David,

I just tossed that rope in the fire, ain't no hanging going on around here 
brother lol. It isn't hard to do I'll grant you that, but you just invoked 
me to make a couple more comments lol. As far as God's will to heal or not 
heal, we'll miss that one, but I do want to say you have some great 
points.  One of the tag lines in my email program, which I didn't make up 
but I love is... "People are looking for a move of God, while God is 
looking for a move of people". You are right there is a wicked and shallow 
group of people, some chasing only the flighty weird stuff and others who 
are young believer's going astray looking for signs and wonders.  I find 
that appalling actually. I've been too close to that situation and thank 
God for his gracing me with prudence and wisdom to not enter that. I'll 
tell ya, there are some strange folk out there in the name of Christianity. 
Anyway, I think you'd agree, at least I hope you would see, that we aren't 
here, looking for such wonderments of God for some oogly googly, uokie 
spooky, goose bump of a chiller of a feeling, but rather honestly looking 
at Word, our situation and our feelings towards our situation. You are 
right, the church has become very selfish. A pastor in these parts was 
earning $93,000 a year all up with bennies and etc. from a church with 200 
folks in it, the total budget for the entire church is only $125,000 so 
that already gives you a perspective. And when he was approached to have 
his salary cut by $6,000 he wasn't happy and suggested they cut back 
missions. Well how much missions can they do on the remaining balance of 
his compensation of a $125,000 budget considering the rest of the operating 
costs? How can we expect congregation members to see generosity and the 
real reason for a church's existence if it is led as such? I'm not picking 
on pastors, it was just a prime example that came to mind. Yes even not 
offering help among fellow congregation members shows that too. I agree 
with you it is a problem. I'm thankful we have people like Greg and Kathy 
out there doing God's work for God's purpose, God's glory, and helping 
those who need it.

Brad


Brad

   Do not change your theology to accommodate a tragedy