An Open Apology to Those I Evangelised- reposted from earlier

If you attended Texas A&M University from 1998 until 2002, and you were ever approached by a skinny guy with dark hair saying he was taking a 'mock survey' and wanted to ask you some questions, I have something to say to you.

I'm sorry.

There was no survey. I had no idea how to share my faith with you, and I was really just trying to get you to change your mind about your beliefs. My heart was in the right place, but my motivations were more about me and less about really caring for you. To be fair, I didn't know you, and so it would have been darn near miraculous for me to muster any personal concern for you other than for your eternal soul. That's a really important thing, mind you, but there is more to you than which God (or lack thereof) you allied yourself with.

I really didn't know that the key to sharing the story of what God was doing with this world was that I first learn your story. I really should been more concerned with understanding your struggles, your needs, the things that you enjoy than I was about getting to talk to 3 people in an hour about Jesus.

See, I just didn't really have time for you in my life. At least not for anything that would have required more than twenty minutes or so. I mean, I had meetings with the ministry I was with to attend, I had Bibles to study, I had songs to sing. Real friends to be with. You were a project, maybe really just an experiment. Had you really wanted to know Jesus, I'm not sure what I would have done with you. I probably would have acted all excited, and genuinely been somewhat excited because when anyone meets Jesus it's awesome, but that excitement would have faded when you and I both realized that being rescued by Jesus means more than just praying a prayer or answering some questions in a theology quiz (or mock survey- really, really sorry about that).

See, you deserved someone that would genuinely want to befriend you for who you are- all your good, bad, and ugly. ( Or pretty, whichever you may have been. But if you were a pretty girl, I might have asked you out- but that's another Open Apology Letter in and of itself.) You deserved someone who would give of themselves to you. Someone who would truly pray for you for more than a day after meeting you. Someone who wouldn't dodge you if they saw you coming because they might have to engage you, and they didn't have a script ready. You deserved someone who wouldn't try to make you fit into their view of what a Christ Follower was. You deserve someone who was less of an elitist.

I've come to see the error of my ways. In part because I've learned to try to see you as God sees you, not as a project, but as a living, feeling person with faults and potential and desires and fears and hopes and dreams all rolled into one. I've also come to see how we Christians can be. We are very self-centered, egotistic and, yeah, elitist. We think that just because Jesus says He is the way to God and no one comes to the Father except through Him that we ourselves are better than others. Jesus is all He says He is, but we are also all He says we are. We are sick, broken, arrogant, filled with lies and false motives. We are weak and cowardly, and we cater to the Big Man On Campus of the churches and organizations around us. We seek more to please them more than Jesus. We play by man-made rules rather than God's.

If I had to do it over again, I would not invite you to join our little club, for that is often how we have viewed church. No, that is a far lesser thing to belong to. I would instead invite you to be my friend, and seek to understand you better. As we grew closer, I would hope that you see something different in me, that maybe I'm a little kinder, a little more hopeful, a little more confident- but not in myself. And I would try to see something different in you- maybe that you are artistic, or very intelligent, maybe even very compassionate- because God sees something different in you. When you asked, or when I had earned your trust, then I might share with you about God and all the amazing things He is and does. I wouldn't be sharing because I had to, I would be sharing because I cared about YOU.

So, let's start over shall we?

My name is Chad, and I want to get to know you.

Finding Jezebel and Losing Hope

 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”



Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  
                                                                                 1 Kings 19:1-3a

I know Jezebel.

Although, in my life, I call her disappointment, or financial difficulty, or lust, or insecurity.  She is waiting around every victory, hiding behind every rising hope.  She is waiting to pounce, waiting to crush my dreams and my good feelings.

You know her, too.

I don't know who or what she is in your life- maybe one of the same things she is in mine, or maybe something or someone else- but she is there.  She is as real to us as she was to Elijah, and we fear her and run from her just the same.

It seems that for every victory in life, something wants to tear us down.   Have an awesome time of worship and come home to find an earth shattering email.  Finally commit to giving God more of your time and love, and then lose your job.  Have a great conversation with someone about Christ then hear the news from the doctor and its not good.   I mean, it's almost like we're being opposed!

Elijah certainly was.  He had prayed to God and seen fire fall from heaven, just killed 850 false prophets, just prayed for rain to end a multi-year drought and seen the water flow.  The next day, he gets that message.  He had beaten her, he had proven her gods to be nothings.  Yet she threatens him and he runs.

