Skip to main content

There is Lots Going on in the World

I guess after a half century of war, and natural disasters during my lifetime, I don't get too freaked out about these things. I am not without compassion, I fact I think the worst feeling I can think of was those on the that last plane (Flight 93) on 9/11 - they knew what was going on. How awful it must have been.

It is interesting to me that those that don't believe in God try to find other reasons for all this catastrophe. For those of faith, some blame God, others call it sovereign. I suppose if I was an atheist, I suppose I wouldn't be able to sign an insurance policy that doesn't cover acts of God - there would be no such thing.

As a Christian there are some real stress-relievers beyond even the wonderful and supernatural peace of God. There are many comforting Bible verses. I like ones such as these: "you are graven on my palm" (Isaiah 49:16), "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2) and "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Luke 12:7)  It makes me feel known by my Creator!

As I think about those that are suffering in Japan an Libya today, I am wondering who they call on? Religion isn't very useful when your life is on the line; a God of power is. I have been rereading Like A Mighty Wind and I find my faith pretty pathetic compared to the Christians of the Indonesian revival. They really did have a God that met their needs. He multiplied food, allowed them to walk on water, the ate poison and were not harmed as well as some other amazing stuff. The intensity of the Spirit solved many arguments about whether a Christian can smoke, or drink, and whether it was profitable to have religious statues.

God showed up, and had an opinion.

I guess my point is this today, God is involved with us, although we can insulate ourselves very easily from any sort of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. He knows us, and if we truly have an individual relationship with Him, even our trials are pure joy according to James.

I don't like tragedy, and I don't wish it on anyone. I do love Jesus, and regardless of my circumstances, He knows me and I know him. He has my life in the palm of his hand. I have enjoyed God so much, I would rather be there in Heaven, yet I am not because the appointed time hasn't come. I do look forward to it!

For the time being, I am alien here on earth, caring for my family and loving on others as I have time and opportunity. It's not such a bad deal because the Kingdom of God is at hand!

How about you, what's your view of tragic world events?

Comments

Alicia Rae said…
That was in interesting perspective, and I think I agree. Being a Christian I can understand finding joy in the midst of terrible circumstances (although never have I had to deal with anything as drastic as a tsunami). I often wonder though, how we as Christians, are to share this joy with those in the midst of trauma. How can you tell a starving African man to find joy in his hunger? And how can you tell unbelievers in Japan and Thailand to find joy in Christ in the devastation ruining their entire lives? I often wonder these questions, and hearing about the earthquake in Thailand yesterday again raise those thoughts. Any ideas?
Alicia Rae said…
I share the same perspective as you. I often struggle with these questions though: How is one to tell a starving man in Africa to find joy in God despite his hunger? How is one to tell the Japanese and Thai unbelievers to find joy in the Lord even through the devastation tsunamis and earthquakes brought upon them? Being a Christian I can easily find joy in the Lord even during the times of my difficulty, but how is that belief to be installed into the minds of those who do not believe and yet have experienced great trauma?
Charlie Chang said…
At my last job, we had a co worker who took a smoke break and the debris from the 9/11 incident killed him.

That's why I say, "Smoking kills."

nicodemusatnite.com
David-FireAndGrace said…
@Alicia - good question. I think that people will embrace Jesus when they see it working in you and me. If the Kingdom was just talk, we could debate it, and folks would get saved. Because it is a Kingdom of power, it makes no sense unless your joy in the storm seems out of place to others.

Here is simple example. I once worked for a guy that was not saved. During the course of my employment, my mother was ill with cancer and died. He kept saying, "I don't know how you do it." A few years later his mother died suddenly - and I was the first one he called - even before family.

You never know. Thanks for commenting!

@Charlie - LOL.
I think God set up this world and set it into motion so it would keep going - and apart of having a "living" planet includes these events.

and once again those stories get me. That book is moving farther up on the list every week.
photogr said…
"How about you, what's your view of tragic world events?"

I look upon the events that happened in the last decade as a precursor of things to come.This is just only the beginning.

If you look at only one event at a time, you might loose sight of what is actually happening. Combine them together and it becomes clearer as to what is really going on.

Yes, the kingdom of God is close at hand.

Popular posts from this blog

Mad Libs: An Unforgettable Church Service

Hopefully you have heard of Mad Libs (R) ! They are stories that you blindly fill in the blanks for articles of grammar and then read the completed story. Since I was a kid, these have always been a hoot. I decided to make up my own. Just fill in the blanks next time you are at small group and then read it back. It is sure to shake up a few religious spirits. An Unforgettable Church Service We arrived at _________ ( time of day ) at the Church of the Holy _________ ( noun ). It was ___________ ( day of week ) and we got out of the _________ ( mode of transportation ). We were dressed in our __________ ( day of week ) best. We all held _________ ( plural body part ) as we crossed the street. Today was special because it was ___________ (holiday) and the kids look forward to receiving _________ ( noun ) as part of the celebration. Pastor _________ ( name ) was there to greet us and shake our ________ ( body part ). He welcomed my __________ ( family member ) with a big _________ ( bodil...

Touchdown Jesus! - Vessels of Grace and Channels of Power

My blog title is grammatically correct. Jesus did not get a touchdown, that was the nickname a 62 foot tall, upper torso sculpture, of Jesus was given. The sculpture, off I-75 in southern Ohio, was struck by lightening and burned to the ground. HERE  is the Yahoo News story. I an not going to segue into some prophetic sign of how the End Times are upon is. Much more interesting, and relevant, are the comments on the article by some 3,500+ readers. Here is one by Joshua - "God and Jesus was just made up in a book too. Same with Lucifer and every other angel. Anyone who says Zues is just made up cant prove it. Nor can anyone prove Jesus or God is too. Anyone can write a book and make up some higher being and some poor fools will buy into it." This is one of my favorites from What122: "I wonder if their insurance will cover it, or will the insurance company say it was an act of God?" One commenter characterizes Christianity by using the Bible against itself. Be...

God is Great, Beer is Good, and People are Crazy

There was a discussion on Facebook today about how some people think Christians are "whack jobs." Regardless, God is still great. I don't really know much about beer. I haven't had one in just about 30 years. There are a lot of folks that consider themselves to be Christian. Some because they do good, and others because they have faith in God or are born again-- and others because they grew up in a Christian denomination. Far be it from me to decide who is in, and who is out. Some say we'll be surprised at who is going to be there, and others say who think they are in will be surprised when they are rejected at the Pearly Gates. Hmmm... But let's say you are a real Christian who is feeling passionate about doing something for God. You know something beyond throwing a few bucks in the offering plate and trying to be a good person. The church calls it service or ministry, which could include such things as: reading scriptures on Sunday morning, planning a harves...