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The headlines read: NEWSWEEK: IS GOD REAL? Rick Warren
And Atheist Sam Harris FACE OFF. Springfield News-Sun 04/17/2007: VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE WORST SHOOTING IN U.S. HISTORY Why did 33 have to die? Students, police search for answers. USA TODAY 04/17/2007: On a Virginia campus, another American tragedy. Professor who ‘did not fear death’ likely saved students: An Israeli Holocaust survivor died shielding his students from a mass murderer on the day that Jews who were mass-murdered during WWII were remembered each year. Liviu Librescu, 76 was an internationally renowned professor of aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech. Librescu’s son, Joe, who lives outside Tel Aviv, said his father “barricaded the door and blocked the shooter from entering. This was typical of him. He did not fear death and at all times tried to do the right thing.” I like you and many, have been in shock and dismay over the killings of the thirty-two innocent students and faculty by the gunman who killed himself this past week at Virginia Tech. After all just last October the world was stunned by the story of a father of three who invaded a tiny Amish school near his home and killed five girls. Who would have ever thought that a crime more hideous than the Amish School House could occur? I, along with many, don’t understand how these things can happen in the United States of America, the melting pot of freedom. While God has a plan that only He knows, what and why it is could it be that our lives are like Saul, who was a real MAN’S MAN and in charge of everything as Saul let God and all know how he felt? And then one day while on the road to Damascus Saul’s life took a sudden change as he fell to the ground after a light from heaven flashed around him and Saul’s life and those with him were forever changed. Changed as Saul heard a voice and asked, Who are you, Lord? And the voice told Saul I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Am I saying that what happened this past week at Virginia Tech is punishment from God for something we have done wrong? NO! Am I saying that God used a troubled gunman to create so much death, bloodshed, violence and human emotion? No! I am not saying that at all. The God hypothesis of some is that yes there is a God, for how else could the world have been developed and life exist as we know life in the sin of the flesh. There is a God but God is not a loving, caring, want to be close to you and I God. But if there were a true God then God would not permit the pain and destruction that occurs in our lives to happen. Life came from somewhere, someone, most likely a God for no human could have done this. For a hypothesis intends to explain certain facts and or observations and is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. A phenomenon like what happened to the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in a room that was locked for their safety and Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you,” and then Jesus breathed in His disciples telling them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Then Jesus showed them, including Thomas, His hands and side and they believed that he had died and on the third day was resurrected. I often wonder in our lives are we busy fishing for sheep or shepherding fish to watch over so that they feel safe in our presence? John 21:1-6 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe’rias; and he revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the twin, Nathan’a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb’edee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to Simon Peter, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” The disciples answered Jesus, “No.” Jesus said to them, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in for the quantity of fish. I find it interesting in this text that in the boat of life there is Simon Peter the denier; I don’t know what you’re talking about? Not once, not twice, but three times he denied knowing Jesus before the cock crowed. Peter who in Matthew 14: 28-32., was in a boat with the disciples when a storm came up and Jesus told Peter “Come.” When Peter stepped out of the boat in his fear of the water he almost drowned until he felt the touch of Jesus hand. In the boat is Doubting Thomas who is hurting, who is scared, who does not know who or what to believe. In the boat is emptiness for they are doing it their way and in frustration finding I did it my way doesn’t work. And on the shore is the last breakfast, John 21:7-8, That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far off from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, the disciples saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to His disciples after he was raised from the dead. I believe God needs to get our attention and hideous crimes and deaths occur in this lifetime. It’s a wakeup call to the nation and to the world. A wakeup call that violence and destruction are real and we need to cherish each moment with those we love. In your duress of this past week have you been able to rise and let go of the weight of the scales. That which is weighing you down, your burdens, sins, within you or have you been full of hatred and revenge for the deranged gunman? Not thinking of the gunman’s family who are struggling and grieving for the most deadly crime in America which their son did and for the deaths of those that their son killed and for their own sons death at his hands. What does it take to open our eyes? Acts 9:7-20 The men who were traveling with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were open he could see and for three days Saul saw nothing; so they led Saul by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days Saul was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named “Ananias.” The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and as Ananias said, “Here I am Lord.” And the Lord said to Ananias, “Rise and go to the street named Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold he is praying, and he has seen a man named Ananias as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priest to bind all who call upon thy name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on Saul he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened. For humans often struggle with forgiveness... but God forgives and knows that only in the game of baseball, can you get three strikes and you're out. John 21: 15-17, When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon said to Jesus, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to Simon, “Tend my sheep.” A second time Jesus said to Simon, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon said to Jesus, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Tend my sheep.” Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Simon Peter said to the Lord, “Lord you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Feed my sheep.” On the road to Damascus Saul had the world in his head judging Jesus and all about him. Wondering, where is God in all of this? Anguish is no stranger to God and from the tragedies in our life can come growth. Our example of forgiveness is not only God and the Bible in 2007, but also the Amish who forgave the man who shot and killed their innocent children while they were in school. Then welcomed the gunman’s widow with open arms where she felt peace, security, welcomed, and the love of God. And the world watched the Amish in shock and admiration of their unconditional love. The world, or the Amish call them, the English, which in love gave the Amish money with no strings attached to rebuild a new school for their children. For from the Amish we have been taught it is not our place to judge but to trust in God in our grief and pain. Trust in the Lord, have faith not in that of this world, a hypothesis, but in His wisdom and guidance and follow Him. John 21:18-21, Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go. (This Jesus said to show by what death Peter was to glorify God.) And after this Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Follow me.” Are you ready to let go of your hypothesis and to realize who God really is in your life and to follow Jesus? Let us pray, Father God in our pain, in our confusion over the needless deaths that occurred this past week at Virginia Tech and throughout the world may we answer your call, “Follow me” and follow you and in this have peace in the valley of our lives. Peace in the darkness of the night for only when we see Jesus Christ may we see the dawn of a new day and our boat be filled with nourishment, hope, for a new day. Amen |
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