Who knew someone could learn so much or be so changed as i was while i was down south. For those of you who didnt know, i went to Southland Christian Camp for L.I.G.H.T. camp for two weeks. June 28-July11. Honestly...i didnt want to go. I mean come on....no cell phone laptop or TV for two weeks? yea they were crazy. i couldnt do that. let alone being away from my family and friends for that long. I told God nope im not going, i wanna go to Kings Island with Matt and enjoy my summer, and work on my tan. I do NOT want to go to Louisiana where its humid and hot all the time. But while i was at the Wilds God really worked on me about that. It was like....I knew i needed to go, and i knew how good it would be for me, but honestly i think i was just afraid of change.
Welll i went. and guess what? things changed. alot. Getting down there...i was homesick and hard. Well i didnt let that last too long, the homesick thing lasted awhile, but the hard heart didnt, i opened up immediately. first session...i was like woah. 1st service, woah again. morning devos wow! and it continued this way for 2 straight weeks. God did an amazing work, and i am a different person, i will never again be the same.
It has taken me a whole week...and i still feel a little weird being home. for the first few days i felt like a complete stranger. it was so weird. I think it was just being back around sin...and the temptation to sin. i felt weird, and wrong and like i didnt belong. I wasnt perfect this past week, but i would like to say i was a better christian than before. I'm working on improving and its sometimes a slow process. But Gods in control.
-meg
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I run to You
I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late
I run my life
Or is it running me
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems
When lies become the truth
That's when I run to You
This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so I run to You
I run to you
And when it all starts coming undone
God you're the only one I run to
I run to You
We run on fumes
Your life and mine
Like the sands of time
Slippin' right on through
And Your love's the only Truth
That's why I run to You
This song was changed a bit, because when i hear this song i think of it as talking about my relationship between me and God. I have learned more in the past week than ever before, that God is the one i need to run to with open arms. If you are learning to run to a best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend before anyone else even before God, its so wrong. God is there and we can always run to him. Learn to run to him, and your life will improve i promise.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
From a Guys view
This is a repost..of a repost..of a friend on facebook...i thougth it was really interesting seeing this coming from a guys view..but guys i just want you to know..that its hard here too. on our side...really its not easy.. but this was just interesting..take the time to read it please.
Thought this was worth a repost. Written by a friend from school. I feel ya, bro.-------------------------------------------------------------Teenage relationships are bizarre ordeals. They are seen by some as a game, by some as a plague, by some as a good time, by others life and death, by others as nature’s cruel fate on anyone that hits puberty, and by most a way to find that one with which you will spend the rest of your life, or at least you hope so. The way you see these things will most likely show what you want out of a relationship and how you view the opposite sex (for me it would be girls). Those that see it as a game have a set of mental “rules” that they set up in order to win the “prize” which also differs from person to person. Those that see it as a plague tend to avoid the issue altogether (sometimes I can see why). Those just looking for a good time generally aren’t looking for the long term commitment, and therefore they bail when the going gets tough or the relationship is “too serious.” Those that see it as life and death, well…lets just say they look to the other person to solve all their problems and when that person cant, drama happens (this group needs to grow up just a little). And for those that are looking for somebody to marry, they tends to get tunnel vision and only at the opposites as potential mates (and that’s just dumb).Now as a guy looking to get married someday, I put some mental effort into this, just so I could see how I was going to approach the matter. I guess my thoughts started with feelings, and let’s just say I didn’t not like them. It is a well known fact that society glorifies the beauty of women. Society gets it from men, which also glorify the beauty of women. We admire it so much that those of us that are rhetorically challenged can do nothing more than stutter and stammer ourselves into embarrassment. I look in the eyes of some girls, and my mind goes blank; I am lost and simply awestruck….then I