BookPastor >> "Just Show Up" (Kara Tippetts)

This review was first published at Panorama of a Book Saint on November 4th, 2015.

conrade

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TITLE: Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking through Suffering Together
AUTHOR: Kara Tippetts
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishers, 2015, (192 pages).

This book begins with a somber greeting: "Hi. My name is Kara Tippetts, and I may not be alive when you read this book. I hope so, but I don’t know. That decision is in the hands of the Author of my life—His name is Jesus. I trust Him with every ounce of who I am."

With these words, Tippetts begins this book with hope, that even when she does not know what to do, what to say, or what to answer, just showing up is already a blessing in itself. It is also a step of humility to come as we are to say: "I'm here. I may not have the answers, but I'm here." With "Just Show Up" as her principle of perseverance through the ups and downs, and especially the suffering moments of life, cancer patient Tippetts shows us what perseverance means amid the pains and sorrows of life. Tippetts died on March 22, 2015, but not without touching the lives of many. Through this book, her life continues to influence many even after her death. Written with Jill Lynn Buteyn, author of inspirational novel, Falling for Texas, this book is an honest down to earth retelling of the struggles through the tough times of life by simply walking together and being present for each other.

BookPastor >> "Naming the Silences" (Stanley Hauerwas)

I know the Christmas season is fast approaching. While many shopped till they drop, and celebrate from dusk to dawn, I am very aware many others suffer in silence. This is especially for those who are missing loved ones either passed away, separated, or missing.

This review was first published at "A Book Pastor Recommends" on May 9th, 2011. It is a powerful reflection on God, medicine and the problem of suffering.

conrade

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TITLE: NAMING THE SILENCES - God, Medicine, and the Problem of Suffering
AUTHOR Stanley Hauerwas
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1990, (154 pages).

While many books talk about pain, suffering, evil, and the existence of God, Hauerwas takes a different tack. While most people seem fixated on questions such as: "When or Why Bad Things Happen to Good People?" Hauerwas questions the question. He points out the faulty thinking behind the question surrounding pain and suffering. That is why the author makes no attempt to try to explain away evil and suffering. The book is a way to question this question in such a way to show that theodicy and the problem of suffering is not to be explained but named.

According to Hauerwas, while he recognizes that there is a legitimate need for sufferers, and people in pain to find an explanation for life's pressing questions, he is more interested to tackle the 'question' behind the question, made famous by Harold Kushner.

"Before the Morning" (Josh Wilson)

When we are down or distressed, we need a hand to guide us upward. We need hope to point us forward. We need to focus on the Risen One, who has promised us something far better than anything we can find on this earth: His Very Self.

This song is particularly encouraging as it does exactly that, to enable us to remember that darkness will never be forever. For the dark times we encounter, are but "before the morning." The dark night would never have the last say. It's the morning that will come forth. God's glory. Here the story behind the song here.

Before The Morning (Josh Wilson)

Do you wonder why you have to,
Feel the things that hurt you,
If there's a God who loves you,
Where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Some day some how, you'll see, you'll see

Would you dare, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain that you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling, 
It's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
And you know where you're going,
You just don't know how you get there
So just say a prayer.
And hold on, cause there's good for those who love God,
Life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
But you'll see the bigger picture

Would you dare, would you dare, to believe,
That you still got a reason to sing,
'cause the pain that you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, you just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling, 
It's just the dark before the morning
Yeah, yeah,
Before the morning,
Yeah, yeah

Once you feel the weight of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Once you feel the weight of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Memory, memory, yeah

Would you dare, would you dare, to believe,
That you still got a reason to sing,
'cause the pain that you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would you dare, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain that you've been feeling,
Can't compare to the joy that's coming

Com'n, you got to wait for the light
Press on, you just fight the good fight
Because the pain you've been feeling,
It's just the hurt before the healing

The pain you've been feeling,
Just the dark before the morning
Before the morning, yeah, yeah
Before the morning

conrade

BookPastor >> "Evil and the Justice of God." (NT Wright)

This book review was first published at Yapdates here on June 5th, 2007.

conrade

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TITLE: Evil and the Justice of God
AUTHOR: Nicholas T. Wright
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2006, (176 pages).

