Love and Hope in the Face of Catastrophe

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A destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, OK

Last night, a tornado released the wrath of a fallen, groaning earth. With huge losses in life and an estimated billions of dollars in property damage, the state of Oklahoma and the people of Moore are reeling from this almost unimaginable destructive force. This horrible monster vented its anger as it slammed into this sleepy southwestern town as an unwelcome invader. It went as quickly as it came but not before bullying and tearing up the homes, neighborhoods, and schools of these unwary townspeople.

No one imagines that it could happen to them. It is unthinkable that you would be forced from your home and left out on the street. You can't believe that in a few short moments, you would be mourning the horrible loss of life or sent from your comfortable living room to an emergency room.

But, these things do happen. it seems much too often. So we have a choice to make. We can choose to react or we can choose to respond.

This is how some in our own country reacted:

And there were many more who were full of vitriole, hatred, and ridicule for both God and people hurting deeply. Many comments could not be posted on this blog, but you can type a search on your twitter account and you'll find some horrifying things that were tweeted. It really makes you wonder how atheists can have any moral leg to stand on after the kinds of responses you can read over and over in the twittersphere.

But, to be fair, I have to ask, how would I respond if it was me? My prayer is that it would be the kinds of testimonies that have already come out of this catastrophe. I would like to relate some quotes from CBS interviews taken right after the tornado. These quotes are from people who were there, survived, lost, and still looked ahead in hope. As one commentator announced, "These people are the backbone of this country."

MAN: My security isn't in the things I own. My security is in the Lord.

WOMAN: The last thing we lose in a situation like this is faith. We have to hold onto faith and trust God every moment.

MAN: You salvage what you can salvage. You thank God that he (sic) has another plan for you.

MAN: I'm a believer in Jesus, and by the grace of God, me and my children are alive, and our house is -- we can repair it.

WOMAN: We prayed that God would save our house. We also prayed that if God didn't, he would get us through, and he (sic) will.

MAN: By the grace of God, it's just amazing.

WOMAN: We know that God is good, and we know that there's people out there who are still alive, and we're gonna find 'em. (these are direct quotes recorded for us in this commentary)

I have to wonder, how can they say things like that? How can people worship their God in the face of such life-altering, heart-wrenching tragedy? You see, those who don't have a relationship with God, can't see Him move in what many would see as tragedy. Yet over and over again, those who are close to Him know they can trust Him. They understand that God never does anything outside of His character. He is a holy, loving, just, and merciful God. The only proof we ever need is the Cross of Calvary. It is in the Cross, we see and experience the greatest act of love and the greatest act of justice in all of history.

An actual picture of the mile wide tornado that hit Moore, OK

As I read these testimonies, i can only hope that I would have the same determination and attitude that these men and women have. Yet, these attitudes have been echoed by God's people through the ages. Listen to the words of a man that had everything and nearly everyone ripped from him by the same sort of unimaginable tragedy...interestingly enough partially caused by a huge wind storm:

Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died

What was this tormented father's answer? One that sounds incredibly similar to the testimonies of God's people we just read:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh. (Job 1:19, 21 HCSB)

God's love always permeates everything that happens, both good and bad. To the cynical who would dismiss and ridicule such a statement, I would appreciate them not just cursing the bad, but giving us hope in the bad. Where were they when these tragedies happened? What good can come out of hatred and riducule? How are they going to respond to tragedy that rips out the heart of humanity every day somewhere in our world?

Every one of us can choose to curse the darkness or light a light. In the face of tragedies like this, I want to willingly make a choice to hold up hope that can only found in the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. He alone can give us hope in the face of tragedy. He alone is true love incarnate.

Pastor Trey Rhodes

This is the next to last week for "Spiritual Simplicity: Doing Less. Loving More." See you Sunday morning at 10:30AM for another exciting message.

For more about what's going on at Oceanside Church, you can go to our announcement website:

www.OCAnnounce.info

To find out more about Oceanside Church, please follow this link:

www.MyOceansideChurch.com

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Survival Gear

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There's not a man alive that doesn't like to watch Bear Grylls on Man vs. Wild. We like seeing him survive in the harshest of environments. There is something about the ability to live off the land even when there is nothing but a knife and a string to use so he can eat and drink for seven days with little or no support.

