Monthly Archives: May 2022

It was with horror, but also with a terrible sense of deja vu, I followed the events which played out this last week in Uvalde, TX. Another senseless shooting, this time leaving 19 children and 2 adults dead.

These events are becoming so commonplace it’s hard to not become callused and just turn the page or flip the channel. Yet, when children are involved like this, even the most hardened of us get a gut check. In despair, we cry out, “Why did God let this happen?”

That’s the wrong question, however. What we should be asking is, “Why did we let this happen?”

As my friend, Mark Sullivan, pointed out in a Facebook post last week, “The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.” (Psalm 115:16 NLT). God put us in charge, “putting all things under [our] authority.” (Psalm 8:6).

This is our mess, our fault, not God’s. What happened in Texas, in Buffalo, what’s happening in Ukraine, and all the unnumbered senseless tragedies which have occurred throughout Earth’s chaotic history, are a direct result of humanity’s rejection of God’s authority and mercy.

What happened in Texas was not an act of judgment by God. It was an evil act by a terribly disturbed young man, a product of our messed up society.

So, what should be our response to such senseless acts?

Yes, we need to pass laws that will make something like this less likely to occur, but no law will prevent every act of violence, not so long as humanity remains in open rebellion against God and His law.

So what is our responsibility? Jesus gives us the answer in John 13:34, where He commands us to “Love each other.”

I know that seems simplistic, but sometimes the simple things are the only things that work. We must love each other, love our children, love our elderly parents, love the immigrant, love the person struggling with mental health problems, love even our enemies. And we must “not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 NIV).

Events like what occurred in Texas this last week should be a call to action for us, a call for us to share God’s love with all those we meet, so they too can find hope at the foot of the Cross. Although laws can help curb the violence, it is only God’s love lived out in our lives which can bring it to an end.

Blaming God when tragedy strikes is a waste of time. We did this! Let’s take responsibility, confess our guilt, and then get out there and do what God put us on this earth to do – Love each other!

This last week, in response to my blog post, “God is Love”, a friend posed the question, “Where is God’s love in situations like the Ukrainian crisis? Why does He let hurtful things happen?”

These are questions we all struggle with. “Where is God when bad things happen?” “Why doesn’t He intervene and stop tragedies like the Ukrainian War or the shootings in Buffalo?”

Even the great men of God through the ages have asked similar questions. Job, from the depths of his misery asked, “Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful?” (Job 21:7 NLT) “Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment?” (Job 24:1)

Even David, whom God called His friend, questioned God, asking, “O Lord, why do you stand so far away?…Why do the wicked get away with despising God?” (Psalm 10:1, 13). “Why do you hold back your strong right hand?” (Psalm 74:11).

Yet even though they questioned God’s mercy and wondered why He often didn’t intervene, Job and David never gave in to their doubts. They never stopped trusting in their Heavenly Father, never doubted His love. In fact, Job declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…” (Job 13:15 KJV).

How did David and Job and so many others find the faith to believe and trust, in spite of hardship, disappointment, and injustice? Paul answers that question in 2 Timothy 1:12, where he says, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

Knowing God is the secret to peace and happiness, even when the world doesn’t make sense. When tempted to doubt God’s mercy and His love, we need to cling to Him instead, focusing on knowing Him better, spending time talking with Him and studying His Word. When we do this, we will come to know Him like David, Job, and Paul did, and we will then experience for ourselves “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7).

Jesus warned us in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation”, but He added, “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We may not understand all that is happening. It may be hard to see God’s hand at work in world events or feel His love when our world is falling apart around us, but that doesn’t change the fact that the one who gave His only Son to save us loves us with an everlasting love.

Someday all these things will be made clear. Until then, when tempted to doubt God, to ask “Why?, instead concentrate on your relationship with Him. Learn to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Have a wonderful week and, no matter what, “Trust in the Lord”.

Yesterday, after church, a couple friends and I got into a “discussion”. OK, it was an argument, with raised voices, angry words, and hurt feelings. Our subject? The love of God or more specifically whether it applies to everybody.

Pretty pathetic, right? Here we’d just been in church, where I’d preached about the love of God, and next thing you know we’re arguing about that very subject. Ashamed doesn’t even cover how I felt after we got past the yelling stage.

Thankfully, my friends truly do have the love of God in their hearts. They graciously accepted my apology and forgave me for my behavior and poorly chosen words. However, it still put a damper on what should have been a pleasant Sabbath afternoon.

