“NO MORE HURTING PEOPLE. PEACE.”
Words on a poster – written in bright colors by a small eight year old
boy, Martin. He thought about what he
would put on his poster for his class project, and choosing to write what
seemed most important to him, he shaped his letters the best he could, colored
them in, and then held it up for a picture.
Words that now echo around the world as his young face graces the photo
– what better message could he give to the watching world now that his
all-too-short life has been snuffed out by those who didn’t care if they hurt
people or not. All he was doing was
enjoying a really special event, standing at the finish line of the Boston
Marathon early this week, waiting with his mom and his sister … to see his dad
cross the finish line. That shouldn’t be
considered a punishable offense, nor should it have provoked fear for his very
life. Standing on American soil in a
renowned old city on none other than Patriot’s Day, he was experiencing a
memorable time with his family that someday he would be proud to tell his own
children about! “Kids, I just have to
tell you how it felt to be standing right there – right at the edge of the
finish line when your grampa took that last magical step over! I was little, but I was oh, so proud of him! I will never forget – you just had to be
there. It’s hard to describe, but that
image will forever be etched in my mind! Look at these old digital pictures in
my outdated computer files! See what
your grampa looked like when he finished that amazing run?” Well, those words will never be spoken. Martin’s future that may have included a wife
and children to share memories with – will never be. Someone filled with evil took it away without
permission, without so much as a warning.
Suddenly everything changed for this family and for so many other
families … for our entire nation. We
grieve for those lives taken, we grieve with their loved ones. We hurt with those who have been hurt,
injured, maimed – not only physically but emotionally. Their lives will never, ever be the
same. Something huge – rises up within
us like a righteous crescendo of anger filled with a million unanswered
questions of “why, why, why?” We want to
storm the hearts and minds of the one or more responsible and demand reasons
that would never satisfy – but we would like to force their eyes to look into the
eyes of that little boy and now the eyes of his broken dad and mom and
sister. But would their sin-filled souls
allow them to truly see the horror of their deeds? This is “me” talking, not Jesus, as you can
tell. For Christ demands something more of
me. Not hateful retaliation, though even
by His rules, they must take on the penalty for taking little Martin’s life –
and the lives of the other two – young women with dreams and futures and
opportunities. Yet, God offers something
bigger to the perpetrators if they will ask for it: His forgiveness. Humanly speaking that just about takes our
breath away. Some would scream “crucify!”
… “let them spend eternity in hell” … “they deserve it!” God reminds me that I didn’t deserve His
forgiveness, either. My sins were just
as repulsive to Him as those committed this week – because God hates sin. Period.
It all comes down to somehow blending our prayers … into a cry for
comfort for those who have experienced unspeakable losses – of life and limb …
and into impassioned pleas to God for the unthinkable – that these who
inflicted the explosive horrors of damage and death will be reached with the
very love of God that there might be a turning point in our nation. What a powerful spark to start an
unprecedented revival that would be!
Just imagine demented killers being transformed by the blood of Jesus –
sharing His message of healing for our our fragmented, torn, and bleeding
nation! People would fall to their knees
and recognize Who they need to bow down to rather than the gods of this world
who have kidnapped and killed respect for precious God-given life. So in these days of grief with our American
flags flying at half-mast, which attitude is better for our nation and
world? Pray, people, pray! And when you are praying for Martin’s family
and the others … do not forget to pray for the one or more who also need the
redeeming power of Christ’s love! If enough
of us seek God’s face to change the unlovely and the hateful … one by one our
world will be changed for His glory!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
A SPECIAL
WELCOME to Corey and Lisa, to Pam, and to Jeremy, who worshipped with us
on Sunday for the first time!
10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP
10:30 A.M, - KIDZONE
CHURCH
MON, APR 22ND:
6:30 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH
WED/THU, APR
24TH/25TH:
7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES
SAT, APR 27TH: 2 P.M. VINTAGE TEA!
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
Ladies and girls ... THE VINTAGE TEA has been in the making for an entire year! And here we are ... we will be gathering on Saturday, April 27th, at 2:00 p.m. at Elevation North for an outstanding, refreshing time together as we are blessed by Hazel's gourmet refreshments, by fun and inspiring drama presentations, and a special guest! There will be exciting door prizes, so invite your friends!
REMEMBER . .
. “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not
be cut off.” ~ Proverbs 23:18
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
