Towers, yachts, and blood sacrifices

Is God really involved in our daily lives? To what extent? In every circumstance? The very recent tragedy of the couple from Marina Del Rey murdered by the Somali pirates begs this question at least for me. These folks were doing the work of the Lord, traveling the world and handing out bibles. They weren't singled out because they were Christians in a hostile environment ( as far as I have heard anyway). These things happen in that part of the world to all types of people. Why then were they allowed to be captured and executed by these lower-than-sewer-scum criminals? A few things come to mind.



For one, I'm not so sure God does intervene in every single event no matter how mundane or monumental. If he did he could have caused any number of things to happen here. He could have sent a storm to block their path. He could have sunk the pirates with a big swell...or maybe a big fish ( Jonah?). But he didn't. Now I won't get into the discussion about why this couple decided to break off from their group and go it alone into the Gulf of Aden. That's for someone else to do. I just want to talk about my own ideas about the "why".



In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus comments on a couple of events. These are particularly interesting because they provide a rare biblical glimpse into some current event news items of the day that really do not have much to do with the gospel. In verse 1 he mentions some Galileans that were killed by Pontius Pilate in what must have been a gruesome spectacle. They were making sacrifices to their god ( it's not stated which god but pretty sure it wasn't Jehovah ) and apparently were murdered in the process and their own blood was mixed with the sacrificial offering in a mock ceremony.



The second event Jesus mentions is a tower that fell and killed 18 men. My bible commentary calls it a construction accident but it's not really described that way. It merely says it fell and 18 were killed. They could have used a class or two on safe construction methods.



In examining both of these situations Jesus asks the listeners the question "Do you suppose these were worse sinners than those around them and deserved this punishment?". He answers his own question - "No".



This leads me to a tenuous conclusion. God must be involved in our daily lives ( the evidence is very obvious sometimes ) but there are some things that just happen as a result of living in an imperfect and fallen world. We all die. Some of us die peacefully in our sleep after a long, productive, joy filled life. Some of us die in horrible unimaginable pain and suffering. Some of us die in the most unlikely way and at the most inopportune time. Bad things happen to everyone at some point. God is there to walk through it with us and to listen to our cries but he doesn't often choose to let us side step whatever is challenging us ( if he did I would have won the lottery by now ) and he doesn't get in the way of what are mostly natural disasters.



This is my conclusion on this matter for the time being. Your mileage may vary!

Budweiser

I was a beer snob for quite a while. Bud was looked down on as little better than colored water. Then last summer while on the way back from a ride to Pioneertown and Yucca Valley with a friend we stopped at a little hole in the wall bar in Lucerne Valley. The only thing on tap was Bud, Bud lite, and Coors. We had two of the coldest beers I've ever had. Ice was floating on top. My disdain for Bud evaporated at that moment and I have been a fan ever since ( again ).

Church

So we planned on going to church today but I screwed up the time and it was 10 minutes to time with a 30 minute drive to go. We skipped it since walking in late is worse than no going at all IMHO. Plus the fact the we are visiting a new one makes it even more awkward.

Wonder if the Lord is shaking his head and wondering why he bothered?

Internet forums

I hang out on a Harley Davidson motorcycle forum. Well as much as you can call the internet a "place" to hang out anyway. Found it in March '10 and have been active on it since for new rider advice, technical info and just general biker BS. It's funny how even in this short time ( it's been around for quite a few years ) the overall personality has changed.

At first people were almost universally nice, friendly, and good naturedly humorous. But over the last several months it took a really nasty turn. Lots of comments and threads about " Who's a real biker" and "if you don't ride 500 miles a day you're not a real biker". What I find amazing is the things that people judge others for even within a group that has a common denominator like Harley riding. There seem to be a recognizable few that reguarly get into these pissin' matches with others. They claim to be "real" bikers-the 1% patch wearin' club types. They like to put down and look down on those of us who just want to ride and be a part of the Harley lifestyle.

Wonder if they are really just insecure and trying to reinforce that they are really as badass as they think they are? No doubt there are a lot of really serious guys you don't want to mess with in the "life" ( as well as other segments of society ) but are they really taking the time to hang out on an internet forum?

Today

I'll gripe about the weather, drivers on the freeway, work, the general state of societal decay, etc. I don't expect anyone else but me to find this remotely interesting but it would be nice to carry on a discourse sometimes.

Water under the bridge

It's been 3 years since my last and only post. Lots of things have happened since then some of which render that post irrelevant.