WHERE IS GOD IN THE CALIFORNIA FIRES?

As California burns, pundits and religious leaders are weighing in on the question of : Where is GOD in the midst of this?
The blog www.rapturealert.blogspot.com is suggesting that the fires are God's judgement: "There is biblical precedent for us to at least suspect that Governor Schwarzenegger's recent forwarding of the homosexual agenda in California has brought God's judgment upon its lands. Without a doubt...Could it be that what we are presently seeing on the national news is California spewing out many of its inhabitants as a result of same? Quite possibly but only God knows for sure if that's the case."

On his radio show, Glenn Beck said: "I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today." What does Beck Glenn mean by that statement? Is God punishing those who "hate America?"

It is always discouraging to me when people use human suffering and tragedy to make moral or political points and put the blame not only on those suffering, but on God. This is an imperfect creation. God seems to have made it that way. And we are not protected from all harm in our lives. Stuff happens, and we don't always understand why. What we are assured of is that God is with us in the "stuff." That may be scant consolation when we're in the midst of it, but I'm afraid it's all that we get. Job learned that a long time ago. When Job questions God about his innocent suffering, God's response from the whirlwind is basically, "I'm God and you're not. And you will never understand my ways nor the ways of the created order totally." In a showy explanation God questions Job to make him see his relative insignificance in the greater schema of things: "Were you around when I created the world? Can you move the sun and the stars? Well, then, close your mouth." And that's what Job eventually does: puts his hand over his mouth. Whether our hands are over our mouths in horror or humility, sometimes no words are best, for none suffice. Yet, we are left with important questions to ponder:

1) If God is all powerful and controls nature, then why doesn't he stop the winds and cool the temperatures, thus ending the fires and the tragic loss of life and property?

2) Can tragedy, such as the fires, ever be seen as God's judgement?

3) How are we to understand innocent human suffering?

4)Does prayer help at a time like this? Does prayer change "God's mind?" Can prayer stop the destruction?

5) Do all of the religious traditions belief the same thing about God's activity or lack thereof in the world?

I'm not going to answer these questions, but I'll be thinking about them along with you. And our prayers continue for all those caught in the devastation of the fires in California. The promise of better weather with lesser winds gives hope. Is that an answer to prayer...or just nature taking its course? You decide.

NPR RE-SCHEDULING OF INTERVIEW

Well, for those of you who tuned in to The Faith Middleton Show on NPR today to hear her interview with me, I apologize. They re-scheduled the airing, and I didn't get the information until late. It has now been DEFINITIVELY scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 at 3:20 p.m and 11:20 p.m. You can listen to the broadcast LIVE at http://www.wnpr.org/radiomiddleton.asp

The retreat and book event in Sarasota was a smashing success. Over 400 copies of SOUL PROVIDER were purchased. The community there is alive, welcoming, and faith-filled. Thanks to all who made the weekend such a success. It was "Africa-hot" for October, but the air conditioned church made it all quite bearable. And the spirit of the community there made it so much more than that. Thanks again, Fr. Edward

SARASOTA WEEKEND EVENT

Tomorrow I will travel to Sarasota, Florida where I will lead a weekend RETREAT/REVIVAL at a wonderful parish: St. Thomas More Church, 2506 Gulf Gate Dr , Sarasota, FL ,(941) 923-1691. I will preach at all of the weekend Masses, and then give a REVIVAL SERVICE on Sunday, October 21st at 4:30 p.m. If you are in the area, stop by. This is a wonderfully alive parish with a welcoming congregation and vibrant ministries.
Some advance notice: Next Weekend,OCT. 27/28, I will give a similar program in New York City at HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, 213 West 82nd Street, New York, 212-787-0634. Once again, I will speak at all of the weekend Masses, and then we will have an event in the Church at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28th. Please join us if you are in the area. Peace and blessings+

SOUL PROVIDER RELEASED, NPR INTERVIEW

Tomorrow SOUL PROVIDER is finally released. It really is a bit like sending a child into the world (or so I am told!) You can only take it so far, and then you turn it over and hope for the best. And that is my hope for SOUL PROVDER- the best. It is a very different book from my first two. I hope those expecting something the same as those, will give this one a chance. I think the climb may be worthwhile. Happy Reading!
Tomorrow, I will also tape an NPR Interview for THE FAITH MIDDLETON SHOW. It will air on Monday, October 22nd from 3-4 p.m. and then again from 11 p.m.- 12 midnight. You can listen live at the website : http://www.wnpr.org/RadioMiddleton.asp
Peace and blessings+

Who Speaks for Christians?

It's hard to understand how people like Ann Coulter can wear the banner CHRISTIAN, and say the things that they do. Surely her message and those of her ilk are not compatible with the Gospel of Jesus. The following news report demonstrates the latest ridiculous round of outlandish comments, spewed simply to sell more books. I suppose it won't stop until networks stop putting people like her on the air. All to say she doesn't speak for THIS Christian.

Ann Coulter on CNBC Show: Jews Need 'Perfecting'

By E&P Staff

Published: October 11, 2007 12:15 AM ET updated 1:30 PM ET

NEW YORK Appearing on Donny Deutsch's CNBC show, "The Big Idea," on Monday night, columnist/author Ann Coulter suggested that the U.S. would be a better place if there weren't any Jewish people and that they needed to "perfect" themselves into -- Christians.

It led Deutsch to suggest that surely she couldn't mean that, and when she insisted she did, he said this sounded "anti-Semitic."

Asked by Deutsch whether she wanted to be like "the head of Iran" and "wipe Israel off the Earth," Coulter stated: "No, we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say. ... That's what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament."

Deutsch told E&P's sibling magazine, Adweek, today, "I was offended. And then, and this was interesting, she started to back off and seemed a little upset."

Asked to gauge her reaction, Deutsch said, "I think she got frightened that maybe she had crossed a line, that this was maybe a faux pas of great proportions. I mean, did it show ignorance? Anti-Semitism? It wasn't just one of those silly things."

SUMMER WEEKEND IN OCTOBER

Well, if we had any doubts about global warming, these days of "fall" surely dispel them. In New York it feels like the dead of summer. Strange to see it getting dark earlier, and yet still HOT. Not that I'm complaining. The cold of winter will be here soon enough. Enjoy this while we can.

This weekend I will gather with family and friends to celebrate the upcoming release of SOUL PROVIDER. I'm conscious of my mother not being here to celebrate with us. She died unexpectedly on April 1,2007 after a few day's battle with an aggressive lung tumor. She was so looking forward to reading this book. She had enjoyed my first two, always searching for stories about herself...and then complaining about them. I miss her excitement about the book. And, of course, the first story in the new book is about her. I trust she is celebrating with us from afar. This one is definitely for you, mom.

Audio Version of SOUL PROVIDER

Well, I barely have a voice left. I have been in a recording studio for a few days recording my new book, SOUL PROVIDER: Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love. It was quite a process. It took about 18 hours to record it, but it will only be about a 7-8 hour Audio Book. (That's 7 to 8 CD's, at one hour each.) This books lends itself to the audio format because the 30 Steps can each be an individual track, to be listened to whenever is convenient. I worked with a very able producer, John McElroy. I felt in good hands.
I'm still trying to catch up...and when I do I will attempt to be more faithful to blogging. Promise. Peace.