No theologian is ever a theologian if he/she does not tackle head on, at some point of their life, the problem of evil and the goodness of God. NT Wright, a world renowned scholar is one who recently tackled this in his book "Evil and the Justice of God" (IVP, 2006). At 176 pages over five chapters, Wright gives a broad overview of the past attempts by different quarters in explaining the problem of evil. He bemoans the present postmodern ideas of dualism and progressivism (that things will get better and better), arguing that they are inadequate. He challenges Christians at the present to think Christianly in terms of three recognitions:

1. To recognize the flaw that assumes Western type democracy is perfect, complete, or a climax of a long drawn process of wise noble libertarianism.
2. To recognize that there is a deep dimension of evil in this world.
3. To recognize the line between good and evil is not simply between 'us' and 'them' but through everyone of us.

An interesting suggestion Wright makes is in terms of imagining a world without evil. This is a cogent thought as it broadens our typical approach to 'explain' into the realm of imagination. Our imagination needs to be educated, and one way is through the arts which can help us to integrate heart, mind and soul on the matter.

Art at its best not only draws attention to the way things are but to the way things are meant to be, and by God's grace to the way things one day will be, when the earth is filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. And when Christian artists go to that task they will be contributing to the integration of heart, mind and soul which we seek, to which we are called. They will be pointing forward to the new world God intends to make, to the world already seen in advance in the resurrection of Jesus, to the world whose charter of freedom was won when he died on the cross. (p128)

Finally, Wright urges for the understanding of evil in the light of the cross of Christ, of which we see a forgiveness in ourselves and others. Wright recommends three books, namely Miroslav Volf's Exclusion and Embrace, Gregory Jones's Embodying Forgiveness and Desmond Tutu's No future without forgiveness. Volf's argument is that one must face and name evil head on when dealing with international relations or one-to-one personal relations, to identify and then embrace. Jones touches the pastoral and personal details while Tutu brings in practical and political perspectives. Wright concludes by mentioning three ways to be able to be delivered from evil.
1) The death of Jesus of Nazareth at the cross has confronted and dealt with evil once and for all, that evil has already been defeated once and for all.
2) At the cross of Jesus, lies forgiveness that will release (not relief) us from guilt
3) The cross of Christ is the final victory over the forces of evil, and will usher in the new world eventually, a world with a future.

What about forgiveness in terrible evils done in the past, like the Holocaust? Wright puts it very pastorally, saying that the present ill-feelings over the evils committed will also be healed in the eschatological future. One will indeed find true forgiveness eventually in our new resurrection bodies. The physical, the mental pain of unresolved anger and bitterness will be dissolved, as one allows oneself to be forgiven and to forgive. I like his articulation which I reproduce below:

"The quest for a solution is not a quest for the intellectually satisfying answer to the problem of why evil is there in the first place. Rather, the quest for a solution to the problem of evil is a seach for ways in which the healing, restorative justice of the Creator God himself - a justice which will one day suffuse the whole creation - can be brought to bear, in advance of that ultimate reality, within the present world of space, time, matter and messy realities in human lives and societies." (p149-150)

In a nutshell, forgiveness is only possible in the power of the Cross. I agree.

ks

A Faith That Overcomes (Testimony of Jacqueline Law)

Thanks to Timothy L who shared this, this farewell video of the HK star, Jacqueline Law has become a touching testament of faith. How one person who learns to overcome the challenges of life, economic hardship, questions of life, her struggle with deaf, and cancer, goes beyond simply trying to deal with her own struggles. She wants to give glory to God and hope to others too!

This video is mostly in Cantonese, with a little Mandarin sprinkled throughout. With both Chinese and English subtitles, readers will be warmed and encouraged to see and hear the powerful testimony of this brave sister in Christ, who died of pancreatic cancer in Singapore on June 30th, 2012 at the age of 46.

I learn from her life and her testimony about the importance of faith, of friends to share the pain and struggles, and of the Church that points one another toward the True Hope and Joy in God. Be encouraged. This video may be lengthy, but I assure you, it is worth your time. Set aside a part of your schedule, and then watch this.

The Full Video (about 40 minutes)

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For those who are time conscious, I have placed the following links with headings for your convenience.

