August 31, 2007
Where Was God? ODB RADIO: Listen Now <http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-08-31-07.shtml##> | Download <http://boss.streamos.com/download/rbc/odb/2007/08/odb-08-31-07.mp3> READ: Hebrews 13:5-8 <http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=H ebrews+13%3a5-8> Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. -Isaiah 53:4 <http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-08-31-07.shtml##> About this cover <http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our_daily_bread/cover/56492.aspx> Was God sadistically absent? That's what Robert McClory, professor emeritus of journalism at the Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, asked after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area of the US. We may want to try to exonerate the Almighty for permitting disasters that rip apart vulnerable communities. But is God absent in such situations? No, McClory insists. Talking about the Katrina tragedy, he said that God was invisibly present "with the suffering and the dying. He was in the individuals, communities, churches, and schools that organized aid for the victims and took evacuees into their cities and homes. He was with the hundreds of thousands who showed compassion by prayer and financial assistance." So it is in our own lives when a heartbreaking tragedy occurs, such as the death of someone we love. We have no completely satisfactory answer to life's painful problems. We do know, however, that the Lord is present with us, for He said He would never leave us (Heb. 13:5). Jesus' name "Immanuel" literally means "God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Even though suffering baffles our minds, we can trust God to be near and to work out His purposes. -Vernon Grounds <http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our_daily_bread/writer/4552.aspx> God's unseen presence comforts me, I know He's always near; And when life's storms besiege our soul, He says, "My child, I'm here." -D. De Haan The storms of our life prove the strength of our Anchor. Jumat, 31 Agustus DI MANAKAH ALLAH? Tetapi sesungguhnya, penyakit kitalah yang ditanggungnya, dan kesengsaraan kita yang dipikulnya (Yesaya 53:4) Bacaan: Ibrani 13:5-8 Setahun: Mazmur 132-134; 1 Korintus 11:17-34 Apakah Allah tidak hadir secara kejam? Itulah yang ditanyakan Robert McClory, seorang profesor emeritus bidang jurnalisme di Northwestern University's Medill School of Jurnalism, setelah badai Katrina menghancurkan daerah New Orleans, Amerika Serikat. Mungkin kita ingin mencoba menjelaskan bahwa Sang Mahakuasa tidaklah bersalah karena Dia telah mengizinkan bencana yang memorak-porandakan masyarakat. Akan tetapi, apakah Allah tidak hadir dalam situasi seperti ini? Tidak, McClory tetap bersikeras. Berbicara tentang tragedi Katrina, ia mengatakan bahwa Allah ada, tetapi Dia mungkin secara kasat mata tidak terlihat hadir "bersama orang yang menderita dan hampir mati. Dia ada pada masing-masing pribadi, masyarakat, gereja, dan sekolah yang mengorganisasi bantuan bagi korban serta mengevakuasinya ke kota serta rumah mereka. Dia ada bersama ratusan ribu orang yang menunjukkan belas kasihan berupa dukungan doa dan keuangan". Begitu pula dengan tragedi menghancurkan hati yang terjadi dalam hidup kita, misalnya kematian seseorang yang kita kasihi. Kita tak punya jawaban yang cukup memuaskan atas berbagai masalah hidup yang menyakitkan seperti ini. Namun, kita tahu Tuhan bersama kita, karena Dia berkata bahwa Dia tak akan meninggalkan kita (Ibrani 13:5). Yesus disebut "Imanuel" yang secara harfiah berarti "Allah menyertai kita" (Matius 1:23). Meskipun penderitaan membuat kita bingung, kita dapat memercayai bahwa Allah ada di dekat kita dan sedang melaksanakan maksud-Nya -VCG BADAI HIDUP MEMBUKTIKAN SEBERAPA KUAT SAUH KITA ________________________________ Ibrani 13:5-8 13:5 Janganlah kamu menjadi hamba uang dan cukupkanlah dirimu dengan apa yang ada padamu. Karena Allah telah berfirman: "Aku sekali-kali tidak akan membiarkan engkau dan Aku sekali-kali tidak akan meninggalkan engkau." 13:6 Sebab itu dengan yakin kita dapat berkata: "Tuhan adalah Penolongku. Aku tidak akan takut. Apakah yang dapat dilakukan manusia terhadap aku?" 13:7 Ingatlah akan pemimpin-pemimpin kamu, yang telah menyampaikan firman Allah kepadamu. Perhatikanlah akhir hidup mereka dan contohlah iman mereka. 13:8 Yesus Kristus tetap sama, baik kemarin maupun hari ini dan sampai selama-lamanya. ________________________________ "This e-mail (including any attachments) is intended solely for the addressee and could contain information that is confidential; If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, disclosure, copying or dissemination of this e-mail and any attachment is strictly prohibited and you should immediately delete it. This message does not necessarily reflect the views of Bank Indonesia. Although this e-mail has been checked for computer viruses, Bank Indonesia accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus and any malicious code transmitted by this e-mail. 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