God in the Storm?

I know whom I have believed, 

and am convinced that He is able to guard 

what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

2 Timothy 1:12

I read an interesting article on CNN.com's blogs last night.  It was on the CNN Belief Blog, and was written by Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar.  The title is:  My Take: God not in Whirlwinds of Sandy or Presidential Race.  Prothero argues that when superstorms like Sandy arrive, we "tune in to the Weather Channel, not the Christian Broadcasting Network.  And we interpret these events not through the rumblings of biblical prophets but through the scientific truths of air pressure and tectonic plates."  There are many pundits who would proclaim that Sandy was some kind of a judgment warning from God, but I rather think Sandy came about because of our own misuse of this planet. 

There are lots of people out there today who believe they know what God is thinking, what God believes, and who God wants to win the political election.  There are those who want to base policy (such as abortion, etc.), on what God wills (at least according to them).  I don't think any of them are speaking on behalf of God.  They are speaking on behalf of themselves and their own ideas and motivations.  I loved Prothero's last line, "When it comes to storms like Sandy, I just don't believe in a God who drowns black babies in Haiti yet refuses to drown out the voices of cranky white men who claim so irreverently to speak in His name."

More enthralling than this article, however, were the 20+ pages of comments that came directly after.  There were Christians, right and left-wing political wonks, ordinary citizens, atheists, believers, Muslims, Catholics, Republicans, Democrats and every stripe of person inbetween.  Many of the comments were bitter or angry. Many were written by people who could only see their side of the argument.  I have chosen two to leave you with tonight, not because I believe what they say, but because they reflect the majority opinion of those reading the article.  Both were written by men.  Both left me feeling very sad.

I suspect God simply doesn't care.  

Maybe He just gave up on the human race

when we killed His Son 

(or His penultimate prophet, if you believe Islam.)

And when we then made yet more 

pugilistic religions trying to kill each other off.

He clearly hasn't cared for at least 1400 years.

If you believe all the mumbo-jumbo, and if He ever cared,

and if He even existed in the first place that is,

maybe He just went of to try again on a different planet since

this one was so obviously doomed.

I suspect that god just... isn't.  Simple as that.

I Will Never Leave

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified...

for the Lord your God goes with you,

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

 

This stunning photograph, taken at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in September 18, 2012, is making the rounds of the Internet this afternoon, purported to be soldiers guarding the Tomb today during Hurricane Sandy.  This is NOT a photo from those circumstances, but from a similar time of heavy rainfall earlier this year.  

The tomb of the unknown soldier has been guarded continuously since April 6, 1948.  Although a shelter was built for the guards to use in times of extreme weather, most decline to use it.  The Tomb's honor guard comes from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).  You can read more about them at www.army.mil/oldguard.

There is something that strongly pulls at the heart to see these young men continuing to guard in the pouring rain.  They are ordinary human beings like you and I, but their strength, courage and dedication go above and beyond the normal call of duty as they refuse to abandon, even for a moment, a poignant symbol of the greatness of this country and the longevity of its memory and love for its fallen heroes.

 

Ordinary men and women like you and I also have someone who also stands guard - One who never slumbers or sleeps and who will not leave us or forsake us, no matter what is happening in our lives.

How blessed we are to have the Creator God as our strength and shield.  

As A Thief

Stay awake - alert!  You have no idea what day

your Master will show up.  But you do know this:

If the homeowner had known what time of night

the burgler would arrive, he would have been

there with his dogs to prevent the break-in.

Be vigilant just like that.  You have no idea

when the Son of Man is going to show up.

Matthew 24:42-44

 

A young friend of mine (we'll call him John) has a very good friend (we'll call her Beth) who lives with her new baby in a small apartment in Pennsylvania--pretty much in the projected path of Hurricane Sandy.  John and his girlfriend have been preparing their home for whatever amount of the storm hits here in Virginia.  After securing their place, John thought of Beth and gave her a call.  "Hey - are you ready for the storm?"  The answer came back, "What storm?"  At first John thought she was kidding, but it soon became very evident that she had no idea that there was a Hurricane Sandy, much less that it was headed in her general direction.  John gave her the Cliff notes version of hurricane preparedness, and when she panicked, he told her to just take the baby and go stay with her parents, who hopefully would be more aware of the weather than she was.

