Pilgrim
Looking over my post again I noticed that I forgot to put the word "necessarily" between the words "doesn't" and "mean".
So it should read:
As far as I can tell, my understanding God being omnipotent doesn't necessarily mean that He sends things like hurricanes to punish people.
I am well aware that Scripture gives one of the reasons for things like hurricanes to punish people. So I guess in that way, I answered my own question.
I guess I just have a hard time when I hear people say things like God send hurricane Katrina to punish people. When in actuality, how could they know this, at best it is speculation. Believe me I have heard this kind of thing all too often.
I agree with the reasons that you gave, but I suppose another reason could be added to that.
Tony Campolo and others like him don't like it when people say things like hurricanes are sent by God to punish people.
By the way, the reason I brought up Tony Campolo, is because this coming Saturday, he is (among others) coming to the city I live in for a Missions conference.
Years ago (pre-Calvinist days) I heard Tony speak and I can understand why he is popular. However, the things I am reading about him make me concerned.
I doubt a lot of the Churches that are bringing Tony Campolo to this city actually know that he believes in things like evolution; gay rights; God isn't omnipotent; has some New Age ideas, etc...
It is for that reason that I have sent some of this information via e-mail to a few of these Churches, mine included.
Tom