But that's not the reason Christ-followers need survival gear. We need gear to help us survive as aliens in an alien world. Here's what I'm talking about, God didn't save us and leave us the fend for ourselves. He gave us survival gear to help us make it through until we go and see Him in eternity. Actually, when we look forward to what Jesus has for us, it gives us the will to survive because we can't wait to see all that Heaven has in store for us.

So, what is available to help us survive? Looking at 1 Peter 1, we can see great tools custom designed for us.


Let's take out the first piece of our gear, Hope (1 Peter 1:3)
I love how the KJV uses the word "lively hope." It is not something in us that just has a pulse; it is moving and jumping around in us. That's lively.

The word hope is used in the Bible with the distinctive meaning “confident expectation.” It is knowing that God will keep His promises both in the here and the hear-after.

That is why King David proclaimed to His people and to us, "You are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth." Psalm 71:5

The second piece of our gear, Salvation (1 Peter 1:4-5)
When we talk about salvation it is usually about what Jesus did for us when He saved us from our sin. But this is about what He has in store for us as well. No matter what kind of grief we get in what can be a hostile environment, we have the joy and glory of Heaven to look forward to.

As John the beloved was transported to heaven when writing the book of Revelation, he reported what he saw and experienced accurately and precisely. This is how he described our ultimate salvation:

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come Revelation 12:10

Although we are truly saved when we give our life to Jesus Christ, and although we experience the blessings of salvation every day, these are only the pledges of that glorious salvation to which we look forward in the Day of Christ.

The 3rd piece of Our Gear, Joy (1 Peter 1:6)

The two words greatly rejoice are one word in the original which conveys the idea of a strong, deep, supporting exultation. We can learn to live more positive, happy, and praise-filled lives in obedience to this commandment if we want to hear His “Well done” on that day. It is what we look forward to no matter how tough the day gets even if we feel unwanted when we're living for God.

The truth is, life is tough, and people can make it worse. But don't get despondent or in despair, no one can take our joy because we know what's waiting for us. That is why John wrote these memorable words:

So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. John 16:22

The fourth and final piece of our survival gear is Genuineness (1 Peter 1:7)
There is nothing more attractive to a watching world than to see genuine believers. There is nothing that is more repulsive than hypocrisy. When we come through the struggles with joy and hope, knowing our salvation is closer now than it has ever been before (Romans 13:11), that we let the world see genuine faith. It is in our new DNA as Christ-followers. It is a beautiful thing when we demonstrate God Himself lives in us...for real. And we are being tested, constantly. Here's what the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:8:

I am testing the genuineness of your love. 2 Corinthians 8:8

So, with your survival gear, you can get through the most spiritually barren stretches of land with no other believers in sight. That's why God gave us the gear. Use it this week.

Stayin' alive,

Pastor Trey Rhodes

Thinkin' 'bout Oceanside

• There is nothing better that seeing God's people mature and grow. I have seen so many of you grow up in your faith. Thank you for your faithful attendance and support during what could have been a very dry month. You have made a difference with your enthusiastic attitude and genuine sweet spirit. Staying connected to God in the summer gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to impact you. He has done just that.
• Are you ready for a Block Party? It's coming to Seagull on the last weekend in August. We want to reach many for Christ as we have done before. Set aside this important weekend. as we prayer walk, visit, and invite those communities to be with us for a great time. Let's show them God's people love them and, we can have a good time too!
• Ever had trouble raising your children? Who hasn't? That's why Oceanside is gearing up for a parenting seminar. It's called Parenting by the Book and is taught by John Rosemond. 

How much?  For only $49.95 a couple ($29.95 for an individual), you will get 4 hours of instruction, the hardback book, Parenting by the Book, a free one month subscription to John Rosemond's web resources, and someone will receive a free basket with lots of good parenting stuff in it. As always, there are a few scholarships available. Registration is due September 18th. After that, you can still register, but the cost goes up to $59.95 and $34.95. 

Where and When? It takes place at Oceanside's ministry center on Saturday afternoon, September 24th.

See you there!