With all the hype on the news, on the Internet, on television, and particularly on social media sites, it doesn't hardly seem possible that there could be an adult in the eastern United States who does not know about the approaching storm.  My guess?  This girl is not alone - there are probably quite a few people out there blissfully going about their everyday routine, completely unaware of the three storms that are converging on each other and on them.

Jesus talked a great deal about His second coming when He was on the earth the first time, admonishing the people that the surprise factor would be akin to a "thief in the night."  If any of us knew for certain that our house was going to be targeted for a break-in tomorrow, we would call out the dogs, the neighbors, the police, and anyone else we could think of to be there to prevent the robbery.  But if you don't know, you don't take those precautions. 

When I was growing up, sermons about the Second Coming of Christ were a regular occurence in my home church.  When I was a young adult, I still heard them, just not quite as often.  Now? I never hear a sermon about Jesus coming again.  It is the great forgotten topic in most Christian churches.  So - just because I never hear about it or never think about it, does that mean that Christ's coming is not going to happen?  Hmm... that sounds like the ostrich-with-head-in-sand approach of the young girl in Pennsylvania.  I'm not sure that God would use the phrase, "Ignorance is no excuse."  But I am pretty sure that He would trumpet the message:  "Wake up!  Be alert!  Get Ready!  I've promised that I will come again, and I meant exactly what I said."  Food for thought on a blustery, storm-approaching afternoon.

Hurricane Sandy

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power;

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

and clouds are the dust of His feet.

Nahum 1:3

As I write this evening, the entire eastern portion of the United States is holding its breath as we await the formation of what some are calling a "massive storm of historical proportions."  Hurricane Sandy has claimed more than two dozen lives in the Caribbean, and continues to churn northward just above the Bahamas.  Storm models believe it will make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane.  If it merges with a strong cold front approaching from the west, it could morph into a massive, slow-moving "Frankenstorm" that could cause untold damage to the East Coast and New England.  “Sandy will not be your typical hurricane,” AccuWeather reported. “Sandy will be more like a large nor’easter on steroids. It could have the strength of a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. Tropical storm and hurricane-force wind gusts will extend out hundreds of miles from the center.”

I live in Virginia, and our governor issued a State of Emergency this afternoon, many hours before Sandy is slated to make landfall.  Other governors further up the coast have done the same.  The forces of nature are notoriously unpredictable, and at this point, it is anyone's guess exactly when and where this storm might decide to turn inland.  I have lived in this area for ten years, and have experienced the effects of three hurricanes and one particularly devastating tropical storm.  I have already filled my car with gas, stocked up on cases of water, non-perishables, and C batteries for my trusty flashlight, and purchased a new car-rechargeable camping lantern.  My experience with storms in this area is this:  we always have trees that come thundering down, I always lose power, and my neighborhood is one of the last to have power restored.  Last time this happened, I was in the dark for eight days.  I cannot afford a generator, but this time I will have the blessing of a good lantern.    

Tomorrow evening we have the Light the Night walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Virginia, and I am hoping that we will be able to participate in this event, even if we have to stroll in the rain.  As long as we don't have the winds, I think we can manage the short walk itself.  I have a feeling the festivities are going to be rather damp, but hopefully our spirits can remain bright.

If this blog suddenly disappears on Monday or Tuesday, you will know that we have experienced a power outage in the midst of  Sandy's overwhelming roar, and will return once everything is cleaned up and restored.  Please pray for all those in this storm's path - for wisdom, for safety, for endurance.

Laugh or Cry?

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

Pastor Bruce McIver tells the story of returning from a trip during the period of time soon after his wife's death.  He had been attending a three day seminar that was required for his college teaching.  As he walked across the lawn toward the house, words of greeting for his soul-mate were already forming in his mind when he crossed the threshold and remembered - the house was empty.  He dropped his luggage - a suitcase and brand new leather briefcase - on the floor, turned up the thermostat, and dropped into a lounge chair for the oblivion of a short nap before picking up his little girl.

Sometime later he woke from a deep sleep to a burning odor and a cloud of thick smoke.  The floor furnace was located just inside the entrance of the room - right where he had dropped his luggage before turning up the heat.  He grabbed the hot handles of the bags, opened the front door, and pitched the luggage out on the lawn.  The upsurge of oxygen caused the luggage to burst into flames in mid-air, and all McIver could do was stand and watch as his clothing, underwear, suits, shirts, sweaters, ties, mementos, correspondence, notes, etc., were reduced to a heap of ashes.

