The World's View of America

Mass shootings have become a feature of life in the United States.

Guns are widely available for purchase in the United States, a country that prides itself on the right to own weapons for self defense and hunting. (Writing by Matthew Bigg; editing by Tom Brown)

This was a quote from a Reuters news story about a shooting spree in Alabama that left 10 dead. They also mentioned the "Santa Claus" Christmas Eve shooting in California and the Virginia Tech shooting a couple of years ago. I can remember more such as Columbine High School in Colorado. There were several other school shootings right after that.

Rather than saying something about our pride in owning guns (which I don't), I think it says more about our view of the value of life and our value of ourselves. Why would someone note a day of death on his calendar and then walk into a church and kill the pastor at FBC in Maryville IL? What fills people with so much anger? Or maybe it is so much hopelessness because the shooter often takes his own life - or attempts to - after the killing spree.

The answer is not necessarily gun control or more laws but a heart change. An understanding that I am special because I am uniquely created by the living God. It's not my stuff or my job or my friends or my clothes or music or where I live or how much money I make...none of that gives me true worth or value because all that is fleeting (i.e. stock market, housing foreclosures). Only a personal relationship with the Almighty God who is King of kings and Lord of lords will give me real worth.

David's Army

I've been reading in 1 Chronicles and just got through the 9 chapters of genealogy. That's tough to read because the names are so hard to pronounce but if I am going to read the ENTIRE Bible, I'll read all those names and relationships. It is NOT my favorite read.

But then I got to the story of David. I don't think this is a chronological listing of events but more a summary of all that happened. One of the things I found interesting was a listing of the groups of people who were supporting him. 1 Chronicles 12: 22 says there were men coming to David day by day to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. In fact the "count" indicates there were over 300,000 warriors whose descriptions ranged from men armed with spear and shield to mighty men of valor to seasoned troops. In addition there were over 8000 Levites and priests. And they were all with David, eating and drinking. That means a huge need for lots of food and for lots of space to sleep at night. We're told their brothers made provision for them. It's still staggering to my feeble mind; I get stressed over dinner for 6 or 8.

The group I found most interesting was the 200 from the tribe of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. Maybe part of what made David such a great leader was his recognition of the need to have wise counsel around him in addition to the brute strength needed to defeat his enemies in battle.

Of course the people knew that the Lord had chosen David. (1 Chron 11:3, 12:18). But more importantly David knew it and sought God for direction. (1 Chronicles 14:8-16)

The Ecomony

We've just started a new series at NewSpring called Where's My Bailout? Perry is teaching us what God says about money. And He says more about money than faith or heaven or hell. Tells me that God believes money - or rather my attitude about it - is REALLY important.

Thursday morning of last week my boss came in and closed the door, said he wanted to talk. My thought was Uh, Oh! But he wasn't there to chew me out or tell me I was fired or anything, even though things have been tough financially for us. What he did tell me was that he feels like his knuckles are white from holding on so tight during the last 6 months.

One thing I said to him was what Perry said tonight...God is in control. My boss knows it but he doesn't believe it; not deep down in his heart. He has started believing the doom and gloom from the talking heads who tell us the end is near. Well, maybe life as we know it is changing, but my God owns the cattle on a thousand hills...more than enough to feed and clothe his children.

Concern over the economy? Sure. I've taken steps to cut expenses and increase savings, smart stuff. Worry over the economy? No, I have God's promise that if I put him first in my finances - as well as other areas of my life - He will provide all that I need.

Church Face

When I took the job I currently have about 15 months ago, a woman I work with said, "I'm meeting with someone I go to church with so I have to put my church face on". I was stunned to hear her say that.

As I have gotten to know her, I've found that it is true. She has a daily, regular "face" aka attitude, work ethic, etc. and a church "face". I thought about that today as I was talking to her...just some things she said brought the earlier remark to mind.

