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."

About Me: Dost Thou Knowest Me?

Fact: I enjoy making lists. Fact: I enjoy completing lists. Fact: I love crossing things off lists. So y'all are in for a little treat because I am going to give you not one, not two, but THREE lists about myself. And it'll be a door for interesting conversation down the road. Without further ado, I give you The Lists.

Ten Childhood Dreams

1. I wanted to be a fighter pilot 

2. I wanted to invent rocket powered roller blades

3. I wanted a mansion by the sea.

4. I wanted to be a star basketball player

5. I wanted to build and race a car around the world.

6. I wanted to tame a squirrel and carry him around on my shoulder.

7. I wanted to create the best arcade in the world.

8. I wanted a dog like Lassie or Balto or Air Bud

9. I wanted to go to LegoLand

10. I wanted my own room.

Seven Current Dreams

1. To see the world (Especially Italy)

2. Own a 1970 Chevelle SS

3. Fly a fighter jet

4. Take a road trip across the good ole U.S.of A.

5. Dream job of restoring classic cars.

6. Tame a squirrel and carry him around on my shoulder.

7. Complete my bucket list.

Ten Random Facts:

1. I love to talk, especially about sports

2. Turned my bedroom into an inexpensive man cave.

3. The people in my life make me happy more than they know.

4. You say Ultimate, I say "I'm there."

5. The stars fascinate me (I could spend hours looking at them).

6. I collect things and have a lot of collections.

7. I caught a half-wild/half tame rabbit with my bare hands.

8. I blew up a fire cracker less than an inch from my hand

9. I love country music

10. I make lists.

Insert Witty Title Here

I wonder...I do that a lot actually. Just stop...talk to myself. A way of coping with all the chaos raging in my mind. Sometimes it takes me forever to fall asleep if I quiet my mind or if I let it run wild. I guess it comes from that imagination I had has a kid. I guess that's why I like to write and have a knack for churning words in fanatical ways rather than being a rambling kibitzer. People think is strange to talk to oneself, but to be honest, when no one's around, those are some of the most meaningful conversations I have. I become extremely nostalgic and constantly remember the good times and the days of young boy who dreamed big. I play scenarios of future acts in my mind over and over, just in case I come across them, I'll be ready. I guess in a way, that's what I'm doing now. Rambling thoughts for the world to see. Who knows, maybe many people are reading this and enjoy it, or maybe just a select few.

 I'm a night owl. But i am not a fan of sleeping past noon because it feels like a wasted day. Don't get me wrong, I love sleep and thank the Lord for giving it to us because it is the best excuse to stop the freight train we call life and fall into a world only the mind could concoct, but I do also wish there were more hours in a day. More hours so I could scrawl all the thoughts, ideas, fantasies, dreams, and words onto virtual or physical paper, thus preserving them from the damage age does to a mind.

I have many projects I wish to complete, but sadly other necessities of life interfere.  Even now as I write this, I should be spending half an hour trying to solve one complex problem out of 10 for only one measly point with not a clue as to what I'm doing wrong...sigh.

As an added bonus, I got a little inspiration recently and in case you missed it on FB I'll post it here. I wish I could write more often but...yeah. Without further ado, I give you Old Man Fred

Old Man Fred

By Josh Watkins

I once knew a man with a crooked cane,

Who lived upon a street called Hummingbird Lane.

He wore a brown leather coat and a navy blue beret,

A quiet man was he with almost never a word to say.

Daily he could be seen carrying a loaf of bread,

And the playful children would cry “There goes Old Man Fred!”

Parents thought it rude, but he didn’t mind one bit,

He just walked to the beach and on the shores he would sit.

For days he sat there staring out over the sea,

Until one curious child by the name of Tommy Lee,

Skipped over to his spot with his cheeks all rosy red,

Saying “Why do you just sit here Old Man Fred?”

He just smiled and looked at the lad,

Seeing the youth he once had.

“Come here and pull up a pile of sand,

And I will tell you a tale so wonderfully grand.”

It was on this day 50 years past,

That I met a sweet, darling young lass.

I saw her coming across the sea,

On a ship so gallant, so big, so free.

The wind carried her hair down her back,

And not a sparkle did her stare lack.

She caught my gaze from afar,

A poor young fisherman was my branded scar.

The ship made port and I got a better look,

At the character God had fashioned from His eternal book.

My knees trembled terribly and would not stop their shake,

For soon my humble acquaintance she would make.

 ‘Hello,” said she. ‘Have you been her all day?’

Her question caught me off guard for she came my way!

I stuttered and stammered till my words became clear,

‘Yes Ma’am, every day this entire year.’

 Her beauty awed my weary soul,

As my heart craved for its only goal.

‘You’re such a fine young man,’ she said with a smile.

‘Come; let’s wander this little town for a while.

My heart began beating out of its cage,

As a love story began to fill the stage.

She told me her dreams and why she had come to this land,

To leave her world behind and bury her feet in the sand.

