WHAT IS GOING ON?

Last week: I turned the TV on in my Orlando hotel room to hear about a shooting at a mall where several lost their lives and were wounded. As I read about those who died in USA Today I was saddened by lives shortened because of some psychopath's agenda. I was mad.

Sunday: I woke up for church yesterday and saw a report on the gunman who entered a YWAM base in Arvada, Colorado shooting up the place and killing two. This one shook me to the core because I havee a personal connection to YWAM in Colorado where Nahshon Graumann completed his DTS (Discipleship Training School).

Monday: I turn on the news again and the shooting continued at New Life Church in Colorado Springs killing one more and wounding four.

I am shocked, horrified, angry, frustrated, mad and appalled by these. It is terribly sad a person can't go to school, the mall or church without wondering if a gunmen is going to barge through the doors. It is times like these that make me ask, "Why does this happen?" "Why doesn't somebody do something?" After asking why I turn my thoughts toward what I can do to make a change.

I can trust God.
I will never understand why these things happen, but I can trust God. I can trust He is caring (1 Peter 5:6-7) for those who have experienced loss unbearable. I can trust good (Rom 8:28) will somehow find its way to the surface. I can trust He has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

I can live in the now.
You never know when you'll get another chance to have a last conversation. The reality is this can happen to any church, school, mall or person. This could happen at The Rock Church. This could happen to me. When I think about how many ministry friends I have around the world this could happen to them. I hate the thoughts that it could happen, but there is no choice but to live in the now and do all the good we can, in all the ways we can, as long as we can.

I can join the battle.
We are in a war! There is a deep dark evil all around. There is a spiritual battle raging for our nation, family and those we care greatly about. Everything good is from God, but evil is from the enemy and Jesus Christ has equipped us to fight the battle! I have a responsibility to enlist and join the fight.

Frankly, we cannot be consumed in disputes that have no real significance (2 Tim 2:23-24). I know there are people who disagree with my position on the "Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays" dispute getting press. It's no secret our culture is falling away from its Christian heritage, it is sad, and there are gunmen in our schools, malls and churches! Our energy must be directed towards getting as many people to a relationship with Jesus Christ as possible.

I can Pray
For three days straight my wife has been in prayer for no defined reason. Last night she prayed in the Spirit for hours. When I speak with Christians the number one thing they wished they did more of was pray. OK then, there are people being shot down in places that should be safe, is that enough motivation? Stop right now and pray. Get up tomorrow and pray. Prayer is the one thing we can do that gets the attention of God. Prayer brings us together. Prayer moves the hand of God.

Pray that God will be with those who have lost people so important to them. Pray that people will find Jesus Christ through these tragedies. Pray for those who will reject God because of this tragedy. Pray for the safety of your mall, school and church.

To those at YWAM and New Life. Our prayers are with you in this season. The one thing we can do is lift your names before heaven and pray the God of peace will pour out His peace. When my parents were killed in a plane crash, at the time, I could not see that any good could come out of it. A couple years later I saw what God was doing. It was still hard to be without mom and dad, but at least there was a consolation to the pain. My prayer for you is that you hold fast to God until you see how God will turn these evils for good. You are in our prayers.