From Gary... Are you looking too closely?

This picture made me think of this past Sunday's episode of "The Good Wife".  I remember that they had someone on the witness stand and were taking apart everything they said, trying to find some fault by perverting what they meant to say.  Perfectly normal for lawyers.  Not so normal for average people.  For the Pharisees and Herodians... well, judge for yourself...

Matthew, Chapter 22

 15  Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.  16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.  17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 

  18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?   19  Show me the tax money.” 

They brought to him a denarius. 

  20  He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” 

  21  They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 

Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

  22  When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away. 

Beware of people like this! People who use language as a weapon.  People whose heart is as black as coal and whose conscience is seared beyond any hope of being useful.  Be a person of integrity and straightforwardness, whose honesty is evident by both speech and action.  Need an example?  Humm, I wonder where we could find one?  Hint: look up!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... The certain Someone

The certain Someone

Life can wear us down. I know a number of people personally for whom life at present is just an extended holiday. I don’t begrudge them that—it’s the work of God and I’m not about to tell him he shouldn’t so bless them. I know many more whose lives, while not all pleasure, are satisfying. They have enough pleasure in their lives and enough of whatever it takes to meet the challenges that come their way whether they are economic, emotional, social or other. But I know a great number and I know about hosts of others for whom life is one long slog to make ends meet or to continue to carry the heavy-duty burdens they’re faced with every day without fail. Their situation is worse than Job’s was. His trouble came toward the end of a long, richly blessed life and it lasted only a short while before rich blessing returned. In the case of the people I’m thinking about it has been one tough grind from day one and troubles of one kind or another have since dogged them without respite. These people would gladly swap places with Job in a heartbeat.

Among them there are tens of thousands who have no faith in God and can’t look toward him. I don’t intend that as a criticism (though I think it sad beyond words) and I only mention it to say that what follows won’t be very helpful to them—if at all. To those who have faith in God and who endure the kind of life I’ve just described I’d want to say that there’s a way of looking at your life that might make it easier (not easy!) to live out. For a very few of you some unfamiliar truth might even transform your lives completely because you might be able to hear this. Some won’t be able to hear it.

We tend to think that unbroken suffering or pressure or heartache is a token that God doesn’t care for us as much as for others. Now and then you might even wonder if he cares at all, but most of the time you dismiss that thought and are willing to live with the confusion and pain. But it’s hard to see God blessing others and leaving you (relatively) unblessed without thinking that he cares more for them than you. What makes it worse, we also tend to think that blessing and righteousness should go together so that if we’re unblessed we’re tempted to think it’s because we’re not good. That can generate numerous emotional responses. We can become bitter because we see richly blessed people who are (as far as we can tell) certainly no better than we are and maybe not as good. This in turn can generate some bitterness toward God at the subconscious level even while consciously we won’t critique him for it. But, then again, if we’re very sensitive we rebuke ourselves for thinking, "I’m as good as any of them." All those conflicting feelings and thoughts only add misery to the situation.

At the more basic level—with all that inner dialogue set aside—you are just weary. A ray of light, a better day, a check in the post, some respect from the children, a show of genuine affection from the wife/husband, a migraine-free month or a companion to obliterate the awful loneliness—that would make all the difference. So rather than a Bible study or a little lecture you’d settle for a change in your circumstances. "Let’s take care of my crushing debts and then we can have a study about the whys and wherefores of the troubles in human life." That response to talk makes sense—Matthew 25 would suggest that.

But trust in God does make a difference. It enables you to see what isn't visible (see Hebrews 11:1,27) and in the light of his promise that he would always be with you, you can "see" Christ when no one else can (Matthew 28:20 and Hebrews 13:5). You know he's there.

Only an idiot thinks he or she has all the answers to the complexities of the human condition. Only an idiot will say that all suffering has a single face and that one explanation fits all the circumstances. And even if a specific truth is seen to be true, the pain is real and the days are unchanging. "Arrrgh, not morning again already. How I wish I could sleep for a millennium." Or the phone rings, it’s the police again and it’s about Bob, again. While you’re listening you notice someone sitting on your stairs watching you. Or Rachel is back again, the two children are with her again, her face is badly bruised again. And you notice that someone else is with her (who is that?). Or the hospital waiting room is getting smaller and smaller—suffocating you—and as you glance around, the doctors and nurses look less and less concerned about your very real concerns. Does any of this matter to anyone? Does anyone really care? Is there any point to any of this? And then you see a young man sitting across from you. He’s been there since you arrived (when was it? half of forever ago?). Your eyes meet and hold each other, he nods as though he knows and without being told, without asking, you know he’s Jesus Christ. And somehow things have changed.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Touches Of The Savior

