Thanking God. It’s complicated

"God gets a lot of blame that is undeserved, and a lot of thanks that are misdirected." Pastor Phil Kniss made this statement early in his Thanksgiving sermon. If God is responsible for the good gifts we have received, it makes sense that God is responsible for the bad things, right? Pastor Phil said this is shaky theological ground. He went on to explore God's role in our blessings and hardships. Deuteronomy 26:1-11 offers guidance for celebrating. The celebrations described in the passage occurred in good years and in bad years. God has done marvelous things. Let us give thanks, not because of our circumstances  but despite  them.