realize she asked a question, and I look like a bumbling idiot. Sometimes it’s the smile that gets me. She laughs and I can’t think of anything other than thinking of something to do something to make her do it again. Eyes, smile, hair, skin, personality, abilities, mind, the list goes on – any number or mixture of things can make a guy’s world stop to the point that he can only hear and feel his heart beating. Then, I try to come up with something that will adequately express these feelings. Thinking at this point is futile, and sadly, my vocabulary reduces to one word, “hey.” And after the seemingly never-ending silence, my vocabulary decides to return with a rush of all terms that ever-so-adequately define the idiocy that has become me. At this point I might as well just hop away on the foot that’s not stuck in my mouth.What is a guy to do? Here I am making a fool of myself in front of the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and I have no ideas on how to recover…lucky me…honestly, You would think I could handle the adrenaline rush that comes with all this. I mean I play sports, and I’ve made my share of game-winning shots without blinking or having a second thought, but I can’t come up with anything other than “hi” when talking to another human being? Which brings up another point. GamesWhat is the deal with these games that we play when we are attracted to someone? Like the “playing TOO hard to get game.” Here are the rules –1. You like me2. I like you3. You pretend I don’t exist4. I pursue the person who doesn’t think I existFor some reason I don’t like the way that game plays out. Why is it such a big secret that we find someone attractive? It’s nature. And, ladies, it’s a big deal for a guy when he asks you out, or even talks to you for the first time. Don’t ignore him, that’s just rude and inconsiderate. Give him a chance. And if he’s not the most conversational person, you’re probably just making him nervous.- New subject - I see a girl I like. I don’t wanna make a fool out of myself so I go to the drawing board and try to think of new ways to express the feeling of being beauty-struck. And as I think, I watch TV for ideas. I’ve got it…Poetry!...“roses are red”….no, too cliché.“When I look into your eyes, they remind me of blue skies….”…..ummmm no.“and then I saw her face, now I’m a believer…”…..good, but taken“ Well, I was sittin here thinkin‘Wow, you looked beautiful today’So I picked up a pen and just started dinkinAnd said to myself, I hope this turns out ok…I look into your eyes and wish you were mineBlank goes my mind, and a chill down my spine.I can’t hold the gaze and I stare at the ground.Not a word to be found that can duly proclaimThe beauty this girl has to her nameSo in my mouth lies my tongue like the lameAnd I think to myself…’man I sure hate this game.’”………well ive reached a new low and with that I move on to my next idea.Flowers….ill just give her flowers and leave a tag that says “anonymous.” Yeah, that’s it. It shows the girl that she is being pursued and that she is wanted exactly as she is and I hear they like flowers. It’s the perfect idea. But then I psych myself out and think that the guys are going to think I’m sappy and gay, and she won’t know it’s me, and if she did she’d probably say, no. ok, scratch that.Direct approach……I walk up and say “hi, my name is Ryan, and I think you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And, I was wondering if you would want to go out for dinner or a movie sometime?” girls say this is what they want, right? A guy to just tell her he likes her and ask her out…………….well, when I asked one of my female friends about this she said it would be too forward and that I need to have a conversation first…….i said, ok……but in my mind I thought, theres a problem. All I can think of is “hi”. And, when I do really good and throw a few more words in like “hi, hows life” or “hey, how’ve you been” or even “hey, how’re classes going”. If I muster up that much, I get the same “good. You?”; which I answer “Good”, thus ending the conversation and me no closer to the girl that I started. Next idea…Chivalrous approach…………..I’ll ride up on my white horse, jump down, kiss her and not say a word. We jump on the horse and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after in the castle I am heir to. After we are married of course.I quit…….I know my thoughts have been scattered, but the point I’m trying to make is that girls give us feelings that we don’t get from anything else. Most of us don’t know quite what to do with ourselves. And, I know there are the guys out there that can just do this without thinking twice. I’m not one of those guys. I get all nervous and sweaty and all manner of messed up when I talk to an attractive girl. And, by writing this I helped myself sort some stuff out; I thought girls would like to see what goes on in a guys mind and I thought guys might be able to get some help from this.I’d like to know thoughts from guys and girls so leave the comments.
