Divorce and Marriage, span the old and new testaments. It's the plan, advice and to some the rules for how to do it right. As I alluded to in my prior post we may never know all that is behind those rules [ed added this], but I'm sure it's intended for our good.

BUT, I hope and pray you can find your way back over the fence... though we try to follow rules, we can't always. Pick your self up, talk to somebody if you need, ask for forgiveness if you need to, and make amends if needed-that part is not difficult in the grand scheme of things. The good thing is its not a 50' tall, barbed wire and electrified fence.

 

So it's divine when only something works out in our favor right? What was god doing during sandy hook,sorry for me to much horrible things happen in this world to believe that god reaches down a touches me and not someone else.

 

Nope, not only when things go as we like our in our favor, but it is a lot easier to be gracious and thankful when they do.

God let's it rain on the just and unjust.

I don't believe he is a puppet master and orchestrating every event... Again he created us, and we are a bunch of screw ups. He created good and evil and allows both. Sandy Hook obviously evil... 9/11 evil too. I believe good can come out of both, maybe not in our life times and we may not be able to conceive of or even be able to see the good.

Why, I'm a simpleton and will never fully understand why. Maybe as a caution to others (e.g. Sodom and Gamorrah). Maybe this was inspired evil (e.g. Satan). Maybe for us to rely more on him, grow a dependence and relationship with him, but this is more of a 3 or 400 course topic. But for Sandy Hook specifically, I don't feel that I don't have to ask or know the why... But that's me.

 

Okay denominations was the wrong word... I don't care for them either. There are some real pastors who lead groups of people who are truly committed to reaching out to real people with real problems without judging them. I am moved by our Lord's response when asked how to judge the woman caught in the act of adultery. No one condemns you madam? Neither do I... you are free to go... sin no more.

 

I know it's quite a drive... but you would be welcome at my church... well Christ's church where I... well I don't really preach... I try to help people make sense of scripture... as best I can. I deal with those nagging questions like why women have to be silent... and what it means to submit... One theme that runs through our services is what good is it if it doesn't help us. I got sick of those kind of messages... don't do this... don't do that... do this... do that. How about we just teach... Do unto your neighbor as you would have it done unto you? I guess some find satisfaction in destroying people with problems, wrongly thinking they are doing God a favor instead of helping them deal with real people with real problems in God honoring ways.

Sin is still sin... but the list is really long... and as I read it... you know what I discover? I have some things that make the list too. More than many people that I could judge as a worse sinner than me to make me feel better about myself. That is delusional thinking... Maybe I can fool myself... maybe I can fool a few people... but I won't be fooling the real judge any time soon. LC, you don't need to cross any fences... I can promise all those perfect people on the other side of "the fence" are no different than you are. You see, you have a huge advantage already... you are at least being honest... God will honor that far above those who refuse to see the plank in their own eye but point out the piece of sawdust in their neighbors.

 

Those that are in Christ are bound by Faith to the new covenant. Those that live by the Law are bound to the Law. The Old Testament is valid and unchanged, however; we have been given redemption through Christ and can achieve salvation through our Faith in Him. The New Testament will give Scriptural evidence to support this. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The only way to the Father is through the Son. If you choose Jesus you are above the Law and will be wrapped in His grace. Therefore you die from your old self and become renewed by Faith to observe the commandments written in the Scriptures. There is none that can say their burden is greater than what Jesus endured. Place your burden at the foot of the Cross.

 

Be careful with this... Many so called christians think they can "live above the law" while judging others for doing the same things. WRONG... so very wrong... I know that's not what you meant though.

 

You are very correct and the new covenant is surly not a license to sin.

 

Not quite sure how one is above the law as a Christian as there are societal laws.

 

In that the Old Testament is the law of God and through it, due to the original sin, all men are destined to death. In the New Testament, Jesus shed his blood to pay for the sins of all man and whoever believes in him and accepts him as savior are freed from the death and given into everlasting life. Therefore they are above the law that condemns them to death.

 

Salvation is not earned by keeping the law but freely given by faith in Christ. The law is a schoolmaster to show us exactly what sin is (Galatians 3:24). Romans 7 is a great read regarding this question.

 

This death in the nt speaks of bot physical human death but more of spiritual death no? Otherwise I don't understand why there are many Christians for the death penalty

 

where do you get that information at? Everyone at my church is against the death penalty.

 

Well there have been so many times where I've heard Christians say string Em up. This country is 75% Christians and we have the death penalty. Many Christians are for it and wouldn't mind doing vigilante justice or doing it themselves. I know many "staunch" Christians who say these things.

 

Was the death of Bin Laden justifiable? Hussein? How about the police shooting the Boston Marathon bombers? When would it be okay? Just curious.

 

For lack of wood a fire goes out.