My visit to the small apartment of an oriental couple in the Chicago suburbs was disturbing. Here was a man who had innocently gone to work one day, but was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight. He was paralyzed from the neck down. What do you say to a man like that?

“If God is all-powerful and is also good, why is there pain in the world?” The question is among the most difficult to answer, especially when we see “innocent” people destroyed by pain inflicted by others.

It is true that God is good and that in the world under His control bad things happen—at least bad things happen from the human perspective. When I discipline my child, it might seem like a bad thing from his vantage point, but it is a good thing from mine. When a nation wins a just war, it might seem bad from the enemy's side, but it is good for the world. So at least part of the problem is perspective. Are we saying something is bad from God's perspective or man's?

Did you pray these words as a child?

Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

There is a candor in this little prayer that makes you shudder. It seems strange to hear little children pray these words when they have only begun to live.

This prayer recognizes two ultimate realities: We will die, and there is something good beyond death that the Lord may take us to. But it implies another truth—the Lord will not take everyone there.

If a man or woman is sane and thinking, the fact of death aggravates the mind. Its certainty stirs up at least a chronic uneasiness, and in times of vulnerability or danger may do even more. It is a frightening fact when one chooses to face it honestly. The Bible calls death an enemy. Most people fear it, and they are right to do so.

• Feb. 24 Markham St. Baptist, Little Rock, AR, (501) 225-2877
  
  
• Mar. 12-14 Attend Midwest Founders Conference
  
  
• Mar. 17-20 Winfield Baptist Ch., Winfield, PA, (717) 524-2728
  
  
• April 11-13 Heartland Regional Founders Conference, srharden@providence-baptist-church.org
  
  

1. Jim and family weathered the worst ice storm in Kansas City's history this Jan., but only had a few hours without electricity. At its peak, 295 thousand homes were without lights. They were in Little Rock's worst storm last year, and spent several days without electricity. Any ideas for next year?
2. God really took care of CCW throughout this last year, providing everything needed. You may not know this, but CCW does not solicit funds from anyone and Jim prearranges not to receive love offerings or honoraria from the churches and conferences he speaks for. We also send out tens of thousands of pieces of literature free. No problem. "God supplies all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." But sometimes the supply comes just at the last minute!
3. The opportunities for presenting the truth about Christ are abundant. Jim is always looking for more and better ways to do that. Ultimately, only God can give us the "divine opportunities" that make a real difference. Please pray for increased power from God to tell the truth about Christ.
4. Jim will be speaking in Portugal this year and has been invited to Finland and India. Along with this, stateside invitations come his way regularly. Please pray for Jim's decisions in this regard. Because of vital ministry in the KC area, he does not wish to be gone every week. Jim just returned from Atlanta, Chicago and Lansing over the last weeks.
5. The pen is a powerful instrument. Jim wrote about 30 articles last year, including chapters in upcoming books. His articles continue to be used all around. This year he hopes to do the same. He is also interested in turning more of his work into books. Right now he is working on a set of essays on the gospel and evangelism and will soon seek a publisher. Please pray for just the right one.
6. Our web sites continue to grow. We are very interested in getting churches and organizations to use our www.WayToGod.org link button on their sites. Would you like to help us get the word out about this pure gospel site? We have a tear off tag advertisement for the site that can be put up in grocery stores, business bulletin boards, schools, libraries, etc. If you want some, please contact Susan Verstraete at info@CCWonline.org.
7. Our www.CCWonline.org site now has 250 pages of helps. Pass the word!
8. Family news: Pam's brother-in-law was killed in a car accident recently in NJ. She spent the first week of February there. Benjamin (15) preparing for piano competition, but keeps on having basketball injuries. This time he sprained his ankle! Bryan (12) is devouring books like candy right now. He plays the classical guitar, but also is on the lookout for a good acoustical one. Laura (9) went with dad to Atlanta. They arrived a day early to visit with "Aunt Sandy" and to see the stage play, "Annie". Now she has the CD and sings all the songs!