Made me wonder if I ever have 2 sides. I hope not. I pray that what you see is what you get; that I am consistent in my walk with Christ no matter who I am with or where I am. I want to be real, to never have to pretend to be someone or something I am not, to never try to impress people with my "goodness" or "churchyness". There are times when I say something that may not be nice and I have apologized for being curt with someone. But I hope that my integrity, my positive attitudes, my work ethic, my love for Jesus shine throughout my day and are visible to those around me. When I tell people I am a Christ follower, I don't want them to see a hypocrite but a person who walks the walk.

God of Everything

As I read through the Old Testament, I see a side of God that I don't hear preached. God put a lying spirit in the mouth of prophets; the servant of Elisha was struck with leprosy; battles lost because God fought against (or didn't go with) his people are just a few examples of God doing "bad" things.

Of course there is plenty of "good" also. People healed of diseases, the dead raised to life, miraculous provision of food during famine, battles won. These are the things I have heard preached over the years. Everyone wants the God is love without the God is justice or wrath. We don't like to think of God causing - or even not stopping - disaster that comes to us personally or corporately.

Hezekiah had prayed for victory over Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Part of God's response through the prophet Isaiah was "Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass," (2 Kings 19:25) God also said, "I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in," (2 Kings 19:27). The message was actually to Sennacherib because he claimed to have done everything in his own strength and mocked the Holy One of Israel.

Can I wrap my mind around my God is SOVEREIGN? He controls or allows everything. He alone is ALL powerful, ALL knowing. Is my God really God in my mind? Is He God of/in EVERYTHING? The story of Job is a great example of God allowing disaster - death of children, loss of wealth, loss of health. But in the end Job had a better relationship with God...and God restored all Job had lost.

Right now in America we are seeing great loss of wealth. Often the wealth was accumulated by greed and lies and inventive accounting. We have claimed to make it on our own. We have pushed God aside and worshiped the idols of money and stuff. Could this downturn in the economy be God saying "I gave you everything and now you deny I exist, so let's see how good you can do without Me?" Just asking!

A Sunday at NewSpring - but Not

This was a weird day. It's Sunday and I'm always in church at NewSpring on Sunday, except today. When I am not volunteering on the Production Team, which is an all day commitment, I attend the 6 PM service. Today was to be no different.

I had a lazy morning, reading my home group study book, reading the Bible, listening to the rain. Boy did we have LOTS of rain today. About 3 PM, I took a shower and got dressed. It takes about 30 minutes for me to make the drive to Greenville but because of the heavy rain, I decided to leave 15 minutes earlier than usual to head to the 6 o'clock service. In the 10 - 12 minutes it took to get to the interstate, the rain had changed to snow. I didn't debate TOO long in making the decision to go back home. The drive over would not have been bad but I didn't relish the idea of driving home alone at 7:30 or 8:00. The interstate would probably not be a problem but the road from the interstate to my house could be disastrous - a very steep hill down and back up, crossing a creek, rounding curves.

I really appreciate the web campus. Even though there were problems with access, being able to participate with the Anderson campus when I couldn't get to Greenville was good. And so far we're up to about 6" of snow!

Let It Snow

Well, just when I thought Spring was here...the yellow bell and Bradford pears are blooming...we're having a big snow. Big for SC that is. It's been snowing for about 5 hours and we have over 5 inches of snow on the ground. The snow isn't supposed to end until around 3 AM.

It is a pretty snow. I like the purity, the whiteness, the cleanness of the snow before it gets to be dirty slush; before people put their feet in it; before the cars streak it up. I also like the quiet. There are no cars or trucks running up and down the street. No loud stereos booming as they go by. No nothing. Just snow and quiet. That's kinda nice. I wouldn't want it every day but occasionally, for us once every 4 or 5 years, a quiet snow is nice.

And then there is the 1/2 day I'll take off from work tomorrow. Every one else will take a full day because the schools are closed but it is supposed to be warm enough by mid day to melt the snow. I'll play it by ear and may just stay home too. I'm caught up on my work for the first time in about 3 weeks. I was able to see the top of my desk when I left on Friday...that's practically a miracle.

I hope Nathan and Bella build a snowman tomorrow and make snow angels and snow ice cream and have a snowball fight; all the fun stuff. This is probably Bella's first "real" snow. Can't wait to hear what she thinks of it when she's here on Friday.