Protecting life at all stages and treating it as a precious gift is of the utmost importance. While being “pro-life” is certainly to stand up for the unborn…it is also to oppose war. To see the absolute atrocity of war and it’s extreme pro-death legacy I strongly recommend viewing the documentary: “Scarred Lands, Wounded Lives.” All people in the world need to try much harder to “love their neighbor as themselves.” If everyone practiced this principle…perhaps someday…wars would be a thing of the past.

“It is true that relationships are a whole lot messier than rules, but rules will never give you answers to deep questions of the heart and they will never love you.”

–Words of the Holy Spirit in The Shack, p. 198, William P. Young

If you want a truly inspiring and uplifting depiction of our loving God, then you just have to read the fiction novel, “The Shack.” It’s about God’s visit with a man who has endured a horrible family tragedy. By “God” I mean the “Trinity!” I sure hope that the God I met in Young’s wonderful story is the God I meet some day when my time is up on this planet. I’ve never read a better depiction of the three persons in one God in a relationship of constant love. The man who meets God in this book is healed and transformed by this God of unlimited, unconditional love. I highly recommend reading this book!

One of my favorite authors, the late Henri Nouwen, wrote, “My own suffering is what God used to bring me to where I am today” (Spiritual Direction, page 134). He went on to write, “Ministers, disciples of Jesus, go where there is pain, not because we are masochists, but because God is hidden in the pain and suffering of the world”(page 135). Jesus reached out to those who were suffering…and He didn’t hand them a book of rules. He formed a relationship.

Since my last blog entry, I had the opportunity to give my witness to a group of eighth-graders on a retreat at Summit Country Day School. The 60 to 70 boys and girls gave me their attention as I spoke about my pain and struggles and how they had led to my transition from radio news to youth ministry. I sang several of my songs as well. They applauded at the end and I hoped they had ‘gotten’ something out of it. As I was getting my cords packed up and guitar back in its case, I noticed one girl waiting patiently. As I acknowledged her she smiled, shook my hand and thanked me for my presentation. Then, with the slightest glimmer of tears in her eyes, she said, “I think I understand some things now.” Her appearance was one of relief and of peace. Isn’t it amazing how God uses our sufferings to transform us and then…if we cooperate…to transform others. All I did was share the story of God’s love in my life…and the Holy Spirit showed up…in ways that I might never know.

Psalm 13:6

I trust in your faithfulness. Grant my heart joy in your help, that I may sing of the Lord, “How good our God has been to me!”