Thought this was worth a repost. Written by a friend from school. I feel ya, bro.-------------------------------------------------------------Teenage relationships are bizarre ordeals. They are seen by some as a game, by some as a plague, by some as a good time, by others life and death, by others as nature’s cruel fate on anyone that hits puberty, and by most a way to find that one with which you will spend the rest of your life, or at least you hope so. The way you see these things will most likely show what you want out of a relationship and how you view the opposite sex (for me it would be girls). Those that see it as a game have a set of mental “rules” that they set up in order to win the “prize” which also differs from person to person. Those that see it as a plague tend to avoid the issue altogether (sometimes I can see why). Those just looking for a good time generally aren’t looking for the long term commitment, and therefore they bail when the going gets tough or the relationship is “too serious.” Those that see it as life and death, well…lets just say they look to the other person to solve all their problems and when that person cant, drama happens (this group needs to grow up just a little). And for those that are looking for somebody to marry, they tends to get tunnel vision and only at the opposites as potential mates (and that’s just dumb).Now as a guy looking to get married someday, I put some mental effort into this, just so I could see how I was going to approach the matter. I guess my thoughts started with feelings, and let’s just say I didn’t not like them. It is a well known fact that society glorifies the beauty of women. Society gets it from men, which also glorify the beauty of women. We admire it so much that those of us that are rhetorically challenged can do nothing more than stutter and stammer ourselves into embarrassment. I look in the eyes of some girls, and my mind goes blank; I am lost and simply awestruck….then I realize she asked a question, and I look like a bumbling idiot. Sometimes it’s the smile that gets me. She laughs and I can’t think of anything other than thinking of something to do something to make her do it again. Eyes, smile, hair, skin, personality, abilities, mind, the list goes on – any number or mixture of things can make a guy’s world stop to the point that he can only hear and feel his heart beating. Then, I try to come up with something that will adequately express these feelings. Thinking at this point is futile, and sadly, my vocabulary reduces to one word, “hey.” And after the seemingly never-ending silence, my vocabulary decides to return with a rush of all terms that ever-so-adequately define the idiocy that has become me. At this point I might as well just hop away on the foot that’s not stuck in my mouth.What is a guy to do? Here I am making a fool of myself in front of the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and I have no ideas on how to recover…lucky me…honestly, You would think I could handle the adrenaline rush that comes with all this. I mean I play sports, and I’ve made my share of game-winning shots without blinking or having a second thought, but I can’t come up with anything other than “hi” when talking to another human being? Which brings up another point. GamesWhat is the deal with these games that we play when we are attracted to someone? Like the “playing TOO hard to get game.” Here are the rules –1. You like me2. I like you3. You pretend I don’t exist4. I pursue the person who doesn’t think I existFor some reason I don’t like the way that game plays out. Why is it such a big secret that we find someone attractive? It’s nature. And, ladies, it’s a big deal for a guy when he asks you out, or even talks to you for the first time. Don’t ignore him, that’s just rude and inconsiderate. Give him a chance. And if he’s not the most conversational person, you’re probably just making him nervous.- New subject - I see a girl I like. I don’t wanna make a fool out of myself so I go to the drawing board and try to think of new ways to express the feeling of being beauty-struck. And as I think, I watch TV for ideas. I’ve got it…Poetry!...“roses are red”….no, too cliché.“When I look into your eyes, they remind me of blue skies….”…..ummmm no.“and then I saw her face, now I’m a believer…”…..good, but taken“ Well, I was sittin here thinkin‘Wow, you looked beautiful today’So I picked up a pen and just started dinkinAnd said to myself, I hope this turns out ok…I look into your eyes and wish you were mineBlank goes my mind, and a chill down my spine.I can’t hold the gaze and I stare at the ground.Not a word to be found that can duly proclaimThe beauty this girl has to her nameSo in my mouth lies my tongue like the lameAnd I think to myself…’man I sure hate this game.’”