I want to speak a moment in hope to bring clarification to words people sometimes say when tragic situations happen (knowing that they are trying to be supportive and comforting).
Sometimes, people will use words like "God must have needed them" or "God had a special task he needed them for" when talking about people who have died from tragic events (and sometimes non-tragic events). When I hear these words (knowing that they are spoken out of love) I cringe. You see, to say that God needed them gives us the right to blame God for what happened. It is God's fault. Because if God didn’t need them then they would still be alive. Do you follow? Now God is God. God doesn’t need anyone. God is all powerful, knowing, and loving. To say he needs something or someone means he is not all powerful, that he lacks something. But God lacks nothing. Yes, there are angels in heaven and God created angels, but he didn't create angels because he needed them, but because he wanted to. Be careful of the words you use when you share with families who are grieving. Dont' say things like God must have needed them. This would just make me more upset with God for what happened. Do you understand? This was a tragedy, not caused by God, but caused by man. God’s heart is broken over this as well. So let us not use words that allow people to blame God. Let us use words that are truthful...."I can't imagine what you are going through, but I pray that God will comfort you and heal your heart...and know that I love you and am here for you." Say, "I am truly sorry for what happened and I will pray for you"...that is if you really mean it. Don't use words also like..."I know what you are going through"....no you don't. Just be truthful. Be a friend. Let them know they can cry on your shoulder. Give them a hug and say nothing. Sometimes these things are the best things a person can do.
After 19 years of ministry and to many funerals to count, I have heard people say some of the strangest things at funerals that, knowing they are trying to mean well, really don't help. Maybe I will write a short book someday on things to say at a funeral. Until then, hug, cry, let people know you are sorry, but don't blame God for everything that happens.
You many not agree with all I say and that is okay. I would love to hear your comments. You can click on the comment button below.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
8 murdered in Appomattox & Luke 4:14-21
I serve Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Concord, Virginia. Appomattox is just a few mile's down the road, if I may say, from my Church and the community in which I serve.
I was sitting in my office pass noon yesterday when I heard the first of many sirens heading pass the church. I looked out my window and saw, first, five unmarked State Police cars, lights flashing, sirens blowing, heading pass the church. It wasn't a moment later that three more police and sheriff's vehicles sped by. A few minutes later, here came more. I initially thought to myself that there must have been another terrible auto wreck at the corner of Rt. 460 and Rt. 24, just up the street. It seems that this corner draws accidents for some reason.
As I finished up what I was doing and preparing to run down to the Village Market for lunch, I decided to ride up the street see if in fact there had been an accident. No, no accident. I wondered where so many police could have been headed.
I made my way to the Village Market, sat down at the counter and found out that there had been a shooting in Appomattox and two people had been killed. It was hard to believe. Here, close by, rural area, community people. As people came in and out of the market everyone had a story or something to share about the shooting. One person said he heard that some sheriff's had been shot....gossip goes a long way until the truth comes out... I listened to the scanner that had been placed on the counter for all to hear as everyone ate and listened to any new info. I prayed for the people involved, their families and the police. I wondered who could do such a thing. That is always the question, isn't it?
Finishing lunch I returned to my office to complete the work I had started, still wondering what had happen. ABC- WSET sent a breaking news bulletin to my email address. Nothing I didn't know already other than they thought they had the person contained in a wooded area.
That evening I listened to the news to get an update. Nothing still mentioned about how many where killed, who they where, or why this happened. At 11:00 pm I watched the news again, nothing changed, other than they were sure they had him contained in a wooded area.
This morning, as I awoke, I turned on the news to discover that 8 men and women had been killed by this one gunman. Later, they stated that he had turned himself in peacefully.
When I checked my emails this morning, my wife sent me an email stating that she new the gunman. She said: "He went to Rustburg and has a sister Laura – they used to live a few streets up from Carson’s store and rode my bus when I was in high school. He also worked as a security guard at Food Lion on Campbell Avenue for a while. Kind of creepy. “Carson’s store is just a stone's throw from the church. Food Lion on Campbell Avenue is close to my home and where I shop often. Yes, kind of creepy.
I am thankful that this ended peacefully, with no one else being killed. I can only imagine the heartache the families feel for the lost of their loved ones. Hopefully, in time, all the whys will be answered?
But could this have been prevented?
The Lectionary text for Sunday, January 24th, is from Luke's gospel, chapter 4, verses 14-21. It is here that Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and begins to read those empowering words, "‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’... ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’" (NRSV).
On that day in the synagogue, Jesus came among them as the Word of God embodied. He wasn't just a vessel of God's words, but the Word itself, the Word made flesh, in fullness for all to read. As the Word of God, he spent his time, teaching, preaching, healing and ministering to all who would listen to his words. These words were good news...good news to the poor, captives, blind, and oppressed. These words are good news to us as well.
For those of us who are the body of Christ, followers of the Word, what will we do with these words about good news for the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and the year of Lord's favor? How do we give flesh to these words? In the mist of all the brokenness of the world, the devastation in Haiti and the murdering of 8 men and women in Appomattox, what will we do with these words? Will we keep them to ourselves? We will meet on Sunday in the sanctuary and just recite them to ourselves? Will we hide them under a basket so no one else will know that we are Christians? Will we make them be some secret sayings that we must learn but never share with anyone else except those within our club or organization? NO! We must become bearers of these words that are so radical and so challenging in the hope that lives will be changed, people will be saved, and the kingdom of God will be fully experienced here on earth. It is then and only then that we will be able to live in a world of true peace, a world of hope, and a world where man will no longer murder his fellow man or woman.