At that point, McIver said that he had two options - sink into an even greater despondency and possibly depression, or laugh.  He chose the latter.  In the midst of his laughter, he chuckled to himself: "If the phoenix can rise from the ashes, maybe my insurance can at least buy me a new set of underwear!"

As told in:  

Stories I Couldn't Tell When I was a Pastor

Bruce McIver - Guideposts

What a Gift!

...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said,

"it is more blessed to give than to receive."

Acts 20:35

There is a great deal of talk during this political election season about tax breaks for the rich vs. building up the fortunes of the middle class.  The constant bickering about the "haves" and the have nots" gets tiring and then just plain irritating.  So it is welcome news to hear a story about an individual who is enormously wealthy and overwhelmingly generous.

John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, has just pledged $100 million to New York's Central Park Conservancy.  Mr. Paulson feels a strong connection to the iconic park - his grandparents had their first date there, and he used to rollerblade through the park as a young man.  Central Park is one of the absolute gems of New York City - a place where rich and poor, young and old, conservative and liberal can stop for a few moments to catch their breath and enjoy a little peace and sunshine in the midst of the hustle and bustle.  The annual operating budget of the park is $46 million (for restoration and maintenance), and Paulson's gift is the largest the conservancy has ever received - almost six times bigger than the previous largest donation given in 1993.  Mr. Paulson lives and works near the park, so he has a vested interest in this portion of his neighborhood.

I love to visit Central Park when I am in Manhattan - especially the Central Park Zoo and the Bethesda Fountain.  I walk around with camera in hand, waiting for the next photo op that is sure to be just around the corner.  Even though I am not a resident of New York City, I am very grateful to Mr. Paulson for his generous donation that will enable Central Park to continue to delight both natives and visitors.

Woops!

...and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Number 32:23b

 

When I was a kid growing up in Arizona, I was one of those children who loved to see who was featured on the Wheaties cereal box.  My guy friends used to dream of being so spectacular at sports that their grinning faces would be one of those chosen to bask on the box.  As an adolescent, I looked up to those super athletes and eagerly read all about them and their amazing feats.  We couldn't wait for Mom to get home with a new box featuring a new hero.

The openness of the world driven by technological saavy has allowed us to take a second look at some of these "heroes."  The tendency to let money and fame entice one's better judgment down a slippery slope has played out more times than we would want to see.  Michael Vick comes to mind as a sports star who deep-sixed (although kudos to him for reestablishing himself).  Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, Barry Bonds will forever be linked to steroids, and O.J. Simpson with the "did he, did he not" murder of his wife.

Today brought another superhero down a whole slew of notches, as Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour-de-France titles for the seven consecutive years between 1999-2005.  Armstrong has been accused of doping for years, and for years has maintained his innocence.  But the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released their findings, after a long investigation, that there is "overwhelming" evidence Armstrong was involved as a professional cyclist in "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program" in sports history.

 

Armstrong has been a household sports icon and role model for young people for many, many years.  After overcoming cancer and establishing the Lance Armstrong Foundation, otherwise known as LiveStrong, he was an even greater legend.  But his reputation is now in tatters, his titles are gone, his sponsors have fled, and his financial problems are only beginning.  He has publicly said that he will no longer fight the charges, adding fuel to the fires of accusation.  If Mr. Armstrong is correct and he never used a banned substance, I believe he should continue to stand up for his truth.  If he has been lying all this time and the "overwhelming evidence" is true, then Mr. Armstrong owes the world a gigantic apology.

Rescuing a Baby

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

 

The following video is a wonderful testament to the love that exists between a mother and her child, whether it is in the animal kingdom or the human race.  I hope you enjoy this rescue and reunion.

 

Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight

The heavens declare the glory of God

and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

At some point tonight, the earth will pass through the debris trail of Haley's comet, and we will be treated to the resulting meteor shower, commonly known as the Orionid meteor shower.  You will not need a telescope, but you might need an alarm clock - depending on where you live.  Scientists expect the meteor shower to peak between 11pm Saturday to 5:00am Sunday Pacific Standard Time.  If you rise tomorrow morning a couple of hours before dawn, you have a chance to see as many as 25 meteors per hour (in the past couple of years, the showers have sometimes been as dense as 60 per hour).

