Voices in the Night
Parker doesn’t let me sleep - well I fixed that…
Every Sunday morning, attending church I couldn’t help notice how often people in the pews would drift off to sleep so when I found myself not being able to sleep, I would turn on the radio – T.V and now the computer to listen to a sermon.
When I moved to Winkler. I’ve been quite open about my addiction to Jordan Petersen –speaking style - as a sleeping pill. I simply loved the way he would use a simple Bible story to explore a profound truth. Listening to him was like floating on a while cloud watching a high wire dance spinning thoughts and issues into the air and then catching them with a dramatic flair – breath taking. I don’t think I will ever tire of him. But every once in a while, in the middle of the night I will wake up to a new speaker. And this is the way I found myself listening to John Lenox about two weeks ago…
He too is brilliant. But he explores the Creation story in a new way and can actually debate atheists by proving God exists – with a confidence that I have never heard before.
Because he is a Professor of Mathematics (emeritus) at Oxford University and an internationally renowned speaker on the interface of science, philosophy, and religion he brings a unique insight to his exploration of the relationship between science and Christianity.
Recently I heard him take on the challenge of the most difficult question that we all have to face – eventually. Where is God in Suffering?
This one did not put me to sleep…
He began .. “It is one of the most difficult questions that any of us face, whether we're Christians, whether we're atheists, agnostics, or whatever particular worldview we have. We're all faced with the questions of pain and of suffering.
Then he continued. “…And the first thing is, of course, there are two problems here. There's the problem of moral evil, 9/11, for instance. And there's the problem of natural evil, ebola, for instance. Those are logically distinct problems…
He elaborates. “Is he, that is God, willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent? Is he able but not willing? Then is he malevolent? Is he both able and willing, whence then this evil?"
He continues...."People looking at this mixed signal that the universe sends to us often become atheists."
Or - as i have often seen - continue as Christian but become angry with God - an anger that kills their love and their faith….
Lennox 's conclusion is that God took a risk in making this world - and continues in this risk because God loves us….
Other people have said much the same – but somehow Lennox says it more convincingly than I have ever heard it.
At the end of his talk, he illustrates God’s love by exploring his relationship with his wife.
I think about love. I think about Cliff.
Then I have another insight - Did God fall in love with Adm and Eve on their Garden walks in the evening. Did he experience the kind of love like Cliff and I had?
And suddenly the answer to the question Where is God in Suffering? makes sense again. God loves us – God needs love – created a setting for love to happen – and now is suffering with us. It is a love story.
I actually forgive Parker for my sleepless nights. intolerable most of the time, This theological trip that I’ve been on with Peterson that resulted in me discovering Lennox .....
The Loud Absence: Where is God in Suffering? | John Lennox at Harvard Medical School.
Thttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPm6Y-pANYI
Every Sunday morning, attending church I couldn’t help notice how often people in the pews would drift off to sleep so when I found myself not being able to sleep, I would turn on the radio – T.V and now the computer to listen to a sermon.
When I moved to Winkler. I’ve been quite open about my addiction to Jordan Petersen –speaking style - as a sleeping pill. I simply loved the way he would use a simple Bible story to explore a profound truth. Listening to him was like floating on a while cloud watching a high wire dance spinning thoughts and issues into the air and then catching them with a dramatic flair – breath taking. I don’t think I will ever tire of him. But every once in a while, in the middle of the night I will wake up to a new speaker. And this is the way I found myself listening to John Lenox about two weeks ago…
He too is brilliant. But he explores the Creation story in a new way and can actually debate atheists by proving God exists – with a confidence that I have never heard before.
Because he is a Professor of Mathematics (emeritus) at Oxford University and an internationally renowned speaker on the interface of science, philosophy, and religion he brings a unique insight to his exploration of the relationship between science and Christianity.
Recently I heard him take on the challenge of the most difficult question that we all have to face – eventually. Where is God in Suffering?
This one did not put me to sleep…
He began .. “It is one of the most difficult questions that any of us face, whether we're Christians, whether we're atheists, agnostics, or whatever particular worldview we have. We're all faced with the questions of pain and of suffering.
Then he continued. “…And the first thing is, of course, there are two problems here. There's the problem of moral evil, 9/11, for instance. And there's the problem of natural evil, ebola, for instance. Those are logically distinct problems…
He elaborates. “Is he, that is God, willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent? Is he able but not willing? Then is he malevolent? Is he both able and willing, whence then this evil?"
He continues...."People looking at this mixed signal that the universe sends to us often become atheists."
Or - as i have often seen - continue as Christian but become angry with God - an anger that kills their love and their faith….
Lennox 's conclusion is that God took a risk in making this world - and continues in this risk because God loves us….
Other people have said much the same – but somehow Lennox says it more convincingly than I have ever heard it.
At the end of his talk, he illustrates God’s love by exploring his relationship with his wife.
I think about love. I think about Cliff.
Then I have another insight - Did God fall in love with Adm and Eve on their Garden walks in the evening. Did he experience the kind of love like Cliff and I had?
And suddenly the answer to the question Where is God in Suffering? makes sense again. God loves us – God needs love – created a setting for love to happen – and now is suffering with us. It is a love story.
I actually forgive Parker for my sleepless nights. intolerable most of the time, This theological trip that I’ve been on with Peterson that resulted in me discovering Lennox .....
The Loud Absence: Where is God in Suffering? | John Lennox at Harvard Medical School.
Thttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPm6Y-pANYI
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