Yes God is in control. Just as a CEO or manager is in control of their business. They aren't however in control of the actions of their staff, just as God is not in control of the actions and decisions of us. God, I believe has a plan for our lives, and he lays it out like a route map from birth to ultimately our death (which I believe is planned as a natural one from old age, date unknown). He sees the decisions we are faced with, and so on this route map, plots the alternative routes that we may choose to go down, and on each of these routes, are more splits and more splits, until our life route, looks more like a provincial street map. And yes perhaps some of the decisions we make, may result in our death.
Let's look for example at the untimely death of Barry. I certainly, don't for a minute believe that God decided that Barry was to die, on 2 September 2009. I don't believe that if Barry had chosen not to go paddle skiing that God would have sent a bus to run him over, or a car to crash into him. I believe that if Barry hadn't gone paddle ski-ing that day, that yes, he would be with us to day. Unfortunatly the routes that he took, led him to choosing (free will), to go paddling on that fateful day. I certainly believe that God's heart broke as Barry spent hours in water, and he wept with him as help was not at hand.
And so we ask, if God is in control could he not have rescued Barry? No, God is in control. BUT he is not controlling. He is not a control freak.
A thought to ponder. How perfect was the timing that Barry died at the start of his furlough, when two months of preaching, and pastoral care were planned. Could you imagine the shambles of his church had he not been on furlough or just at the end of it?
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