RMU Shootings

Last week there were a bunch of coverage that dealt with a shooting at Robert Morris University. If you don't know that was the college I went to. It's frightening to know that the college I felt safe at had a shooting. From what I gathered two students were killed and one seriously injured. With stories like this: shootings in high schools and colleges, where can students feel safe? It seems like we can't even go to student for an education without wondering if someone will come in with a gun. I pray for the schools of this nation. I pray for our students and those who are thinking about harming our students.

I wonder what was going through the minds of the other students, friends, family, staff. I know if I was still at school many people here at home would be so worried. It's scary to think that if this happened a few years ago; I could have still been on campus. I pray for the families and friends of the students killed and the one injured. I also pray for the killer and his family. What would be going through their heads about what their son did? What could be going through HIS head knowing what he did.

I don't know the full story or why this man shot his fellow students. I know God knows what was going on inside his head and heart and will judge him justly. I pray that he seeks God's forgiveness and maybe one day the forgiveness of those he harmed. It makes me think of the story of the man who killed the children in the Amish school, and their parents forgave him, was at his funeral. It takes a lot of strength to one ask for forgiveness, and two give it lovingly the way the Amish families did. The Bible talks of asking for forgiveness, not just from God, but the ones who we have harmed: If you enter your place of worship and about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. (Matthew 5:23-24).

I ask God to forgive this man. Forgive all those who are sitting at home judging him, hating him, and thinking other bad thoughts about him. Only God can know what went through his head. All we as a community can do is pray for him and all those involved.

Dignity and Honor

At the beginning of each chapter with the Purpose Driven Life are quotes from the Bible. After reading the first quote to chapter 19 really made me think. It comes from James 3:18 (it's a long one) = "You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." Too often we see people putting each other down, spreading rumors, hurting each other, judging, looking down on each other. And we try to say we are Christians.

Todd was just telling me how annoyed he is sometimes when he is surrounded by gossip at work. I agree what if a customer or their family came in when someone is gossiping about them? Our church has just dealt with gossip and rumors and it still goes on with one family. What needs to be done is for us to stop talking about the issue at hand and move on. When the names of those involved come up I'm starting to say "I don't want to hear it." Because I don't. How could talking about someone help the situation any? It can't.

How can a church, small group or even work environment develop a good community and healthy atmosphere if we are constantly treating each other badly. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way. God wanted us to live in peace, so why can't we do it? Why can't we live together in peace with at least other Christians?

Fellowship

As I said before Todd and I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life." I admit we got into a little bit of a slump after a while, but we started reading it again last night. The chapter we read was about fellowship. He said the term fellowship no longer has the meaning that it once did. Now when someones asks "Where do you fellowship" they are really asking "where do you go to church." And many times fellowship refers to a time of eating, and socializing. The Bible says we were designed to go through life together: Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. (Colossians 3:15.)

We are told that when two or more are gathered then God is in our midsts. Small groups are great for fellowship because it engages everyone involved where if it were a large group some people would back off and allow others to take control of the situation. With fellowship it's a time for us to be real with each other. It requires authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, and mercy. We need to be authentic about wanting to be with each other and get honest about things. We need to be mutual in depending on each other the Bible also tells us that The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part (1 Corinthians 12:25).

Sympathy is when we really feel the pain of those around us, not just giving them advice. We need to share, study the word, serve together and most importantly suffer with one another. Again the Bible tells us to be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Those characteristics describe Jesus, and since we are supposed to be like him...

Fellowship is not just spending time together and talking with each other. Its more about being honest and open about what we are dealing with. We need to get deep to the heart of the problem and share it with each other, we shouldn't be ashamed of what we are dealing with. Real fellowship is carrying each others' burdens and go through the hardships together.

Irrational Fears

Irrational fears, yes we all have them. But why? Why do we have all these irrational fears, even if they seem rational to us? I admit I have a few irrational fears about numerous different things. I have a fear of driving, and while those around me try to convince me it's irrational. To me it is for some odd reason. I've haven't gotten any reason other than a small accident my mom and I were in this winter, to justify my fear. It is partly because of this fear that I don't drive.

We tend to let our fears to overcome the things we do want. I want to drive, I want to be able to go where I want, such as to see Todd instead of him having to drive here all the time. I who have a dear friend who has a fear of getting remarried. He is in his later 30's, and has two kids. I understand his fears and see why he justifies them, but at the same time I wonder why let those fears come in the way of marring someone who he truly loves and truly loves him in return. (I hope he doesn't get mad at me for using him as an example too....)

There is so much in life that we experience and potentially lose out on because of our fears. Isn't one way to overcome fears to face your fears? Look at me I'm facing mine and going to drive, thankfully I feel more than safe with my teacher :) David writes in Psalm: I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) God didn't give us a heart of fear or a spirit of fear. So why do we still have them? Could it be Satan's way of stopping us from doing things that could empower us more? by giving me a fear of driving; i relay on people
to help me go where I want. I can't do some thing that I dream of doing.

The Bible has many different verses that talk about not having fear.

Isaiah 8:13 do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else.


Psalm 27:3 ...My heart will know no fear.. (there are others around that but I left them out.)

