An Epiphany at Panera Bread: It’s 7 A.M.! I am at Panera bread enjoying the bread of heaven and a cinnamon crunch bagel with a cup of joe. What a great way to start your morning! I am in Bellevue, NE on vacation visiting my family. As I am reading through Psalm 119 (I have been reading this Psalm for the past few weeks, it just flows with reading through the Proverbs which I have been doing in my morning scripture readings for the past 2 years) I had an Epiphany. I AM GLAD I BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD! I read Psalm 119:68 says- “YOU are good, and what you do is good; teach me YOUR decrees”. If you don’t believe in the absolute Sovereignty of God, then there is probably not much hope in this verse for you. These thoughts are fresh in my mind because I saw an old friend of the family yesterday that I am convinced does not believe in the Sovereignty of God as spelled out in the bible, and we often make joust with one another over the topic. For him, he willfully chooses to make simplistic remarks with the hallmark verse of most in his camp ‘whosoever will’. (Sometimes I think that is the only verses they knowJ) While I have been ordained to study the word to accurately divide it in honor of God (2 Tim 2:15). Anyway, back to the epiphany, as I read this I took great hope in this Psalm. I believe the Bible when it says (anything) that God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will”. I take great hope in that God is good. I suspect my friend does also. However, the inclination of my friend (and so many others) is to scurry (fun word) to vindicate God when things go apparently bad. So many Christians want to hail God as good, so they labor to make God NOT responsible for so much apparent evil in the world. This is insane. Some of most awful acts against humanity have been in the bigger, better picture good. Take Joseph for instance. He was sold to slavery by his own brothers. Where is the good in this? God can’t be responsible for this! So, God permitted it! I know this is well meant, but it leaves me little to no hope in Psalm 119:68. Joseph’s brothers were complete pricks. What they did was pure evil. There wasn’t an ounce of good will in their intentions. But, (I love butsJ) what man (in this case several men) meant (purposed, willed, chose, determined) for evil, God meant (purposed, willed, chose, determined) for good, namely the salvation of many! That is because God is good, and what HE does is good. One more example: JESUS. Jesus was a good man. Everyone seems to be cool with saying this. I have met Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists- and Agnostics- and everyone says Jesus was/is good. He didn’t deserve to die the death He died. It was at least inhumane. To beat the crap out of a guy and strip Him naked, and then nail Him to a cross-that is ridiculously harsh. However, that is exactly what happened to Jesus. These people were wicked. They meant evil in this horrendous act. Where is God’s goodness in this? Did God just somehow, take man’s evil act/s and decide after the fact that He would turn this into good? Is God a reactionist? No, what man meant for evil, God meant for good. Jesus said “no man takes my life from Me, I lay it down, and I have the authority and power to take it back again?” Men’s evil, purposeful acts, were all part of God’s Sovereign plans and purpose bringing about good. GOD IS GOOD, and HE DOES GOOD- Teach me your decrees! God teach me to see that the things in my life that suck, the things that are outside of my choices and acts, that they are good, because You are good. So, when I get stuck in Nashville traffic, and I am empathizing with the ROAD-RAGEaholics, teach me that YOUR DECREES are good. When my wife gets cancer-teach me YOUR DECREES ARE GOOD! When people don’t see things my way (I really can’t figure out why everyone doesn’t see things the way I doJ), teach me Your decrees. Sometimes, things in life suck because of me. WHAT!? That can’t be. Well, maybe! And even their what Sam means for crappiness, God means for good! WHY? Because God is good, and I am evil. SO what I do on my own, is going to be evil at the heart, but What God does will always be good. I take great hope in this because the Chaos in the world seems not so Chaotic. The painful things have some consolation and hope. The mistakes have lessons. And the wrongs have right! BECAUSE GOD IS GOOD AND DOES GOOD!. God is sweet! Literally, as I drink this incredible cup of joe and eat this phenomenal bagel, I am reminded of how sweet He is. Plus, although I am sitting alone, I get the idea that He has been right here with me this whole time taking pleasure in my taking pleasure in Him. (B.H.- Do you ever have moments like this?) WIFI-ing for my enjoyment (and others also-hopefully)to the glory of God- I’m out for now. S