Wow it is cold. I thought this was South Texas. As a native Texan (grew up and lived around north, central and west Texas), this is an unusual winter. It is interesting that one of the most consistently cold winters occurs as a raging debate goes on about global warming - don't worry, I'm not going to get political here. Obviously, our planet is in a warming trend. It is clearly up for debate as to the causes of it. Since we are having one of the most consistently cold winters on record, does that mean that we are no longer in a warming pattern?

Probably not -- in the same way many people think that God does not exist because so many bad things happen to good people.

W h y d o e s God allow those things to happen? Can't God prevent these things from happening?

Well, I don't

have all the answers, but God is God and I am not. I believe he has specific reasons for these things, and God never wastes a hurt. As for God's existence, let me tell a story: There was a man getting a haircut from a barber. While in the shop, the barber stated that he didn't believe in God because of all the bad things that happen. After he finished the haircut, the two of them walked down the road to get some lunch. On the way they passed a homeless guy who hadn't had a shave and a haircut in months. The pastor stated that he didn't believe in barbers because of the homeless guy's condition. The barber responded by saying that the homeless guy has made a choice to not come in to get a haircut. The pastor responded that God, too, allows for choices. Just because we make bad choices doesn't mean that God does not exist.

Are you a victim of bad choices? Or bad circumstances? God does exist, and He wants to help you. All you have to do is ask Him to help you.

William Campbell is paster at First Baptist Church.