Isaiah tells us to not fear anything except God, and David wrote that his heart with know no fear. If we are being told to fear nothing and not of have a heart of fear, why does fear seem to rule our lives? Why are we stuck to our irrational fears, or even our rational ones? Other than facing our fears head on how do we overcome them? One of the most obvious ways is of course to pray. We need to lean on God for help to overcome these fears so we can move on to something we hope for. Sometimes our fears won't be overcome if we don't face them and see. I know I had a fear of failing. Failing in everything I tried to do, so I didn't everything I wanted to. I succeeded in some, failed in others, but it was ok. I faced it. How can we get rid of fear of failure, driving, swimming, fear of anything unless we tried?

I know admitting that I have an irrational fear of driving helped me want to conquer it more. How bout you? How will you overcome your irrational fears?

Purgatory

The other night Todd and I were talking about various different things, and the idea of purgatory was one of them. The idea of purgatory really escapes me. According to Dante Aligeheri in his book Purgatorio, there are seven levels to purgatory (much like the circles of Hell he describes in the Inferno). While in purgatory one is able to ask God for forgiveness for their sins and move up a level until they finally reach paradisio: Heaven. From what I understand of the Catholic faith is the one can buy their family out of purgatory, or rather, buy their families forgiveness.

My idea is that when one accepts Jesus their name is in the Book of Life as the Bible says. So when they die it's either Heaven or Hell, not an in between. I mean once we accept Jesus we have forgiveness, we need to ask for it, but we are already forgiven. And I think that if we die before you are able to ask God's forgiveness for our sins he takes that in consideration (once we've accepted him already). I understand the idea of Purgatory, and forgiveness are hard things to think about and figure out. There are verses that Catholics think support the idea of purgatory, I forget them right now, but I don't think there is.

Its hard for me to comphrend some of the ideals around purgatory. I think it's because it's never been a part of what I have believed. I have always believed that once you accept Jesus you are in the Book of Life: hence in Heaven. I could be wrong, but that is how I always viewed it.

Wisdom verse Knowledge

The book of Proverbs is probably one of my favorites. There are so many verses within that book that makes a big difference in our walk with God. Proverbs 2:2-6 is probably one of my favorites. It talks about wisdom and knowledge. Many times we confuse the two. The verses say: making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Phew! that is a long passage, I think one of the longest that I have posted on here.

Wisdom: power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action.
Knowledge: all that has been perceived or grasped by the mind; learning; enlightenment.

Both of those definitions come from yourdictionary.com. As you can see there is a difference between being wise and being knowledgeable. We get understandging and knowledge of Godly things from Him. If we honor Him we have His protection and guidance. He guards the path we walk. And we should be seeking God's wisdom as treasure instead of the earthly wisdom we tend to strive for. Today we put too much emphasis on the worldly things instead of Godly wisdom.

To fear God is to seek his knowledge and understanding through everything we do. It would be more valuable than moeny or any treasure in this world. God treasure is so much better! King Solomon knew this when he asked God for wisdom to govern God's people over anything.

Witnessing

One of my favorite moments from YES camp this year didn't even happen when the campers were there. It was Friday night and a few of us staffers were sitting around this massive campfire. I was sitting back watching everyone else interact with each other. Eddie and Ginnie were discussing family reunions and Eddie was concerned that hers wouldn't have food. Kelli and Caitie were talking, Trevor was staring at the fire. Off a little ways away from the rest of us, but still close enough was Chris and another staff member. Chris was talking to the other staffer about salvation, and the end times. This is some serious stuff for young men to be discussing, but knowing Chris it just made more proud of who he is. But it still amazed me that these two teenagers were discussing salvation and the end times when they could have been doing anything else that they wanted to do. It gave me hope for the future and for teens not only in River of Life Fellowship, but also across the country.

God gave us the command that we go out into the world and spread the word of God. I don't think there is one right way to do it. I know people who just shove the gospel in your face, others let the light of God shine through their actions. And then there are those like Chris and myself that wait until the right time presents itself. Chris and this other staffer were talking about God and end times as if it were a part of their everyday conversations, and I think sometimes that how our witnessing should be. Not shoving the Word into our friends' faces or fighting with other people about what they believe but discussing it. Asking and answering questions of each other. Todd and I have those discussions all the time. In fact we had one just last night about end times and then purgatory. I may write about our purgatory discussion tomorrow. But anyway. Witnessing shouldn't be this hard thing to do. Shouldn't it be easy for us Christians to be able to talk to our peers about the love of Jesus the way Chris and his friend were?

Like I said before I learned more from observing things at camp than I did teaching. God gave me that opportunity to learn more and grow and that's what I did. After seeing Chris interact with his friend, I know that is one of the best ways to witness to people. That way people aren't uncomfortable about God and feel free to ask questions and state their own opinions without being afraid of what we would say to them. As I end this post I think back to high school chorus and we sang a song (of course right). I don't remember the name of it, but one part went: Go ye into all the world a preach the living gospel, go ye into all the world and preach the living gospel. It was one of my favorite songs, and it helps me remember the command from God. So Go ye into the world (or your world) and preach the gospel to those you met, but not in a judgmental way, but a way like Chris that makes people feel comfortable.