A typical "footprints in the sand" sort of thing

Throughout this last year my family and I have gone through quite a bit of stress. We're not the only ones. It seems as if stress and worry have eroded the joy and happiness of many of our friends and family. 

I've heard from many people during this last season of life how God will not give us more than we can handle. My response has been that it is not God with whom I am worried about giving me more than my family can handle: it's all the junk and dysfunction that others bring my way (plus my own shortcomings) that brings me concern. 

There's a lot of hurt, angry, and mean people out there. And, as we've seen on may bumper stickers, hurt people hurt people. And mean people, well, ... you know. 

The Apostle Paul has the gift of causing all of us to realize that we do not have it that bad. During his time on earth, Paul was persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked, jailed, despised, and a plethora of other things that brought him sorrow after sorrow, but, after so many difficulties, he was able to say that: 

"8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4)

Life with God and without God is filled with both difficulties and joys. Yet, for those of us who follow our Lord, we know first hand that He will be with us through all things and will never forsake us. In that we can find hope, trust, and, though it may seem absurd, joy. 

Even as I sit here writing this I find myself swamped with wanting to share so many insights and experiences we have endured throughout the 2010 to 2012 bumps in the road. Yet, I can agree with Paul on this: we may be pushed to places we will find extremely difficult and painful. But we will make it to the other side and see that God was with us through every step of the way.  

 

Toronto Vineyard Madness: Don't Go Beyond What Is Written

During the Toronto Blessing years many people went flat out whacky in church. Roaring like lions, fillings being turned to gold, and hysterical laughing filled the church services while repentance, salvation, and order took a nose dive. 

Here is a confession from one of the Vineyard pastors in Toronto who led his church into that deception. Pastor Paul Gowdy's repentance is heartfelt and his article provides some disturbing insight into the "crazy" that was the Vineyard Toronto Blessing. It's sobering.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=13427&for...

THE Y2K BUG, HITLER, & GRANDMAS

During the Y2K Bug scare, there was an old german lady who told me that her children had packed up their belongings and moved to Utah. They left to build a shelter and to brace their family for the coming apocalypse that would be created by the Y2K Bug of Doom. I asked her what she thought about the Y2K Bug. She just laughed and said nothing would happen. And that, if it did happen, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. If it did become a big deal, she said that she would just deal with it when it happened. I asked her if she knew much about computers. She told me "not a stitch" and smiled.
When I prodded her for the reason for her confidence, she smiled and said that there were two reasons. First, and foremost, she was a Christian and trusted in God to take care of any situation. Even if that meant death or starvation. "These things happen," she said. "But God is good." "So," I said, "what is the second reason." "Hitler," she said with a painful look on her face.
"Hitler? How does he factor in to Y2K?"
"I was 14 years old and lived in Germany when Hitler came to power. After living through that, what can the Y2K Bug do me or anybody else that he didn't?"
"Wow. What was that situation like for you?"
"My school was bombed every now and then. I would be studying math and then the sirens would blare and I would hide under my desk while the bombs fell all around. I saw many of my friends and family die. It was horrible. But God was good to us."
"Is it hard for you to talk about it?"
"Not anymore," she said while leaning backward in her chair and waving her hand away in a shooing fashion. "There is still some shame in me, however."
"Why is that?"
"As a Christian, as a human being, as a person who knew better, I got caught up in the Hitler hype."
"Did you know what he was doing to the Jews?"
"We heard rumors. But it wasn't shown to us in the papers or theater. But we knew." She then stared out the window and became a bit out of breath as she confessed a painful experience from her past. "One day," she began, "we were told that Hitler would be driving down our street and that if we didn't go outside and salute him, then we would be considered traitors and punished severely. We went outside. It sickened me so. But then, as I saw him atop his car, with his arm out toward us, and the crowd screaming his praise, something came over me. I felt it. Then I began to shout out to him. It was so powerful. I shouted praises to him. The moment was overwhelming. And then he passed on by and the parade was over. Everyone was so happy. As soon as I walked inside my house, this great feeling of guilt came over me. As a Christian, I cannot believe I gave into that, that, .... I don't know what it was. Evil. Power. I felt so ashamed. I know I was only 14, but I knew better."
I stood there in silence as she rocked back and forth in her chair. She continued. "So, no. I am not worried about the Y2K Bug. I've seen evil. I've lived through the horrors of war. I've seen what man has done. I've seen what man can do. God brought me through all of that. My children will return home after the Y2K Bug proves false. They're just being silly. However, looking at it all there is only one thing to be said."
"What's that?" I asked.
She leaned forward, pointed upward, and with tears in her eyes said, "God is good."