Colorado has a special place in my heart. My oldest son was born there, it is our 2nd home, my brother lives there, and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been. My heart breaks for the families who have suffered through a senseless act of violence. My heart aches for a community that is in shock and is wondering what comes next. I was getting a haircut the other day and overheard another patron expressing his outrage and anger at the situation. I began to think, how should I, personally respond...as a follower of Jesus, in anther state.
Here are the 5 ways I am going to respond:
1. Pray - In the Lord's Prayer the phrase
'Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven' implies that God's will is not being done here and that there is potential for good to overcome evil. In all four gospels Jesus urges his followers to pray... [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.(John 15:7-8 ESV)I am going to pray as if my prayers could have a positive impact on negative things...as if life depends on my prayer.
2. Respond - I have this tendency to bury my head in the sand when tragedy strikes. Although I am not indulging in news reporting, I am goint to continue to be engaged when tragedy hits...not with outrage but with generosity. I'm not organizing a trip up to Colorado, but I am going to begin with the person here in Texas who needs help and crosses my path. I am going to overcome evil with good here.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(Romans 12:21 ESV)
3. Understand - the reality is that there is evil in world, I am not going to blame God or assume this is part of God's plan. Yes God is in charge, but God has chosen to give up control so we can have free choice, so we can freely choose good or evil. I was appalled to hear that a local talkinghead was saying on his radio show that this had to be part of God's plan. I disagree with all my being. But I am going to reinvigorate my personal quest to know God, to understand God, to be involved spiritually. I want a vibrant first hand faith, not one that gets tibits of what people think about God from the radio.
4. Enjoy People - I am going to enjoy people more and be less impatient. Speaking as an intorvert this is a big deal...and I can say it is working. When I was in McDonalds this morning drinking my large latte and working on my sermon, a family with about 20 kids came in and were simply wild. To my surprise I was not annoyed...I enjoyed watching the energy (I just hope this new me stays). The fact is none of us know when our time is up...I want to make the most of it by caring about life.
[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:11-12 ESV)
5. Worship - When we as Christians stop worshipping we loose. When I worship I am reminded of the Divine Mystery, I am reminded that there is eternal hope and this changes me.
[12:1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
I recently read an interesting story:
Louis Pasteur’s coworker in developing germ theory (mid 1800's) was Dr. Felix Ruh, a Jewish doctor in Paris. After Dr. Ruh’s granddaughter had died from black diphtheria (epidemic) he vowed he would find a cure and locked himself in his lab for days. At the time the medical association had aggressively disapproved of Pasteur’s germ work and even gotten Dr. Ruh exiled from the French medical community. He holed up in a nearby forest and built a hidden laboratory, purchased 20 horses, invited his secret Dr/Nurse/Scientist allies to witness his experiment.
Dr. Ruh had been cultivating black diphtheria germs for months and had enough germs to kill everyone in France, he went to each horse and swabbed its nostrils, tongue, throat and eyes with the germs. Every horse except one developed a fever and died. Everyone expected the last horse to die, and most of the scientists left. For several days the final horse lay on the ground. There was an orderly instructed to wake up Ruh, Pasteur and the other scientists (sleeping on cots in the nearby stables) if there was any change in the animals temperature.
One night at 2 am, the horse’s temperature decreased by 1/2 of a degree. By the end of the night the fever was gone completely and the horse was up on its feet eating and drinking. Dr. Ruh immediately struck the horse with a hammer, a deathblow and drew all of the blood from its body that had overcome the dreaded disease. The scientists raced to a local hospital where 300 babies had been quarantined and were about to die from black diphtheria. They forced their way past the guards and hospital administration and inoculated every one of those babies...with the blood from the horse. 297 babies survived. They were saved by the blood of an overcomer...
I know that this is a violent illustration...a death produced life....as a Christian I believe that there is a solution to evil, to death...and it is found in the 'blood of the overcomer' the death and resurrection of Jesus Chris. This death that provided forgiveness for the sin sick soul, the cause of evil...grace is free for all. Peace to you.
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