What can we learn from the Fort Hood Shooting?

Thanksgiving…here are a few thoughts on what we can be grateful for despite troubling circumstances.

Here’s a question submitted by one of our blog subscribers:
There’s been a lot of talk about the world ending or some horrific events happening in the year 2012. Where is this date coming from? Should we pay attention to this? What can we do in light of all the commotion?

My understanding for all the recent 2012 commotion is the blockbuster movie that was recently released. But before that, the idea of the world ending in 2012 really originates from the Mayan long count calendar. Basically, the Mayans, an ancient civilization from Mesoamerica, developed a calendar that clocked the earth and all its events lasting 5,125 years and ending on December 21st or 23rd, 2012.

So, what do we do? Is there a horrific, transformative event waiting to happen in 2012?? I don’t know but here’s what I do know: I’ve been a Christian for a long time now. And we need to be aware of the fact that every now and again there’s someone saying, “This is the year. This is when it all ends.” A perfect example is from back in the 80s. I remember a pamphlet circulating that read, “88 Reasons God is Returning in October 1988”. Because of this I saw a lot of well-intentioned people in the church selling all their stuff and getting ready for the day. Obviously, nothing happened.

But the reality is this: something could happen in 2012, in 2011, in 2010 or something can happen today. So my hope for all of us is that we get in the Word and read Matthew 24. And as you read the whole chapter you’ll find Jesus tells us “no man knows the day or the hour” but to always be ready and always be prepared.

So, here’s a question for you: would you get ready if you knew He was coming back tomorrow? I ask because just a couple weeks ago we held a memorial service for a 12-year-old girl and a few days later I did a service for a 60-year-old man. He died of lung cancer and she died of leukemia but a year ago we didn’t think either one of those people was going to pass. They didn’t make it to see 2012.

Is it this year for you? What about next year? The hope that the Lord has in encouraging you to be ready at any time is that you would be ready. Just be ready at any time. Because if you put your stock and hope in December 2012 you might just do whatever you want and sin all through 2010 and 2011 and then start repenting and cleaning up your act when 2012 comes around. But in Matthew 24 you’ll find a parable about a man who didn’t think his master was coming back so he behaved very rudely. And, what do you know, his master came back when he least expected it. Don’t let that be you. Be prepared in season, out of season—any season whether it’s 2012, 2013 or 2015. That’s my hope for you.

What happens when we change the name of a social issue to be more politically correct? It could mess with your mind…

Who’s responsibility is it to provide healthcare?