NASA will be hosting a live chat tonight beginning at 11pm EDT at:  http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/orionids2012.html.  I have never seen a meteor shower, so I just might be willing to get up at 4am and see what there is to see!  

And Now the Boy Scouts?

When you ask, you do not receive, 

because you ask with wrong motives,

that you may spend it on your own lusts.

James 4:3

When I was a senior in high school, I attended a church-supported school.  Toward the end of the school year, it was discovered that the religion teacher (a man in his fifties) was having an affair with one of the girls in my class.  The circumstances were immediately hushed up.  The teacher had already accepted an offer to teach at a denominational college for the next school year, so they kicked the girl out of school just before graduation and completely covered up the religion teacher's part in the scandal.  They let him transfer to the college in another state without saying a word to that institution, and he promptly had another affair with a freshman girl the next year.  The college stripped him of his job and his credentials. 

Several years ago, when the Catholic Church's image exploded in the endless accusations of moral corruption among the priesthood, with stories of abuse against young men becoming an endless litany, we expected the church "officials" to clean up their act.  A lot of the cleanup, unfortunately, was sweeping the dirt under the rug.  Many priests were simply moved to a different parish, where the inevitable happened again.

Recently we experienced the meltdown of Penn State University and its officials - both administrative and sports - who turned a blind eye to an eyewitness report of an associate molesting a young boy in the locker room showers.  Eventually the filth and horror of that saga brought down the University president, the legendary head football coach, and several other administrators.

And now we have the Boy Scouts.  The details of approximately 12,000 cases from across the nation were released Thursday by order of an Oregon court as part of a landmark 2010 case against the Boy Scouts.  The material reveals from one time to the next, in one state or another, Scout leaders quietly shielding adult male volunteers from prosecution.  Almost fifty years ago, seven boys wrote letters in graphic detail regarding abuse at the hands of their Boy Scout leader in vehicles and on camping trips.  In 1964, the organization kicked out the offending adult (21-years-old at the time), but there is no record that he was ever reported to authorities.  In the 1980's, the Scouts reinstated this man, and he immediately molested another child.  Files show that when the Scouts are the first to be notified of abuse, they often choose to let the accused volunteer quietly leave rather than reporting the abuse to the authorities.

What is it within our current society that refuses to "do the right thing" when confronted with sexual abuse of children/youth by adults until they are forced to do so by undeniable evidence?  What keeps those in authority from revealing the truth in these circumstances?  Money?  Influence? Reputation?  Pride?  Fear?  Shame?

Every organization or charity that deals with youth must have policies in place to deal truthfully with any kind of abuse - physical, sexual, emotional or verbal.  Those who are voted into leadership must be men or women who hold the truth above the excuses of those who just want the situation to go away.  Those who perpetrate such crimes against children must be held accountable for their actions - no if's, no and's, no but's.

Finding a Classroom for Music

Praise the Lord!

Sing to the lord a new song.

Let them parise His name with dancing,

and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

Psalm 149:1,3

Tomorrow is my day to teach at a local high school's Specialty Center for the Visual and Performing Arts.  I am the vocal coach, and teach voice to the freshmen and sophomore vocal majors in the center.  I teach once a week, Thursday or Friday, whichever is the even day.  When I get to the school, I will hold my class in a computer lab.  It is the only space in the Specialty Center that is free during 2nd and 4th periods.  When the time comes for SOL's and other student testing, and the administration needs the computer lab, my class will be moved into the supply closet across the hall.  

I immediately felt great empathy, therefore, when I found the story of a Mr. Sollecito who is the once-a-week music teacher at Howard Wood Elementary School in Torrance, California.  This man has taught music at the school for years, and never, ever knows what room he is going to be able to teach in, and has taught everywhere including the cafeteria, the library and several supply closets.  This year, when a room came available through the renovation process at the school, Yahoo's Ultimate Surprises program agreed to turn the room into a wonderful music studio for Mr. Sollecito to teach in.  On his first day back to school, he and the principal went "searching" for a room (or closet) for his classes, and finally "happened" into the new music room, where students and staff greeted their teacher with cries of "Surprise!!"  The new room comes with a whole raft of new instruments for the children to experiment with.

