I've spent hours upon hours pondering the riddle, "Could God make a rock so big he couldn't move it?" The answer I just had to come up with turned out to be, "Yes he can. All he'd have to do is give the rock free will and he couldn't move it without its permission.”
Free will is also one of the reasons I’ve come up with to answer the more serious question of “Why God lets bad things happen to good people?” This of course doesn’t account for natural disasters (unless there’s some link between our treatment of the environment and the weather. But when I hear that, I think we’re giving ourselves way too much credit to our ability—“We have the power to control the weather.” I picture it said with crazy eyes)
My reasoning to account for why God allows natural disasters to happen is that like all systems there are laws that govern the weather, keeping it working smoothly. The weather is governed by laws God created in order to keep the world inhabitable. Without these laws the world as we know it would fall into chaos so in effect a devastating tornado is actually protecting nature not destroying it. Yes it is devastating, there is pain and suffering because of natural disasters but God doesn’t leave us during those times, he’s closer. He’s protecting us from the greater disaster not having the natural disaster would create and lifting us up carrying us through our pain and suffering. And he doesn’t just do this himself but through each other as well. I’m sure all of you—at least the women reading (they’re willing to admit it)-have been brought to tears by a story of kindness, which took place after a disaster. That is God at work. God can move us even if we don’t know He’s doing it, as long as we give general permission.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
My top 5 good examples of loving couples from Television Shows
When I first tried to come up with a list I wanted 10 but that was too hard. There’s this idea going around that TV just can’t be exciting without constant singleness or marital strife. It’s not true. I wanted to prove it by showing that there are examples of marital bliss on TV. (I avoided sitcoms because, even though they are funny, life is not a constant laugh track. If I had included a sitcom it would be “18 to Life”. I discovered it on Netflix and all three of the married couples are good examples if not great examples of good couples.)
Allison and Joe Dubois; (Medium) Unlike the other couples here they have children, three girls to be exact and with Allison taking on a job Joe steps up and is as much of a parent as his wife. They fight like any other couple does but they find a way to make up often both admitting they were wrong in part if not completely. They are partners in parenting bringing up and discussing issues as they come up. He’s always encouraging her to follow her instincts and she supports him with his work, even though it gets hectic.
Melinda and Jim; (Ghost Whisperer) They are passionate about each other, and each other’s lives. Melinda encourages her compassionate husband to be the best caring paramedic (and later doctor) he can be, like she knows he wants to be. Jim helps her with her Ghost “problems” even though it’s exhausting and often inconvenient. When the other desires something they think about what they can do to make it happen, even though it might require a sacrifice. Like when Jim decided he wanted to become a doctor, Melinda wondered if she would leave her business while he went to school in another state.
El and Peter Burk; (White Collar) She helps him with work and he’s always there for her when she needs him. They can sit together at the table and eat, talking, and you know they really love each other. To know that doesn’t require them ogling at each other or going at it in the living room. They are exactly how a loving couple is supposed to be.
Chuck and Sara; (Chuck) They’re newlyweds so this may be premature. He’s not afraid to let her save his butt, when he’s in danger or show his true feels (often sobbing or being overly romantic) because he’s genuine. She deals with his best friends Siamese twin tendencies and with Chuck being overly emotional. She tells it like it is. And he’s patient with her inadequacies, naiveté when it comes to commitment, giving her chance after chance. His close relationship with his sister gives Sara an extended family she can count on, something she’s always wanted but never had. (of course this was all ruined with the season finale)
Jack Carter and Allison Blake (Eureka); I’m a little upset they aren’t married yet. I mean, “what are they waiting for?” I have faith it will happen in their next and final season. Allison and Jack have been making gogo eyes at each other for years. Things have always gotten in the way till just recently. She’s a lot smarter than him but that doesn’t intimidate him. She has to deal with losing both her other husbands in accidents and yet trust he’ll come back from risking his life in almost every episode. They work together to prevent the world from ending every day, use almost secret code communication, and support each other.
One of the things I noticed, and just have to point out about all these relationships, is that they aren’t built on the physical. The women don’t have to doll up for their men and the men don’t have to be buff. They love each other for who they are and can both trust that. Yes these couples have sex but it’s often a footnote. One of the most important things they do is talk to each other, work it out if there’s conflict (either with each other or outside parties), and they are there for each other. I strongly believe these are the things everyone should be looking for in a relationship.
We need more shows where these things are valued in a relationship!
Allison and Joe Dubois; (Medium) Unlike the other couples here they have children, three girls to be exact and with Allison taking on a job Joe steps up and is as much of a parent as his wife. They fight like any other couple does but they find a way to make up often both admitting they were wrong in part if not completely. They are partners in parenting bringing up and discussing issues as they come up. He’s always encouraging her to follow her instincts and she supports him with his work, even though it gets hectic.
Melinda and Jim; (Ghost Whisperer) They are passionate about each other, and each other’s lives. Melinda encourages her compassionate husband to be the best caring paramedic (and later doctor) he can be, like she knows he wants to be. Jim helps her with her Ghost “problems” even though it’s exhausting and often inconvenient. When the other desires something they think about what they can do to make it happen, even though it might require a sacrifice. Like when Jim decided he wanted to become a doctor, Melinda wondered if she would leave her business while he went to school in another state.
El and Peter Burk; (White Collar) She helps him with work and he’s always there for her when she needs him. They can sit together at the table and eat, talking, and you know they really love each other. To know that doesn’t require them ogling at each other or going at it in the living room. They are exactly how a loving couple is supposed to be.
Chuck and Sara; (Chuck) They’re newlyweds so this may be premature. He’s not afraid to let her save his butt, when he’s in danger or show his true feels (often sobbing or being overly romantic) because he’s genuine. She deals with his best friends Siamese twin tendencies and with Chuck being overly emotional. She tells it like it is. And he’s patient with her inadequacies, naiveté when it comes to commitment, giving her chance after chance. His close relationship with his sister gives Sara an extended family she can count on, something she’s always wanted but never had. (of course this was all ruined with the season finale)
Jack Carter and Allison Blake (Eureka); I’m a little upset they aren’t married yet. I mean, “what are they waiting for?” I have faith it will happen in their next and final season. Allison and Jack have been making gogo eyes at each other for years. Things have always gotten in the way till just recently. She’s a lot smarter than him but that doesn’t intimidate him. She has to deal with losing both her other husbands in accidents and yet trust he’ll come back from risking his life in almost every episode. They work together to prevent the world from ending every day, use almost secret code communication, and support each other.
One of the things I noticed, and just have to point out about all these relationships, is that they aren’t built on the physical. The women don’t have to doll up for their men and the men don’t have to be buff. They love each other for who they are and can both trust that. Yes these couples have sex but it’s often a footnote. One of the most important things they do is talk to each other, work it out if there’s conflict (either with each other or outside parties), and they are there for each other. I strongly believe these are the things everyone should be looking for in a relationship.
We need more shows where these things are valued in a relationship!
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