A Tragedy

This past Thursday the United States was shocked to hear that an Army psychologist at Fort Hood went on a shooting rampage killing 13 people and injuring many others. Initial reports said that he had been killed by the first responder (a female civilian security officer). But then we learned that he is still alive and in stable condition. It was also said that the security officer was killed but later that she was also alive. President Obama spoke on the subject and said that it is bad enough when a soldier is killed in combat. But it is even worse when they are killed when they are at home on base. He also said that they would get answers. The pshycologist was preparing to deploy just before this happened. But no matter what his reasons for this were it was still very wrong. You cannot excuse his actions no matter what his motive. I think that it is situations like this that puts everything into perspective. Earlier this week there were the elections and a rally at Washington. But when something like this happens it seems everyone puts their differences aside. I believe this is one of the things that makes America great. In times of trial we support each other. When going to pay our water bill this morning I noticed the flag being lowered to half mast. And flags across the nation will be lowered to signify that we care. To honor those who have died. To show our support for those that they left behind who are grieving over their loss. Today the United States are united in their support.

But I find something very interesting in this whole situation. There is no blame shifting going on as to whose fault this was. If 13 soldiers were killed and many more wounded in Iraq in one day there would be a great outcry. Many would say “See those troops should not be over there”. But when our troops are killed at home by a fellow soldier there is no outcry. No one says “they should not have been at the base”. So why the difference? Is there any less honor for a soldier killed at home then one killed on the battlefield? I don’t think so. Both were doing what they were assigned to do in order to keep our country safe. It was necessary for us to go to Iraq in order to keep the world safe from terrorists. We should not judge the soldiers of course for being over there. They were sent there. Who is their commander in chief? It’s the president. He is the one responsible for them being there. And he can blame it on his predescessor that we are over there but he has left the troops there. He is responsible for what he does and for what he does not do.

Going Beyond

Lately I’ve been thinking about the concept of living our lives beyond the “expected norm”. One of my favorite songs is the one by Matthew West entitled “The Motions”. It speaks directly to the heart of this issue. I especially like the last half of the chorus: “I don’t wanna live my whole life askin’, what if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions”. The movement called “The Rebelution” by Alex and Bret Harris also seems to be focused on the same thought of going beyond the minimum. One of the books I read this past year was John Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life”. He begins his book with the story of a man who, unlike many, had a deathbed conversion. This man realized how little value his life had without Christ. His view on his life as he looked back over it was, through tears, “I’ve wasted it!”. John Piper continues by saying he wishes for none having read his book to reach the end of their life and have the same thing to say. So for some reason, at least in my life, this year has had this new focus of going beyond. Of not living your life merely to the expectations and standards of man but of God. Living with the thought that every day is a chance for us to be “living sacrifices”. Living our lives “holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service”. We were created by God so the very least we can do is live as He commands us to. Now before I go to far let me say that I am in no way saying that I have attained and have all these things down. I am probably preaching to myself more than anyone else. I have my failures and many times I find myself falling into the very trap I’m talking about in this post. Merely doing enough to get by. Just enough to make others think “What a good person he is” but they have no idea what I do while they are not observing. What I do when it’s just family around. When there aren’t those I wish to impress. Yes I struggle with this. To put it quite bluntly I find that sometimes I’m a 21st century Pharisee. I make sure the outside looks nice and clean. I “go through the motions”. But am I really striving to live for Christ. I think this is one of the major difficulties for those of us who are 2nd generation Christians. All or most of our lives we have grown up in a home where you are expected to be a good boy/girl. I recently gave my testimony along with some other Christians and noticed that many Christians have the testimony of being deep into sin before God saved them. Some were even on the verge of suicide. Now don’t take this wrong, but I found my testimony rather boring. I was seen a “good little boy” before I was saved so most people didn’t see a major difference in my actions. I was not a murderer or anything like that. I wasn’t a crook who robbed banks. I still desperately needed Jesus because the root of each of those things was in my heart. Don’t think for a moment that I am belittling my salvation. Every single human soul that is saved is an amazing testimony to God’s grace. For any of us could have become any of those things. Paul the apostle before his conversion was a very good person. He himself testified that concerning the law he was blameless. But he also said that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief”. How can it be that a person who was considered blameless in the eyes of the law called himself the chief of sinners. Think about it this way: An office building is on fire. The escape routes are one after the other getting blocked by burning debris. Time to escape is running out. Two people remain in the building. Both are aware that the building is on fire. One of them is also aware that he is in a critical position he must act quickly in order to escape the fire. The other however believes that where they are located in the building they are safe from the fire. Little does he realize that his last escape route is about to be cut off. Which individual would you rather be? The one who realizes the danger he is in and can do something about it? Or the one who thinks he is safe and doesn’t realize he is headed for destruction? Of course they former would be the preferable situation. Neither situation is good but the first is the lesser of the two evils. I think it’s the same in the spiritual realm. It is far better to know the danger that you are in because of your sins than to be living your life thinking all is fine. Saul thought he was doing the Lord’s work. He was considered a “good person”. But he was in a far more dangerous situation than the publicans and sinners that he despised. So today we must be sure that we are not going along doing all the right things merely outwardly. “Man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” May He who searches the hearts find us living for His glory not our own.
In Christ,
Eddie

My New Blog

Well I've just started blogging and want to let yu all know that my blog will be focused primarily on Theology. So if you don't like that subject then move along. But if you disagree with me on what I say you're more than welcome to let me know. Just stay friendly. Thanks
ES