A Week of Painful Contradictions

Last week was an unbelievably difficult week. The contrasts on the world stage brought us contradictions beyond comprehension.

In the nation of Paraguay in South America, a budding Mother Teresa-type young mother named Julie Kurrle was traveling with her husband Norberto, son Timmy and recently adopted daughter Estyer Anahi, to acquire Anahi’s passport to prepare for their trip to America where they planned to visit congregations in the Midwest in support of their ministry. They were in an accident with a large vehicle and in a matter of moments Julie was dead and their young son Timmy, lay mortally wounded dying moments later.

Half a world away in the Nation of Norway, Anders Behring Breivik was preparing to go on trial for callously murdering seventy-seven innocent people—most of them young people and their leaders in a youth camp. It wasn’t enough to destroy those seventy-seven lives, he added to the grotesque evil of the week by using his day in court to boast about what he had done—adding to the anguish of surviving family members and friends.

Why didn’t God stop Breivik before he committed those atrocities? And keep Julie and Timmy alive to continue their godly lives? Why?

Maybe I’m not the only one asking that question.

I am reminded of the words of Thomas Paine, who wrote, during the days of the American Revolution, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” He was right and this week proves it still true.

But perhaps that is God’s plan for us.

I don’t know what caused the accident. There have been a variety of reports, but it happened half a world away and the local reports are in a language I don’t know with translations unclear. I only know it was a tragedy beyond comprehension to Norberto and Esther Anahi, who had just a few short months with her loving new mother before she lost her and her devoted big brother. As young as she is, she may not even remember either one.

What I do know is that Jesus warned us this life would not be a piece of cake. “In the world” he said, “you shall have tribulation.” John 16:33^(KJV) I think his emphasis was on the “shall have”. Apparently God’s purpose for this world requires us to sometimes go through exceedingly painful experiences. Most of them are painful in the minor sense of that word, but occasionally there come those times when the pain is so great as to be overwhelming and almost unbearable. This was one of those times for the Kurrle family and for all those who love them.

We are driven to our knees before the Lord knowing that only He has overcome and in that knowledge we cling to him and pray his peace will eventually bring healing. There is a reason Jesus told us “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4^(KJV) He knew this was a temporary world and loss would be a common experience that would constantly require God’s loving comfort.

I still don’t understand what happened this week and it still feels like pain too deep for words. And I didn’t know Julie well. I can’t even comprehend the pain Norberto and others close to Julie and Timmy are feeling. So let us at least do all we can to surround Norberto and Esther Anahi Kurrle with our love and prayers, and in so doing give arms and hearts to the unconditional love of God.

And let us rest in the assurance that on the other side we will understand and say “God be praised!” God will not let these deaths be wasted! He is not finished with their lives! They will live on, not only in heaven, as a part of that great cloud of witnesses, but they will live in the witness they levt behind. But knowing Julie what little I did, I know she doesn’t want us to wait until the other side to say those three powerful words--God be praised! Julie and Timmy’s lives were far too short from our point of view, but what powerful lives they were and how we praise God for them, knowing only eternity will reveal their everlasting value to the Kingdom of God.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.

Stand Your Ground?

Much of the talk about the tragic death of Trayvon Martin centers on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. As for as I can tell from news reports, this had nothing to do with “Stand Your Ground” so whether or not it is a good law is irrelevant to this situation.

From the 911 call that I assume was factual information, Trayvon Martin was doing nothing wrong, was where he had a right to be and he was genuinely concerned when he saw he was being stalked by someone in a van. From the cell phone call he made to a friend he was obviously frightened and we now know it was with good reason.

George Zimmerman, on the other hand, apparently told the 911 Operator he planned to follow the young man and when he was told not to do so, he ignored correct and official advice from the police and continued with his unlawful behavior. If there was a struggle between the two men, that means George Zimmerman not only followed, but got out of his van, so the stalking behavior was amplified. If he had a gun with which he shot Trayvon Martin, there was even more reason for Trayvon to be concerned. Whether or not he knew it, he was being stalked by a man with a gun and his life was in danger. If George Zimmerman was genuinely concerned, he still should have stayed in his van and left Trayvon Martin for the police after he made that 911 call.

George Zimmerman may have made an honest mistake, but what an awful and heart-breaking tragedy his behavior caused Trayvon Martin and his family.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.
 

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Jesus uttered these words on the cross to God; “My God, my God—why have you forsaken me?”

Why did God forsake Jesus on the cross? Was it because he couldn’t bear to see his son hanging there? That’s reasonable. Was it because he couldn’t bear to look on the sin of the world Jesus took to the cross? That could be.

But the Bible doesn’t really say God forsook Jesus. We can assume from what Jesus said, that he really, down to the core of his being, felt forsaken by God. And he had never known that feeling before. He had never sinned and therefore had never felt the pain of being separated from the most Holy God.

But sin always separates us from God. We know that. We’ve all been there. Sin is like the cloud that hides the sun. The sun doesn’t change, but it sure feels different on a cool day when the clouds gather and we’re left in the cold. But the sun doesn’t change. It is only hidden by the clouds.

