Video series: Chronic

Trying to understand suffering can be difficult. The Chronic Pain video series gives insights into how to cope with it and that there is hope.   Pastor Steve Abraham tell not only his story but also the story of his family of how pain has affected their lives and changed his relationship with God and other people!!

Youth and family thought: Discipling through disappointment

If you are alive, have a family it is likely that you have experienced disappointment together....

Gill Briggs is a worshiper of Jesus, a mother, a wife and drinker of great tea and coffee and shares an insight into what it means to disciple our children through disappointment....visit http://briggs.id.au/rain/2014/01/discipling-through-disappointment/

Resources for ministering during times of tragedy including bushfires and floods

These resources have been gathered together to help those going through difficulties as a result of disasters like bushfires, floods, earthquakes, etc..to gain comfort from God and explore Where is God in all the mess. They are also helpful for people ministering to others during such times.

A worship service of Prayer, Comfort and Thanksgiving available at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjf3bcp_7ctw5xpgc

Lutheran Church of Australia's resources
http://www.lca.org.au/features/news/vicfiresprayers100209.cfm

Answers to agony from Pastor Edgar Mayer
http://www.geocities.com/mayeredgar/agony.htm
http://www.geocities.com/mayeredgar/agony2.htm

Psalms, Bible readings, prayers and suggested songs for times of catastrophe compiled by Andrew Ruddell
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgjf3bcp_8d6pdtcw9

Lutheran Disaster Response, offers a range of resources including how to respond to disasters, devotional material, resources for children plus more

Textweek resources
http://www.textweek.com/response/natural_disaster.htm

Barney Zwartz's response to those who think that the bushfires are the result of God's judgement
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/failing-to-understand-the-nature-of-an-understanding-god-20090211-84of.html

Hymn written following the bushfires
Black Saturday
Tune: Amazing Grace
Norman Habel, 2009

Amazing flames that scorch the sky,
Like hurricanes of fire,
Alive with eucalyptus oil,
Are roaring higher and higher.

These swirling balls of oil ablaze,
That leap o’er trees at will,
Descend on fields and flock and homes,
Explode and burn and kill.

Where’s God in all this swirling ash?
Where’s God in all this pain?
Awaiting somewhere in the sky
To one day send some rain?

The face of God is burnt and black;
The hands of God are red!
The God we know in Jesus Christ
Is bleeding with the dead.

Is this, O God, the shock we need
To face our life ahead,
Adjusting to a Greenhouse Age
When we must share our bread?

Christ, show us now your hands and feet,
The burns across you side
To show you suffer with the Earth,
By fires crucified!

Lutheran Sermons during times of tragedy
Where is God in all this? written following Hurrican Katrina
When disaster happens....God is more interested in caring and saving than judging..

Where is God now? 60 hope inspired devotions especially for those suffering community disasters

Where is God in all this?
From Lutheran Hour Ministries a free downloadable booklet or 40c for hardcopy to help us discover where God is in the midst of suffering

Books: for those wanting to dive a little deeper
Grab a bible and read the book of Job

Good Question: edited by Brian Schwarz has an article about suffering by Bob Kempe. (Local Lutheran Congregation's and pastors may have copies. Or visit the library at www.alc.edu.au)

The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis


Where is God when it hurts....by Phil Yancey


Preaching God's Compassion by LeRoy Aden and Robert Hughes


God, Evil and Human Suffering by John E Thiel


God and human suffering by Douglas Hall


Walking with God in a fragile world edited by J Langford



If you are aware of anything else that may help others minister and receive God's word during this time please feel free to let me know or simply add them as comments