Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Some would call that the "question of our time." It's the question everyone wants an answer to, partly due to the fact that most people believe they are "good" and the things they wish didn't happen to them were "bad." But is that the case?

This week, as we continue in our "Chronicles of History" series, we will take a "drive-by" look into the book of Job. Full of beautiful poetry and revelation into God's character, Job reminds us of our role as the created, worshipping and following the Creator.

Growing up, like most children, I asked a lot of "Why?" questions. But I always knew when I'd crossed the line between "why" and "well, that's stupid!" Either my butt got a bit reddened, or at the least, I'd hear, "Because I said so."

Church, the same is relatively true in our relationship with God. The book of Job ends with God essentially telling Job, "When you have your own universe, you can do what you want. But while you're under MY roof, you'll follow my rules!" Of course, Job (nor anyone else) will ever get his own universe, so my parental analogy dies there.

Join me on Sunday, however, because if you're like me, I often wonder where the line is drawn in how I am to approach God when disaster strikes, as it did Job. I often wonder what my friends might say, or whether or not I'll ever know the "good" the Bible seems to promise will come after the present calamity. Basically, if disaster has ever struck you or your family, perhaps some time with like-minded people in the book of Job is where God needs you this weekend. Hope to see you!

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Saying Goodbye to Jackson

Yesterday was a difficult day for the Coffin fam.  Our "best buddy," Jackson (black lab) has been living in pain for the last 2-3 months, and he had to be put down.  The vet said he couldn't identify exactly what was wrong with him, but he believed it was likely some form of cancer.

Jack was born on September 9, 2000, In Big Bear Lake underneath Kerri's bed.  His mamma, Kaysie (the fastest dog I've ever known - jumped a 6-foot fence after we moved to Santa Rosa and we never saw her again), had him along with 5 other pups, which we gave away.  We chose to keep Jack because he was the most mellow of all the pups.  And for the first two years of his life, he never knew a leash, as we lived on a dirt road where all the neighbors let their dogs run free and play together. 

After we moved to Santa Rosa, he had to be taught how to walk with a leash.  One of my favorite memories is spending about 2 weeks training him.  He hated it!  Wanted to be free!  Truly, it freaked him out.  with every step I took, he'd jet between my legs and stop.  I'd pull him out from under me, take another step, and he'd jump right between my steps again.  But I didn't give up on him, and eventually, he got used to the new ways of doing things.

He loved natural water ways, especially the stream near our house in Santa Rosa.  When the ducks were there, he'd leap in and swim around until he realized all the ducks had flown off.  And though he wasn't as fast as his mamma, he loved to run as fast as he could to wherever he was headed.

We'll miss our best buddy.  Ryder (our 2-yr-old German Shepherd) still believes Jack is off on a long walk somewhere.  Which, depending on one's dog-ology, might just be true.

So long, buddy.  Indeed you were "fam's best friend."

The Purpose of the Temple

This Sunday is the Global Day of Prayer, where many Tucsonans will gather at the UofA mall to humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and turn from the things we - as individuals, a nation, and an entire people - know to be evil and that place a divide between God and man. It is a time to "press in" to God, as His people did long ago in His temple.

This week, as we continue in our "Chronicles of History" series, I will revisit II Chronicles chapters 6 and 7, looking closely at the primary purpose of God's temple, and both the people's role in it, and God's role in it. Of course, for those who belong to Jesus, our bodies are the temple of the living God. Where we go, He goes.  The Psalmist says, "Where can I go from you, O Lord?" So as we look into the history of the temple, its imperative that we seek His truth with regard to the temple today: Christ in us, the hope of glory.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday, and being blessed together by His word!

Arizona's SB 1070

Have you read the bill?  I'd love to get your thoughts.  As a pastor, I'm often asked what I think of it.  So here it is...

I've read the bill.  It's officially 10 pages long, so unlike the health care bill, it's quite readable.  And it comes down to this:  If one trusts law enforcement officers, this law is fine.  If one doesn't, you're gonna have a problem with it.  Why?  It has the words "reasonable suspicion" in the bill.  But it also mentions that an officer can only ask for proof of citizenship if they've stopped a person for breaking the law such as speeding.  "Reasonable suspicion" would come about if the person stopped couldn't present a valid driver's license, for example.  Which raises the question: does anyone have a problem when retailers, police officers, or websites ask you to identify yourself?  Nobody is up in arms about that.  And you don't get what you're hoping to buy if you don't present proper ID. 

Again, if you don't trust cops, you'll be against this bill.  If you believe cops can be trusted, you have no more problem with this bill than any other law that requires ID be given.

What bothers me is that those who oppose this law are calling those who favor it racist.  I've heard the phrase, "it's "clearly racist," regarding the verbiage of the bill.  Obama has said, "Now, a family can be going out for an ice cream and be thrown in jail!"  No, they can't.  Unless of course, they're here illegally.  And I have no problem with that.  How can legal citizens be affected by this bill?  They can't.  And that's where the line is drawn for me.

If a person is here illegally, the law declares (before this bill was ever written) that they, if found, must be escorted to the border and sent back to their home country.  This bill changes none of that, but rather enforces it. 

So there you have it.  I would love to discuss this respectfully with anyone.  Please respond below.

Sunday Message: "Jonah: It's Not About Me Anymore"

Do you believe in miracles? I think most would say, "Yes!" But let me ask it another way: Do you believe a man could be thrown into the ocean, sink to the bottom, be there long enough for seaweed to wrap around his head, then get swallowed by a giant fish, stay in it's belly for 3 days, then be hurled up onto the shore and live to tell about it?

Do you still believe in miracles? I hope so, because our God is in control of the supernatural as well as the natural.

But that said, the miracle of Jonah's life being saved is not the story in the book that bears his name. Rather, the story is all about God's love for the worst of the worst. Nineveh was a city known at the time to be the most "evil" city in all the world. 600,000 residents had no regard for truth, morality, or the existence of God. And yet, God called out to them.

The real miracle - the one that made Jonah's head spin - was that God truly loved these

blasphemous pagans. The God of the universe - pure, holy, and righteous - had mercy on the most evil city in the land. In Jonah's view, had was thinking, "What business does God have extending grace and mercy to such an undeserving lot? Doesn't he have his hands full with the Israelites already?"

Jonah is a great read. Average readers will finish all 4 chapters in 5 minutes. I encourage you to check it out between now and Sunday, at which point we'll delve into the application together. See you Sunday!

For more information, check out www.crossroadstucson.com