Did God create evil?

Question: "Did God create evil?"

Answer: At first it might seem that if God created all things, then evil must have been created by God. However, evil is not a “thing” like a rock or electricity. You cannot have a jar of evil. Evil has no existence of its own; it is really the absence of good. For example, holes are real but they only exist in something else. We call the absence of dirt a hole, but it cannot be separated from the dirt. So when God created, it is true that all He created was good. One of the good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good. In order to have a real choice, God had to allow there to be something besides good to choose. So, God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil). When a bad relationship exists between two good things we call that evil, but it does not become a “thing” that required God to create it.

Perhaps a further illustration will help. If a person is asked, “Does cold exist?” the answer would likely be “yes.” However, this is incorrect. Cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. Similarly, darkness does not exist; it is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of good, or better, evil is the absence of God. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good.

God did not create evil, but He does allow evil. If God had not allowed for the possibility of evil, both mankind and angels would be serving God out of obligation, not choice. He did not want “robots” that simply did what He wanted them to do because of their “programming.” God allowed for the possibility of evil so that we could genuinely have a free will and choose whether or not we wanted to serve Him.

As finite human beings, we can never fully understand an infinite God (Romans 11:33-34). Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought. God looks at things from a holy, eternal perspective. We look at things from a sinful, earthly, and temporal perspective. Why did God put man on earth knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? These questions cannot be adequately answered this side of eternity. What we can know is whatever God does is holy and perfect and ultimately will glorify Him. God allowed for the possibility of evil in order to give us a true choice in regards to whether we worship Him. God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.

Source:  http://www.gotquestions.org/

Hibernation

I'm hibernating in blogging...which is why you haven't seen any posting since...err...I can't even remember...

Ok, back to hibernation mode... :P

2013...up and down...

2013 us zooming pass at high speed!

Chinese New Year  and Valentine's Day have passed...Election Day coming soon...and after that, whatever day will come...some kind of a day...

I've had UPs and DOWNs...

Multi Purpose 12km run was UP!
Pleasantly surprised to finish 6th! Woohoo! It's the biggest trophy I have!

But Gunung Datuk Challenge of 14km was a DOWN! A better time recorded but position wise, it was much worse than last year. Last year position 30+ and this time, 50+

Army boys are just too good. They dominated this sort of event, which is their forte of course, being a commando or soldier.

Chap Ayam Relay Run was UP!
Together with Ronnie & Michelle in Mixed Category, we raced with the usual fast legs who so happened chose Mixed Category as well. A nail biting race! 3km loop around Tugu Negara. I started followed by Ronnie and Michelle was the anchor runner. 3rd we finished, a good start for Year of the Snake.

Yesterday was Brooks Half Marathon 2013. My last 21km race was on Penang Bridge last November. Haven't been taking part in long distance since then, so there goes my long distance training...didn't hit 21km at all. The past 3months have been speedwork speedwork speedwork neglecting distance. Te longest I went was only 14km...hahaha!
My time for Brooks Half showed the lack of training...1:47:03...14min off my PB.
Guess it's time to add the mileage!

Many thanks to all the photographers! Really appreciate your effort in snapping us in all these events!

Photos courtesy of MovingonAC, The Marathon World Photography, Elaine, Max Lim, Tan Kien Boon,

"What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make?"

Answer: The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

 

Source:  http://www.gotquestions.org/

My First Individual Top10 trophies!

7th in half marathon, Setia Alam

Ever since I started joining road running races way back in 2006, winning a trophy or just achieving a Top10  position in individual races never happened. Why? Cos I'm not fast enough...I'm slow...never a competitive material.  Top10 is just a dream.

I still remember in 2006/7, finishing top100 was my target as medals were limited then. It was a good way to encourage people to "fight" for a medal.

From then on, I saw my position rolling down...top100...top75...top50...

Finally! Year 2012, position tumbled down to Top10 with trophies!!Yahoo!!!!!


 

8th in 12km run, Klang

There were a few events I finished Top10 but trophies were for Top5.  Boo hoo hoo! :(

One thing I must remember is that not all the fast legs were there and that's how I finished Top10. HAHAHA!

If they joined, I'm out...as usual.

In the most recent race, Larian Tahun Baru 1Malaysia on 31Dec2012 where top3 prizes were RM3,000 , RM2,000 and RM1,000 with consolation RM500, it was swept by national runners!

Highest paid 7km race ever!

Where did I stand?

22nd...

Yup, I'm still way behind the Top10 runners. My time was 28:12 while no.10 was 24++
I'm still 1km behind when he finished.

Champion clocked 23:40!!!

For now, when elites & fast legs run, my target is Top20  :)