Boston Bombing: Thoughts and Reflections

September 11, 2001. I was ten years old and had not a care in the world. I had just woken and was about to begin my day of home-schooling when my mom called me over to the TV. She was in shock and said this had happened a few an hours ago. She told me that two planes had hit the World Trade Center. I hadn't the slightest clue of what the World Trade Center was other than it must have been an enormous  important building in good ol' NYC. I figured it was just a freak accident and thought nothing more. A few hours later, annoyed that no TV shows were on because the news was showing the same footage over and over, I saw the damage done to the Pentagon and the rubble of the fourth plane in that Pennsylvania field. I knew then this was no accident and that America was under attack. Even though I was well over 150 miles away from the devastation  I was scared out of my mind. I figured evil people were about to attack all over the USA, even in my small town of Abbottstown, PA. Thankfully, that fourth plane was the end of it.

That was the first catastrophic event in my lifetime that I could remember as if it was yesterday. It is responsible for the beginnings of my now thriving patriotism for this country. It also opened my eyes to the pain and suffering and pure evil that thrives in this world. But those attacks were only the beginning of many more awful things to come.

2003:The space shuttle Columbia tragedy
2004: The Asian Tsunami disaster
2005: Hurricane Katrina
2006: Bird flu
2007: Virginia Tech Massacre
2009: Swine Flu
2010: Haiti earthquake, BP Oil spill
2011: Japan Earthquake
2012: Hurricane Sandy
2013: Sandy Hook Shooting, Boston Marathon Bombing

These are just some major events that shocked the world, that took the internet by storm, that sparked debates, but also caused strangers to help strangers, and people to rise up for their fellow man. Now some of these tragedies were caused not by man, but by nature. But the one thing they all have in common was that they turned people to God. Every time a catastrophe occurs, the internet blows up with caring comments, tweets, status updates, etc that say "my thoughts and PRAYERS go out to those at (insert location/ disaster here)", "GOD be with those people", and "PRAYING for the victims of..." At the same time, many like to shout "Where is God?" "Why all the suffering?" My response would be what does the Bible, God's Word, say?

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.~Matthew 24:6-8

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.~1 Peter 4:12-19

The Bible clearly states that these things will and must happen and that it should be no surprise. And for those who claim "well that's just your belief", let me just say this. There is good and evil in this world. For there to be good and evil, there has to be a moral code that defines them. For there to be such a code, there has to be a mediator. Man is not capable of setting such a code, yet man knows which is which.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.~Ecclesiastes 3:11

What does that mean? It means that no matter what walk of life one is from, no matter what race one is, no matter what one believes, God has put himself in man's heart. Just look at the tribal people in the most remote parts of the world. When discovered, they were found to be worshiping gods. No one told them there was a God or gods. But within them, there is a longing.

Going back to today's harrowing tale, while the US has once again been shocked by these horrific events, this was just one major bombing in many years. This sort of thing happens every single day in the Middle East. You can't ignore the smallest pile of trash for fear the moment it shifts, bloody rubble will be everywhere. Thousands of innocent people die daily from suicide bombers, explosives, and other destructive devices, and how often do people respond to it as they did today, or when the school massacres happened, or even during 9/11? The truth of the matter is, that this happens all the time. If you think about it, how can two bombs, planted in areas packed with thousands of people, only end up claiming the lives of three? Look back through time and see how many other attempts have been thwarted, how many nasty storms have died out or altered course before epic damage could be done? Do you really want to know what a Godless world looks like? (Sodom and Gomorrah are prime examples). Think about what would've happened if Hitler actually won WWII...just gives me the shivers thinking about it.

Yes it is sad and devastating that 130 people were hurt and three killed. No one should have to go through anything like that. At the end of the day, what can be done? Revenge? What happens when the perpetrators are caught? Years of trial when the truth is in plain sight? Those families are never going to be the same no matter what happens. The answer is simple. Turn to God. The Maker who gave you and me the breath that we breathe every day. The reason we are still safe, alive, and have made it through all these years. By finding Him first, there we will find peace.

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.~Ephesians 2:12-15

Almost there: Tales of a Heavy Heart

Four and a half weeks. All that's left of this dreary semester. I'll be happy when it's all over. But I'm not going to waste a perfectly good post by complaining. That's something I try not to do so because there's no need to bring others down.

My true intentions for this post are because of the weight my heart has been carrying. I hate conflict, I hate dealing with other peoples' messes, and most of the time I don't feel like going out of my way for someone who doesn't even realize how far gone they are. But the truth of the matter is that I have the Eternal Life inside of me and this life shaped me into who I was, who I am, and who I will be. Even when all of me screams to not care, I just look at people. I see how much I truly have and how much they do not. It's that moment then and there that I can't help but care.

Jesus cared for thousands upon thousands (if not millions) of people when he was on this earth. What did He get in return? Beat. Tortured. Mocked. Hated. The cross. Did He spit cursing fire? Did He raise His hand to strike His enemies? Did He hurt those who oppressed Him? No. He loved them even more. Dying there on that tree, His love only grew to the point that It's limit was erased. To the point where It overcame the only thing man truly fears because man himself cannot overcome it alone. That is death. He resurrected and freed the entire human race from the bonds of sin and lives to this very day, calling out to people in a way that they must BELIEVE and have FAITH that He is there so He and they can be one.

Because of this, I care for people. Even when I don't want to, I rarely say no. And let me tell you, I pray for a lot of people. Some for 7+ years. And right now my heart is heavy. Heavy because so many people near and dear to me are just going through a lot. Some have a scary illness. Some are losing hope. Some have turned away from God. Some are struggling in life. Some have been through tragedies. Some continue or do not realize to sin in an open, unrepentant way and that very thing is either driving them away or keeping them from God. Some need saved. I think about these people and their needs daily. I pray for them again and again, not giving up hope. Because the Lord never gave up on us.

I'm not perfect. I never was and won't be until He makes me perfect. I cry inside when I think about some of these ones and their problems. I see them crying out and it kills me because I've given them the only thing that will help them and they reject It because this world has blinded them from Salvation.

I also see all the garbage posted on facebook and the stuff people talk about posting on twitter and every bone in my body aches to put in my two cents...but I don't. It will always lead to an argument that ends up going nowhere and it's only going to happen again and again and again. So what happens next? During my one year Christian internship, our group had to do a presentation on Hezekiah (amazing man of God). One of the members of our group was touched by the part on the idols and came to a realization that "if you tear down people's idols, they'll build them back up. But if you give them Jesus, they will tear down their own idols." How true those words are. Some of you may be thinking... "Ha I don't have any idols/statue thingys that  I worship." Truth is, idols aren't just carved images. They're the things that hold our hearts. The time we spend working, investing, researching to make money. Money can be an idol. That fancy car you saved all your life for can be an idol. The clothes you wear, the amount of alcohol you drink, your career, even the opposite sex. I'm not saying these things are bad, but that they can become bad if they turn you away from what really matters.

Truth be told, I don't just pray about those in dire situations. I pray for some who have babies on the way. Some who, like me, want to bring their friends to Jesus. Some who need a job. Some who are looking for a spouse. Some who are trying to finish this semester well. Some who are talking to friends, have bible studies, holding church meetings, giving messages, planning conferences...the list goes on.

I'm putting this all out there because Encouragement can go along way. Sharing my cares and burdens can ease those of others. Because maybe you see yourself as one of the people described above and I want you to know that even though I may not always show it, I deeply care about you in more ways than you know. And if I have offended any of you, then I apologize because that wasn't my intention. My heart may be weary, but His love never runs out. He didn't give up on us, so I won't give up on those around me.

Isaiah 41:10

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."