Donna,

That was very well said. I would like to add my thoughts.

God did give us free will. But He wants us to abide by His will and not our
will to experience his love and peace in our hearts. He is a God of love
and great tenderness. It is when we turn from God and become lost in our
addictions, weakness and sins that we loose his peace. Terrorists, drug
dealers, murders, and all crimes are done because man is doing things "his
way" not according to God's will.  But God still loves us even when we sin.
He waits for us to offer our sins to him and asks for forgiveness. It is
only when we completely give our hearts and will to him that we come to
understand His love and have peace in our hearts.

Amen!

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>Approved-By:  Donna Buckelew <[log in to unmask]>
>Date:         Fri, 14 Sep 2001 14:26:32 -0400
>Reply-To: Donna Buckelew <[log in to unmask]>
>Sender: UTC Staff E-Mail List <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Donna Buckelew <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      [UTCSTAFF] GOD IN CONTROL
>To: [log in to unmask]
>
>I believe what men do not want to realize or understand in times like
>terrorism, in divorce, in accidents, etc. Man was given free will by God.
>God does not make man go against his free will.  He did not make us puppets
>and pull our strings  - He does not make us quit drinking so we will not hit
>another car and kill a family (as an example) -    We do whatever we want to
>do - yes God can intervene - that is what prayer is for.   Life can be
>snuffed out of any of us anytime, we do not know what is going to happen
>from day to day.  God will not change a Hitler, unless he wants to be
>changed.  Its our decision how we act.   And many times that horrible
>decision effects other innocent people.
>
>Yes, ultimately there will be peace in the world, but this will be after the
>Lord takes the people home that have accepted him by faith.  Right now,
>there will be no peace, but wars and rumors of wars. It has always been this
>way and will continue just as the Bible tells us.  Its our decision what we
>do with our life and who we trust in.  We can trust in a rock and pray to
>that rock, or to God and pray to God or completely not believe in anything.
>
>Please listen to Billy Graham's ministry that was on today at noon - I am
>sure it will be played tonight.
>
>I certainly do not know everything nor do I understand everything, but I
>will stand on my faith of the Lord and trust that He does have everything
>under control for this country - and whatever is coming -   and believe me I
>have been thru some rough times in my life as many of you have.   I am also
>a private investigator in Chattanooga and unless you get out in this
>community and see what is really going on and the hurt and pain that people
>cause others - even their own family -  you realize that you have to have
>faith and trust  and a belief that in prayer -  God will be with us and a
>hope for the coming of tomorrow.
>
>Donna Buckelew-Adams
>412C Fletcher Hall
>Burkett Miller Chair of Excellence
>SunTrust Bank Chair of Excellence
>Phone no. 423-755-5206
>Fax no. 423-755-5393
>