………well ive reached a new low and with that I move on to my next idea.Flowers….ill just give her flowers and leave a tag that says “anonymous.” Yeah, that’s it. It shows the girl that she is being pursued and that she is wanted exactly as she is and I hear they like flowers. It’s the perfect idea. But then I psych myself out and think that the guys are going to think I’m sappy and gay, and she won’t know it’s me, and if she did she’d probably say, no. ok, scratch that.Direct approach……I walk up and say “hi, my name is Ryan, and I think you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And, I was wondering if you would want to go out for dinner or a movie sometime?” girls say this is what they want, right? A guy to just tell her he likes her and ask her out…………….well, when I asked one of my female friends about this she said it would be too forward and that I need to have a conversation first…….i said, ok……but in my mind I thought, theres a problem. All I can think of is “hi”. And, when I do really good and throw a few more words in like “hi, hows life” or “hey, how’ve you been” or even “hey, how’re classes going”. If I muster up that much, I get the same “good. You?”; which I answer “Good”, thus ending the conversation and me no closer to the girl that I started. Next idea…Chivalrous approach…………..I’ll ride up on my white horse, jump down, kiss her and not say a word. We jump on the horse and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after in the castle I am heir to. After we are married of course.I quit…….I know my thoughts have been scattered, but the point I’m trying to make is that girls give us feelings that we don’t get from anything else. Most of us don’t know quite what to do with ourselves. And, I know there are the guys out there that can just do this without thinking twice. I’m not one of those guys. I get all nervous and sweaty and all manner of messed up when I talk to an attractive girl. And, by writing this I helped myself sort some stuff out; I thought girls would like to see what goes on in a guys mind and I thought guys might be able to get some help from this.I’d like to know thoughts from guys and girls so leave the comments.
Friday, May 22, 2009
I'm free to Be me
Have you heard that song? free to be me by whats her face...i cant spell her name but whatever. I like it. alot. haha.
its been a long time since i posted last, and when i was getting on here i thought i would have more to write about. but now as im writing im drawing a blank.
a quick update, I have a wonderful friend boy who im enjoying getting to know better and better =] his name would be matt. and hes pretty great. no folks. hes not my boyfriend. we arent dating so dont ask. hes my friend boy as i said, hes a friend who means something to mee...and i just am getting to know him. ha.
school is practically out. but i will hopefully be starting back up with school when i get back from southland in july.
thats my life. i will most likely write some more tonight, when im alone and the words come easier.
its been a long time since i posted last, and when i was getting on here i thought i would have more to write about. but now as im writing im drawing a blank.
a quick update, I have a wonderful friend boy who im enjoying getting to know better and better =] his name would be matt. and hes pretty great. no folks. hes not my boyfriend. we arent dating so dont ask. hes my friend boy as i said, hes a friend who means something to mee...and i just am getting to know him. ha.
school is practically out. but i will hopefully be starting back up with school when i get back from southland in july.
thats my life. i will most likely write some more tonight, when im alone and the words come easier.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Those Nights
********Stay up late and we'd talk all night
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive********
This song has been in my head for quite a while now. For so many reasons. There are some people in my life that this is so true about. Somethings come into peoples lives and the best thing you can do for them is listen.
In my life i have been blessed with many people that listen to me...but also whom when needed i listen to them sometimes for hours. But i love that friendship that you build through hours of talking,listening,crying,laughing, and praying. it Builds such strong friendships. I wouldnt trade any of them for the world. really i wouldnt.
now that i've talked about what i wanted to talk about, how about a quick update on my life.
in the past month things have changed. my relationship with my family is great, and my relationship with my God is even better. People have been brought into my life, that God has used to bring God back into my life. He is more real to me now than ever before. I guess before now, yes i knew there was a God but he wasnt real in my life....i hadnt taken in that he is very very real...i guess. But now he is very real. and he is a part of my life more now than ever before.
well yea, its almost summer and im ready. trips and freedom this summer
1 week and 4 days until im 15. the countdown starts now.
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive********
This song has been in my head for quite a while now. For so many reasons. There are some people in my life that this is so true about. Somethings come into peoples lives and the best thing you can do for them is listen.