1. Introduction to Jacqueline Law (0:00 - 7:07)
2. Lightness of Soul (9:01 - 10:31)
3. Video Background (10:32 -13:27)
4. "Spiritually Strong when Physically Weak" (13:28)
5. Challenge #1 Testing and Coming to Faith - (15:43)
6. Challenge #2 - Encountering Deaf and Despair (19:51)
7. Serving People in Love @ Mary Kay (21:44)
8. Challenge #3 - Cancer and Chemotherapy (25:46)
9. Love not Sympathy (28:46)
10. Between Limits and Unlimited (31:26)
11. Far Sighted Vision (33:18)
12. Concluding Words (37:57)

Thank you, Jacqueline Law, for your life of faith, and your joy in the Lord Jesus that surpasses all worldly understanding. Rest in peace.

conrade

"Where is God when it hurts?" - 3 Responses

One of the biggest struggles people of faith have is to reconcile God's goodness with the evil and suffering they see each day. Simply put, if God is a good Creator who creates all good, then why is there evil in the world? If God creates everything, isn't it true that evil is also created by God? While philosophers ponder about the problem of evil, people who suffer from evil under the sun often ask: "Where is God when it hurts?"

There are at least three ways to approach this question. The first counters the question with another question. The second does not even bother to ask the question, but rally around the people in pain. It defaults to simply trusting God to reveal answers in God's perfect time.

A) "Where is the Church when it hurts?"

This is Philip Yancey's approach when he was asked the same question following the Virginia Tech University gun massacre back in April 2007. The main point is to refocus the question back to the person asking the question. Philosophers tend to treat the problem of evil from a distant perspective, bringing forth all kinds of arguments for or against any type of answers. We are not able to speak for God for things we do not understand. The best way for us on earth is to learn to comfort, to walk with, and to understand as best as we can, the suffering our friends or loved ones are going through. The Church is called to do this. In the beatitude, it says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). God often use people of faith to comfort people in their communities. In the age of the Internet, this ability to comfort can reach a great distance. A warm assuring hug is far better than a good intellectual answer.

B) A Band-Aid Community, Not Questions and Answers

This approach is practised by the Amish people. In the aftermath of the horrible killings of four young Amish girls, the rest of the world watched in bewilderment to see how the Amish community banded together without even bothering to ask the question about "Where is God?" Instead, they already knew where God is, and their focus was on healing, on recovery, on forgiveness, and on adopting a fear of God first. Yancey notes:

"They knew where God was. With their long history of persecution, the Amish were not for an instant surprised by another horrifying outbreak of evil. They rallied around, ministered to one another, and even embraced the killer's family. In sum, they healed wounds by relying on a sense of community that had solidified over centuries." (Philip Yancey, What Good is God?, New York, NY: Faithwords, 33)

In the absence of questions or answers, the Amish people simply provide a Ministry of Presence. True healing needs a community who can be present, when the need arises.

C) God the Most Perfect Comforter

God is there in the pain. God is there in the suffering. God is with each of us where we are. He is not the instigator of evil. Suffering in itself is a mystery. We can try to explain it, but we will always come up short. In times of pain and suffering, asking philosophical questions are not only mind-boggling, it is unhelpful. Better to put our faith and trust in God, who spared not His own Son, but allowed His Son to die on the Cross. Think about it. A sinless man. A blameless man. An innocent man, purest of the pure, fairest of the fair. Yet He suffered unjustly, died cruelly, and buried unceremoniously. This is God who understands to the core of our being what it means to suffer. It is because God understands perfectly, we can trust Him.

May the Lord guide us when and how to adopt a ministry of presence, of comfort, and of trust.

conrade

Guest Posting: "Righteousness Comes from Suffering"

From time to time, I allow guest postings from my blog readers to be published on Yapdates. The writer is a 'Special Education Teacher' for 15 years and has contributed an article on suffering and righteousness. The views are entirely attributed to the author and does not necessarily represent mine or Yapdates blog. It is provided 'as-is' (with slight formatting) to provide a diversity of views on suffering and the Christian. My comments will appear on this blog post at a later date.

Thanks Denise for your contribution.

conrade

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Righteousness Comes from Suffering

Author: Denise Keene

Throughout the Bible, there is a theme of finding righteousness through suffering. There are two verses, in particular, that offer guidance on how Christians should approach weakness and suffering in life.   These two verses can also offer encouragement for those who are affected by physical or mental disabilities. Christ tells us to revere those who suffer, and to strive to live our lives with the same humility and faith that they often do.

