01/10/11

Once again I am showing a BW and color version of the same pic. I think I am still leaning towards the BW, too, but the color version has nice contrast with the icicles.

I was saddened this past weekend to hear of the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and many of the people who were around her at the time. I just cannot understand someone becoming so angry at an official that they choose to do something so hateful. Rep. Giffords is basically my age. It was a sobering thought.

I may not agree with everything she stands for politically, but I would never want something like this to occur.

It is always interesting to me when tragic events such as this happen, government officials who normally want no part of prayer in our public areas are quick to ask for prayers for someone. Do they really think that life can be divided into categories where you can turn off and on your spirituality at a given time?

Whether people today believe it or not, they are all believing in something. Many believe in God... or some believe in a "Higher Being." Some believe in themselves, others believe in good works, and others just trust in the fact that they believe there is no God. Any way you look at it, all people believe in something.

I have been reading a book called Destiny Junction by Michael Phillips. It has brought out some interesting things for me to think about regarding why we need salvation in the Lord.

Here is an excerpt from the book of the character of the pastor who is preaching at his daughter's funeral.

"What do we need to be saved from? The answer I would pose is simply this - ourselves. Without God, we are left to ourselves - alone. Aloneness now, aloneness for eternity. Many, of course, do not think of themselves as alone. In the midst of an active, fast-paced, even happy life, it is easy to succumb to the illusion of non-aloneness."

"You must understand that I am not speaking of mere loneliness. This aloneness is something much different. If one is living without a daily relationship with God, then that individual is living alone, whether he or she feels loneliness or not. You may be reasonably fulfilled and contented. It doesn't matter. Without God in your heart, you are alone. It is just that simple."

God created us to commune with Him. That was His plan from the beginning before Adam and Eve broke that communion with sin. Salvation is not only about saving you from the fire of Hell, but saving you from an eternity of separation from God. The way that was described above made "separation from God for eternity" make even more sense to me. That is something I have always known and understood the meaning, but used in those terms it brings it to a different level.

Through this tragedy that happened to Rep. Giffords, I don't know the state of her heart, but if she has never accepted the Lord as her Savior she is the same in God's eyes as the man who shot her. It is not about "good vs. evil"... it is about knowing the Creator, the one God, our Heavenly Father and not being alone. That is what salvation is about.

Are you alone?

Do you need the Savior?