Where does it hurt?

I wanted to share this song that my wife told me about by Laura Story.  When I first listened to it I was amazed, not only because of the Truth that it proclaims but also because it proclaims a Truth that unfortunately is not very popular.

Nobody likes pain.  Whether it's physical, mental or spiritual pain is something that most people will attempt to alleviate as quickly as possible.  Whether you are seeing a Dr. or seeking counseling the idea is to make the pain go away.

God sees pain much differently.  He sees it as a severe mercy and grace.  While this may at first seem cruel, it is actually glorious!  Our pain, whatever it is, will always be used by God for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-32).  Our greatest good is always going to be to know God and be more conformed into the image of His Son, and Gods glory is that in all things He will be made much of by us.

What a contrast to our perception of what "our good" looks like!  Most of the time it simply equates to feeling better either physically or about ourselves.

I pray this song serves to bring you peace if you are in pain and helps us all to see more clearly Gods redemptive purposes through suffering to the praise of His glory.

Casey Anthony: The Psychology of a Liar Part II

Once again we were able to eye witness the life of a woman utterly consumed by sin and lies.  In fact the Defense is now trying to bring in a mental health professional in order to justify, to some degree, her obvious depravity.

While it is easy to look at a woman like Casey and cast judgement, we must keep in mind that the same sin which consumes her lies also in us.  Certainly her alleged actions warrant legal justice, but there is another truth at work.

All of us, by the sinful nature in us eternally offend an infinitely just and holy God.  While the sins we commit may vary in degree, the nature, consequence before God, and capacity to master and consume us does not.

The wrath of God poured out upon sin, from the smallest of lies to the greatest, is displayed in Christ on the cross.  As the song reminds us, "it was my sin that held Him there."  It is only by the saving and sanctifying grace of God through Christ that keeps us from standing on trial before the Father.  Our only defense and justification is the blood of Christ poured out for us!

The same nature of sin which drives Casey to do what she did lies also in me.  To paraphrase the Reformer John Bradford...There but for the grace of God, go I.

Casey Anthony: The Psychology of a Liar

We have had continuous coverage of the Casey Anthony trial, and I must admit that it is both incredibly facinating and disturbing.

It is almost impossible to hear the testimonies of the detectives, the recordings of her lie fillied statements, and to see the completely detatched and almost uninterested look on her face without thinking she must be mentally ill.

While there is certainly the possibility that she might have some psychotic disorder, I cannot believe it, even though it takes a conscious effort not to.  I think Scripture gives us a much better explanation.

Romans 1:21-25 explains how God will give a person over to futility of mind and darkness of heart when the glory of His power and Deity as displayed in the creation are continually denied and rebelled against.  Essentially it describes a deeper and more complete level of depravity due to sin as He removes some of His common or restraining grace from an individual.

I beleive this is what we are seeing as we watch a woman who has alledgedly emmersed herself in a fully fabricated life, and for some undisclosed motive has possibly murdered her own daughter.  At the very least has covered up her death to protect herself.

Make no mistake, this is a clear display of the devestating effect of sin as it masters a persons life.

It is so important as Believers that we maintain a biblical framework as we percieve what goes on in this world.  As easy as it would be to see this woman and label her with some type of "mental disorder" we must not do it.

Should we allow ourselves to begin to percieve her in this way we have taken the first step towards removing her from the responsibility of her actions thereby removing, to some degree, her guilt.  That is the danger of percieving our world through the glasses of a secular worldview as opposed to a biblical one.