Do Not be Fooled

There is an old saying, ‘A fool and his gold are soon parted’.

“No one knows, however, when that day or hour will come--- neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father knows. What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch!” -MARK 13: 32 & 37

The past few weeks, we have been witness to several traumatic events that have shaken the lives of many people. Time will be needed to go through the needed grieving process, seek comfort, find strength and gain courage to move on.

There were three (why do bad things seem to come in threes?) tragedies that took place in that past few weeks that dramatically changed or will change people’s lives.

In a supposedly joking way, (which it definitely was not) a radio personality, referred to a group of student athletes, to his listening audience, as a group of natty haired hos. As a result of his repulsive remark, he was fired from his job. His attempt to proclaim his extreme sorrow for what he said, and the asking of forgiveness appeared to fall on deaf ears. Although his words did not speak to actually destroy anyone it killed his way of life.

A few days ago a well known celebrity’s voicemail message he had left for his daughter, was somehow sent to the media and played on national airwaves. The content of his message was so full of hatred and threats to his child that, this already strained relationship may have been permanently killed. It is too early to say if this will be the case, but much damage has been done.

The third and most violent tragedy was the killings at Virginia Tech. Simply horrific.

A few days after the Virginia Tech massacre, I had the opportunity to talk with a group of middle school youth about their feelings and how it had affected them. During our talk, one of the students said that, maybe this was their (the victim’s) destiny, that God knows when each person is going to die.

Is it our destiny of when, where and how we die? Does God control everything we do? God does KNOW everything we do, say and what we think, but to say that God controls our every step would be to make God out as a puppet master and not as the Divine Creator. He created us in his own image and also gave us a mind to use with rules on how to use it. But, you and I both know of another old saying, “rules are made to be broken”.

Do we have the ability to learn from our mistakes, our tragedies? Is it fair to lose a job for saying something that was not meant to physically harm anyone? Can there be help for reconciliation and forgiveness from strained relationships? Could the results from our actions during the Virginia Tech massacre be an omen for something that is right in front of our face? History can and does repeat itself. What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch! Your life is golden. Do not be fooled!

From That Moment

“My mind is clearer now.” These are the opening words to the 1973 rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar”. My high school friend and I went to see this movie event when it first came out. When it was over, we and everyone else in attendance left the theater in silence. Not until Mel Gibson’s “the Passion” came out, have I witnessed this type of reaction to a movie about Jesus’ life. Though there were many people and organizations and churches that did not care for the way in which Christ’s story is told, to me it spoke volumes. Ever since I obtained a VHS tape of this movie, and now DVD, I have watched it every year during Lent. Each time I have watched it, something new is learned about my faith in God. Tonight is the night before Good Friday, and come Sunday, those who attend church will be there to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It will be a festive day and many people will gather with their families to eat and enjoy each other’s company. To many this is the most exciting and meaningful day of our Christian heritage. It is exciting to me too, but not the most meaningful. The meaningfulness of Christ’s life and what it means to me, comes on Friday night, on the cross, Just before Jesus’ last breath.

In the movie, the last words that Jesus speak are, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Let that sink in and what that represents to you and I, and everyone else.

We can’t be for certain what words Jesus really spoke, but his actions surely define it. It is from that moment, with that faith in God’s hands, God’s word would become true with a renewed life of the resurrected Jesus Christ.

A new life given to all, that we ceremoniously celebrate on Easter Sunday and give praise to every day of the year.

This new life could only have happened when Jesus gave his life and everything in it, to God. That is when his faith in God and love for us took all the sins in this world and sacrificed them on the cross, so that our lives would be forgiven and made new.

Our lives are full of crosses to bare and sometimes our strength becomes too weak and our backs turn from God’s hands. But, God’s hands never close and when you turn around and reach out, you will find his love there to embrace you and cleanse your spirit.

Several years ago a traumatic experience happened to me and my life was forever changed. I could not understand how evilness had come, the way it did, and throw its weight around, crushing hopes and dreams. I went through a personal crucifixion, and the cross was heavy and the pain was deep. For a time after that, my back turned from God’s hand. When I finally started seeking his guidance, I was amazed at how meaningful he spoke, through his messengers. My spirit started mending and new paths of purpose began to be lighted. The road is a work in progress and I hope the end is far off.

Several weeks ago I was involved in a 30 hour famine during a weekend of mission activities. The famine ended with sharing of communion. As I took the bread and dipped it into the cup, I looked up at the wooden cross and gave thanks to God for what he had given me, and letting me take part in this mission. It was then, that I could feel the warmth of Christ’s Spirit embrace me in a way that warmed my entire body. I knew from that moment, that my life had been renewed from death.

Jesus is our greatest teacher, and what he taught us is, in order for us to gain the life God wants us to have, we must be willing to sacrifice the life that we have, put it in God’s hands, and to him, commend our spirit. When you do, your life will be renewed, from that moment.