Saturday, July 16, 2016

I am having a hard time keeping up with all of the tragic events surrounding us. I just had to Google it for 2016, then I searched through 2015. Wow. And what I find so astounding is that I actually had to do an internet search in order to remember what all has gone down — it’s getting hard to remember everything mostly because of the frequency. A year ago when a tragedy would strike it would be on the news for days. Social media would be swarming with support and thoughts of the fallen and their survivors, and there would be time to reflect on the situation and at least a little time given to heal. Even a year ago events were becoming more frequent but they remained on the news and in our hearts for a while and, at least for me, I was able to catch my breath enough to gear up for the next occurrence I believed would probably be around the corner. The Bible is clear on comparing end days to birth pains — more frequent and more intense until the actual birth takes place.  

I am writing from Austin, Texas. A three-hour drive south from Dallas. For the last twenty years, I have lived in the Lakeway area, a western suburb of Austin, where I raised my son; he attended Lakeway Elementary. The same principal and many of the teachers he had back then are still there. And today, they are mourning the loss of Brodie Copeland. The whole community is in a solemn state of sadness and shock.

The last year or so, severe weather and record-breaking floods took many lives here in Texas. Severe civil unrest is now taking the lives of neighboring police officers in Dallas — events like we’ve never seen before. Severe terrorism is now taking the lives of innocent children, and the taking is now occurring in my own neighborhood.

The unimaginable, horrific news of the Nice attack remained the very top story in the national headlines for about 24 hours, if that, until it was knocked down in rank by the attempted coup taking place in Turkey. I can’t remember if the Dallas incident was before the Brexit incident, already it is all running together, but it is quite obvious that we in the U.S. are not alone in our turmoil. We are experiencing global unrest, and it is all a similar type of unrest.

I’ve noticed a change in Facebook posts this week with the Nice episode in comparison to tragedies of the past — not much said, except for the local community. When Paris was attacked last November, the whole nation lit up in support and love for Paris. This lasted for days. Then after the Orlando attack, as controversial as things got in the media, there was still a lot being said and much support for the tragedy, that lasted for days. Then our own internal problems with civil unrest which resulted in the unspeakable execution of our Dallas policemen had time to get some online support, but not for long, because the next thing you knew, families in Nice were losing their lives to a very evil mad man. I think this one was a game changer in the minds of many. It was graphic — very, very unbearable to watch the aftermath. Absolutely horrifying. Perhaps speaking to a different viewing audience this time around, as the victims were families with children walking around in a beautiful, peaceful area in a city, enjoying a celebration. They felt safe, or they wouldn’t have been there. It could have been us. And then we found out, in essence, it was us. Things that were once not hitting so close to home are now hitting home; at least for me, as I sit writing this. I’ll be going to the Lakeway community pool today, and I wonder if Brodie and his dad might have been there today as well, had they not lost their lives to a “soldier” of Islamic terror. Yes, this is now hitting home.

I will just be honest. I woke up the other morning disturbed — and I found myself mad at God. It didn’t last long, because I got my mind back on track and remembered the glory ahead of all of this. But I will say, even as a strong as I am in my faith, this is going to be hard. And why it is so important, critically important, to stay close to God every single day. I need to remember His kingdom is my home, this world in which I live is not my home — I’m just passing through. With that, I need to never forget and always remember everything He has done for me, the miracles I have witnessed, and the power of His love — experienced first hand. I believe in the Bible because it did for me everything it said it would do, and much, much more. That is the best testimony of faith I can ever give to others and the best reminder I can reflect back on for myself to renew my faith day by day, and in some cases, minute by minute if that’s what it takes.

I need to always remember God is just, God is sovereign, God has a plan, it is written, He means what He says, He loves us very much, He sent His Son to carry us through times of turmoil if we will just believe in Him. He gave us the Holy Spirit to lead us and keep us strong, and gave us all the instruction we will ever need through His Word. As a believer, the second we die we are with Him in eternal paradise…forever. And, Jesus Christ will be returning soon. But before His second coming, we are going to experience things that we can’t even imagine.

As a Christian, I get asked how could God allow all of this horror and terrible things happening to people; it’s hard to see a loving God when He allows all of this to happen. I’d say this is one of the greatest mysteries and biggest questions out there when it comes to having faith. The best answer I can give — because it is hard for me to understand as well — is that it is the relationship you have with Jesus Christ that explains the love and gives you the strength needed to get through it all. Horrible things do happen to people, yes. We live in a very corrupt, evil and fallen world. But if you have a personal relationship with Christ, He is there with you every step of the way in order to help you endure and get through it, even if it means until physical death. He is there with you every step of the way. Because ultimately this isn’t about physical lives and people remaining on this earth forever… that isn’t going to happen. It is about where people are going to end up in their spiritual lives for eternity, which is going to happen. The Bible tells us very clearly what we are going to have to endure before the Second Coming, Jesus did not sugar coat anything in His teachings.

As you know, Lisa and I started this blog a little over a year ago because we felt compelled to do so in order to get the Word of God out there because of end time events prophesied in the Bible and what we are seeing happen in our world today. It is surreal for me to look back and see how much and how fast things are happening. We are in perilous times. Just like Jesus said. I truly believe we are the generation. And, maybe I’m wrong; maybe God will kick this can down the road a little further — time will tell. But I do know one thing for sure, we are closer to Jesus’s return today more than we’ve ever been before. That’s a given.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Before I could get this post up, more unsettling news came in today with the police shooting in Baton Rouge. The coup incident in Turkey is no longer the top headliner. Please pray for the Baton Rouge community and God’s comfort for the victims’ families. Dear Lord, please be the light that shines through us in these unsettling times.

Holding fast,

Lori

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. (Isaiah 33:2)

^{Photography by Nick Turner}