She stole my heart that day and kept its key,

And told me she was hanging onto it for eternity.

For days my love for her only grew,

But each day it seemed so fresh and new.

Until one day she whispered into my ear,

“I have a secret,” she said shedding a tear.

“My father warned me about this place.

He said if I found love I would be a disgrace.”

I dared not speak for my words were lost,

Fearing how much this secret was going to cost.

“The sea is my home; it’s where I belong,

I can hear my family singing their song.

She inched toward the shore in such a fright,

As the moon rose high on that summer night.

Her legs vanished without a trace,

A tail and a blanket of scales had taken their place.

She was not human but a mermaid was she!

I rubbed my eyes and thought ‘how could this be?’

She turned to the ocean ready to return,

And my poor heart just ached and burned.

‘Wait! I cried ‘Please don’t go!

Take me with you for I love you so!

She turned to me with a glow in her eyes,

And then turned her gaze to the starlit skies.

“I cannot take you with me,

But I still have your key,

So watch the horizon, beyond the ocean blue,

And one day My Love I’ll return to you.”

Then in one splash she vanished from sight,

Since that day I have returned every night.

Waiting for my love, my heart’s desire,

And that my boy is why I sit around this fire.

The lad sat there in awe with no words to say,

He ran home to tell his mother what he had heard that day.

When he spoke the tale she shook her head,

She told him to stop telling lies and go to bed.

Morning came and back to the sea he ran,

Hoping to hear more from the wise old man.

To his surprise, there was no one there,

Just the sand, the sea, and the crisp ocean air.

The suddenly he saw a flash,

And saw not one, but two tails in the water splash.

The boy smiled and was filled with glee,

Right then and there he fell in love with the sea.

From that day forward whenever he would sail,

He never missed a moment to tell the old man’s tale.

They wouldn’t believe him, but he didn’t care what they said,

He never stopped telling the story of Old Man Fred.

Last Resort

What is meant by the term "Last Resort"? Just as it is read, it means you final shot, the very last thing you would do in a seemingly hopeless situation, every last bit of strength you have to make a final stand. Well this also happens to be the title of ABC's recently cancelled show.

Normally I don't post stuff about TV or or pop culture on the web because there are more meaningful and eternal things of value. But this show ran it's full course and struck a deep chord in me. It's the story of a US nuclear submarine that was ordered to fire it's payload upon Pakistan. The captain of the boat saw how morally wrong this was and saw that Pakistan had done nothing to cause the slaughter of millions of innocent people. He refused the direct order and commandeered the submarine. But his original plan was for naught, because a nearby US destroyer fired upon Pakistan and the president of the USA declared the captain a terrorist.

The show takes you on a journey through the chaos. It depicts in accurate detail the ugliest, most dark, and vile human actions and how corrupt and fallen this race is. For example, plutonium was planted in Pakistan to create a "justifiable" reason for the US to nuke them, a drug lord doesn't receive his shipment in time and tells the hostages to pick someone to die and when he goes to shoot the girl, one of the guy hostages picks another guy to die and he is shot. There's treason, suicide, insanity, mass murder, torture, and every other thing the devil bathes in. But what you see that even though evil is reigning supreme, those who still have a heart and can see through the BS stood their ground fought the terrorists, and even when faced with the choice to shoot the captain because it was their Duty, their defending of their nation, they chose to take the bullet. To stand up to any and all evil. To not let even the supposed murder of one's wife to totally destroy him. As the captain in the show said when questioned with why he was fighting against the country that he so dearly loved: "I stand for my country and I love her. But I will fight against the corrupt institution that runs her. Don't you dare say they are one."

The thing that also got me was how one of the main characters just wanted to get home to his wife and she was doing everything to get to him. And when faced with the questions of why she wouldn't convince him to give himself up, she said. "I've had to share him every since I married him. He loves me and his country. Just like he would never give me up for anything, he would never sell her our either." Eventually, he is finally reunited with her through this long, heart-wrenching process only to see her supposedly "blown up" right before his very eyes. He goes on living with this demon that he had done everything and he still couldn't protect her. He broke down, he seemed as if he was about to give up all hope, but in the end, even when his cards were counting him out, he stood his ground and brought the true terrorists to justice. And of course he was reunited with his wife who was actually kidnapped.

So where am I going with all of this? I want you to realize that while many of us live in this blessed nation where freedom rings, God is known, and the name of Jesus is at least accepted, there is evil that reigns throughout the rest of the world and even right in our own backyard. And many a time we chose to ignore it because we don't want to deal with it. Being a Christian is not easy and seeing this is motivation to stand against the devil and his lies, to fight for what is right and don't just tolerate what is wrong. To take every foul abusive word, insult, slur, punch, slap, and kick that comes my way and turn the other cheek. Why? Because Jesus took it all. He drank death's cup dry and never once did He hurt another human being. As He hung upon that cross His heart broke and was filled with love for the very ones who mocked Him, beat Him, and killed Him. He died for sinners, He died for us all. And because He took that stand, He overcame the one thing that no one could overcome. That was death. And today He lives and cries out for His people to come back to Him. He desires all men to be saved. Can we take this stand?