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                    Touches Of The Savior (5:21-43)

INTRODUCTION

1. Mark dedicates much attention to the miracles of Jesus, showing His
   power over...
   a. Demons - Mk 1:23-28,34; 5:1-20
   b. Sickness - Mk 1:29-31,34,40-45; 2:1-12; 3:1-6
   c. Nature - Mk 4:35-41

2. Our present lesson involves two miracles, showing Jesus power over...
   a. Disease, in healing the woman suffering from an issue of blood
   b. Death, in raising the daughter of Jairus

[We are first introduced to Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue, who begs
Jesus to heal his dying daughter (Mk 5:21-24).  But on the way, there
was...]

I. THE TOUCH OF A WOMAN

   A. THE WOMAN TOUCHED JESUS...
      1. She had suffered greatly - Mk 5:25-26
         a. The discharge of blood for 12 years
         b. The mistreatments of many physicians
         c. The loss of all that she had
      2. She had heard about Jesus and came to touch His garment - Mk 5:27-29
         a. She believed simply touching His clothes would heal her
         b. When she did, the fountain of blood dried and up and she was
            healed
      3. Jesus sensed the miracle, and reassured the woman - Mk 5:30-34
         a. Jesus asked who touched Him, and fearfully the woman came
            forward
         b. Jesus reassured her that her faith made her well and she was
            healed
      -- Because she was willing to touch Jesus, she was healed!

   B. ARE WE WILLING TO TOUCH JESUS...?
      1. In our previous study we saw those who were afraid of Jesus
         - Mk 5:15-17
         a. Are we more like the denizens of the Gadarenes?
         b. Or are we willing to approach Jesus?
      2. We cannot touch Jesus literally, but today we can:
         a. Put Jesus on in baptism - cf. Ga 3:27
         b. Be united with Him in His death and resurrection via baptism
            - cf. Ro 6:3-4
         c. Have our sins washed away by His blood - Ac 22:16; Re 1:5
      -- If we are willing to touch Jesus, we can be saved!

[If we have enough faith to reach out and touch Jesus by obeying His
word, we can be blessed by that touch!  While Jesus was still speaking
to the woman, troubling news concerning Jairus' daughter came that would
lead to...]

II. THE TOUCH OF A CHILD

   A. JESUS TOUCHED THE CHILD...
      1. On the way to the house - Mk 5:35-37
         a. Jairus was told his daughter is dead
         b. Jesus reassured Jairus, calling upon him to believe
         c. Jesus permitted only Peter, James, and John to accompany Him
      2. At the house of Jairus - Mk 5:38-40
         a. There was tumult with people weeping and wailing
         b. Jesus rebuked the wailing, affirming that the child is not
            dead but sleeps
         c. They ridiculed Jesus, and He sent them out of the house
         d. The parents, Jesus, and His three disciples entered the room
            where the child lay
      3. Jesus raised the child - Mk 5:41-43
         a. He took her by the hand (i.e., touched her)
         b. He said to her, "Talitha, cumi" ("Little girl, I say to you
            arise")
         c. Immediately the girl (12 years old) arose and walked
         d. The parents and disciples were overcome with great amazement
         e. Jesus commanded them to tell no one, but give food to the
            girl to eat - cf. Mk 1:44-45
      4. Was Jairus' daughter really dead?  Hendriksen offers the
         following thoughts:
         a. Lk 8:53 declares that the people knew that she was dead.
         b. Lk 8:55 states that at the command of Jesus "her spirit
            returned." It is clear, therefore, that there had been a
            separation between spirit and body.
         c. Jn 11:11 we have something similar. Jesus tells his
            disciples, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep." But in Jn 11:14             he affirms, "Lazarus died."
         d. In both instances the meaning is that death will not have
            the final say. Not death but life is going to triumph in the
            end. Also, just as natural sleep is followed by awakening,
            so this child is going to become awake, that is, is going to
            live again.
      -- With a touch (and the command to arise), Jesus raised the child
         from the dead!

