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Free04
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Need answers...
I am struggling with something Help! This could be a little long but please take time to read it.
About a year ago a young man in my youth group (15 yrs.) had expressed to me a desire to learn to play the bass guitar. Always questioning me about how to do this and that. Came to alot of our rehearsals just so he could play my bass when we were breaking or at the end of rehearsal. His parents did not have enough money to buy him a guitar. His desire to learn this instrument was so sincere that I decided to give him one of mine, hoping and praying that one day he would serve God with this instrument. He was very excited and made great strides in learning to play this instrument well. 2 weeks ago he bought a very nice acoustic guitar with some money he had earned and with his parents help. I have been very impressed with this young mans God given talent and his desires. Recently he told me he wanted to work in the ministry as a youth minister and eventually as an evangelist, man that was exciting to hear that out of such a young guy. I have known this young man for about 7 years and have become close friends with him. I have seen this young man grow spiritually and it has been awsome. He carries his Bible in school (Public) and talks to the other kids about God. (A great witness) Everything this young man wants to do, he want's to do it for God. This is unusual for a young man of this age in todays society. I know God is calling this young man to minister in some way and I really thought he was heading towards worship with how quickly he was picking up his instruments.
I recieved a phone call at about 9:00pm Saturday night telling me that my friend had been in a boating accident. This accident caused serious damage to his right arm and they had to amputate between the elbow and shoulder.
I visited him yesterday at the hospital and he is very optimistic about his future and more than anything he is thankful to be alive. His spirits are good, right now. I just don't know if he is aware of what is ahead of him. (I do, because I grew up with a handicapped brother that went to a school for handicapped children. I was around it all the time.)
How can something like this happen knowing what this young man wanted to do with his life? I understand that he can still work in the ministry and I pray that he does, but he will never play his intruments again, that he was so passionate about and he wanted to do it for God.
As bad as I hate to say this I feel I must so that I can move forward. I think I could have understood death more than I understand this. Please don't take that wrong, This is about my understanding. NOT wishing my friend to have died. I too am thankful to God that he survived and I am still able to speak to my friend. I was very angry all day yesterday, better today. This one is hard.
Opinions, scripture and especially prayers are needed.
Thanks guys.
Last edited by Free04, 4/30/2007, 1:17 pm
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4/30/2007, 1:13 pm
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Staybrite
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Re: Need answers...
As bad as I hate to say this I feel I must so that I can move forward. I think I could have understood death more than I understand this. Please don't take that wrong, This is about my understanding. NOT wishing my friend to have died. I too am thankful to God that he survived and I am still able to speak to my friend. I was very angry all day yesterday, better today. This one is hard.
I don't take what you are saying at all as bad. I think I fully understand what you saying. And yes, God does allow bad things to happen to good people (there is scripture to support this but I will leave that to those more capaple).
First (and formost) brother Free I am very sorry to hear that this has happened to someone that you care so much about. I pray that you and your young friend (as well as his family) can cope with this challenge. I to have spent much time around a handicapped father (lost his right leg above the knee) so I understand some of the challenges.
I want to say this (but seriously hope you don't get mad because I don't mean it in spite). I think much of the anger and/or frustration you feel right know could be a projection of how you might feel if it was you who lost his arm. This would be devastating to me as well. To know that I could never again play music would be absolutely terrible. To know someone with a gift for music was no longer able to express it would be equally upsetting. But this young man has the rest of his life to redirect those passions. Please try to remember that all things work towards God's will. You don't know, but this may just be what this young man needs to refocus and direct his passion into something that could serve God with much greater results than any music ever could.
I pray that you (and your young friend) will recieve the strength from God needed to overcome this tragedy. I think it is okay for you to be upset, it's ok for you to be angry about the loss of such a beautiful gift. Please ask God to console your heart.
And you can yell at me if it will make you feel better.
Last edited by Staybrite, 4/30/2007, 6:35 pm
---
Peace, that brief period in history when everyone stops to reload.
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4/30/2007, 1:34 pm
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Free04
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Re: Need answers...
quoting
Staybrite ...
And you can yell at me if it will make you feel better.
Now why would would I want to do that? ( but I apprecitate the offer) The comments you have made are exactly what I need to hear/read. Sometimes we get angry and we just don't think right. I am still frustrated, but not angry. I just wished I understood.
Thanks stay!!!!
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4/30/2007, 2:47 pm
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garycg
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Re: Need answers...
Sorry to hear this free, its always tough when you try to answer "why do bad things happen to good people"
I was mad at God for over a year over something, questioning why, why, why. I didn't set foot in church, i was angry , thru Gods grace and mercy he was patient with me and thru my wife and some people at church sending cards saying they missed me , i overcame it and like my wife said once , we may not understand now, but we will one day. I finally understood that whatever happens he loved me enough to send his son to die for me and now i am stronger in my walk. This was just 3 years ago.
Also a book that James Dobson wrote " When God Doesn't Make Sense " i urge you to buy this book and read it , be there for this young man because there will be times when he will need a shoulder. Please read this book and allow your friend to read it when he feels up to it.
Again i'm sorry to hear this, but this young man will be ok, i believe God has an awesome ministry for him.
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4/30/2007, 3:20 pm
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Pastor Junior
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Re: Need answers...
Bro. free, I thought that I would look for some scriptures that would help you and many different ones came to mind but before I could look even one up God put it on my heart to say something else to you. As far as the scriptures go, you can pray about it and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and you will find the ones that you need. Now I am not sure how you will take this but I do know that it is what was put on my heart almost immediately upon reading your post.
First who is to say that He won't be able to ever play again, they are doing miracles with prosethics now and as he is a teenager there is no telling what could happen in the next 30 years. But the main thing that I feel needs to be said to you follows this and I would really like for you to think about this long and hard and then pray about it before you reply.