Being human is really a pain sometimes! Just when I think I’ve got it right, I go and blow it like I did yesterday. Amazingly enough, in spite of this, God doesn’t give up on me. Instead, He’s right there, whispering in my ear, drawing me back from the brink, reminding me of His love, and inviting me back into His arms.

Even when I’m sure I’ve gone too far this time, God reminds me of His promise that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV). Even if my “sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18).

There is nothing I can do that will make God love me less. Which I guess answers the question my friends and I were arguing about in the first place, whether God loves everyone equally or if some are too sinful for Him to love. The truth is we are all too sinful to deserve His love, yet He loves us anyway. In fact, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

This morning, if you feel you’ve gone too far for God to love, let me tell you from experience, you aren’t even close. He loves you just the way you are and if you confess your sin, He will always forgive you.

But don’t wait till you’re good enough for Him to love, because that day will never come. Just come to Him right now and give Him your life. You don’t need to be afraid that He’ll reject you, because He promises, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)

Come to Jesus today, my friend, just as you are. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or who you are, because one thing will never, ever change – God loves you!

I wrote this about my Mom several years ago, but it is as true today as ever. Happy Mother’s Day!

A Mother Like You

A mother like you who can find?
You are worth far more than diamonds.
Your children have full confidence in you
and love just being near you.

You bring us joy, not sadness,
all the days of our lives.
You select the finest, warmest, material
and make us brightly colored pajamas.

You prepare tomato toast and Quonset huts,
and mouth-watering fudge at Christmas time.
You get up while it is still dark;
you prepare delicious lunches for your family
and for anyone else who is living with us at the time.

You consider a craft at a fair and buy it;
you copy it and make wonderful Christmas presents
for the people you love.
You do everything with enthusiasm
and joyfully take on tasks no one else wants.

You take care of the family finances
and do the taxes late into the night.
In your hand you hold the sewing needle
and control the sewing machine with your foot.

You open your arms to the teenager
and your home to anyone in need of a place to stay.
When it snows you have no fear for your household;
for all of them are clothed in warm pajamas.

You make warm blankets for your children’s beds;
you are clothed in the finest outfits from JCPenney.
Your husband is respected on the church board
where he takes his seat
among the elders of the congregation.

***
You make wonderful jelly and canned peaches.
your applesauce is delicious
and tastes great on potato pancakes.
You carry yourself with strength and dignity;
but sometimes spit watermelon seeds
at your grandchildren.

You speak with wisdom;
your children can always count on you for good advice.
You watch over the affairs of your household
and are always busy doing something.

Your husband adored you and called you Vonnie;
your children love you and praise you, saying:
Many mothers do noble things,
but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a mother who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the love she deserves
and let her works bring her praise
throughout her life – and beyond.

-Proverbs 31, RSV (Richard’s Special Version)

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

I am truly blessed to have A Mother Like You.

I’ve done it again! Bit off more than I can chew! Started something I’m not sure I can finish! Taken on a mountain I might be too weak to climb!

As you can probably tell I’m feeling a little overwhelmed this morning. I’ve been asked by not one, but two churches to lead out in developing lifestyle centers for their communities, places where people can come to learn how to live healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives in growing relationship with their Creator.

At these centers people will learn how to avoid or reverse chronic disease, make positive choices, and find hope for a better tomorrow. They’ll get coaching, learn how to cook healthy meals, and discover how to set themselves up for a brighter tomorrow.

I’m excited about the potential here to make a real difference in our communities, but at the same time I’m feeling woefully inadequate for the task. I’m not the world’s most organized person. I’m good at coming up with ideas, but not so good at following through. What have I gotten myself into?

Do you ever feel this way? Overwhelmed, inadequate, afraid? Well, guess what! You’re not alone! All of us feel like this at one time or another. The important thing is what we do with those feelings. We can quit before we even get started or we can take these things to our Heavenly Father, admit our inadequacy, and ask for His aid.

Remember “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Even when you feel totally overwhelmed, too weak for the task ahead, God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

If God has called you to a task, then He will provide everything you need to succeed. (Hebrews 13:21). Even if it’s too big for you, nothing is too big for God. Go forward in faith, hold tightly to His hand, and let Him lead the way. Remember, “[You] can do all things through him who gives [you] strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

Whatever God has called you to do, don’t hold back. Don’t shrink from the task. Instead, by faith, climb that mountain, break through that wall, pursue that dream! Have faith in God and “Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20).

God bless and have a wonderful week!