   B. ARE WE WILLING TO LET JESUS TOUCH US...?
      1. Again not literally, but today we can:
         a. Become a new creation in Christ - 2Co 5:17
         b. Enjoy the blessing of His presence in our lives - Jn 14:23
         c. Enjoy every spiritual blessing there is to be found in
            Christ - Ep 1:3
      2. Yes, by the "touch" of Jesus, we can experience:
         a. A spiritual resurrection now, via baptism - Col 2:12-13
         b. A bodily resurrection to eternal life in the future - 

            Jn 5:28-29; 11:25
      -- If we are willing to let Jesus "touch" us, we can be raised
         anew now and in the future!

CONCLUSION

1. Just imagine the great joy produced by the "Touches Of The Savior"...
   a. The joy of the woman who touched Jesus
   b. The joy of the parents whose child was touched by Jesus

2. There can be great joy today for us today...
   a. If we are willing to "touch" Jesus by obeying Him
   b. If we are willing to let Jesus "touch" us through the blessings He
      offers

Notice that both the woman and Jairus made efforts to approach Jesus.
So we must come to Jesus in faithful obedience if we are to experience
the "Touches Of The Savior"... - Mt 11:28-30; 28:18-20

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Living in a gutter

My granddaughter Elizabeth took this picture when she was walking with Linda.  I thought it was unusual  that flowers should grow in a gutter then and my opinion has not changed at all.  It occurred to me that some people are like this flower.  They live only for today and their lives are lived in a gutter.  Doubt that, well, listen to teenagers today- the language some of them use is atrocious.  Actually, I think it is more foolishness that anything else and is indicative of an unregenerated life.  Paul puts it this way...

Titus, Chapter 3

3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,  5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;  7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  8 This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;  

You are known by what you say and what you do.  Think about both things!!!  Like that flower that lives in the gutter, people notice how you live- so does God!!! The Good News is... people can change!!!  Jesus can help you "clean up your act" and live like you were intended to live.  Like Paul said:  "8 This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; " 

From Jim McGuiggan... Smike and Nicholas Nickelby

Smike and Nicholas Nickelby

Smike had never known fair treatment much less kind treatment and in the Dotheboys Hall School run by Mr. and Mrs. Squeers, enslaved and abused, his torment had only grown more intense. The new teacher Nicholas Nickelby was a different sort of person and in meeting him Smike met someone who treated him like a human to be cared for and nurtured rather than a whipping boy when someone with an ill temper wanted to ease his/her spleen. In the face of the boundless cruelty of the Squeers—shown to the entire body of children under their care—Nickelby resigned from the school in defiance of the Squeers' wishes.

Smike saw the young teacher as his hope for life and unknown to Nicholas he followed him away from the school, not showing himself in case Nickelby were to send him back. The teacher spent a night in a barn and in the morning he suddenly wakened and found Smike there; Nickelby had wakened without warning and Smike had no time to hide. Now discovered he begged to be allowed: "To go with you—anywhere—everywhere—to the world's end—to the churchyard grave."

The teacher's life's situation was not at all an easy one and while he feels a deep compassion for the boy he tells him he has little to offer by way of help but Smike is not put off and desperate for the warmth of friendship, or, even if friendship is too much to ask, he wants to know, "May I—may I go with you? I will be your faithful, hard-working servant, I will indeed. I want no clothes…I only want to be near you."

"And so you shall," said the teacher. "And the world shall deal by you as it does by me, till one or both of us shall quit it for a better."

Both were as good as their words.

In a world of quick-change passions, of outrageous pre-nuptial agreements, broken contracts, worthless promises, "sweet" marriage vows that vanish like morning mist, friendships that were "treasured" as long as one person ceaselessly pleased the other—in a world awash with so much uncertainty it's a breath of life to be certain of someone!

To read the commitment Ruth made and stuck with it (Ruth 1:16-18) makes your soul rise to its feet and cheer. Yesssssssss! To read of the mutual commitment of Smike and Nickelby generates the same feeling because it's the same thing.

Dickens' writing has remained one of the grandeurs of English life and literature. It isn't all sweetness and light for his own life wasn't like that. There's a lot of pain and loss in his writing and that reminds us that he stayed in touch with life as a whole. He didn't become the noted author he is by writing perfumed bubble and froth or simplistic moral platitudes (which is what much of the popular Christian literature is). Nor did he write dark hopeless muck or leave us wringing our hands in abject despair or make heroes of villains. He continued to remind us of the possibilities and potential of life; he speaks of happy endings without apology and makes us believe that honest commitments not only can be made but that they can be kept through thick and thin. What's more, he shows us the glory of such people and makes us want to be like that.

