So Can We Haunt Some People?

At our Wednesday morning free store conversation Carlos led us in a discussion of Romans 8:1-17.  David was enthused about this and said, "This talks about the flesh and the spirit."  Carlos said that the passage is basically telling us how to become free from the power of sin.  He said that sin is a combination of bad motivation and bad behavior that leads to separation between people.  Carlos went on to say that "telling your kids don't just don't work" which made us laugh.  He said that what the law could not do because of our rebellion and weakness that God did for us.

Carlos talked about how God can liberate us from the power of rebellion not by exercising power over us but rather by showing love for us.  He said it would be like if everyone was mad at a king because he keeps all the good stuff for himself but then the king shares it all and ends the rebellion.  Carlos said that ultimately we have the hope of a new life because "you will be raised from the dead."  At this Sheila said, "So can we haunt some people?" which made us laugh.  When Carlos asked her what she meant by that she said, "Did you really love me or did you just say that?"  Sheila then said, "So in other words when we go to heaven God will protect us so that hell won't drag us down."  Carlos said that it is great to know that God will protect us and then quoted Mother Teresa, "When you go to do something good people will come against you.  Just do it anyway."

As the conversation continued Carlos said that Romans 8 encourages us to call God our "father" or "daddy."  Someone said that his image of God growing up was more that of a powerful king rather than a loving father.  He said that for much of his life he lived in fear of God.  Carlos said, "A lot of us don't have good relationships with our fathers which makes it difficult to relate to God as well."  At this Terrence said, "I think about my father.  Right before he died I was thinkin about forgivin him.  A lot of things in life are not your fault."

As the conversation moved to its conclusion our new friend Janey said, "God is able.  It's important to know that on a personal level.  Sometimes I think about what I don't have and I complain.  But I know from personal experience that God can take care of me."  She then told us this story, "Sometimes people representing God have two faces, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  A person may be highly esteemed and yet act like a beast at home.  I knew a prominent surgeon that used to abuse his wife.  The first thing he would do when coming home from work was to hit her.  She put up with it for years because of the economics.  She waited until the day her son graduated from college then she blew his cover.  As a result of the media attention she raised enough money to build three shelters for battered women.  Good can come out of bad things."