In my life i have been blessed with many people that listen to me...but also whom when needed i listen to them sometimes for hours. But i love that friendship that you build through hours of talking,listening,crying,laughing, and praying. it Builds such strong friendships. I wouldnt trade any of them for the world. really i wouldnt.
now that i've talked about what i wanted to talk about, how about a quick update on my life.
in the past month things have changed. my relationship with my family is great, and my relationship with my God is even better. People have been brought into my life, that God has used to bring God back into my life. He is more real to me now than ever before. I guess before now, yes i knew there was a God but he wasnt real in my life....i hadnt taken in that he is very very real...i guess. But now he is very real. and he is a part of my life more now than ever before.
well yea, its almost summer and im ready. trips and freedom this summer
1 week and 4 days until im 15. the countdown starts now.
Friday, March 27, 2009
*smile*
I really love to smile =] really i doo it make my day and i love when other people smile. These are some things that make me smile =]
I love converses... and cute sayings =]
books make me smile, they make me cry, laugh, and im so involved in books
I just love this picture... i love love songs so this just makes this picture great
I absolutely love music <3
i love fairy tales... them make me smile! [these shoes are pretty amazing too]
Rain can be great... I love drawing in water on windows =]
Remember to smile today !
** Smile don't be sad Smile be glaaaad Smile
Trees grow tall and the grass grows small
The flowers bloom and the birds in tune
oooo
so you got to
smile
smile dont be sad smile be glaaaad smile
little birdie up in the tree
dont cry dear not shed for me
you you just got smile ahaha
smile dont be sad smile be glaaad smile
Live and love and laugh and love and smiiile
ooo so you got
SMILE ahahah
smile dont be sad smile be glaaaad smile
o you got to smile you got to smile**
Smile by Megan And Laura Carpenter
I love converses... and cute sayings =]
books make me smile, they make me cry, laugh, and im so involved in books
I just love this picture... i love love songs so this just makes this picture great
I absolutely love music <3
i love fairy tales... them make me smile! [these shoes are pretty amazing too]
Rain can be great... I love drawing in water on windows =]
Remember to smile today !
** Smile don't be sad Smile be glaaaad Smile
Trees grow tall and the grass grows small
The flowers bloom and the birds in tune
oooo
so you got to
smile
smile dont be sad smile be glaaaad smile
little birdie up in the tree
dont cry dear not shed for me
you you just got smile ahaha
smile dont be sad smile be glaaad smile
Live and love and laugh and love and smiiile
ooo so you got
SMILE ahahah
smile dont be sad smile be glaaaad smile
o you got to smile you got to smile**
Smile by Megan And Laura Carpenter
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Boycot Because of Boy Not
I'll start out by saying Happy Valentines Day! I hope you cherish this day spending it with the ones you love.
Now to my point of this blog....Are you dateless on this valentines? That is definetly not a bad thing I promise. Use this day to spend time with family if they will be around. If not take time to meet with your God. He loves you more than anyone else you could spend your day with. Maybe you could take that time and pray for your future husband. You know he is already out there so why don't you just pray for him that he will keep his eyes on God, and things like that. Enjoy this day, maybe its a pretty day outside go enjoy it :)
God loves you :)
Now to my point of this blog....Are you dateless on this valentines? That is definetly not a bad thing I promise. Use this day to spend time with family if they will be around. If not take time to meet with your God. He loves you more than anyone else you could spend your day with. Maybe you could take that time and pray for your future husband. You know he is already out there so why don't you just pray for him that he will keep his eyes on God, and things like that. Enjoy this day, maybe its a pretty day outside go enjoy it :)
God loves you :)
Friday, February 6, 2009
I Miss Mayberry.....
Well I'm not missing Mayberry right now. My Mayberry is Ravenswood, WV. I love this place, really I do. Its a small town and I can walk from one end to the other easily. I've done it numerous times. Here in this town everyone knows everyone, really:) It's safe and I wish I grew up here because i would be able to do more things, in Cross Lanes I'm not allowed to walk ANYWHERE! But here I'm let loose and I love it :) If you don't have a Mayberry of your own, you need one. Some of my greatest times have been here, each Christmas and Thanksgiving. Some of my quiet times with God, really just escape. Find your Mayberry and enjoy it!