He touches the depths of life and enables us to see that there's more than evil in the world. And while there is evil in the world that is hard to explain if God is good, Dickens and people like him remind us that there is good in the world and that is hard to explain if there is no God that is good.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Who Was Afraid Of Jesus?

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   Who Was Afraid Of Jesus? (5:1-20)

INTRODUCTION

1. After calming the storm, Jesus and His disciples arrived in the
   country of the Gadarenes... - Mk 5:1
   a. A region on the east side of the Sea of Galilee
   b. Variously called Gadarenes, Gersasenes, and Gergesenes (after
      nearby cities)
   c. Also known as the Decapolis (a district of ten cities) - Mk 5:20

2. After taming a wild sea, Jesus now tames a wild man (Hendriksen)...
   a. A man possessed with unclean spirit - Mk 5:2
   b. Unable to be bound by chains, night and day crying and cutting
      himself - Mk 5:3-5
   c. Moved to worship Jesus by the legion of demons that possessed him
      - Mk 5:6-9
   d. The demons begged not to be tormented or sent out of the country
      - Mk 5:7,10
   e. Asking to be able to fill a herd of swine, they are allowed, only
      to drown them - Mk 5:11-13
   f. The swine feeders fled to tell others, who when seeing the
      demoniac in his right mind, begged for Jesus to leave their region
      - Mk 5:14-17
   g. As Jesus returns to his boat, the healed man pleads to join Him,
      but is sent home to tell others what the Lord has done - Mk 5:18-20

[In studying Mark's account of the healing of the demoniac and the
events which followed, I was struck by the fear of Jesus manifested in
this story.  So I ask, "Who Was Afraid Of Jesus?"  Was it...]

I. THE DEMONS WHO WERE LEGION?

   A. YES, AND JUSTIFIABLY SO...
      1. They begged Jesus not to torment them - Mk 5:7
      2. Note the similarity to the unclean spirit(s) in the synagogue
         - Mk 1:23-24
      3. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil - 1Jn 3:8
      4. The demons (unclean spirits) knew the time was coming - Mt 8:29
      5. Indeed, everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his
         angels - Mt 25:41
      6. Even now there are sinful angels bound by "chains of darkness"
         - 2Pe 2:4; Jude 9
      7. One day the devil himself will be cast into the lake of fire
         - Re 20:10
      -- Yes, the demons who were legion were terrified of Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD BE AFRAID...
      1. If we are not ready for the coming of the Lord - 2Th 1:7-9
      2. We too will experience everlasting fire prepared for the devil
         and his angels - Mt 25:41,46
      3. Those not in the Book of life will not escape the lake of fire
         - Re 20:15; 21:8
      -- Yes, we should be terrified of Jesus if we are not ready!

[As we return to our text (Mk 5:1-20) with our question ("Who Was Afraid
Of Jesus?"), was it...]

II. THE DENIZENS OF THE REGION?

   A. YES, BUT UNJUSTIFIABLY SO...
      1. When they came to Jesus and saw the healed demoniac, they were
         afraid - Mk 5:14-15
      2. They pleaded with Jesus to depart from their region - Mk 5:17
      3. Their fear was the fear of the unknown, and they were unwilling
         to know
      4. Their fear deprived them of great blessings!
      -- Yes, the denizens of the region were foolishly afraid of
         learning more about Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID...
      1. Of learning about Jesus, for He offers rest for our souls - Mt11:28-30
      2. Of coming to Jesus, for He is the source of every spiritual
         blessing - Ep 1:3
      3. Of obeying Jesus, for His words will free us from the bondage
         of sin - Jn 8:31-32,34-36
      4. Of following Jesus, for His words will provide safety in life's
         storms - Mt 7:24-27
      -- No, we should not be afraid to learn whatever we can about
         Jesus!

[Finally, as we consider "Who Was Afraid Of Jesus?", we ask if it
was...]

III. THE DEMONIAC WHO WAS HEALED?

   A. NO, AND JUSTIFIABLY NOT...
      1. He begged to be with Jesus, but Jesus had other plans for him
         - Mk 5:18-19
      2. He was not afraid of Jesus, nor afraid to tell others about
         Jesus - Mk 5:20
      3. Jesus had done great things for Him, and telling others led
         them to marvel - Mk 5:20
      -- No, he who was healed by Jesus was not afraid of Jesus!

   B. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID...
      1. Of Jesus, for He loved us and washed us from our sins!- Re 1:5
      2. Of telling others about Jesus, who has given us great hope
         - 1Pe 3:15
      -- No, we who have been saved by Jesus should never be afraid of
         Jesus!