God never forsakes us and he also wouldn’t forsake Jesus. When sin comes into our lives it feels like God is a million miles away only because the sin comes between us and him. We feel helpless, as if there were nothing we could do about it. That’s how Jesus felt, hanging there on the cross with all of my sin, and yours, and the sins of the whole world—a burden too big for any mere human to carry. But Jesus wasn’t a mere human. He carried those sins to the cross and died to gain the antidote for our sin poison and the sin poisons of the whole world. He was the only divine-human Being who ever was and he was the only he could do it.

I think God was right there looking on and wanting to help, but he knew this time the Son had to be on his own. The Father had to stand aside and let the Son do what only he could do. Jesus had to get through the pain of feeling forsaken by the Father in order to provide us with an antidote for the poison of our sin. I think God was there cheering him on, but Jesus didn’t know it because of the sin he carried for us.

When you feel forsaken by God because of sin, just remember that the forsakenness you feel is not real. God is waiting for you to ask for the antidote his Son provided when he died on the cross. God is pulling for you! Jesus, himself, is interceding for you as well. When you ask in faith, God gives his help lavishly—always adequately for your salvation. In fact the antidote is adequate for all the sins of the entire world.

Let our prayer for this planet today be that every person on earth will turn to God, receive the antidote for sin’s poison, and thus remove the cloud of sin that separates us from God’s unconditional love. That’s what “Resurrection Sunday” (usually called Easter) is all about.

Go to church somewhere this Sunday and celebrate what God has done for you! And for everyone in the entire world!

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.
   

Pardoned to Paradise

Two men asked Jesus for help on that barren hillside called Golgotha. One received pardon but the other received not a word. The verbal attack of the one showed the condition of the heart was more important than the actual words, because truth spoken in derision can be the worst kind of insult. 

"Aren't you the Christ?" The dying thief asked in mockery. And his attitude of scorn destroyed a request for salvation: “Save yourself....and us!" he spat. 

The insulting thief found nothing but silence from the King of Kings, while the other found words of assurance and victory. It was the attitude of the repentant thief that earned a pardon. 

The first expression of that attitude was deep conviction of sin: "Don't you fear God since you are under the same sentence?"

The repentant thief was about to stand before God, his Creator and give an account of his life. He realized in despair all he had to show was his sinfulness. The very thought of seeing his sinful life revealed in God's holy presence brought an awesome conviction of sin.

If we are to enjoy pardon, we too, must see our sin as God sees it: a reproach to His holy character, an insult to His beloved Son, and destructive to the people he loves. 

The second expression of that saving attitude was honest confession of guilt: "We are punished justly," he said, “We are getting what our deeds deserve." Like the prodigal son of whom Jesus earlier spoke, the thief came to himself. He stopped trying to blame his guilt on someone else. And that was the only way he could be rid of it.

The purpose of Jesus' death was to bring pardon but His purpose can only find fulfillment in our honest confession. Until we admit our guilt his death is wasted on us.

The repentant thief realized his Sin brought him to this place. We need to realize our sin brought Jesus, the God-Man, to this day—Crucifixion and to this place—Calvary.

He got what we deserve.

We get what he earned—if we confess our sin, ask his forgiveness and accept him as Savior!

The third expression of that attitude was a full awareness of the Holiness of Christ: "This man has done nothing wrong!"

One reason Jesus came to earth was to show us the character of God in the body of a man. He is the perfect likeness of the invisible God. But, until we recognize the holiness of Jesus, the man, we cannot imagine the holiness of God, the Creator, and we cannot experience his holiness in our own lives.

The fourth expression of the attitude that brought pardon was an expression of faith in the midst of hopelessness: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Picture the scene: The repentant thief hung on a cross in the hour of his death. He looked beside him to Jesus and saw there a man who was beaten, wounded, and bleeding. The blood from the crown of thorns was dried on his forehead, and fresh blood from the nails dripped from his hands and ran down his arms and torso to the sword-cut in his side continuing down to mingle with blood from his nail-pierced feet and fall to the ground. Sweaty from the strain of carrying the cross; with dust from countless feet settled on his body. Chilled from the wind that blew upon Golgotha, he probably shivered violently from the cold. He did not look like a king. There was no indication he could even help himself much less anyone else. But in spite of all the evidence to the contrary this condemned man believed!

In the face of hopeless despair, he believed. He believed so much that even in his agony he groaned those never-to-be-forgotten words, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

That man was the first Christian! He was first to believe and first to receive the pardon Jesus came to bring. 

Pardon is a beautiful word to a condemned man. "Today, you will be with me in paradise!” was the word from Jesus that transported him from the agony of crucifixion to the bliss of eternal paradise! From the dirt and stench of execution to the inexpressible delight of the resurrection! From the destruction of sin to the redemption of righteousness through Jesus Christ, God's Son!

Pardon is also a beautiful concept for you and me. Almost 2,000 years ago Jesus paid the price for every one of us! Because of what God did through Christ we hear him say also to us "Today, you will be with me in paradise." We need not wait to die. Life is a paradise for all who live by faith!

I’m Rick Blumenberg…and that’s “My view from Tanner Creek”.

Preached @ 1984 Good Friday Service at Hillcrest United Methodist Church in a service planned by the Elkhart Area Ministerial Association. I was pastor of Midtown (now Adamsville Road) Church of God.

This Gospel is just as true today as it was then!