A Letter to a Mother Thinking about Terminating a Baby with a Genetic Disorder

An Interesting Letter on Suffering...give it a read....
A Letter to a Mother Thinking about Terminating a Baby with a Genetic Disorder

Widows, Dead Children, and Adoption

Luke chapter 7 tells the story of Jesus raising the son of a widow in a town called Nain. This story is perhaps one of the most overlooked stories in the entire Gospel of Luke. It is a story that shows so much about our Savior. What does Jesus do hear? What is the point of Luke telling this story? The point is to tell us who Jesus is, as the crowd asks in verse 47.

Notice that Jesus gives this woman the strangest command a man could give to a grieving woman that not only had lost her son, but had lost all means of having a living. She was a widow, and in the first century, she was completely and utterly dependent on her son for survival. Her son was gone, an emotional shock unlike any other, but her entire source of food and shelter was gone as well, and this man tells her don't weep. Now, for us, this is another one of those passages that prove Jesus is either a nut or Savior, personally I tend to think it shows the character of our Savior.

Jesus takes compassion on the suffering of this woman, touches a dead man's board used for carrying the body ( an act that was scandolous because this would have made him unclean, but its cool that Jesus doesn't care), and note how the text notes that Jesus gave her son back to her. To me, this passage does highlight how children, how anything in life, is God's to give and take away. We own nothing, and as believers, we have no rights before our Holy God. He is sovereign, we are servants; he is just, we are the justified; he is always good, and as believers, we are trying to be. If this is the case, then we must acknowledge this: everything that happens in this life, whether good or bad, has a part in the plan of God. Today, Libby and I found that we were not chosen again by a birth mom, and to be honest, I am sick of waiting. But should I not glorify God? Do I really believe that my future children are in his hands? Like the widow at Nain, we are trying to wait on God to give us our children. We are trying to be patient. Pray for us in this. I hope that you understand why I am writing this post. I am not complaining, or maybe the sinful part of me is. I am trying to say that I believe that all of us are widows, in desperate need of God. We are all widows that must trust in the Savior's hand to guide the course of our lives. When we can rejoice that our God is in control, that our God is compassionate, then we can trust that what he does is best. So, how can you trust God today? Is it waiting on children? Future college decisions? Marriage issues? Remember that whatever you are holding on to, it belongs to God first, and to you, second. Lord, help us not to weep for too long over any suffering. Help us to acknowledge that you are in control and that you are compassionate and meet our needs in your timing.

How Do You Respond When Your 12-Year-Old Dies? “Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives” An Article on Death

How Do You Respond When Your 12-Year-Old Dies? “Everybody Dies, But Not Everybody Lives”

This is an awesome article!!!!!!!

Christmas - An Incarnational Love Story

The point of Christmas, what is it? Oftentimes I catch myself thinking of food, travel, family,the latest video game, the latest firearm that I wish to add to my collection. Sadly, the radical nature of the incarnation is something that hardly comes to mind. Roughly 2000 years ago, our King stepped down from the throne to be born in a stable under conditions that most medical doctors would find deplorable today. He came to do the will of the Father, to provide a way of salvation for his people. He came in human form, suffered hunger, temptation, and all things human when he could have easily just left sinful humanity to its well-deserved fate. Sometimes, we forget this is the whole point of Christmas. With the coming of Jesus, the kingdom had come to Earth and a cross was waiting for our Savior. He came to die and make atonement for our sins. Can I pose a simple question at this moment? What kind of God sends his beloved Son into an animal shelter to one day die a gruesome death for a bunch of people that absolutely hated him? I'm afraid the only answer that I can give is He is the type of God that loves his people in a way that we cannot fully fathom. That, God's undeserving and reason-baffling love, is the point of Christmas. During this season, I must admit that my thoughts turn strongly to my own earthly father and how much I miss him. However, it is because of the great love of my heavenly Father that I can trust and hope to see my Father again. During this Christmas season, after reading about the birth of Christ in Matthew or Luke, perhaps we should read that latter half of John and remind ourselves that the incarnation looks forward to the cross. What was the baby in the manger would die like a criminal, but even worse than that, would die with the Father's wrath resting on him because he took up our sin. Thank God that he did, and realize when we tell people Merry Christmas, we are really telling them to celebrate the birth of a man that came to die to save a people so depraved that they cannot even seek after God. So, in taking my own advice, Merry Christmas!

Birth Defects, the Love of God, and Facebook Conversations

The following is message from a friend on facebook with an interesting question for believers to ponder. See her question and my response below...

