Risky Business

There are times when traumatic events take place in our lives that are out of our control. When that happens in close relationships, there's a temptation from that point on to try and control every other relationship we have. The mindset being, "No one's ever going to hurt me like that again." But as long as we do this, we won't have authentic relationships because people will resent and fight our controlling behavior. Building a 'wall' around ourselves isolates and hinders our chances at meaningful relationships as well.
    What's the alternative? Risk getting hurt again and share your life with potential friends. They may let you down, but then again, you've let others down as well. Forgive others and allow yourself to be forgiven.
    Furthermore, there's someone far more powerful and intelligent than we are who is in control of it all. You can accept this fact and bend to His will (give up "control"), or you can fight Him for it and eventually lose anyway. Relationships are a risky business, but they're worth the risk especially our relationship with Jesus.

In Need of Repair

   I don't know how you feel, but I always get a bit depressed and saddened when confronted by such reckless disregard for human life. My heart aches as the pictures and news reports come in of those injured in the recent Boston Marathon bombings. I want to cry out, "What's wrong with this world?" When they start to post images of the deceased and begin interviewing friends and relatives. And before throwing my hands up in despair, I am reminded once again that it's broken...The world that is. 
   It was never meant to be this way. Something inside of us all knows this. But even though we know that hatred and death is wrong, it doesn't stop us from continuing to hate and in some cases even murdering others.
  But what do we do when confronted by such horrible acts? What do you do when someone decides to explode a bomb next to an 8 year old (Martin Richard) who not too long ago held up a sign requesting no more hurting people-peace?

You trust... 
You find comfort in the fact that in God there's safety.In the midst of calamity, there's a peace that comes from knowing that One greater than you has control.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.  Psalm 91:1-2
  The answer is trust in Jesus. When He promised us that even though there's trouble in this world, we should take heart for He has overcome this damage and even allowed restoration through His death. 
   Yes there's pain. Yes there's sorrow. Yes there's sadness, depression, and loss. But we don't have to allow these feelings and events to define us. 

   The human race has been damaged by the results of our choices to do wrong. But we're not destroyed beyond repair. If we'll let God do it, He will remake us back to the people we were meant to be. Will this mean the world will be a utopia? Probably not until He comes back, but when I change, there's a greater chance that more will change with me.   
   The world is broken and needs repair. We must allow God to fix us first...others will follow.

  

Remembering Baby Jessica

   Do you remember the story of “Baby Jessica?”

   On October 14, 1987, 18 month-old Jessica was playing in the backyard of her aunt’s home in Midland, Texas. Hearing the phone ring inside, Jessica’s mother went to answer it leaving Jessica and the rest of the children unattended for only a brief moment. As she returned to the backyard, Jessica’s mother was greeted by the screams of the children and her daughter missing. The horrible truth revealed that Jessica had fallen 22 feet down an 8 inch wide well in the backyard. The block that covered the well had been removed allowing Jessica access. The fall caused her leg to lodge against the side of the pipe and push her foot up next to her head. The police arrived in minutes, and the long ordeal began.

   Most of America was riveted to the television as news stations reported the latest events in the rescue attempt of baby Jessica. Workers feverishly dug an adjacent hole 30 inches wide trying to get to where Jessica was trapped in the pipe. Other workers and volunteers pumped oxygen into the well and attempted to maintain constant communication with Baby Jessica, who cried and moaned and for a while even sang nursery rhymes to pass the time. She was soon dubbed "everybody's baby." And she tugged at the heartstrings of millions of viewers who sent her family flowers, toys, cards and money.

   Finally, on Friday evening October 16^th, after 58 hours, Baby Jessica was lifted safely out of the well and delivered back to her family, her head wrapped in bandages, her body covered in dirt and grime. She survived.

    It’s hard to believe, but this past October, they celebrated the 25^th anniversary of this ordeal.  Since then, Jessica has graduated from High School, is married, and is raising two children. As well, in 2011 on her 25th birthday, Jessica (McClure) Morales gained access to her trust fund that was set up with all of the donations from the event. It was worth around $800,000.   

     Sadly, today (January 22, 2013) marks another anniversary. It’s the 40^th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, the ruling that made abortion for any reason legal in the United States. Since this decision, it’s estimated that over 50,000,000 children have been aborted in the U.S. alone.

    Looking at these two stories together begs the question: What’s the difference? For one child trapped in a well, we’ll spend thousands of dollars and numerous resources, but for the other children that die at the hands of abortion (at the rate of 3,300 a day!) we’ll ignore.

   As America watched the TV reports, no one could see Baby Jessica. All we knew was that life was in the belly of that Texas ground. Therefore, we were willing to do whatever it took to deliver her to safety.

    Human life is a precious gift from God even if you can’t see them. We knew this with baby Jessica, but we’ve ignored it when it comes to these others. As well, why is it safer for a baby to be in a dirty, smelly well than in their own mother’s womb? Why are we not actively involved or providing resources to rescue our babies from these circumstances? Why are we paying strangers to kill our children while we comfort ourselves by calling it ‘freedom’ and ‘choice?’

    I’m asking those who consider themselves followers of Christ to stand up for those whose voice is being silenced. Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed (Psalm 82:3). We have an obligation to stop this holocaust on our children. All human life is precious regardless of size, mental capacity, or financial status. Let’s stop categorizing human life and rescue ALL of our children!

Another Child Killer

   No doubt by now you've heard of the recent news reports of the school shooting in Newtown, CT. When I realized it was an elementary school and that the death-toll was well over 20, my mind began to imagine the horror that must have taken place this morning, and the lost dreams, and hopes, and my heart ached as I contemplated this truth.

   But then my mind went to another story... A story very similar. I'll tell it in a letter to the ones that are no doubt grieving the most today; those looking for answers that may never come...the parents of the lost:

Dear Sandy Hook Elementary School Parents, 

   What you're going through in your grief breaks my heart in so many ways. And as I reflect on this tragedy, my thoughts review another horrific story. Two-thousand years ago, there was another tyrant who thought he could steal hope and rob life. He was filled with hate as he commanded that boys 2 yrs. old and younger be murdered in this small town. His name was Herod. And he was the king of Judea at the time. The town was Bethlehem. And this heinous act was committed because he wanted no one to share his title of King. So in an attempt to wipe out The Messiah, King Herod slaughtered innocence.

  But Herod would soon learn that he didn't kill the Messiah. And soon after Herod's death, this young boy would return home and grow and share with all of his people that they no longer had to be without hope in this wicked world. The parents in Bethlehem back then knew all too well what you're going through today. But some of them found healing in the Savior that was born in their town. 

    Herod tried to end Christmas. And in a similar way, this young man, filled with hate, tried to do the same. But no one can kill the hope, joy, and peace that Jesus brought to the world that first Christmas. And if you seek God, He can give you this peace that carries you through the nightmare.

   It's okay to mourn this Christmas. I encourage you to do so. But in your grief, I want you to remember that one child survived the onslaught and brought us peace as a result. The light in the midst of all of this darkness is the life and peace that he brings to all who receive Him. This is why the angels said at Jesus' birth, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.

   Love never fails so may the God of all comfort and love sustain you through this tragedy. And let me remind you, they did eventually kill God’s son as well. But that wasn’t the end of the story. For when you’re feeling the depression and sadness that will no doubt follow Christmastime now, and you find yourself saying things like, he/she would've been (such and such) this year, know that after Christmas comes Easter. And God's answer to wickedness and death is seen by what’s NOT in the tomb!  There's hope in the Savior who came on Christmas.

May God's loving arms cover you tonight and forever,

Derek Shaw,

Pastor