<3
<3
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Snow!
there is snow, this is also the reason i'm up at a very unreasonable time, well for me! There is enough snow to keep my dad home from work! it is cold and has closed TONs of schools! I'm off to enjoy it!
<3
<3
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God
Things like this need to be noticed, we need to be praying for our President. I dont know anything about the guy that wrote this but all I can say is this piece is truly great.
A good way to look at it….
The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God
January 21, 2009By John Piper
Read this article on our website.
Sometimes we are so overwhelmed at being treated better than we deserve that we must exult in the all-sovereign God—the God of birds' flight and Obama’s rise. When King David pondered how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s the way I feel watching God’s public mercies in the last few days.
Have you considered how unlikely was the crash of USAir flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15—not just the rescue but the crash itself? Picture this: The Airbus A320 is taking off at an angle—maybe 30 degrees. It’s not flying horizontal with the earth. Not only that, it is flying fast—not full speed yet, but perhaps four times as fast as your car would go at top highway speeds.
The geese are flying horizontally with the ground, more or less. They are not flying in a cloud like a swarm of bees. They fly level with the ground, often shaped like a V. In view of all that, what are the odds that, traveling at this speed and at this angle, this airplane would intersect with the flight of those geese at that very millisecond which would put a bird not just in one of those engines, but both of them?
Two laser-guided missiles would not have been as amazingly effective as were those geese. It is incredible, statistically speaking. If God governs nature down to the fall (and the flight) of every bird, as Jesus says (Matthew 10:29), then the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God.
Which leads to the landing in the Hudson River—which is just as unlikely. The airbus now has no thrust in either engine. The flight attendants said it was as quiet as a library in the plane without the sound of engines. The plane is now a 77-ton glider with its belly full of fuel. Captain Sullenberger decides to land in the river. Anywhere else would mean one big fireball.
He banks and misses the George Washington Bridge by 900 feet and glides the plane into a perfect belly landing. A few degrees tilt to the front or back or the right or left and the plane would have done cartwheels down the river and broken up. On the water, the flight attendant does not let passengers open the rear door. That would have flooded the cabin too fast. The emergency doors and front doors provide exits for everyone and the plane floats long enough for all of them to climb out. Ferry boats are there almost instantly. The captain walks the aisle twice to make sure everyone is off. Then he leaves. Later the plane sinks.
If God guides geese so precisely, he also guides the captain’s hands. God knew that when he took the plane down, he would also give a spectacular deliverance. So why would he do that? If he means for all to live, why not just skip the crash?
Because he meant to give our nation a parable of his power and mercy the week before a new President takes office. God can take down a plane any time he pleases—and if he does, he wrongs no one. Apart from Christ, none of us deserves anything from God but judgment. We have belittled him so consistently that he would be perfectly just to take any of us any time in any way he chooses.
But God is longsuffering. He is slow to anger. He withholds wrath every day. This is what we saw in the parable. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right and power to judge. The landing of the plane represents God’s mercy. It was God’s call to all the passengers and all their families and all who heard the story to repent and turn to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and receive forgiveness for sin.
I am writing these thoughts on the evening after the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. I cried twice today. There were two points when I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. Once was when I prayed with some brothers after Obama’s speech and was overcome with the sinfulness of my own racist background. The other was in trying to express my emotion to an African-American brother about what this must mean for him.
As much as I reject Obama’s stance on abortion, I am thankful to the bottom of my soul that an African-American can be President of United States. The enormousness of it all is unspeakable. This is God’s doing. The geese were God’s doing. The landing of Flight 1549 was God’s doing. And the Obama presidency is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).
And I pray that President Obama has eyes to see. The “miracle on the Hudson” and the “miracle in the White House” are not unrelated. God has been merciful to us as a nation. Our racial sins deserved judgment a thousand times over. God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. And instead of destruction, he has given us another soft landing. We are not dead at the bottom of the Hudson.
O that Barack Obama would see the mercies of God and look to the One whose blood bought everlasting life for all who trust him. The parables of God’s mercy are everywhere. The point of them is this: God is a just and patient Ruler, and Jesus Christ is a great Savior. Turn. Turn. Turn, O President of the United States and passengers of this planet.