September 7 at 8:03pm
Hey Kirby! Hope that you and Libby are doing great. I wanted to ask you something - it's not really that big of a deal, but maybe you can provide some perspective and wisdom. How does a Christian balance sympathy with fun or just life in general? I'll explain by an example. There is a facebook group my friends started for their baby girl (unborn) who was diagnosed with a rare disorder, and she will not be able to live (unless by miracle) outside of the womb. It is a heartbreaking situation. There are so many things to feel heavy and heartbroken about - at what point, if any, can you say "enough"? I don't want to not feel sad. I feel TOO sad, I think - because I could look all day long at these groups and websites and TV and there is so much sadness. How do you balance it with "hey, I just want a beer"? Is there any disconnect? I don't know if I'm even making any sense. I guess I just feel guilty sometimes that I'm not sitting at home praying my heart out and feeling gloriously saddened over the plight of the world, or even just problems my friends are facing that I can't even imagine. I don't believe that we as Christians are called to do that. But since the sadness remains, how do we deal? And at what point do we just have a beer? I'd appreciate your insight as a student of God :) I think the law is turning me into a line-drawer...when there may be no line. Thanks!

My response was a follows...
Mandy, wow it is great to hear from you and wow, that is a really huge question that deals with much. Please take what follows as my thoughts, but I am certainly open to correction. In reference to what your friends are going through, that is completely awful!!! Children that experience disorders and malformations etc. is certainly a test of faith. When we see these horrific medical issues, I personally think we are witnessing the some of the worst aspects of the fall in Eden. It was not just our moral nature that fell, but I believe all of creation as well as our genome fell with it. Sin has had some ugly effects on our existence, and these sad diseases are some of the worst. Now, with that being said, lets turn to your thoughts of being sad. Now, I realize this may sound crazy but I think it is actually a good thing for you to hurt with your friends. In Matthew 5:1-11 when Jesus is giving the Beatitudes, he ends up demonstrating all those things. He comforts those in mourning, he weeps with people who have lost relatives, he heals people with sickness. I think that as believers, we are called to do the same. What greater testimony can we have to Christ than to show people the love of Christ at moments when God seems far, far away. Your sadness demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit in your life by causing you to love on your friends and support them. Now, for the tough part and I mean this respectfully. I think the question of just relaxing versus having sympathy may be the wrong question. Perhaps, and again I could be wrong here, but maybe we should ask ourselves not when we can no longer be sad, but do we possess the depth of faith to love and comfort people when we are empty inside? Will we draw a line? Jesus never did. He loved people to the point of death because he wants to save a people for himself and have fellowship with them in a place where human bodies are restored to what they always should have been.Lastly, I think there is a healthy balance that does occur naturally in the way of life when we support each other. You probably don't come home every single day thinking about your friends, but even if you did, what do you think God is asking from you by placing them on your mind. Also, we have to be careful that we don't internalize everyone else's pain to the point that we become depressed. But...I would argue that as believers, you and I are called to minister to people in situations like your friends because Jesus ministers to you and I in our deepest, darkest, God-questioning struggles. So, to stop my ranting, Mandy, I think you know the answer to this question. If this were the little sister of the guy you are dating or if it were your child or your brother or sister, would you ever stop? Its not that there are some days when you just want to have a beer and say screw it, its that those days do come in life, and when they do, we remember the love of a savior that transformed us and called us to transform the world with the love of God. Sorry this is so long, but I absolutely love talking about this stuff. Another ramification of this discussion might be how the sovereignty of God relates to this. Let that one back your noodle and then get back to me. In the meantime, let me know the names of your friends so that I can pray for them!!! And as always, take care of yourself and tell your mom and dad I said hello....

Blessings,
KO

What is the Difference Between Election and Predestination?

What is the Difference Between Election and Predestination? Check out this explanation by Kevin DeYoung.

Christ and the Mentally Retarded

As I sit here in the library reading about Christian spirituality for a seminary class, I couldn't help but notice as two people brought in a small group of about 15 mentally handicapped persons into the Jeffersonville Public Library. I am going to be honest. When I see these people, I always feel a certain level of uncomfortableness (if that is a word) around these special people. I have always wondered what their life is like, how they survive, and what, if anything, are they capable of understanding about Christ. They are so different from you and me, or perhaps that is what Satan wants us to think. Are they not also God's creatures? Are they not also made in the image of God, are they too not his children? Now, true, their handicaps are some of the most violent evidences of the fall, but that does not mean they are not important to God. Now, I truly wonder if the reason that I have felt uncomfortable in the past is because Satan or my own sin hardens my heart to a people that I believe God values. Perhaps when Jesus spoke in Matthew 5 of the meek, perhaps he meant people like them. This entire article is on my mind because I recently watched an episode of Law and Order SVU where a mother had to make a choice to either use life saving measures for her premature baby in the hospital or to withhold care knowing that no matter what she chose, the baby would have life-long disabilities that would make her life difficult. As I look at the people before me, and as I think on the words of Jesus, I must admit I am firmly convinced that these beautiful people deserve a chance at life. Is the gospel of Christ not for them as well? I am humbled that God creates us all and is father to us all. I am also challenged by their lives to use what God has given me for his glory. Their happiness involves just going to a library and read. How disgusting are my own personal complaints in light of their joy!!!!! I am challenged more than ever to live my life for Christ and minister to all who God places in my path, to defend the right to life for all people: whether they are a different color than myself or of different physical or mental ability. We are all children of God, and how precious these are in the sight of the Father.