Music is such a great gift that God has given to humankind.  It is wonderful that in a small elementary school in California, one very dedicated teacher will have a much easier time sharing his love of music with the children in his classes now that he has both the space and the equipment that he has so desperately needed.  Have a great year, Mr. Sollecito!

When I Get Where I'm Going

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the

first heaven and the first earth had passed away,

and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the

Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out

of heaven from God, prepared as a bride

beautifully dressed for her husband.

Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He

will live with them.  They will be His people,

and God himself will be with them and be their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or

crying or pain, for the old order of things has

passed away.

Revelation 21:1-4

I was traveling in my car this afternoon when this song came on the radio.  I've heard it many times before, but for some reason, it really struck a chord with me today.  How much sin and struggle and sickness and death we have on this old planet.  But when I get where I'm going...

When I get where I'm going

On the far side of the sky

The first thing that I'm gonna do

Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion

And run my fingers through his mane

Or I might find out what it's like

To ride a drop of rain.

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I'll leave my heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy

And he'll match me step for step

And I'll tell him how I missed him

Every minute since he left

Then I'll hug his neck.

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I'll leave my heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

Don't cry for me down here.

So much pain and so much darkness

In this world we stumble through

All these questions I can’t answer

So much work to do.

But when I get where I'm going

And I see my Maker's face

I'll stand forever in the light

Of His amazing grace.

Yeah, when I get where I'm going

There'll be only happy tears
Yeah, when I get where I'm going

Don't cry for me down here.

Being a Kindaholic

...dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:

compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.

Colossians 3:12
 

Although I no longer ingest caffeine, I am a huge fan of Starbucks, and often stop in for a Tall, soy, decaf, black & white mocha (no whip), or a shaken green tea lemonade (half sweetner).  I always love to look at their pastries and other goodies, but being gluten intolerant, it is always look but don't touch!  Then a few months ago, I noticed they were carrying a new snack bar - the KIND bar, that proclaimed it self to be gluten-free.  I tried a Cranberry Almond, and then a Blueberry Vanilla Cashew and was hooked!

Imagine my surprise when the wrapper on one of my bars suggested that I do a KIND act for someone else.  I discovered that the company has put up a website, www.KINDmovement.com, to encourage people around the world to do random (or not so random) acts of kindness for those around them each day. 
They even have developed their own KIND vocabulary:

• kindaholic - someone with an uncontrollable love for spreading kindness
• kinding - an unexpected act of kindness done for someone else
• kindtastic - being extraordinarily kind

Each month the company gives out a challenge to do a particular kind act.  If enough people accept the challenge, the company does a large act of kindness partnered with another charity or organization.  In August, for example, KIND urged their kindaholics to give an article of clothing to someone in need (currently our church is gathering shoes for the homeless downtown).  In turn, KIND partnered with the Kyle Korver Foundation to provide school uniforms for a local poverty-level elementary school.  This month, KIND is asking for people to thank someone who has made a positive impact on their life.  In turn,  KIND will partner with Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, to provide  thousands of Thanksgiving meals to families this holiday season. 

How wonderful to know that there is a commercial venture that is interested in helping other people just as much as helping their bottom line.  What act of kindness can you give the world tomorrow?  Let's make Tuesday a KIND day!

If I Was 15

Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Luke 6:31

For the International Day of the Girl, CNN asked various remarkable and impressive women, "Looking back, what one piece of advice would you give to yourself at 15?"  All of the answers were remarkable in one way or another, but one in particular stood out for me.  Many of the woman said such things as:

• Believe in yourself
• Follow your dreams
• Be different
• Have a dream, a goal, a vision
• Do not fear failure
• Believe in hard work
• Learn to hear your own voice
• Stay true to what you believe in

 All of these ideas are good advice for young women, but most if not all of them are turned inward - an egocentric approach, if you will.  Most of the women were focused on their individual life and how to succeed with goals and dreams.  Out of the fourteen women queried, only one looked outside herself to the community beyond.

Fabiola Gianatti is a world-renowned particle physicist in charge of the Atlas Experiment at CERN in Switzerland and part of the team that runs the Large Hadron Collider.  This Italian scientist's advice to her 15-year-old self reveals a vision that looks outward as well as inward.

"Believe in your dreams and ideals and

pursue them with determination and motivation.

