Bits and Bytes

The title of this blog is taken from an old spiritual by Marion W. Easterling. It's a song of trouble and of redemption. The writer must have read James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We have a hard time accepting the trials of life and an even harder time receiving them with "pure joy." What kind of person would consider it pure joy when their world is crumbling around them? What kind of individual would consider it pure joy, when they have just received bad news from a doctor, or are going through a divorce, or when a loved one dies? That's not what most of us consider to be "pure joy."
I don't believe James meant to indicate that we should rejoice over the trials of life as the world sees rejoicing. He is talking more about a spiritual rejoicing because we know that God is in control when we are not....especially when we are out of control. Do you remember how the Bible starts? God created order out of chaos. God called order into being, but remember before order there was a great void. Genesis 1:1 says, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep...." Isn't that pretty much what it feels like when our lives are spinning out of control, when our world is crumbling and chaotic? Our lives are formless, empty and dark. But Genesis 3 continues by saying, "God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." "Sometimes I'm Down," and it is dark, empty and formless. But "Sometimes I'm Up," and there is light and hope and peace.
We don't wake up in the morning and say, "Oh thank you God for all this trouble in my life."

It seems as if the earthquake in Haiti was only yesterday. The images of the massive destruction are still fresh in our minds. The relief effort continues and certainly will for many months and perhaps years. The death toll in that poverty ridden nation continues to boggle our minds. It is beyond our ability to comprehend. We have United States military forces on the ground in Haiti and they are likely to be a presence there for a considerable amount of time. And now, early this past Saturday morning the nation of Chile has experienced an 8.8 magnitude quake. It was one of the largest earthquakes in history. It was so strong that it actually rocked the earth on it's axis and caused us to forever lose a fraction of a second. Jesus says in Matthew 24:7 "There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." To paraphrase, and loosely at that, your world will be rocked.

What is it that has rocked your world? Times are not easy for a great many people today. Jobless numbers nationwide continue to be very high. People are struggling to pay their bills, feed their families and just get by. Their world is being rocked on it's axis. Pastor John recently shared some statistics on poverty and hunger in Lincoln. The numbers were staggering. In Lincoln, 12.7 percent of residents live in poverty, according to the Community Services Initiative, which was developed by a collaboration of human services agencies.
That means 33,926 people live at or below the federal poverty line, which in 2007 was $10,210 for a one-person home, $20,650 for a household of four. Fifty-three percent of those rely on food stamps. And remember, Lincoln is far better off than many areas of the country. Yet, knowing that we have it better than other cities of comparable size is of little consolation to those who are among these nearly 13 out of every 100. Their world has been rocked and there seems no end to the after shocks. For the most part, these are honest, hard working adults who have simply been caught in an economic situation that is beyond their control. I personally know a number of folks who are working as many as three jobs just to keep their heads above water and food on their table. Their world has been rocked and it doesn't seem like there will every be anything close to normal again.

Then, as I was writing this blog I received a call from a good friend in another community. One of my friends children, who now lives out of state, was granted a divorce not so long ago. I don't know all of the details and If I did I wouldn't share them, but I know that a divorce can rock your world. This young woman had been a member of a protestant church who, as a result of the divorce, is removing her from the roles. That after shock, by itself is devastating. I am not going to give you a theological dissertation here, but suffice it to say that I don't understand when the Body of Christ removes a soul from membership because of a perceived sin. I subscribe to the old saying that "the church is not a sanctuary for saints, but a hospital for sinners." Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "....then neither do I condemn you." Jesus came to save us sinners from our sins. In other words, to save us from ourselves.