SDF,

Now you've done it! You'll have the Calvinists all up in arms with their "God is in Control" jive and of course you have me ranting about your take on the New Covenant (what was the verb?) "delineated". Is that the one we are under? Too much to go into under this post, but suffice to say you are right about the one thing that you were trying to inform us of: God is not the purveyor of death. Who is? Why ol' split foot himself - Hebrews 2:14 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"

So, thank you for our take, but I might have approached it in an other-than new covenant way. I suppose now I'll have to defend my "God is all good and Satan is all bad" view.

Bob

Might as well blame God for it. He gets blamed for everything else that we don't like, so He's used to it by now. I suspect He's pretty thick-skinned in that way.

How can we give credit to God for Nature's beauty, but not it's wrath?

Isa. 45:7 "The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these."

Amos 3:6 " If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?"

I think it would be wise to admit that God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts; and there are some thing's that we simply have no smart answer for, but we know that God has a purpose. I would like to add that this hurricane will likely be considered a blessing to many in the end, for it is often through disasters such as these, that many find themselves back at the feet of God. I speak from expierience, having lost my home to a hurricane, and I can tell you, death it was not, quite the opposite. I suppose one could say that when it comes to God's ways the old adage still applies, "don't judge a book by it's cover".

I agree with Nichole.
Isaiah 55:9 says "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
We can't completely understand why He does or allows all that He allows. Do we think that just because we are Christians that we are above God's discipline? Are we living such holy lives that we don't deserve discipline? Hebrews 12:5-7 "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
Even as Christians, many continue to live in sin and accept sinful lifestyles as though there were nothing wrong with it. You call New Orleans a "boob-fest playground". This lifestyle is not play. It's a lifestyle that flaunts sexual immorality which is "Sin". When we who call ourselves followers of Christ play down sin, then we better beware and take heed of Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Jesus said, "If you are not for me, then you are against me" Jesus calls us to Repentance from sin, Not to Acceptance of sin. Sadly, many who call themselves by His name live as though they were not saved. Christ died to give us freedom "from" sin, not freedom "to" sin.
There are going to be times on this earth when true believers/followers may have to suffer for the sins of many (and for sins of our own), just as Christ suffered for the sins of many. We are His disciples after all. Romans 8:17 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Do we expect to escape suffering when Christ himself suffered? Are we not willing to suffer along with those who are lost that we who know the Lord might have an opportunity to share with them the hope that we have in Him?

In the book of Job, Satan is the one who is the cause of all Job's calamities but he has done so with God's permission. Nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission. If he allows it, He has a purpose for it...namely to bring glory to HImself and reveal Himself to His creation and to bring His creation into a relationship with Himself. Job says in 2:10, " Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
And in 5:17-18 he says: "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."
God indeed allows hardship and calamity to bring us to our knees and open our eyes that we might truly recognize that He is the only God, that we need Him, and that we might repent from our sinful ways (whether it be actual physical sin or the sin of pride, selfishness, etc.) and turn to Him for healing and forgiveness.
We don't have to know the exact Why behind things that happen but it's important for us to know the Who behind the Why. Someday we will know as He knows but in the meantime, it's important for us to know Him better through the study of His Word. Remember He loves us and causes "all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His Purpose" Rom 8:28