Page 8 - Good News July 2008 paper

Atheistic Editor Dared God To Send Earthquake
(Continued from p. 1)

began to howl; the sea began to toss and concussion levelled the strongest buil-
roar. Underground noises like the rolling dings. Mountains were thrown down. Level
of thunder could be heard. fields were raised up. Streams of water
Then, only three hours after the passage of gushed forth from dry rocks. Pools and
the infamous “Christmas Resolutions” by streams appeared where none had existed
the city council, came the warning signs of before. Olive trees were overturned. Half an
the earthquake the local newspaper had olive orchard moved off its owner’s
so mockingly dared God to send upon the acreage.
town. With the first shock of the quake, the Chasms opened to swallow people,
frightened people, understanding at last animals, trees, and rubble. Some of them
the reason for the animal behaviour closed again entombing their victims
exhibited all around them, had time to note forever. Roads were cracked and de-
that the dashing, cavorting animals stroyed.
suddenly stood stock still, with legs Amidst the crash of falling houses and the
braced far apart. Then, as the surface of flickering flames of the wreckage, the
the earth heaved like the billows of the sea, dismal screams of the wretched inha-
buildings shook and swayed, tilted and bitants were heard. The beautiful city of
tumbled, crushing the horrified towns- Messina and surrounding districts were
people as they fled. destroyed. There were few survivors to tell
The sky let loose a torrent of rain, with of the horrors experienced. Seventy-five
thunder and chilling winds. Lightning thousand inhabitants were wiped out!
darted with frightening speed. Ground - The Mighty Hand of God by Katherine
thunder roared incessantly. The first Pollard Carter, Impact Books Inc., 1991

TERUG NA DIE GESIN!

“Alles het verander,” sê die dertigjarige tele- Maar jy wat getroud is, weet jy
visieheld. “Wat my lam maak, is die oudmodiese hoeveel duisternis jy in jou huis
definisies van die woord ‘gesin’. Gesinne bestaan toelaat wanneer jy woorde soos
nie meer uit ‘n pa en ‘n ma in ‘n eerste huwelik nie. ‘skei,’ ‘ons pas nie by mekaar
Dit bestaan uit enkelouers en hul kinders, nie...’ en ‘ek is nie meer lief vir jou
saamwoongesinne, hersaamgestelde gesinne, nie...’ begin gebruik? Ons maak
kruiskulturele gesinne met aangenome kinders uit ons lewe uitsigloos wanneer ons
ander wêreldstreke; jy kry nooit-getroude moeders, nie aan ons huwelike werk nie.
pa’s wat kinders grootmaak.” Ons open die vensters vir uit-
In hierdie verandering lê ‘n groot deel van die sigloosheid en verdriet wanneer
droefheid van ons bestaan. God se volmaakte plan ons ophou om vir ons huwelik,
vir die mens was om in ‘n eenmalige huwelik met ons lewensmaat en ons toekoms
iemand van die teenoorgestelde geslag saam te as getroudes te bid.
leef. Sy plan was dat die huwelik vir altyd sou wees Ons definisies van die nuwe gesin
en dat kinders sou weet: as ek trou, is dit ook vir is patetiese nood-definisies. God
altyd. Elkeen wat op die allerpynlikste manier beveel ons om mekaar binne die
ontdek het hoe minderwaardig die mens se gesin innig lief te hê. Só maak
variasies op hierdie Goddelike plan is, sal weet dat duisternis plek vir lig. Gebed:
God alleen jou ná die skending van Sy plan kan help Here, seën my lewensmaat.
om op te staan, te oorleef en ‘n nuwe lewe te begin. - Oorgeneem

O Heer, stel U my gerus met U Gees; sonder U
is ek tot niks in staat nie. Vernietig in my alle
eersug, ydelheid, verwaandheid, wêrelds-
heid, hoogmoed, sefsug en weerstand teen
God, en vul my met liefde, vrede, en die vrug
van die Gees.
O Heer, by U soek ek skuiling. Ek gee myself
aan U oor, en vertrou op U kosbare beloftes en
hoop met my hele hart op U. U is gister,
vandag, en vir ewig dieselfde. Daarom vertrou
ek op U en glo ek dat U my met krag sal
vernuwe. - William Wilberforce