God pursues Elijah, like he does us.  He sends an angel to feed and encourage him.  Then God speaks to him, not in the wind, or in an earthquake, but in a gentle whisper.  Elijah's response?  "I'm lonely and people want to kill me.  I'm done."

Elijah made several mistakes.

1.  He listened to Jezebel.  She had his attention, and she didn't deserve it.  I'm not saying we ignore the issues in our lives, our Jezebels, but we do not need to give them our devotion.  We do not need to give them a hold or power over us.  Elijah had just seen God prove Jezebel a nothing, but still Elijah fears her.  He stood up against a nation, 850 prophets, their 'gods' and the king.  But the queen?  That's just too much.

2.  He lost hope.  Because he listened to her rather than God, Elijah failed to hear and see what God was doing.  He lost sight of God because all he could see was Jezebel.  It's easy to lack hope when you can't see it.  He had endured much, he had faced the enemy and won.  He thought it was over, but it wasn't.  When the battle seems never ending, it's hard to hope in a good end for you.  Even if our enemy is defeated, the battle still goes on. 

3.  He didn't listen to God.  Twice, Elijah says, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."  Both times in response to God asking him why he was at Mt Hebron throwing a pity party.  God tried speaking to Elijah, but he wasn't listening.  He only wanted to see the bad.  That's key.  He WANTED to see the bad instead of the good.  There are times we don't want to see the good.  Why?  I really don't know, but it's true.  We just want to wallow in our mess.

So, what does God do?  He tells Elijah the plan.  The plan is to keep on going as planned, but Elijah is being replaced.  Elijah is to appoint a new king in Aram, anoint a new king over Israel.  Oh, and name Elijah's own successor- Elisha.  The moral is, if you lose hope like Elijah did, and refuse to see what God is trying to show you, you can be replaced.  God will find a way to accomplish His will, and He wants to use you, but He will not let you sabotage the good He intends to bring about.

Now, Elisha's appointment doesn't meant the end for Elijah (there's grace and restoration at work here).  But take a lesson from Elisha.  He is farming when he is called.  He goes back, and slaughters his oxen and burns his farming tools.  He essentially says, "My past is done.  Let's move forward."  Compare that to Elijah in his pity party who can't look past an enemy already defeated.  Perhaps that is a lesson for us as well- learn from and grow from our past.  Good and bad.  But never dwell on it.  Never leave an opening for return to it.

Sometimes looking back over our shoulder at our defeats as well as victories is how we miss the hope right in front of us.

Elijah Part Three: Rain of Fire

If there is a scene from the Bible I'm dying to see on film this is it.  Honestly, Elijah on Mt. Carmel is easily one of my top favorite stories, not just for the big finale, but for the subtle way in which God begins calling His people back.

Picking up where we left Elijah, telling Obadiah he'd meet Ahab that day, we find Elijah keeping his word.  And Ahab is clearly excited to see the prophet.

Ahab calls him the troubler of Israel.  I can see where Ahab would feel that way, what with the king being so narcissistic and totally under the control of Jezebel.  I mean, Ahab, who had turned his family and the whole nation away from God couldn't be the root of the problem, right?

Elijah calls him out, because Elijah isn't impressed with the king or his threats.  Or the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah.  Who, by the way, apparently belong to some sort of Breakfast Club with Jezebel.  Elijah calls for a Battle Royale- he'd stand up for Yahweh like Mickey to Rocky, and the 950 prophets of Baal and Asherah would play cornerman to their Ivan Drago.  (Rocky 4 reference for the un-initiated).

Mt. Carmel is the place of showdown, a hilltop near the sea.  The two sides will each prepare their altar, then call their deity, and the one who lights the fire is real.  Elijah allows the other prophets to go first, they set up their sacrifice, and begin to call on the two deities of fertility.  They call.  But no one answers.  So they begin to dance.  Nothing.  Like attention hungry kids begging for the parent's eyes to fall on them, they get more dramatic.  They start cutting themselves.  Silence.

Well, sort of.  See, Elijah is off to the side mocking them.  Yep, a prophet of God is saying things like "Yell louder- he may be sleeping!" and my personal favorite "Maybe he can't hear you because he's in the bathroom."  Elijah does, in the original Hebrew, actually make a potty joke.  Seriously.