CONCLUSION

1. Who was afraid of Jesus...?
   a. Those unwilling to repent of their sins
   b. Those unwilling to learn about Jesus

2. Who was not afraid of Jesus...?
   a. The one who appreciated what Jesus had done for him
   b. The one who was willing to tell others what Jesus had done

3. Who are we more like in this story...?
   a. The demons who were legion?
   b. The denizens of the region?
   c. The demoniac who was healed?

The nature of our relationship with Jesus reveals the answer.  Do we
want to be with Jesus?  Are we willing to tell others about Jesus?  Or
are we afraid of Jesus...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Sunshine

A different sunshine

(click on the link to view)

Yesterday, my wife and I went to the hospital to see her sister Dorothy.  She is in rehabilitation, trying to recover from a massive stroke.  I must say, the time spent with her was a real eye-opener.  Her determination to return to "normal life" coupled with the realization of what she had lost impressed me greatly!!!  She was in excellent spirits when we left there and I pray she has a speedy recovery!!!  All this made me think about the last couple of days.  Two days ago, it was cloudy and the next one was better with the help of a little red bird and the God of Heaven.  All this made me think of the things we take for granted each and every day.  Simple things, like a morning "routine" or taking the dog for a walk.  How about even more "basic" things, like being able to sit up in a chair, or feeding yourself, or even being able to see.  So, when I checked facebook this morning, I saw this NPR video  from NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory and was fascinated by it.  Imagine, being able to see how the sun shines over a three year period and at different angstrom wavelengths to boot!!!!  Simply fascinating- well, I guess I sound a bit like Mr. Spock, but who cares; it is interesting.  Consider what life would be like if you could not see, or worse yet, if you never had seen at all. And then you are given SIGHT!!!  How would you react, what would you do?  Here is one man's story...

John, Chapter 9

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.  2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 

  3  Jesus answered, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.   4  I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.   5  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”   6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud,  7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.  8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?”  9 Others were saying, “It is he.” Still others were saying, “He looks like him.” 

He said, “I am he.”  10 They therefore were asking him, “How were your eyes opened?” 

11  He answered, “A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 

12  Then they asked him, “Where is he?” 

He said, “I don’t know.” 

  13  They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.  14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.  15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.” 

  16  Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.  17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” 

He said, “He is a prophet.” 

  18  The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,  19 and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 

  20  His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;  21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”  22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.  23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.” 

  24  So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 

  25  He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 

  26  They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

  27  He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?” 

  28  They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.  29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.” 

  30  The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.  32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.  33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

  34  They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out. 

  35  Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 

  36  He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?” 

  37  Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.” 

  38  He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him. 

  39  Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.” 

  40  Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 

  41  Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. 

I don't pretend to know why everything happens to us. I do know that God has transformed many terrible things in my life into blessings and that is enough for me!!!  I don't need to know everything; just enough to have faith in God and do what I should to please him.  When I do this, I can relate to the difficult things in life; the problems, the struggles, the disappointments with confidence because God loves me.  However, I am not the center of the universe; others have problems, just like I do.  The blind man in the above passage from John, my sister-in-law and countless others.  What really matters in life is to seek out whatever goodness in you can find in life and seek God.  Sooner or later tragedy besets us all and ultimately ends in our demise.  Wouldn't it be nice if there if there was something better awaiting us after that?  Truth is - there is!!!  Begin by looking at your life; the simple things at first and then considering the more difficult as time goes by.  How do I do this, you might ask.  Well, I believe the Bible will give you the answers you seek, but you need to read it, believe it and do what it says.  Keep looking- eventually you WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN!!! One more thing- look at the sun VERY, VERY CAREFULLY!!! Eyesight is a precious thing- just like your spiritual life!!! 

ps.  I was ready to post this and I remembered a former Bible Instructor of mine- John P. Bizzell and how he loved to sing...

I remember this as being his favorite hymn

There is sunshine in my soul today,
  More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
  For Jesus is my light.

• O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,
  While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
  When Jesus shows His smiling face
    There is sunshine in my soul.

There is music in my soul today,
  A carol to my King;
And Jesus, listening, can hear
  The song I cannot sing.

There is springtime in my soul today,
  For when the Lord is near
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
  The flowers of grace appear.

There is gladness in my soul today,
  And hope, and praise, and love,
For blessings which He gives me now,
  For joys laid up above.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/343#ixzz2RObkJQnc