Always find the time to do something for other people.

Indeed, there is nothing more rewarding

than making someone else happy."

Fabiola Gianatti, physicist

 

Love One Another?

Just as I have loved you,

you also should love one another.

John 13:34

This last Wednesday, a 15-year-old Canadian girl died, apparently by her own hand, following years of cyber and real-life bullying.  Four years before, a male (young or old) convinced her to "flash" her naked upper body on a webcam, then relentlessly tracked her down (even after her family physically moved to a new area of the country), humiliating and intimidating her, spreading the webcam picture across the internet, setting up a Facebook profile page with the photo, and doing everything possible to hurt and brutalize her.  

Now she is dead, and no one seems to know who her male attacker is--yet.  No matter what it takes, someone should discover exactly who he is and make him face what he has done.

The young woman's death occurred just five weeks after she posted a YouTube video made by holding up cards telling her story one sentence at a time, from her tragic webcam mistake in 7th grade through several suicide attempts (including drinking bleach) to the present.  In the video, she proclaimed that she had no one to turn to - no one who cared.  Obviously her parents cared, and probably any other adult she might have turned to for help, but no one seemed to understand the depths of her despair nor the cruel madness of the bullying.

It never ceases to amaze me what young people today think is "funny."  Humiliating a fellow student, causing "accidents" to happen, plastering rude comments or obscene pictures on social networking sites, mocking the elderly, bullying the weak, voting a young woman onto homecoming court so that they can throw rotten eggs at her..  One young man posted a picture of a Clorox bleach bottle on a memorial website for this young lady, with the comment "To Die For."  When people around the world were aghast at such behavior, he said he did it because he "thought it would be funny."     

The high school where I teach has initiated Rachel's Challenge for the student body this year.  Started by the family and friends of Rachel Joy Scott (struck down in the Columbine school massacre), the program's core message is that kind words and actions reap huge results, and that all of us should look for the best in others, eliminating prejudice.  I am so sorry that the young Canadian girl did not have such a program available in any of the schools she attended.  It is long past time for society to take a no-tolerance stance against bullying of any kind, punishing anyone (student, teacher, administrator) who turns a blind eye to the emotional destruction of the young people under their care. 

In the Face of Tragedy

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about

those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men,

who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose 

again, and so we believe that God will bring with

Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven

with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel 

and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in 

Christ shall rise first.  After that,

we who are still alive and are left will be caught

up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord

in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

It has been a tough week.  Ten days ago or so, the brother of a young student of mine suffered a severe head injury in a golf cart accident.  It looked really bad at the beginning, then it appeared that he was getting better, then he went bad again, then stabilized.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Monday she came to her lesson with the news that he was stable.  This morning I received word that she had been pulled out of school to say goodbye.  This young man leaves behind Mom and Dad, a brother and sister, a fiancee, and many, many friends. 

I cannot imagine the pain of a younger sister saying goodbye to a much-loved older brother.  How do you do that?  How do you pick up the pieces after the funeral and get on with high school and all its activities?  How do you make sense of such a tragedy?  All I could think of to do today was send her a text message:  I am thinking about you and praying for you - I am willing to do anything I can to help you.  Words seem so inadequate in the face of such a wall of grief.  I can and will pray, however, and I invite you to pray for this family as well.  Thank you for doing so.

A Just Sentence

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately

wicked - who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9
 

Judge John Cleland, presiding at the Centre County Courthouse in Pennsylvania, sentenced Jerry Sandusky, former defensive coordinator for Penn State's football program, to 30-60 years in prison on 45 guilty counts of sexual molestation - a sentence that will keep Sandusky in prison for life.  In my entire lifetime, I cannot recall a more evil exploitation of children than the saga of this man - opening a "charity" to help disadvantaged boys, then utilizing that opportunity to sexually molest them to satisfy his own carnality.

At the end of the sentencing, Sandusky was given 15 minutes to speak his mind.  If anyone was expecting him to man up and admit his horrific failings, they were vastly disappointed.  According to sports journalist Dan Wetzel, "There was no acknowledgement of Sandusky's crimes, no apologies to the victims, no signs that he cared or even understood the path of destruction he left in his wake."   He begged those with "the courage to listen" to "evaluate the accusers and their families," labeling his victims as "greedy, dishonest, disloyal, poor, trashy, troubled liars."
 