Christ teaches that we should embrace physical pain and remain humble about our life on Earth, because it is temporary. As Christians, we should remain mindful that our souls are what really make us who we are, not our bodies. For this reason, those with physical or mental disabilities (and their family and friends) should find comfort in knowing that their bodily disorder is not what makes them who they are…their soul does.

In the following verse from 2 Corinthians, Paul tells a story about his conceitedness and how Christ showed him humility by placing a thorn in his side. Paul pleaded for Christ to remove his torment. This is what followed:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he (Christ) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In the next shared verse, Peter writes in a letter to a several different churches telling them that they must stop taking part in earthly desire and embrace suffering in order to follow Christ:

1 Peter 4:1-2: Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with this attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

These two verses are essentially a reminder that we all have to suffer in order to find righteousness. However, in this suffering, Christ will provide us strength and eternal life.

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Denise Keene has been a Special Education teacher for 15 years and likes to write articles about various related topics. She also owns the site Masters In Special Education.

Maundy Thursday Reflection 2011

TITLE: A Half-Way Belief is Not Faith at All 
Written by: Conrade Yap
Date: 21 Apr 2011

"My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished. The grave is ready for me. Surely mockers are with me, and my eye gazes on their provocation." (Job 17:1-2)

MAIN THOUGHT: Our inability to grow strong in faith stems not from an absence of faith, but from a presence of half-belief.

For some of us, we cannot wait for Easter to come. Sunday School teachers tell kids to come in their 'Easter best.' They are told things about Easter egg hunt, Easter bunnies, and all things fun. Along with it, they say things like "He is Risen," "Jesus lives!" or "He is alive!"

All things rejoicing! All things wonderful! All things celebration!

That's just the icing on the cake. We still need the cake. The cake of pain and suffering. The cake of despair and utter loneliness. The cake of carrying the weight of the world's sins on one's shoulders. Easter is nothing without the suffering. Easter is not meaningful without Jesus' sacrifice and death at the cross. If Christ has not died, how can one then say He is risen?

Book Review: "The Scent of Water"

TITLE: THE SCENT OF WATER - grace for every kind of broken
AUTHOR: Naomi Zacharias
PUBLISHER: Zondervan, 2011, (224 pages).

With wisdom and wit, Naomi Zacharias shares her journey of learning how to cope with brokenness through her own ministry travels as well as her own personal life. She invites readers to follow her in this book, which in a way is her personal memoir and observations about a world in need of grace and healing. If you are like me, you will probably feel three particular emotions: Anger at injustice, anguish at helplessness, and appreciation for grace.

The first part of the book makes me angry. Angry at the injustice perpetrated so openly in the developing world. Angry at how broken the world has become. Angry at how women have been forced into prostitution, suffered domestic violence, while governments and institutions appear helpless against it. The second part of the book brings me anguish. Anguish about the helplessness of a broken world. Agony about how the weak and the vulnerable have been abused, and the limited help people can give.  It is the third and final part of the book that the author shares deeply and intimately about her own broken life. This final part is written in a way that the author is able to use her own sense of brokenness to connect with the broken world. Put all these together, we have a book that whether anger, anguish, or agony, there is the potential of grace that can flow into every crevice of injustice, every sign of weakness, every hint of vulnerability, and every kind of broken.

Suffering: Problem with "Why Me?" question

A group I am leading is currently journeying through the book of Job. We intend to complete the entire book by the end of the year. Last night, we touch on Job 13-14. In my summary, I highlight the need to ask questions rather than provide answers. One of the most popular questions people in pain and suffering almost always ask is: "WHY ME?"

A) Why the "Why Me?" question is Unhelpful
While understandable, I feel that it is not helpful for 3 reasons. Firstly, "Why me?" tends to focus more on getting answers intellectually without helping the heart. Ok. If a pedestrian is knocked down by a drunk driver, and loses his leg, what good is the question? Will the pedestrian be satisfied with the drunk driver saying:

• "Oh. Sorry. I just had 2 beers and I didn't know that could knock me out?"
• "Oops. I must have driven a little too fast."
• "Oh, I didn't see you coming."

Or will the victim be content with investigators armed with data about the lighting conditions, or the road hazards in the vicinity, or the wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time prognosis? No. The leg is gone. The pain is not.