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."~Matthew 5:10

" We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body."~2 Corinthians 4:8-11

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."~1 Timothy 6:12

"and do not give the devil a foothold."~Ephesians 4:27

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."~Matthew 28:20

A Traveler's Thirst

A Traveler’s Thirst

By Josh Watkins

Dare I dream of a paradise afar?

A place to soothe my weary soul,

A place where the sun never sleeps and crystal waters rare.

Country born and country raised,

but dwell do I in a concrete zoo.

Oh to taste the delicacies of a foreign land!

To excite my shriveled tongue to a high degree!

Danger I fear not,

Courage I possess,

I thrive for adventure.

How I long to soar like an eagle,

The sky at my command,

The wind, slave to my power.

To be free, the world to see,

This burning desire that consumes me.

“Life is short” they say,

to live forever is but a myth,

a dream,

a fantasy.

Why waste it?

I only have one.

A ticket for the world I shall buy,

To a foreign land I shall fly,

Until that day, here I will remain,

Dreaming under a midnight sky.

Adios 2012 and Hello 2013!

Another year in the books and it still feels like only a couple of months have gone by. It seems the older one gets, the quicker time flies. I still remember my early childhood years and those lazy summer days where I would climb a tree or lie in the grass and just stay there for hours on end dreaming of my future and days not far off. To an eight year old kid, it seemed like an eternity to reach every milestone. But now, if you blink, it's gone. To me it still feels like 2010 has just ended rather than 2012 breathing its last.

Around this time, many people create resolutions for the new year...and then in a week or two they break them and store them in the back of their minds until the next year. These are mainly to correct what they failed to do the year before. My idea of a resolution is to create and complete goals of things I want to do rather than things I want to do away with. With that note, let me reflect upon 2012 and revel in what 2013 may bring.

Normally when asked to recall a year, as soon as I hear the number, a different type of feel comes to mind. For example, when I hear the year 2007, I get really excited because that was an awesome year in my life. But when I hear the year 2005, I immediately get a feeling of disgust. That year was by far the worst year of my life. And if you were to say the year 2003, I would be in between conflict and mirth. As for 2012, let's just say it was a roller coaster.

The year started off better than I could have imagined. A number of problems I had just vanished. I went on vacation to North Carolina for a week with 11 other awesome people and had a time of my life. I was still in a one year Christian internship that was totally worth leaving school for a year and it would go through the summer. Now let me divulge on exactly what this was. This was a years worth of reading, studying, and learning the Bible. Four hours every day were committed to getting into the Word and discovering all its riches. The rest of the day was devoted to being with people, preaching the gospel, being with the church, and learning the Word on our own. There were 18 of us in Cleveland and around 30 total between us, Ann Arbor, and Buffalo. The ones I was with, whom I call brothers and sisters in Christ as well as friends, shared memories, experiences, and we all grew together with strong bonds of friendship and love. Then we got to see all our hard work pay off during the summer when we planned, served, and put on events for the young people. To make a long story short, the number of kids that attended Mountain Top and Interest Camps were much higher than they had been in the past. The Lord also did many amazing things this summer.

After the summer and the labor had ended, I was dreading the return to college. I didn't miss the 40 min commute every day, the 12 hour plus days of work/school combined, pointless papers, worthless general education classes, and obnoxious tests that determine half your grade even though you had an A going into the final. I'm not a fan of school, even though I will admit that it is very valuable and you are better off getting through it than struggling to find a job in the future.

The return to school began well and it was like I never left. But as the semester wore on, I found my self restless; wanting so desperately for the semester to end. It was like I was being suffocated in things that bored me, waned me, and consumed me. Then a number of things happened in a short period of time that pushed me over the edge...which hadn't happened since 2005. Did I tell anyone? Not really. I knew they were temporary problems that would pass and that the Lord would carry me through.

Finally the semester ended and winter break came and just relieved the school burden I was carrying. Along with it came the Rock and Empower. It's times like these that make me realize the things that matter and the things that don't. It's refreshing to be with all the other college age Christians whom I know and love dearly. However, there was a bit of an empty feeling that lingered about me. It was about the so many other ones who were not or could not be there; ones who had been there in years past, but not this year. I just want you to know I'm thinking about you, sometimes daily.

Now that 2013 has arrived, I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store and what new adventures this year will bring. I have a number of goals I'd like to conquer, one being to see the salvation of at least one of seven friends and another is to complete at least five things on my abnormally long bucket list.

I know not what the future holds. But this I do know. He is Lord today, yesterday, and forevermore. No matter how much my heart falters, all my trust is placed in Him. Storms will come, be they rough or be they drizzle, but every storm runs out of rain and every storm obeys its Master. Here's to the new year and to all the Jesus has in store. There is no one like our God.