During the trial, Sandusky came across as highly intelligent, viciously cunning, hatefully smug, and self-righteous to a fault.  There were times, when he was smirking at reporters about his victims, that I wished someone would just wipe that sneer right off his face.  I never held out the hope that he would admit to his crimes.  His final words before being hauled off to prison proved that he will exit society still believing that he has been horribly wronged.   I am thankful that any chance for him to touch another youth has been put forever out of his reach.  I pray for his victims, that they might find a pathway to healing and wholeness.

The Bullgrinder

Warn them before God against quarreling about words;

it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

2nd Timothy 2:14

I absolutely HATE committee meetings!  I know, I know - in many ways, they are a necessary evil, but my experience has been one of listening to a whole lot of words, but not getting much done.  The very definition of the word "committee" indicates that you are dealing with a group of people who are gathered to perform a certain task or function.  Most committees I have ever been on usually perform just one task:  talk (and talk and talk and talk).  I'm not much with jumping right in on the conversation.  Most of the time, you will find me doodling on a pad of paper while wishing I was somewhere else.

Bruce McIver, author of the book, Stories I Couldn't Tell While I was a Pastor, tells the tale of receiving an "ingenious little wooden gadget" that his father made for him.  His dad called it a "bullgrinder."  There was a little wooden handle that, when turned, caused two small strips of wood to slide back and forth in grooves without ever touching.  The inscription on the back of this unique gift?  "Bullgrinder.  Use when they talk to much."  Pastor McIver mused, "Throughout the years as I sat through tedious committee meetings or listened to rambling, boring monologues, I turned that little handle idly round and round--grinding the 'bull'."

I love it that Paul warns Timothy that too many words "ruin" the listener. There are times when 18 opinions on the same subject prove to be far too much to process.  What's the solution for the problem?  I have no clue!  But I think I just might ask my woodworking pastor friend to craft me my own bullgrinder (and perhaps one for himself as well!). 

.

Doing the Impossible

"...with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

 

A true story is told of a family who purchased acreage for a house and farm buildings out on the plains of the Midwest.  A bank in the nearby city had worked out a loan, and through hard work and great determination, the man and his wife built a secure home and a fully functioning farm.  The day came when the man set out for the town with animals to sell, and enough money already in his pocket to pay off the loan at the bank.

The next morning, he started his return journey with a much lighter load, and a grateful heart for the deed papers in his pocket for his land that was now his solely owned property.  As he neared home, he came up over a rise and stopped to view his acreage, feeling the immense pride of total ownership, and taking in the beauty of his homestead.  As he gazed, he suddenly realized that he couldn't seem to see the house.  Wait a minute - over there - where the house should be, he could see wisps of white smoke.

He saw a rider galloping full speed toward him;  it was his neighbor, who pulled up next to him and said, "John, I am so sorry, but the house burned to the ground last night.  We were barely able to save the barn and the corral."  The farmer turned and asked, "Anyone hurt?"  "No," said his neighbor, "all are safe."  A smile creased the man's face, then he clapped his neighbor on the shoulder and said, "Well then, we will rebuild!  With God's help, we can, and we will!"

 

Life is full of setbacks - they happen to us all.  The economic downturn that has plagued the world for several years has made life difficult for many, many people.  Thousands have lost their homes, their jobs, their retirement funds, and their sense of security.  Starting over can be a very difficult pill to swallow.  But God is beside us - listening to our prayers, granting us wisdom to figure out what to do, courage to do what has to be done, and offering the gift of patience when the road gets rougher than it already is.  The situation may seem impossible, but take heart - "impossible" is God's specialty.   

 

Death of a Language

And the whole earth was of one language,

and of one speech.

Genesis 11:1

We have come a long, long ways from the beginning of the earth when there was only one language for the entire population.  Now there are some 6,000-7,000 languages in the world.  But that richness of communication is being threatened by extinction.  We are losing small group languages at a rate of one every two weeks, according to a recent study.  Some 96% of the world's population speak just 4% of the world's languages.  

In Scotland, for example, A 92-year-old retired engineer in northern Scotland recently died, and so has the dialect that he spoke.  With his death, the dialect of Cromarty fisherfolk  is consigned to a small collection of distorted audio clips.  The Cromarty dialect was directly related to the fishing methods of the people who lived on the shores of the Black Isle peninsula.  During the industrialization of the fishing industry in the 1950's, those distinct methods were lost, and in less than 30 years, the dialect became obsolete.  Now it is extinct.