Now, the crowd- aka the nation of Israel en masse- has lost interest in the Baal and Asherah prophets.  Elijah makes his move.  One line, "Come here to me." (1 Kings 18:30)  Israel has run from God and all his ambassadors for years.  They've tried to kill them, in fact.  They have pursued a god(s) that was just called out and proven impotent.   Now, a gentle, quiet call to repentance is offered.  I like to think that God is speaking through Elijah here, and the call to come here is God calling his people back- not with show, not with the works of man, but with grace.  And Elijah shows that as he repairs the altar of the Lord- 12 stones that had fallen into disrepair due to lack of use.  I imagine a loving and gentle action of setting the stones right with care, and a sense of brokenness that this was even necessary.

With the altar set, he does something...odd.  He orders the altar soaked with water.  Gallons upon gallons of water.  A)  Three years of drought- I guess the water came from the ocean.  B)  He could have done this to discredit any allegations of an incendiary device -provided they knew what that was back then.  C) This took guts.  Faith of a mountain mover.

An altar set up and soaked.  A nation watching with anticipation.  And Elijah prays this:

“LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”  (1 Kings 18:36-37)


It's beautiful.  It's simple.  It breaks my heart.  God as the rescuer, God as the redeemer, God as the winner of our hearts.  Elijah wants validation- not for his fame, but for God's.  Don't we all want God to answer us sometimes?  We've laid out our lives for people who refuse to believe time and time again.  So we ask God to show up.  No, we beg Him.  We must want the restoration of others as much as we desire our own, and we need faith that He is true to His word.


Elijah doesn't have to wait.  Fire falls from Heaven- consuming not just the wood and the sacrifice (soaked with a multitude of gallons of water), but also the stones and the soil.  How passionate is God for His people?!?!  (FYI Stone melts at 1500 degrees Celsius.  That's 2732 degrees F. )  The people who had rejected God fall on their faces- out of fear, probably, but also with a reverence for the revealed God.  They cry out, "The Lord, He is God!"

Then, because of the Law, Elijah orders the nation of Israel to kill the other 950 prophets.  The people do, because, well, they saw the fire.

Elijah tells Ahab to grab a snack, and go, because heavy rain is coming.  Remember, Elijah said it wouldn't rain for unless he said.  And for around 3 years, it hadn't.  Then Elijah goes to the peak of the hill, and looks out over the sea.  He prays.  Each time, he looks for rain clouds.  Seven times.  Finally,  a tiny cloud appears on the horizon.  He sprints down off the mountain, as rain begins to pummel the parched and dry earth beneath his feet.  Ahab, who had lolly-gagged a bit, watches from a chariot as Elijah runs- and I imagine laughs and cheers- ahead of the king.


It is Elijah's crowning achievement.  The nation is looking to Yahweh again.  Ahab is humbled.  The prophets of Baal and Asherah are dead.  One man stood for God.  All he did was seek the Lord with reverence, and trust in Him.


What if we were more like that? 

Elijah Part Two- Stand Up

Elijah trusted God.

Elijah got a widow and her son to trust God.

Meanwhile, a dude named Obadiah is trying to survive.  He's not starving or dehydrated (I don't think) but he is playing a very dangerous game.  See, while Elijah is 'training' for his heavyweight fight, Obadiah is still covertly trying to protect those loyal to God.  The problem is, Obadiah is Ahab's palace administrator.  Like, Chief of Staff to the wicked king.  He'd hidden one hundred prophets in caves from Jezebel- who we are kinda getting the idea that she wears the pants in the family- and supplied them with food and water.  In 1 Kings 18, Obadiah is doing for others what was done for Elijah in chapter 17.

The drought is bad by now.  Bad enough the king himself is going out looking for any grass they can find for their horses and mules.  He goes one way, Obadiah goes another.  And who does Obadiah run into (actually, it's more like who was Obadiah found by)?

Elijah.

God told him to present himself to Ahab, so Elijah finds Obie.  And Obie is not happy to see the prophet.

See, Ahab was looking for Elijah.  Like send out the CIA, FBI, NSA, Mossad, and Interpol looking for.  Looking under rocks and in caves of every nation, Elijah could not be found.  Now here is Elijah, telling this devout spy for God to go tell Ahab he was there.  Obie is understandably worried.  See, even back then, you could find people.  Sure, they didn't have satellites, or GPS, or Google Street View, but it was hard to hide from the king, especially when the king knew what you looked like.

But not Elijah.  Its as if Elijah was hidden supernaturally.  So Obie brings this up, asking what is keeping the Spirit of God from whisking Elijah away as soon as he tells Ahab where to find him.  Because if that happens, the jokes not on Ahab, its on Obadiah.  And the joke is a noose.