You mentioned that you had a brother that was handicapped and you had been around it all your life and knew what this young man was going to have to go through. That is great because God led this young man to you so that you would get to know him and his gifts before he became handicapped. So You know him, you know his desires, and you know what someone who is handicapped must go through. This young man obviously thinks a lot of you and you of him so who better to help him over the pitfalls then you. You can help him to move forward when it seems all is lost, you can be there to support him as he struggles to learn new ways to do things, and you can help him to focus on God who is the giver of all things. Remember with men it may be impossible but with God anything is possible.
So Bro Free , pray about what I have just said and look at what a wonderful opportunity for a new ministry God has put in front of you. Can You say Here I am Lord Send me?
My prayers will be with you and this young man and if either of you ever needs a special prayer just call on me and I will pray for you. Matter of fact how about right now.
Father God I come before Your Throne of Mercy and Grace and I ask that you guide Bro. Free as he trys to find Your will in this tragic accident and this young mans life. Father I ask that You help both of them to follow Your prompting through the Holy Spirit to lead them and strengthen both of them for the days to come as this young man and Bro Free moves forward to do Your will. Father I ask that You give Bro. Free a clear understanding in what You want him to do. Father I also pray that you will help this young mans family as they struggle with the questions and wonderings of why this had to happen. Lead them all to those who can help them in this time of troubles and strengthen them all for the days to come. Father I thank You for all the great things that will come from this accident and the changes in all their lives. I ask all these things in the name of Your Son, My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN!!!!
Bro. Free, May God Bless You and Guide You Always! AMEN!!
Pastor Junior
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4/30/2007, 3:53 pm
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Order ofMelchizedek
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Re: Need answers...
Wow, that's tough. We don't always understand things that happen because we can't see the big picture in this life. We're limited by time and the physical realm. It may be that he is going through this now so that he can help someone else with a similar experience in the future. Or maybe he's being tested or it's something else beyond our current understanding. And I know it's much easier to say that when it's more distant from us than this is to you.
Here's an article I found a while back.
quoting
Why Would God Allow Bad Things to Happen to Good People?
Life often confronts us with tragic situations that make us wonder about God's willingness or ability to help us. Why would a good God allow such things to happen? Doesn't He care?
This question is addressed by the Book of Job. In this amazingly relevant story, God allows His best example of a "righteous" man to suffer terribly. Job's faith is stretched almost to the breaking point, while well-meaning friends accuse him of having done something to deserve his suffering. Job's struggle continued until it was finally broken by the evidence of God's infinite wisdom and power.
It is impossible for us to fully understand the ways of a God who puts our faith to such strenuous tests. Yet the story of Job reminds us that God can take evil deeds done by others and work them into the fabric of His plan for our good.
God doesn't shield His people from all of the wickedness and suffering of a fallen world. But He alone has the power to use pain, persecution, and even death as part of His plan for our ultimate good ( Romans 8:28 ).
Another example of how God brings good out of human evil is the story of Joseph ( Genesis 37–50 ). Despite being sold by his brothers into slavery, Joseph eventually became God's instrument to spare the lives of multitudes in Egypt, including the members of his own family. Although his brothers acted wickedly, God used their evil deeds for His good ends. When his brothers feared he would seek revenge after their father's death, Joseph said, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19-20).
One of the wonders of God's providence is His unfailing power to demonstrate His goodness even through the intentionally evil deeds of His creatures. What a comfort to know that no evil can thwart the good intentions of our sovereign God!
Dan Vander Lugt
I wish I had better answers for you. I'll be praying for your friend, his family and yourself for peace of mind and acceptance of God's will, as well as His wisdom and discernent in getting through this.
In light of eternity,
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I know who saved my soul and I want this world to know, that I was once blind, once lost, Now I'm blood bought, reconciled to God by the blood He shed on the cross. -Eternal M.o.G.
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4/30/2007, 4:09 pm
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Free04
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Re: Need answers...
Thank each one of you for you inspirational thoughts. That is why I decided to post this about my friend. I knew I could count on you guys for help.
Gary, I am going to buy the book you suggested, Thank you! I hope I read it 
Pastor Junior, you always make sense no matter what the subject. I guess that is why God called you to do what you do. God brought me and my friend together for a reason, it just wasn't the reason I thought. I will be there for him.
Mel, That was a great answer. See I'm not looking at the big picture, I'm looking at the present and unfortunately through angry eyes which causes blindness.
Stay, your right...he has the rest of his life and most importantly he has God.
Thanks again guys. I truly appreciate it. God bless you all.
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4/30/2007, 5:37 pm
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garycg
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Re: Need answers...
quoting
...
Thank each one of you for you inspirational thoughts.
Thats what we're here for, for each other 
Gary, I am going to buy the book you suggested, Thank you! I hope I read it
I hope you do, it really puts things into perspective.
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4/30/2007, 6:35 pm
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Winkks
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Re: Need answers...
I'm sorry to hear this brother free, 
You know... when something bad happens or we lose someone we love, we always ask why.
If we asked ourselves "why not?" more often we may be able to feel more peace within our spirit no matter what is happening.
As far as understanding, there are some things we will never understand and some things we'll understand in time.
Time will also reveal God's power in a situation that has turned bad.
Brother free, hon... instead of looking at what you think his future holds, be looking for a miracle to unfold his future that God has in store just for him. When we do that, there's blessings all around!
Don't let satan rob you of the joy of what God can and will do!
====
Without heart, a beautiful voice is only a melody. With heart it will send your soul on high.
Without heart, an instrument will bounce your feet, but with heart your spirit dances in the heart of God.
I'm looking forward to reading here about the miracles God has worked in the life of your friend.
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5/1/2007, 7:01 am
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