Full of thanks for all God’s mercies,Pastor John
A good way to look at it….
The President, the Passengers, and the Patience of God
January 21, 2009By John Piper
Read this article on our website.
Sometimes we are so overwhelmed at being treated better than we deserve that we must exult in the all-sovereign God—the God of birds' flight and Obama’s rise. When King David pondered how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s the way I feel watching God’s public mercies in the last few days.
Have you considered how unlikely was the crash of USAir flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15—not just the rescue but the crash itself? Picture this: The Airbus A320 is taking off at an angle—maybe 30 degrees. It’s not flying horizontal with the earth. Not only that, it is flying fast—not full speed yet, but perhaps four times as fast as your car would go at top highway speeds.
The geese are flying horizontally with the ground, more or less. They are not flying in a cloud like a swarm of bees. They fly level with the ground, often shaped like a V. In view of all that, what are the odds that, traveling at this speed and at this angle, this airplane would intersect with the flight of those geese at that very millisecond which would put a bird not just in one of those engines, but both of them?
Two laser-guided missiles would not have been as amazingly effective as were those geese. It is incredible, statistically speaking. If God governs nature down to the fall (and the flight) of every bird, as Jesus says (Matthew 10:29), then the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God.
Which leads to the landing in the Hudson River—which is just as unlikely. The airbus now has no thrust in either engine. The flight attendants said it was as quiet as a library in the plane without the sound of engines. The plane is now a 77-ton glider with its belly full of fuel. Captain Sullenberger decides to land in the river. Anywhere else would mean one big fireball.
He banks and misses the George Washington Bridge by 900 feet and glides the plane into a perfect belly landing. A few degrees tilt to the front or back or the right or left and the plane would have done cartwheels down the river and broken up. On the water, the flight attendant does not let passengers open the rear door. That would have flooded the cabin too fast. The emergency doors and front doors provide exits for everyone and the plane floats long enough for all of them to climb out. Ferry boats are there almost instantly. The captain walks the aisle twice to make sure everyone is off. Then he leaves. Later the plane sinks.
If God guides geese so precisely, he also guides the captain’s hands. God knew that when he took the plane down, he would also give a spectacular deliverance. So why would he do that? If he means for all to live, why not just skip the crash?
Because he meant to give our nation a parable of his power and mercy the week before a new President takes office. God can take down a plane any time he pleases—and if he does, he wrongs no one. Apart from Christ, none of us deserves anything from God but judgment. We have belittled him so consistently that he would be perfectly just to take any of us any time in any way he chooses.
But God is longsuffering. He is slow to anger. He withholds wrath every day. This is what we saw in the parable. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right and power to judge. The landing of the plane represents God’s mercy. It was God’s call to all the passengers and all their families and all who heard the story to repent and turn to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and receive forgiveness for sin.
I am writing these thoughts on the evening after the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. I cried twice today. There were two points when I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. Once was when I prayed with some brothers after Obama’s speech and was overcome with the sinfulness of my own racist background. The other was in trying to express my emotion to an African-American brother about what this must mean for him.
As much as I reject Obama’s stance on abortion, I am thankful to the bottom of my soul that an African-American can be President of United States. The enormousness of it all is unspeakable. This is God’s doing. The geese were God’s doing. The landing of Flight 1549 was God’s doing. And the Obama presidency is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).
And I pray that President Obama has eyes to see. The “miracle on the Hudson” and the “miracle in the White House” are not unrelated. God has been merciful to us as a nation. Our racial sins deserved judgment a thousand times over. God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. And instead of destruction, he has given us another soft landing. We are not dead at the bottom of the Hudson.
O that Barack Obama would see the mercies of God and look to the One whose blood bought everlasting life for all who trust him. The parables of God’s mercy are everywhere. The point of them is this: God is a just and patient Ruler, and Jesus Christ is a great Savior. Turn. Turn. Turn, O President of the United States and passengers of this planet.
Full of thanks for all God’s mercies,Pastor John
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