Daily Devotions: Resident Evil

Our community in Knoxville is grieving and angry this morning. A while ago, a young couple – Chris Newsom and Channon Christian – were car-jacked, kidnapped, raped, tortured, horrendously mutilated, and savagely murdered by a gang of people over several days. The details of the crime have sent shock waves throughout our town and we are all heartbroken for the families concerned.

Yesterday, the first trial of one of the gang members ended. Everyone thought that the death penalty was assured because the brutal and monstrous killing of these young people was so savage that only a State execution would satisfy those who were looking for justice. The jury, however, decided that life imprisonment without parole was deemed enough punishment for the perpetrator.

Local radio shows and newspapers have been swamped with callers and comments who are outraged. The families of the young couple are also very angry and disappointed with the jury. The one consolation, if there is any in this case, was expressed by a family member: “At least he will never be allowed on the streets of Knoxville again.”

As Christians, we are supposed to forgive those who sin against us, but in this particular horrendous case, can anyone of us find that ounce of forgiveness in our hearts? It is so difficult.

The other four gang members are to begin their trials in the next month. The ringleader of the group is being tried soon. The Newsom and Channon families will have to again go through the public hell of hearing how their children were savagely assaulted and wickedly killed. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there seems to be so much wickedness in the world, even in the midst of our own community. We feel shocked and helpless, numbed and powerless in the face of such blatant evil. Help us to find a way of turning these horrible events into goodness and strength, healing and wholeness for our broken community. In Your Holy Name, we helplessly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Valkyrie Review

Evelyn and I have our own New Year’s Day tradition of going to the movies to see a new blockbuster. There’s usually a show mid-morning, so it gives us the rest of the day to relax and perhaps do some bargain shopping afterwards. So, yesterday we headed to the theater to see what was being shown.

We opted to go and see Tom Cruise’s new movie, ‘Valkyrie,’ which is all about the unsuccessful bombing assassination attempt of Hitler. It was a great movie and the suspense was intense. You knew how it would all end, but you still rooted for the brave souls who sought to rid the world of a monster.

At the end of the movie, all the conspirators are either shot or hanged for being traitors to their country. For years after the war, keeping their memory and lauding them as heroes was highly controversial in Germany. Eventually, their attempt was recognized on a memorial which reads: “Here in the former Army High Command, Germans organized the attempt to overthrow the lawless National Socialist regime on July 20, 1944. For this they sacrificed their lives.”

The film disturbed us and rocked our faith. We were left with this question which no one can answer: why didn’t God allow this assassination attempt to work? If Hitler had been killed in July, 1944, then the war would have ended much sooner and millions of lives would have been saved. The Russians would never have entered Berlin and the Cold War may never have occurred. How could God permit this monster to live for another ten months, creating havoc and destruction across Europe, as well as sentencing countless numbers of Jews to death in satanic concentration camps? Wouldn’t it have been better to rid the world of Hitler sooner?

I guess it’s a question that will never be satisfactorily answered on this side of eternity. Most of the conspirators and members of the German resistance movement were Christians, too. They saw their faith and calling as a means to rid humanity of a terrible and wicked evil in the world. They must have wrestled with this ethical problem more than we can ever imagine.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

In the end, I have no answer, but I still retain my belief that Christ, through his willingness to sacrifice Himself, seeks to redeem the world eternally from all wickedness and evil. Generations may see terrifying tyrants and monstrous dictators rise and fall, but Christ’s reign continues to the end of all history.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes our faith struggles and we are not certain of Your ways, Your truths, Your life. The world is full of inhumanity and wickedness, and it seems as though evil is contaminating the entire earth. In the midst of our angst, give us the courage to believe and the fortitude to hold on to faith. Remind us that Your ways are not ours. In Your Holy Name, we still faithfully pray. Amen.

