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What a Week

As if Tax Day on Monday, April 15th wasn't enough, we had the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Once again innocent people were targeted. Standing in the crowd, watching friends and family cross the finish line, three people died and almost 200 were maimed or injured.

The next day, as we're still dealing with the shock of the bombs, came the news of the Ricin letters. Questions start to bubble up about the security of our nation.

Late Wednesday evening brought the news of the fertilizer plant fire and subsequent explosions which killed and injured the residents of the small town of West, Texas. More questions, more concern.

Then the news of today. More death and injuries related to the suspected perpetrator's of the Boston Marathon bombs.

What a week, indeed. But through it all, we must remember that "the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." (Psalm 33:4) Let's keep our focus on Him, not on the chaos around us.

Have a peaceful weekend!

Praying for Boston

I feel a tiny bit of deja vu. I am a total news junkie and the cable news plays in my home almost continually. I don't sit and watch it, but I have it on in the background. Today as I sat down to lunch, the local news was on and I saw the first report of the bombings in Boston. My first thoughts turned to a friend that has run the Marathon a time or two, so I wanted to check to be sure she wasn't there this year. She wasn't.

After a few minutes, I realized this story was getting bigger so I turned to my favorite cable news network. As always at the beginning of a big story there's more conjecture than fact. More dramatics. More conspiracies and theories. But it was pretty evident that this is an attack of some sort.

I don't know who. I don't know why. I don't know if this is a beginning. A distraction. A one-time fluke. But I do know this. There are people in Boston who are injured. There are people missing. There are families separated. There are fatalities.

We need to be praying.

Powerful and Timely Message

As some of you may be aware, Rick and Kay Warren's youngest son died this past weekend. Hearing the news on the cable news channel was shocking, to say the least. When I worked at our church, I was heavily involved in our Celebrate Recovery Ministry. This ministry was founded at Saddleback Church. I had the opportunity to travel there with the rest of our staff for a week long conference many years ago. I sat in sessions under Rick and Kay Warren and quickly came to realize their heart for people.

This morning as I was catching up on blog reading, I came across Beth Moore's latest post. She takes the subject of sorrow over the death of a child and expands on it in a powerful and timely message. Please take a moment to read her post here.

In the meantime, let's keep the Warren family, as well as the Saddleback Church family, in our prayers.

Sorrow

I have started to write this post several times, only to realize I don't know what to say and give up. It's difficult to shake the sorrow of this past Friday. The shock fades, but the sorrow lingers. It's difficult to avoid wondering about the details. I have to try or I become slightly "obsessed". The thought of all those little First Graders is horrifying. The bravery of those women is, well, words fail me.

I can't begin to describe the depth of sorrow I feel. Not only for the victims' families, the survivors and their families, the town of Newtown, but for the shooter's family also. So much tragedy. So much sorrow.

There will come a day for recriminations, for social policy discussions, for hand-wringing over the state of mental health care in our country. Today is not that day. Tomorrow is not that day.

The only way I know to deal with the tragedies of life is through my faith in Christ. I do not understand why evil things happen to innocents. I can only pray for the victims. And renew my belief that God is in control. He is always with us. He was in the Sandy Hook school on Friday. He will be with the families and community in the days, months, years to come.

Please continue to pray for this community. Don't forget about them and the horrors they have endured.

"We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NET

Colorado Tragedy

Photo from The Denver Post

I have wanted to post something about the shootings at the movie theatre in Colorado for days. I just haven't been able to organize my thoughts. I've read several items that have been inspirational and moving. Today I came across a blog post from a woman who was there. Since I wasn't there, my words could only describe what I think it might have been like, or what I think I might do in that situation. They would carry no authority. Please check out this account. This is what I hope I would be like after surviving a tragedy.

Photo from The Denver Post

Praying For Japan

The images coming out of Japan are horrifying. The power of the tsunami is awful and awesome. The moans of the people taking the video as the water rushes by them carrying cars, houses, trucks, (unseen people) is chilling. Can you imagine? A 9.0 earthquake, a 23 ft Tsunami, nuclear issues, lack of electricity, water, food, and now, snow. There is much to pray for in this circumstance.

Whenever disasters like this occur, I react in several ways.

I start to analyze. Am I prepared to survive something like this? Do I have enough food and water on hand to last until I can purchase more? Do I have a way of preparing food if the power is lost? Do I have cash on hand if the infrastructure is shut down for days? Do I know how to get out of the valley by a route other than I-17 or I-10? Do I know what to grab if I have to be evacuated quickly? I'm not saying I want to convert one of the bedrooms into a storage room stocked with survival gear. I'm just saying I want to be prepared.

I look at my priorities and re-evaluate them. Am I more concerned about things than people?

I count my blessings. Do I have problems? Are there issues that are getting me down? Are you kidding me? In the light of what the Japanese people are going through, I am completely blessed. And the truth of the matter is I am blessed without having to compare my condition to the situation in Japan. It is so easy to get caught up in the drama of my life (drama that is primarily of my own making) and lose sight of the blessings I receive every single day. It's so easy to be consumed with the things in my life to the point of neglecting the people in my life.

I pray. I pray for the missing. For the families of the deceased. For the health and welfare of the survivors. For the first responders. For the government officials. That the glory of God will be revealed in the midst of tragedy. That non-believers will be open to hearing about the Lord. That believers will be bold in sharing their faith. For swift recovery and rebuilding.

So today as I watch the latest news from Japan, I think about preparation, I'm thankful for the people in my life, and I'm praying for God's blessing, protection, and provision for the people of Japan.

Thursday Thoughts

Oh my goodness! It is so cold here in the Valley of the Sun. Yesterday’s high was only 43 degrees which set a record for the lowest high temperature for the date and for the entire month of February. Brrr. Plus the wind blew all day long. Yesterday morning at 10:30 am, the temperature was 34 degrees, the wind chill was 21 degrees, and the dew point was –18 degrees. Yes, not only is it cold, but it is bone dry also. So, although we’re under a freeze warning, there is no chance of frost in the area because there’s no moisture in the air! Thank goodness they’re calling for 70s by next week.

I know there are lots of aspects to the situation in Egypt. There’s the political, the religious, the cultural, the financial, but I want to talk to you about the archeological aspect of the situation. It really bothers me to hear the reports of museums, pyramids, and antiquities being looted, burned, and broken into. Why would a people want to destroy their past? Especially when their past is so old and plays such an important role in the advancement of society? I just do not understand it. Once these treasures are destroyed, that’s it, there’s no replacing them. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying this is the most important aspect of the situation over there. I’m just saying that it really struck me yesterday when they were discussing it on the news.

I am so excited about the happenings of this month. Tomorrow night Sunny will be here for her monthly sleepover. Next week, JD & Janel arrive for a visit, we attend the VNSA book sale, we’re having family photos made, and we’re having a family dinner. The following weekend, Zach’s best friend Daniel (and our “3rd son”) is getting married on Friday, Ashley’s baby shower is Saturday, and Katie’s hosting a candle party on Sunday. (If you want any Gold Canyon candles, let me know). On Monday, 2/28, I’m having lunch with Daniel’s mom and grandma. Then on Friday, 3/4 my new granddaughter is due! 2011 is shaping up to be quite the year for our family.