[Sam]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Timmy,

I recommend Phillip Yancy's books to you, he deals with the depths of the very proposition that you set forth in this post.

In a fallen world we are all products of all kinds of extenuating circumstances that are complicated by our heritage, temperament and culture. Each of our lives are puzzles or test that we are given the task of figuring out, God has a purpose far greater than our current circumstances and therefore he has given us the responsibility to work them out. It is comforting if we can find a close connection to the Lord in our circumstances, some seem not to be able to find this connection. Tough circumstances make some better and some bitter, I don't have an answer as to the reasons why.

I believe this life is harder by design than most folks are willing to admit, and somehow we each have to find a way to walk thru it. It is infinitely more bearable when we are convinced that it is purposeful to equip us for the life to come.
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I've read a couple of Yancy's books and can agree that he looks at things a little different than some "religious" folks. He seems to be more "level headed" than you might expect from a "church" guy.