Good morning friends! Hope your week has been off to a great start so far! This past week has been one of those week's where there is just one song that I can get out of my head (I even woke up thinking about it this AM). And the song is (drumroll please...):
Counting Stars, One Republic
Isn't it so good!?
I don't know if it's the disaster in the Philippines, my research in oncology, or some else unbeknownst to me, but lately I've been spending more time than usual thinking about suffering and death as it relates to Christ. I don't have anything profound of my own to share, but I would like to share some resources that I'm finding really helpful as I grapple with this challenging topic.
This is a really awesome sermon series by Rick Warren of Saddleback church, where my family used to attend when I was younger (Rick wrote The Purpose Driven Life). In a really honest way, he and his wife talk about how the wrestled with the suicide of their son earlier this year, and what they learned from it. Their honesty is amazing, and I feel like they model so well how Christians don't just have to smile and say that nothing hurts, and everything is perfect even in pain.
This book by Rob Moll goes into how Christians over time have dealt with death and suffering. I'm still in the midst of reading it, but so far it's been really great!
Ok...so I'm only through the intro on this one, but it's Tim Keller, and I think it's pretty promising. It's broken up nicely into the philosophical arguments about suffering as well as practical ways to address suffering while you're in the midst of it. I'll keep you updated as to how it's going!
What about you all? Do you have any resources that have helped you as you think about this topic? How do you talk about it with others?
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10
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