A Tragic End to the Forerunner

So often Christians hear “There is no God. If God truly existed, why would He allow bad things happen to good people?” Really – that’s your question. I know people do struggle with the idea of evil existing in a world said to be created by God. The two seem to be in opposition.

God did create a perfect world for man. It was the Garden of Eden. What happened? We were disobedient. God did not cast us out of the Garden, we chose disobedience and paid the consequences of that decision. And hell? Just as we have free will to screw everything up, the Angels, who were created before the world, also have that same gift of free will. While it is not clear if Lucifer was defiant before the creation of Adam, there is no doubt that he existed when Eve chose to listen to a serpent rather than to God. Bad things happen in this world because people choose to do bad things. Good people often become the victims of evil choices. Just because you choose to turn to God does not mean your life is going to be made any easier. If anything, the road might become more difficult. If, as a Christian, you feel persecuted, then consider yourself to be in great company.

John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah in Christ’s time. He was not a prophet of old, but rather knew Jesus. He became the first “Christian” to be executed. While John was not killed for merely pointing to Christ as the way and the truth and the light, but because knowing this gave him the courage to speak publicly about right and wrong. John was considered by the authorities to be a nut out there in the wilderness, eating bugs and spouting about a straight path, whatever that meant. It wasn’t until John condemned the adulterous and incestuous marriage of Herod Antipas and Herodias that he was deemed a problem.

As for the Apostles – all but one was martyred. The youngest of the Chosen, John son of Zebedee who died of natural causes. Even he was not spared from suffering for his beliefs. Tradition tells us that Saint John; the author of the Three Letters of John contained in the New Testament, the Fourth Gospel and possible Revelations, was banished to Patmos by the Roman authorities.

God never promised an easy life and peaceful death. No, but He did promise to be our strength in difficult times. He promised to be at our side through life’s hardships, and to help us when we feel lost and alone. If your life is difficult, then you are in great company indeed.

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Cellentani Pasta and Cheese
8 oz Cellentani Pasta
1/4 White Onion
8 oz American Cheese
8 oz sharp Cheddar Cheese
2 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoon Flour
2 cups Milk
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Dry Mustard Powder
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish; set aside.

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta well.

While the water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, cut a quarter section of an onion. Peel and finely dice, set onion aside. Cut the American Cheese slices into strips. Grate the cheddar cheese. Set the cheeses aside until ready to use.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Sauté onion for about 2 minutes, until soft and translucent. Sprinkle with flour, continue to cook another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in the milk. Season with salt, mustard powder and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Add the Cheddar and American cheeses to the milk mixture, stir until the cheese melts and is silky smooth. Remove from heat.

Spread half of the pasta out in the prepared dish. Pour cheese mixture over the pasta, then top with remaining pasta. Stir to combine and coat all the pasta well in the cheese mixture.

Place into the heated oven to bake until hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes or so. Remove from oven; let sit for 8 minutes for the cheese to relax and thicken before serving.

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Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.