I don't doubt that Obie trusted God- he wouldn't have hidden those prophets at risk to his own life if he didn't.  And its clear Obie knew Elijah, but the question was:  Can I count on this Man of God?

It's  a good question for us today.  Can we trust each other?  Can we trust our spiritual leaders- our pastors, teachers, deacons, writers, etc.?  All of us, regardless of our importance to the world, say things, bold things. But do we back them up?  I  mean, do we honor our commitments?

Most of the time, in the small stuff, sure.  But what about commitments that may cost us- do we honor them and the people they are with- or do we leave them holding the bag?

A prime example is volunteerism in the church.  Churches beg and plead for people to help them.  People that joined the church saying they wanted to further the kingdom of Christ.  If they do help, it is often grudgingly so.  More often than not, the buck gets passed, and our own personal Obadiah is left holding the goods.

Obadiah is afraid Elijah will bolt, because Ahab intends to kill Elijah when he finds him.  And human nature would support Elijah for the self-preserving act.

But Elijah instead does something awesome.  Something not at all supernatural.  Something we all could stand to do from time to time.

He stands up.

He assures Obie that he will, that very day, present himself to Ahab.  He will face the music.  And his actions will keep Obadiah from trouble.  Elijah, in effect, is stepping up to protect Obadiah.  Not just by meeting Ahab, but by putting an end to the whole thing.  See, Obie couldn't hide those prophets forever, Jezebel and Ahab would find them, and Obadiah would die for treason.  But Elijah takes the spotlight, takes the target, and calls out the king.  What comes next is far more famous, far more storied.  But this interlude shows the character of Elijah.

He is a man of his word.  And he respects his brothers and sisters in the Lord, just as he respects the Lord Himself.

He stands up.  Makes a choice.  And follows it through- no waffling.

I know I'd love to be more like that.

Elijah Part One - Learning to Trust

I like Elijah.

He dresses funny ( camel skins),  says bold things, does even bolder things, and loves to buck the system.  He's also a bit of loner, which I kinda dig.

The main reason I like him, though, is that he is human.  He is given to fits of pride and ego, depression and mania; he does good, but makes mistakes.  He doesn't care if he offends, but deeply desires that people listen to what he has to say.  So, I want to take a look at his life- I think there is much to learn from this mysterious prophet of God.

Man From Nowhere


Tishbe is the hole inside the hole in the wall.  As such, it is not a place that is easy to find on a map.  Any map.  Not even a map that existed in Elijah's time.  Scholars aren't sure exactly where Tishbe is, of if that is the real name of Elijah's hometown.  Yet, it is how we are introduced to one of the most important prophets of all time.

In 1 Kings 17, we get his story's beginning.  He comes from Tishbe- aka Nowhere- and his first words are addressed to no ordinary person.  No, he speaks to the King of Israel.  Ahab.  Husband of Jezebel and general bad dude.  Ahab had, with his wife, led Israel into idolatry with Ba'al and Asherah- regional 'gods' of fertility and stuff.  So what Elijah had to say was a pointed attack on not just the monarchy, but on the gods they clung to so tightly:

"As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."  (1 Kings 17:1)


Elijah called out Ahab and Jezebel, but he also called out the god of fertility and crops:  no rain = no fertility for farming.  Needless to say, Elijah becomes public enemy number one.

So, what does one do when one has a bounty on their head?


Birds and Brooks


You and I might find an army.  Or at least a strongly fortified hiding spot.  Elijah listens to God, and he goes and grabs a spot of land by a brook.  A small little flow of water, trickling over rocks.  I'm guessing its not well hidden.  And for the next period of time, Elijah has water to drink and is waited on by ravens.  They bring him his food.  Now, I'd be reluctant, what with bird flu and all, but not Elijah.  


He is learning to trust God.


This little episode is pretty uneventful, but it teaches us this:  trust God.  The rest of Israel, remember is in the beginning throes of drought.  Food is becoming more scarce, water even more so.  Yet Elijah wants for none of that.  God is providing for his needs.  How often have we had just enough to get by, yet complain that its not more.  For me, that's pretty much daily.  Yet God has yet to let me go hungry or without water.  And I even have shelter- something Elijah probably didn't.  Not that he needed it- what with the drought and all.


Miracle Jars


As is likely to happen with droughts the water dried up.  But then God told Elijah to go find a certain widow woman and ask her for water and bread.  He does without question.  See, he'd learned to trust God, even when the command or promise seems...odd.