You can visit the Memorial Website at: http://www.gdw-berlin.de/index-e.php

New Church Study: The Shack

The Shack, written by William P Young, is an amazing book. It's about a man's relationship with God after he has lost his youngest child. The story represents the Holy Trinity in some amazing and unique ways. It also deals with the problems of suffering, forgiveness, evil, and faith. if you've never read the book, I encourage you to buy a copy. It's wonderfully written and will make you re-envision your thoughts about God in a good way.

Erin Presbyterian church is beginning a ten week study of the book and I'm going to put these studies online. if you would like the studies sent to you by email, please contact me at traqair@aol.com. I'll add you to our online study list.

Here's this week's study:

Foreword:

P7/8 Although externally religious, his overly strict church-elder father was a closet drinker, especially when the rain didn’t come, or came too early, and most of the times in between.

P8…his daddy was not a fall-asleep-happy kind of alcoholic, but a vicious mean beat-your-wife-and-then-ask-God-for-forgiveness drunk.

What causes overly-strict religious people to become abusive? How is God’s grace perceived when Christians seek forgiveness for everything? Do we abuse God’s kindness and take His patience for granted?

Mack confesses during revival – only to regret as his confessor is a worker with his abusive father…

For almost two days, tied to the big oak at the back of the house, he was beaten with a belt and Bible verses every time his dad woke from a stupor and put down his bottle.

Why is confidentiality so important to the credibility of the Church? What happens when we breach this?

P10 His favorite topics are all about God and Creation and why people believe what they do.

Mack seems to have a love/hate relationship with religion, and maybe even with the God that he suspects is brooding, distant, and aloof.

Why are people attracted to talking about religion more than practicing it? How does God become distant in our lives? What causes some people to have a love/hate relationship with religion?

P11 I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships, so will our healing, and I know that grace rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside.

Why do loving relationships sometimes hurt us? Is it important for healing to come from within a relationship rather than from outside help?

While Mack’s relationship with God is wide, Nan’s is deep.

What do you think this means? How common do you think this is?

P12 You know that place: where there is just you alone – and maybe God, if you believe in him. Of course, God might be there even if you don’t believe in him. That would be just like him. He hasn’t been called the Grand Interferer for nothing.

How does God interfere in our lives? Do we need proof that God exists? Why/why not?

Relevant Scriptures:

Titus 1:6-9; James 5:13-16; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; Romans 12:17-21; Hebrews 11:5-6; Psalm 14:1-7

Chapter 1: A Confluence of Paths

P19 “What’s wrong with you, Mack? Still smoking too much dope or do you just do that on Sunday mornings to make it through the church service?”

Is sarcasm a problem for Christians? Does it contain a grain of truth? Did Jesus ever use sarcasm to emphasize a point? Why/ why not?

P20 Mack was taking no chances on how she might remember the conversation in a day or two. Wouldn’t be the first time that her sense of humor morphed into a good story that soon became a “fact.” He could see his name being added to the prayer chain.

Why are Christians bad at exaggerating circumstances, difficulties, and problems about other people. What makes us so prone to gossip and hyperbole? How does the world respond to our exaggerations?

P21 Nan: “I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been praying and praying that Papa would help us find a way to reach her, but it feels like he isn’t listening.”

When do we feel like God isn’t listening to our prayers? Are we just not listening to His answers? In what kind of situations have you experienced waiting for God? How was this resolved?

P22 Papa was Nan’s favorite name for God and it expressed her delight in the intimate friendship she had with him.

What do you think about Nan’s name for God? What do you frequently call God? What does that name tell you about your relationship with God?

Mack: “Honey, I’m sure God knows what he’s doing. It will all work out.” The words brought him no comfort but he hoped they might ease the worry he could hear in her voice.

Nan: “I know. I just wish he’d hurry up.”

Are we guilty of using trite holy words to ease others’ anxiety or pain? What causes us to do that? Are we offering help or just easing our own anxiety? What does this type of insincerity reveal about our own insecurity with God?

Relevant Scriptures

Matthew 19:23-24; Matthew 23:23-24; 2 Corinthians 12:19-21; Mark 14:32-36; Galatians 4:4-7; Psalm 6:1-10