The Tulip Driven Life

"But suffering naturally produces in the spectators (unless they are unusually depraved) no bad effect, but a good one- pity. Thus that evil that God chiefly uses to produce the 'complex good' is most markedly disinfected, or deprived of that proliferous tendency which is the worst characteristic of evil in general." C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, 117 "And we know all things that work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." God, Romans 8:28 "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Jesus, Luke 13:4-5. The question I am addressing is a slight twist, or narrowing of scope really, of a question many have asked: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The answer to the above question, of course, is...

This is a slight modification of a blog post I put on Facebook about a year and a half ago. This was based on seeing the first two Twilight films. I never saw the third one. I am considering seeing the fourth to write another blog post, since, in this film, Bella and Edward get married as I understand. I want to see how Stephanie Meyer, being a Mormon, handles that.  The author of The Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyers, is a practicing Mormon (but she does drink diet coke). I've done a little bit of research on her and in one of her interviews she says that Twilight is about free will, that we all have choices to make, we have the power to choose the actions we take.  In one article Meyers said: "It's about keeping yourself free of addictions," she explains, sitting on a huge couch in her living room. "We have free will, which is a huge gift from God. If you tie that up with something like, I don't know, cocaine, then you don't really have a lot of ...

This is another paper I did for church history class. REFORMATION BIBLE COLLEGE ESSAY LETTER TO A FRIEND CHURCH HISTORY BY THOMAS BOOHER SANFORD, FLORIDA NOVEMBER, 2011 My dearest Edward,             I wish to write to you concerning Martin Luther, the Augustinian monk who is turning the world upside down. Since you are far away, I felt it best to inform you of all that has transpired.             As you know, I began studying under Luther at Wittenberg University this past year, upon hearing all the commotion and excitement he began stirring with his ninety-five theses. For the poor commoners like me, his words were making a lot of sense. The atmosphere has been dire and solemn as long as I can remember- the fear of eternal damnation always looming, the tears cried for loved ones in purgatory, and the lack of money to get them into heaven. [...

I believe I posted chapter 1 a long time ago as well. This, however, is the recently revised, and hopefully much improved, version (though it is still far from its final form). Hope you enjoy and your interest is piqued.  Book Excerpt Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Fletcher Booher Chapter 1 The tavern was old, smelling faintly of manure and smoke from the villager’s shoes and pipes. Grime and dirt salted the stone floor, and the dim candle light revealed walls stained with ale. A cloaked, hooded man huddled against the corner wall, one leg extended, the other bent. He rested a stein of ale on top of the bent knee, uncomfortably bracing his weight with the free hand, eyes fixed on the golden liquid in front of his concealed face. The hooded man was familiar with Old Mason’s Tavern, too familiar, and many who frequented the tavern were too familiar with him. At times he would drink himself into a rageful fit, cursing and spitting at others who had done him no w...