She is found, and Elijah asks for water.  As she goes to get it, he asks for bread.  She informs him that the last of her flour is about to be used for hers and her son's last meal.  Then they will die.  This means the drought is real bad.  Elijah tells her that if she first makes him some bread, God will keep the jar of flour and bottle of oil full.


See, this is not about Elijah learning to trust God- he's got it.  It's about the widow.  Once we learn to trust God, it becomes our obligation to teach others by modeling it with our lives.  The widow listens to Elijah, and the jar and bottle stay miraculously full.  


Supernatural CPR


Not too much later, the widow's son become mostly dead (ref. to Princess Bride, for those in the know).  Irate, the widow begins attacking Elijah and God over bringing this tragedy upon her house.  She responds as most of us would when pushed too far.  But that's just the case, God pushes us to see if we really do trust Him.  Some of us need only to have our needs met like Elijah at the brook.  Others have to be brought to the brink.  They have to be willing to give it all.  The widow has to be willing to trust God with the thing most important thing in her life- her son.  Elijah says he can save the boy, she has to trust him AND God to keep their word.


Elijah takes the boy, lays him down, and then lays on top of him three times.  Weird, right?  But you know what, the boy gets up.  He's alive, restored and better.  And you know what, the widow is as well.  She praises Elijah and God, saying:

“Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.” (1 Kings 17: 24)


Trust Me, Trust God




We ask people to trust us, so that they may some day trust God.


I would wager that more people turn from God because they don't trust the ones who bear His name- you and me.  We need to learn to earn people's trust- not so we can be liked or popular or win their approval- but so that they will be willing to hear us out on God.

Ultimately, a persons choice to choose or reject God has nothing to do with me, I realize that.  But they are on a journey to that choice and I do not want to be a detour.  Instead, I want to be an Elijah, one who trusts God and points others to trust in God.  


With my words AND with my actions.

Gate Video Blog.

First attempt at a video blog/promo for our church, the Gate.

Commissioning

Its the time of year when college students graduate.  Or go home for the summer.  Or get internships.  Or go on mission.  Or work at a camp.  Or- well you get the idea.

Being that college students are the bulk of our church, normally I find this time of year kinda stressful.  With most of our congregation gone, questions of whether or not to keep meeting at the bar and who else can we invite to join us begin to weigh on me.

That's normally.

But this year, the students going out from the Gate are going out seeking God and seeking to share the love of God.  They are going all over the world, literally.  So I want to take a chance to offer them up to you, as examples, and for prayer.

Staying somewhat locally, Rachel and Lindsey are working with Impact- a  retreat for incoming freshmen at A&M that is not unlike Fish Camp.  The difference is that Impact is intending to point these fish toward Christ, providing them opportunities to meet other believers and learn about churches and organizations that honor Christ.  Rachel and Lindsey are going to be key in speaking into the lives of those students.

Neil will be bound for California and an internship with an engineering firm.  He is seeking to let God grow him through this experience, and to be challenged by God to trust in Him more. He is also hoping to be an example of Christ in the lives of co-workers and fellow interns.

Nate is bound for Southeast Asia to work with English Language classes.  He is going with his home church and they hope to reach the people of this area with the hope of Christ.  They need prayer for protection, wisdom, and boldness.

The last group of students I ask you to pray for are our graduates.  We've had graduates before, but most have moved on with their post-graduate careers here at A&M.  Jessica will be graduating and going to Med School here at A&M this fall.  Joseph will be graduating and seeking his career in the Financial field.  Mitch and Lauren have been with us since almost the beginning, but they will be heading off to seek their future- Lauren in the Metroplex to continue her education and Mitch is seeking a possible internship in Washington DC.

As Christ sent the disciples out, telling them they had His power and authority, He now sends these young people out in His Name.  Pray for them.  They will be His ambassadors to the nations.

But then, so are we.  You and I.  We are called to be His ambassadors- to the ends of the earth and even in our own homes.  As much as we want to celebrate and remember those who are seeking these adventures, we must remember that there are lost souls, hungry people, and believers who need love and attention right here with us.  All around us.

So we are all commissioned.  And we all have His authority and power.

"He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
                                                              -- Luke 10: 18-20

Let us go forth.  Let us speak of Him.  Let us see miracles happen.

But may we rejoice because we are known by Him.

My Thoughts on Bin Laden

I really thought I'd react differently.

