A freemium service?

Today's world is full of freemium services. We've gotten pretty good at finding apps that deliver basic services for free. And we've gotten really good at resisting those invitations to pay for extra features.

Friendships, families, and churches don't operate this way. If we approach relationships as apps—testing the limits of how much we can take before we have to 'pay'—they cease to be relationships.

Thankfully, some give as much as they receive. And some give more, as an investment in others.

Why do good things happen to bad people?

“[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

— Jesus, in Matthew 5:45 ESV

As a pastor I am often asked "Why do bad things happen to good people?" But rarely do I get this other question. Really, why do good things happen at all?

I once worked for a company that preached "What's good for you personally will be good for the company". This Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' philosophy could lead nowhere good (and it didn't).

From what I know of The Fall, sin, world history, current events, and my own heart, the source of any goodness is a mystery. But it's a mystery God reveals to everyone willing to see.

I hear you

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.”

— David, in Psalm 19:1-3 ESV

Normally I would tell you a beautiful chicken is the one sizzling on my plate. But recently I saw a Blue-laced Red Wyandotte. A stunningly beautiful bird.

Why is there so much variety and beauty? Is it not God speaking to us of Himself?