So what's the big deal about losing a language or two - particularly those that are now spoken by groups with less than a hundred members?  Exactly this:  we not only lose the language, we lose the stories connected to that language, and the cultural knowledge contained in those stories.  We are tied to the past by our memories and knowledge, and when the language disappears, the memories and knowledge pass on  as well.

That is why oral history projects like StoryCorps are so very important, not only here in the United States, but around the world.  Recording the stories in our language, of our culture, is important to the generations who come after us.  What we know, what we remember, what we have been through is significant information for our children and grandchildren.  If you have an important story to share, investigate StoryCorps on the internet, check your local listings for possible oral history projects, or grab a recorder and make your own story archive. 

Curiosity

And he (King Josiah) put down the idolatrous

priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn

incense in the high places in the cities of Judah...;

them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun,

and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all

the host of heaven.

II Kings 23:5

I have always been curious about the other planets in our solar system - but none more so than Mars, the "red planet."  Easily seen from earth with the naked eye, Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second smallest in our solar system.  Like every other child of my era, I often wondered what it would be like to visit the moon or take a trip to Mars.  I never dreamed, growing up, that man would have machines roving the surface of the red planet in my lifetime.  Mars currently hosts five functioning spacecrafts:  three in orbit - the Odyssey, the Express, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter; and two on the ground - The Opportunity exploration rover, and The Curiosity science lab.

The picture above is a landscape shot sitting in the crater where Curiosity landed.  The picture below shows Mount Sharp on the Martian surface.

It looks like something out of a fairytale book.  It is somewhat difficult to believe that while I sit here this evening tapping away on my computer keyboard, Curiosity is roving across the surface of a far-away planet, taking amazing pictures and investigating, among other things, the planetary habitability of Mars.

The verse above, in the book of II Kings is the only mention in the Bible of planets (or heavenly bodies). On the fourth day of creation, however, when God created the sun, moon and stars, the creation of the planets were surely a part of that day's process.  Our earth is lush and plush in contrast with the stark barrenness of Gale Crater and the landscape of Mars.  Perhaps it was not always that bleak.  I hope that Curiosity will provide scientists with the great deal of raw data and images that will answer many of our questions about the history and sustainability of Mars.

Apples

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

Proverbs 25:11

One of my favorite autumn rituals is the arrival of the new crop of apples.  Living in central Virginia, we have wonderful apple orchards in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and we "city slickers" can't wait to get our hands on them.  The church where I am employed has an Apple Fest every fall, ordering Fuji, Stayman, Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples that are delivered the first week of November.  There is nothing quite like a crisp apple straight from the orchard.  When I pick up my order, the apples are less than 48 hours from the tree.  Marvelous!

I was curious about apples in the Bible.  Of course, there is the old legend that the fruit Eve took from the forbidden tree was an apple, but the Scriptures give us no such information.  The Genesis record does refer to the creation of fruit trees, but no varieties are cited.  The first direct mention of apples is this verse in Proverbs, written by King Solomon, and is obviously referring to a piece of art or jewelry rather than the real fruit.  The Canticles of the Song of Solomon, however, refers to both apples and apple trees in several places.  The only other mention of an apple tree is in the book of the prophet Joel.

Jonathan Chapman, born in 1774 in Massachusetts, was an American pioneer, nurseryman, and planter of apple trees throughout the United States - particularly in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the northern counties of West Virginia.  Known as Johnny Appleseed, he loved to tell stories to children of his travels to children, and would often stay with families, reading to them in the evenings in exchange for a meal and a spot by the fire to sleep.  Johnny loved the Lord, he loved apples, and he loved the land that God created.  When he died in 1845, he had been planting apple trees for more than 50 years.

Original recipe makes 1 dozen muffins Change Servings

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup apple juice

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup apples - peeled, cored and finely diced

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). 
2. Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. 
4. In a small bowl, combine apple juice, oil, and egg; blend well. 
5. Add dry ingredients all at once; 
6. stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.)
7.  Stir in chopped apples.
8. Fill cups 2/3 full. 
9. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 
10. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm.