Yes, Herman, Evil does exist

Virginia Tech Shooting

© Kimberly Gelina

The massacre at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, has had an incredible impact on the people I live and work with. This terrible event reminds us all that there truly is evil in this world and when God removes his finger of restraint for just a moment, we are given a snippet vision of hell. Rejection of God has unimaginably terrible results.

My wife Kim photographed the children of the Virginia Tech teachers and staff a few months prior to the shooting. Yesterday she visited the campus to see how the workers at the Child Development Center were dealing with the aftermath. While she was there she took a few pictures of the students and the tributes to the fallen.

Kim was impacted by the outworking of faith in Jesus Christ that she saw among some of the students there at the Va Tech campus.

© Kimberly Gelina

The photo to the left is of two students playing their guitars and singing praise to God out on the campus sidewalk. In this photo, the students were singing "Thank You For the Cross." It brought tears to my wife's eyes to hear these students, so impacted by the worse mass-murder shooting in American history living out their faith in Jesus Christ and proclaiming to the other students the only way to find healing.

The photo below shows a car parked in a student parking lot there at Va Tech. The slogan written on this car window makes a good point, worded in a collegiate way that may get some of the other students thinking about the importance of being prepared not only for life, but also for the afterlife.

© Kimberly Gelina

New Planet - It just might be like earth

The Daily Mail reported the news of a newly discovered planet that just might possibly be similar to earth. In the scientific community, where nothing can be promoted, accepted, or even theorized about without substantial proof, there is a clamor over a planet that "may support life."

The article begins with a flight of fancy that shows how excited the scientific community would be if they found on an planet outside our solar system what they have sought so hard to find on earth with no success—evidence of evolution.

The article begins with this fantastical description of the newly discovered planet:

It's got the same climate as Earth, plus water and gravity. A newly discovered planet is the most stunning evidence that life - just like us - might be out there.

Above a calm, dark ocean, a huge, bloated red sun rises in the sky - a full ten times the size of our Sun as seen from Earth. Small waves lap at a sandy shore and on the beach, something stirs...

This is the scene - or may be the scene - on what is possibly the most extraordinary world to have been discovered by astronomers: the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System.

The article goes on to discuss what astronomers call "exoplanets" or planets outside our own solar system. In spite of a total lack of evidence that this planet is anything at all like our earth, they are claiming that it might have the same temperature variations and range of earth, it may have similar gravity to earth, "it probably has a substantial atmosphere and may be covered with large amounts of water - necessary for life to evolve" [emphases mine]. Oh yeah, it also might have an atmosphere of some sort.

The article even makes this incredible statement: "This remarkable discovery appears to confirm the suspicions of most astronomers that the universe is swarming with Earth-like worlds." They have a suspicion that the universe is swarming with these planets even though after years and years of looking for them they have now found one that might possibly be somewhat similar to earth (maybe). Obviously the decades spent trying to find the ever-elusive missing link here on earth without success has propelled these people to science fiction fantasy. It's amazing the lengths folks will go to to ignore the Creator of the universe.

Working with jerks

There is a plethora of books available addressing the issues of working for/with a "jerk." Showing the steady downward spiral of civility in our nation, a March 30, 2007 report on Fox News covered a newly published book that replaced the word "jerk" with a word they had to bleep out and remove from the book cover's title when showing the book.

While we must be sure that we, in fact, are acting as we ought to act, it's true that we often have to work for or with people who do not use common courtesy and respect in their dealings with others.

I am currently experiencing some of these dynamics in my workplace. And as He always does, God has provided a way of escape from my desire to lash out at these people or to display my personal indignation about how I am being treated.

From this morning's devotions

Psalm 4
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent
Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

An interesting progression covering some emotional responses to this type of situation. David begins with anger that men are speaking lies about him. He then turns to a veiled threat that he has been set apart by God and that God hears his prayers. He then recognizes his anger and reminds himself that it is okay to be angry, but that he must not allow the anger to turn to sin. He quiets himself: "ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent." And finally he commits to doing right by "offer[ing] right sacrifices" and turns from his anger with, "and put your trust in the LORD." This seems to parallel the concept of God saying, "vengeance is mine; I will repay."

The next verse that jumped out at me was:

Proverbs 20:11
Even a child makes himself known by his acts
by whether his conduct is pure and upright."

If I am worried about lies or misrepresentations being told about me, I can rest assured that we are "known by [our] acts." If I work as I should, I will establish a reputation that provides a solid shield against the attacks of those who would use lies and half-truths to gain the upperhand.

God grant me the grace to present a Christian (Christlike) response to the pressures of the workplace.

Why do we suffer?

We all go through seemingly unbearable times in our lives—trials at home, trials at work, trials in dealing and living with our neighbors—but we must maintain the proper attitude toward these trials for God's honor and glory.

This morning I read two different passages that applied to a trial I am currently experiencing. Comforting truths, indeed:

Proverbs 17:3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

"The Lord tests hearts." We are going to be tested. And that testing is likened here to refining fires—fires that cause the metals to melt completely. Not something any of us are likely to volunteer for.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This is how we endure the testing of our hearts. "Do not be anxious about anything...by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." And the result of this way of enduring these trials is that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

We must cling to Jesus, realize that he cares for us, realize that God is the Sovereign of the universe and has all things under control. And we must rest in that knowledge and submit to his love.

Life can be hard. In fact, life is hard. But God will comfort his own. We have been bought and paid for. If we demonstrate to a watching world the "peace that surpasses all understanding," God will be glorified in us.

Comforted--so we may comfort others

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

It is so easy for me to feel sorry for myself when I go through tough times. I often presume to ask God why He is allowing something I don't like to happen to me. This response is not consistent with what I know of God (that He didn't just allow it to happen but rather ordained that it would happen) and it ignores the clear teaching of scripture about one of the reasons why we go through tough times.

Our suffering allows us to commiserate with others who are enduring tough times. And the comfort we gain from Christ, oftentimes through the actions of fellow believers, allows us to comfort others who are enduring tough times.

So the answer to the question, "Why, God?" is "that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

God, please show me the opportunities to share the comfort you have provided to me with others who are in need.

Moving on

After a full year of waiting for the promised follow-up from the leadership of my previous church, I have given up hope that it is forthcoming. May God intervene in the lives of these people so they bring no further disgrace to the name of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:25-26
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Boisterous praise!

Yesterday I posted about a verse from my morning devotions. Today I'd like to address something else I see in that verse.

Nehemiah 12:43
And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Our OFRBC worship team discussed the concept of how loud we should play. We tend to play more and more loudly as we go on when we are really enjoying ourselves. Although we need to make sure we are not allowing our music to get out of control, I argued that we should not be too concerned with the idea that we might be playing too loudly. (I'm not arguing that we should be cranking out 120 decibels as if we were presenting some sort of rock concert.) We should not play so loudly that the congregation cannot hear themselves contributing to the corporate worship experience of music. But I think we conservative Christians tend to lean more toward the quieter side than we should.

The end of the above verse is of interest to this discussion. "The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away." Even at our loudest, our worship team cannot be heard far away. In fact, I doubt that we could be heard across the street at any time. It must have been an awesome thing to hear the Israelites praising God with such gusto that their praise could "be heard far away."

God made them rejoice

Yesterday Old Forest Road Baptist Church commissioned our new pastor, Mike O'Brien. It was a wonderful day. The preaching (by Dane Emmerich) was outstanding, the fellowship was enjoyable (potluck dinner after church), and the singing was inspiring and enjoyable.

As the worship team practiced the music the week before, we all enjoyed the songs. The words were great, but the music itself was fun to play and we all had a good time. Yesterday morning we discussed the fact that the act of praising God is all about Him and not at all about us, so we need to make sure that we're not enjoying the music ONLY because it is fun, but first and foremost because it is praising and magnifying our great God.

After church, a few of the members of the worship team discussed the fact that the congregation seemed to be very involved in the music and seemed to be genuinely worshiping God. So ... was it because the music was fun (which we all agreed would not be true worship) or was it because the music led the people into a true spirit of praise?

This morning, God answered my question in my morning devotions:

Nehemiah 12:43
And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Why did they rejoice? ---Because "God had made them rejoice with great joy." The spirit of praise and worship among the OFRBC congregation was not because the worship team was playing well or because the songs were fun or even because the songs were inspiring. The spirit of praise and worship was because God moved in the hearts of the congregation to praise Him. It's humbling and awesome to realize that God's sovereignty stretches even to whether or not we are able to praise Him.

So ... we must regularly ask God to grant us a spirit of praise and worship so that we will be able to do what is expected of us, even commanded in scripture.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.

Biblical Success Manual

We all want to be successful—it's built deep into our inner workings. Everyone wants to succeed. But sin has corrupted our view of success and our ability to achieve it. Scripture deals with both aspects of this corruption. Personally, I have recently focused mainly on bringing my own view of success into line with biblical representations of success. But as I read the bible this morning, I came across an interesting treatment of what we should do to achieve success. It comes from the life of King Hezekiah as found in 2 Chronicles 31:

2 Chron. 31:20-21
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Particular Redemption - Wednesday

Why election isn't the big deal

Although most antiCalvinists are hung up on the whole election issue, election really isn't the foundation stone that nonCalvinists make it out to be. Election itself saved no one; it only marked out particular sinners for salvation. Those chosen by the Father and given to the Son had to be redeemed if they were to be saved. In order to make their redemption sure, Jesus Christ came into the world, taking on a human nature so that He might identify himself with his people and act as their legal subsitute. Action on behalf of his people, Christ kept God's law and worked out a perfect righteousness that is credited to them the moment they are brought to faith in him. Because of what Christ did on the cross, they are reckoned righteous before God. They are freed from all guilt and condemnation as the result of what Christ suffered for them. Through his substitutionary sacrifice, he endured the penalty of their sins and thus removed their guilt forever. So when his people are joined to him by faith, they are credited with perfect righteousness and are freed from all guilt and condemnation. They are saved, not because of what they themselves have done or will do, but solely because of Christ's redeeming work.

So then, the verses that speak of this say that Jesus came to save his people. It is clear that the intention is not that Christ in his death is making a potential atonement for people—one that will be applied when they "accept him as their personal Lord and Savior," but one that has been purchased and accomplished. When Jesus on the cross said, "It is finished," it was finished. The salvation has been bought, the penalty had been paid, and the sins of those for whom he was making atonement had been atoned for.

Particular Redemption from the text of scripture:

Luke 19:10
For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he [God] made him [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
italics added for emphasis