I wonder how many Christians this man in Appomattox came in contact with who never shared the good news of Jesus Christ with him. I wonder how many people come in contact with Christians every day who never hear the good news of Jesus Christ….What will we do with these words about good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom from the oppression and the year of the Lord's favor? That’s up to you. But it is my hope that these words, the Word of Christ, will take flesh in you for the life of the world.
I was sitting in my office pass noon yesterday when I heard the first of many sirens heading pass the church. I looked out my window and saw, first, five unmarked State Police cars, lights flashing, sirens blowing, heading pass the church. It wasn't a moment later that three more police and sheriff's vehicles sped by. A few minutes later, here came more. I initially thought to myself that there must have been another terrible auto wreck at the corner of Rt. 460 and Rt. 24, just up the street. It seems that this corner draws accidents for some reason.
As I finished up what I was doing and preparing to run down to the Village Market for lunch, I decided to ride up the street see if in fact there had been an accident. No, no accident. I wondered where so many police could have been headed.
I made my way to the Village Market, sat down at the counter and found out that there had been a shooting in Appomattox and two people had been killed. It was hard to believe. Here, close by, rural area, community people. As people came in and out of the market everyone had a story or something to share about the shooting. One person said he heard that some sheriff's had been shot....gossip goes a long way until the truth comes out... I listened to the scanner that had been placed on the counter for all to hear as everyone ate and listened to any new info. I prayed for the people involved, their families and the police. I wondered who could do such a thing. That is always the question, isn't it?
Finishing lunch I returned to my office to complete the work I had started, still wondering what had happen. ABC- WSET sent a breaking news bulletin to my email address. Nothing I didn't know already other than they thought they had the person contained in a wooded area.
That evening I listened to the news to get an update. Nothing still mentioned about how many where killed, who they where, or why this happened. At 11:00 pm I watched the news again, nothing changed, other than they were sure they had him contained in a wooded area.
This morning, as I awoke, I turned on the news to discover that 8 men and women had been killed by this one gunman. Later, they stated that he had turned himself in peacefully.
When I checked my emails this morning, my wife sent me an email stating that she new the gunman. She said: "He went to Rustburg and has a sister Laura – they used to live a few streets up from Carson’s store and rode my bus when I was in high school. He also worked as a security guard at Food Lion on Campbell Avenue for a while. Kind of creepy. “Carson’s store is just a stone's throw from the church. Food Lion on Campbell Avenue is close to my home and where I shop often. Yes, kind of creepy.
I am thankful that this ended peacefully, with no one else being killed. I can only imagine the heartache the families feel for the lost of their loved ones. Hopefully, in time, all the whys will be answered?
But could this have been prevented?
The Lectionary text for Sunday, January 24th, is from Luke's gospel, chapter 4, verses 14-21. It is here that Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and begins to read those empowering words, "‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’... ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’" (NRSV).
On that day in the synagogue, Jesus came among them as the Word of God embodied. He wasn't just a vessel of God's words, but the Word itself, the Word made flesh, in fullness for all to read. As the Word of God, he spent his time, teaching, preaching, healing and ministering to all who would listen to his words. These words were good news...good news to the poor, captives, blind, and oppressed. These words are good news to us as well.
For those of us who are the body of Christ, followers of the Word, what will we do with these words about good news for the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed, and the year of Lord's favor? How do we give flesh to these words? In the mist of all the brokenness of the world, the devastation in Haiti and the murdering of 8 men and women in Appomattox, what will we do with these words? Will we keep them to ourselves? We will meet on Sunday in the sanctuary and just recite them to ourselves? Will we hide them under a basket so no one else will know that we are Christians? Will we make them be some secret sayings that we must learn but never share with anyone else except those within our club or organization? NO! We must become bearers of these words that are so radical and so challenging in the hope that lives will be changed, people will be saved, and the kingdom of God will be fully experienced here on earth. It is then and only then that we will be able to live in a world of true peace, a world of hope, and a world where man will no longer murder his fellow man or woman.
I wonder how many Christians this man in Appomattox came in contact with who never shared the good news of Jesus Christ with him. I wonder how many people come in contact with Christians every day who never hear the good news of Jesus Christ….What will we do with these words about good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom from the oppression and the year of the Lord's favor? That’s up to you. But it is my hope that these words, the Word of Christ, will take flesh in you for the life of the world.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Surprise, Surprise....Pastor's Appreciation Month
On Sunday, November 4th, my congreagation surprised me with a gift in recognition of Pastor's Appreciation Month. I was not expecting this at all and it came at a great surprise to me. I am blessed. I received a beautiful Traveling Communion Set, a gift card to my favorite pizza place....WaterStone, in downtown Lynchburg....and inside the communion set was wadded up cash. I was taken back by this and blessed so much for the kindness this congregation showed me this day. My family and I are very thankful for this act of kindness.
If you live in Lynchburg or visiting, you need to check out WaterStone in Downtown Lynchburg!
If you live in Lynchburg or visiting, you need to check out WaterStone in Downtown Lynchburg!
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