TDA 

The David Alliance

[email protected]

Garth Heckman 

Whats your prediction on the fight Clubber Lang?

Romans 5

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God (so things should be good now… we got peace - Right?) because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Afflictions = (i.e pain, problems, suffering, lack) 

Do you know how biologists evaluate life? It is in terms of the capacity to

experience pain, the more the pain, the higher the life form. The highest life form not only feels pain the most, but can also feel others pain as well. 

**When we deny pain we deny being human and how God has created us to be and learn. 

Society wants you to avoid pain.. yellow teeth, single, overweight, wrinkles, financial lack, loss, 

The sophistication to avoid pain in todays world has become world class. 

Here is how most of us deal and avoid pain.

Deal with it - “its your fault”

Avoid - anything that distracts the purpose of pain (spending, bitterness, money, overeating, joining a cause, exercise, hobbies….)

C.S. Lewis - pain is Gods megaphone to a deaf world… but we learn to put in earplugs. 

Pain forces you to face your deepest issues keeping you from being like Christ. 

So God tells us rather than avoid, blame or run we should rejoice.