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”

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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.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer .Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

As I sit here listening to this old hymn that I grew up hearing, I must admit that I am astonished, actually down right ashamed at how often we as believers (especially myself) forget that we do have a friend in Jesus. Many of us when called to suffer, throw ourselves pity parties and assume that no one has ever suffered like us. Nothing is further from the truth of Scripture. As the author of Hebrews reminds us in chapter 4:

" 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Our God, our high priest, has endured much more that we probably could even imagine. I have never experienced crucifixion, and I cannot imagine walking to a terrible death for a group of people that hated me. What amazing love Christ truly has. We have a friend that can empathize with every hurt, every trial that we have endured. Now believe me, I know that sometimes the hurt runs so deep that prayer seems to amount to nothing more than a spiritual fart in the wind. But, God hears them and his heart is stirred by the prayers of his saints. Christ died for you and me to have this access to the Father, to literally throw ourselves upon the throne when the burdens of life become so great that we start to crack at the seems of who we are. It is here, when we are at the utter end of ourselves that God can help us to see his sovereign work in our lives. We can truly say that God is faithful to help us, We can truly take it to the Lord in prayer because unlike all other gods, He is the one God who listens. I am not saying that if we pray to God that he is going to take away all the pain. In fact, it may be his will that we endure, but if it is, it is so critical to remember that Christ does not leave us to walk alone. Whatever cross you are carrying today, remember that Christ is walking with you, and like a good friend, he will not leave until the journey is done.

May God bless you....

Top 20 Things I Love

Alright, so I am taking a break from the Epistle to Diognetus to just write something I was thinking about and seeing how people respond. So if you like my list, let me know. And please, tell me what you can't live without. By the way, after the first three, the order is completely random...

1) The Son of God.
2) my wife.
3) the children that I am waiting to adopt.
4) Firearms of all types.
5) SEC football.
6) Meat of any form cooked on the grill or smoked or spit roasted...you get the idea.
7)the Smoky Mountains.
8) the smell of pancakes and bacon in the morning, or maybe just pork in general.
9) Koine Greek and the Novum Testamentum Graece - yes I am a nerd and proud of it.
10) Teaching
11) Though I rarely indulge, fine pipes and pipe tobacco.
12) Music = literally types from Southern Gospel to Scream0.
13) the feeling I get when my yard is mowed perfectly, yes I have a little Hank Hill in me.
14) When one of my dogs fart, and it scares them.
15) humility and grace.
16) adoption - ours by our heavenly father and our children.
17) memories of my dad.
18) The King's Academy
19) All of my friends.
20) sports cars - particularly 1960-70's Chevy Chevelles and Camaros.