Christianity 101

Schrocks “Implored Us All to Forgive”

Jeff and Carolyn led the way.

“As a Christian, I realize that forgiveness is the only way I can be a Christian.” said Jeff. “And in return for that, forgiveness is required of me. So, in that sense, I don’t have a choice.”

They implored us all to forgive a man named Clifford Helm. He was driving the other truck that November night. Original theories ranged from cell-phone distraction to a suicide mission. In court, Helm’s lawyers told the jury he had a coughing fit and blacked out. Before their children were even buried, Carolyn and Jeff visited Helm in the hospital. And, when he was found not guilty of vehicular homicide, the Schrocks stood by his side.

“We personally believe that Cliff was just as much a victim in all this as we were. It was outside of his control,” explained Jeff.

Five years later, that bond remains strong. The two families have dinners together and say their friendship is both strong and necessary for their healing. How do they do it? The Schrocks say – simply – faith.

“As a human, it’s hard to understand that,” said Jeff. “It’s the way we believe God has designed it.”

Please, read the rest: Grace in Grief: The Schrock Family, Five Years Later.

How to Be Perplexed

Paul admitted to being “perplexed but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). I am curious about what could perplex a mature believer like Paul to the extent that despair was in the ballpark of contemplatable reactions. He doesn’t go into detail, so we must imagine.

[…]

I would suspect that what perplexed Paul was what has perplexed God’s people of all time—God seeming to act inconsistently with his promises or character. One psalmist asked God: “Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). That’s my perplexity too. Recently I prayed according to Hebrews 6:11 for “grace to help in time of need”—and I felt no different afterward, no abating of symptoms.

There are two different choices you can make at that point. You can be perplexed in doubt, or you can be perplexed in faith. Francis Schaeffer had said that there are at all times only the two “chairs” in the room: unfaith and faith.

[…]

Here is the other way to be perplexed when your soul is in distress. The first part of the sentence may be the same:

“Lord, I’m perplexed. I came to the throne like You said [but at this point it takes a different turn] and I didn’t feel any differently after I prayed, nor any abating of my distress. I am tempted to think You didn’t hear me. But I will not go there. I know that You require faith. You said in your Word that if anyone would come to You he must believe that You exist and that You reward the one who earnestly seeks You (Hebrews 11:6). So I will believe that You heard me. I believe that as soon as I asked for help, You heard me and You are working something out. I will put my trust in You. Help me to be perplexed without unbelief.”

Really, you would do well to read the whole piece: How to be perplexed.

Crazy Behind the Wheel

Or on the sidewalk.

Or in Walmart.

I hope I get pulled over for illegal cell phone usage; then I can tell the officer what I was really doing. Maybe plant a seed.

[…]

My son who lives in the heart of Philly says it’s no good now with everybody packing a cell phone and moving their lips as they walk down the street alone: “You can’t tell who the crazies are anymore.” Personally, I find the whole development liberating. I can talk to God all I want while cruising down Easton Road and nobody cares anymore. Between the tweeters and drunkards and prayers, it’s hard to tell who is crazy.

I like that!

And if you are a Christian, you really ought to read the rest of Andrée Seu’s piece at World Magazine Blog.

Sam and Nancy Davis

Nancy Davis photo
Nancy Davis

I wasn’t there.

Nancy and Sam Davis were riding along a highway 70 miles south of the border town of Reynosa, Mexico, on Wednesday when they approached an illegal roadblock. Rather than stop, they continued driving and were chased by several gunmen in a black pick-up truck, according Pharr Police Chief Ruben Villescas.

Rather than stop, Sam Davis gunned the engine of their blue 2008 Chevrolet pick-up, a vehicle popular with the dangerous Zetas drug cartel that controls the area. The pursuing gunmen fired at Davis’ truck, and a bullet hit Nancy Davis in the head.

Her husband raced the 70 miles to the Pharr International Bridge, speeding the last part of the way against on-coming traffic to avoid the long lines of northbound cars at the border checkpoint, arriving at 12:25 p.m., according to police reports.

Source: ABC News

I don’t know why Sam didn’t stop at the roadblock.

Neither do I know what I would have done in his shoes.

Unless “in his shoes” means all that it suggests. In that case, I expect I would have done what he did.

Some folks, though, (will) say Sam’s decision to run the roadblock was foolish and/or wrong.

Read it all

Indonesia: Beauty in Ashes?

I receive a monthly newsletter from The Voice of the Martyrs [….] This month, the cover is a picture of a woman, Yubelina, from Indonesia. She was burned in an attack by Muslims on her Christian village.

Her skin is splotchy & ranges in color from light brown to red to white. Much of it is leathery. Her nose is disfigured. She has a purplish-colored patch of skin in between her bottom lip & the bottom of her chin. Her upper lip is peeling. Her left eye is white & red; her pupil is clearly no longer able to see.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

I want to be beautiful like that.

Source: Beauty

Here’s the photo and the magazine in question:

Yubelina
Yubelina of Indonesia
Christian Persecution Blog

Frankly, I don’t know if I’m very gung-ho about using Third World images like this. Or any such image, for that matter.

Is it sensationalism? Is it…ah…now I can’t remember the word I thought of a bit ago. Oh, yeah…is it some form of exploitation?

I hope not.

To be sure, it puts a face to persecution.

And it reminds us of how people treat each other.

And of how Christians should pray for each other.

And of how Christian joy surpasses circumstances.

And of how we should be thankful for freedom of religion.

Of what else does it remind you?

Shed My Beliefs?

Yesterday I read this in a story about the trial of the Woodburn bombers:

When they entered deliberations for the death penalty, jurors knew they had to shed any personal or religious beliefs about possible redemption and follow the judge’s instructions and the legal process that requires answering four questions affirmatively to deliver the death penalty, including the future danger of a defendant.

And there is a secondary reason why I could not serve on a jury.

I do not want “to shed any personal or religious beliefs” — not about possible redemption, not about right and wrong, not about justice, not about returning good for evil.

Above all, love God!