For almost ten years now, I've wanted Osama Bin Laden to be brought to justice. Like most Americans, I viewed him as an enemy, a threat to our lives and our philosophies. At times I'd go so far to say that I had a desire for his death to be particularly awful. He was responsible for the deaths of thousands- either by his own hand or by the commands he gave. He killed Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindis, Atheists. He killed Americans, Europeans, Middle Easterners, Asians, Africans and countless other nationalities. He was as close to monster as a human can get. In many ways, he and Saddam Hussein were our generation's Hitler.

I am glad our soldiers and our government finally got him. In a way, I am glad he is dead. But as I watched the news conferences last night, and the video of Americans reacting, I was not overjoyed, I was not exuberant. I was sad. I was conflicted.

For the families of the victims of 9-11, and before that all the terrorist acts this man committed, I was happy. They got human justice- a violent man died violently. For our troops that have fought this war for nearly a decade, I was proud. For our nation that was seeking closure of a long gaping wound, I was satisfied.

But something was bothering me.

A man was dead. Though I don't know what his final spiritual condition was, unless there was a last gasp of repentance that we'll never know of, I feel pretty sure Bin Laden is in Hell. This is what was giving me pause at first. Then there were the jubilant celebrations by Americans. Then, a verse of Scripture surfaced in my mind.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." --Matthew 5:43-45

But for Grace, I'd be a Monster, Too
Over the years, my understanding of sin has changed. I've realized more and more my own depravity, my own penchant for doing terrible things. I've not mass murdered anyone, or stolen anything tangible, but I have done things that hurt others. Harsh words, painful actions, and stolen trust. I can be selfish and cruel. I am, by these deeds and more, worthy of Hell. But, I've met Jesus, and I've given my life to Him by accepting His Grace- His Sacrifice in my place. From what we know, Osama Bin Laden never did that. If he didn't, then he is in Hell for rejecting Christ- a rejection that I believe is the root of all the rest of his sinful (and ours as well) actions. A man, doer of evil that he was, is in Hell. A man created by God will suffer for eternity for his choices- and they were his CHOICES. I cannot gloat over this. I am no different from Bin Laden, from Hussein, from Hitler. My sins deserve the harshest punishment. But my choice to accept Christ rescued me from Hell. I did nothing to deserve this and everything to deserve Hell. So I cannot gloat over Bin Laden's eternal fate.

Hypocrisy
Every time Americans die and we see scenes of jubilant crowds of radicals chanting and laughing and cheering 'Victory!' I get pissed off. They spit on the graves of brave men and women who fought hard for what they believed, they dishonor people I esteem as noble. Yet, when we hear of the death of their leader, we cheer and spit upon HIS grave. I was upset by those images much the same way I was upset by the images of the terrorist radicals celebrating. I felt that many of us are angered over seeing our enemies doing the same thing were doing our own happy dance over this. Are celebrations justified? Absolutely. But we must be better than that. I see celebrations like the one the mother of a victim of 9-11 had this morning. She was pleased, thankful, and content- but she was respectful. I saw two gentlemen who lost family and friends in the Towers that day. They were glad he was dead, but somber in their expression of it. I agree with the words of President Obama- "Justice is served." In our human eyes, yes this is true. Bin Laden is in the hands of God's Justice now. Let us be the better people. Let us be respectful.

Praying for the Enemy
I can recall a handful of times that I prayed for the salvation of Osama Bin Laden. To me, the greatest justice possible would be for him to find the errors of his ways and turn to Christ- then accept the punishment due him in this life. Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Then He lived that out when He said from the Cross- "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." I pray today for the thousands (or more) followers of Bin Laden. They too can know Christ- it is not impossible for God (Matthew 19:26). Make no mistake, these people are our enemies. They despise our culture, hate our Savior, and want many of us dead. Should we then debase ourselves to their level and wish them dead? Or should we rise above that fray, live the example of Christ, and hope for their rescue from a life that leads to Hell?

I cannot tell you what to feel or believe or do in light of this event. I can only share with you my struggle, my view of this historic happening. I am glad for the victims of Bin Laden, for our country, for our armed forces, and for the world that a man who did such evil is gone. Yet I am broken over the fact that Hell awaits all who reject Jesus- be they your neighbor the banker or Bin Laden the terrorist.

With that, I ask that you seek to see this as God sees it. That you soberly look at the reality of our choices. Yes, he deserves to rot in Hell.

But so do I.

My sin made Jesus' death necessary. I am guilty.

But by His blood, I am rescued- that makes all the difference.