Wrestling With God

Our family is still “recovering” from a whirlwind of activity last week and over the weekend.   We’re exhausted and trying to rest (although life doesn’t slow down much for Kelly and homeschooling…oh yeah, and those 4 wonderful kids!)  

We are shocked and dismayed by the events about Pastor Kyle Lake in Waco.  I assume most of you have heard.  We cannot keep thinking about his wife, his small children that will know little of their Daddy, and the trauma for the entire church to have witnessed it.  Why Lord?  Yes, our God is Sovereign and He numbers our days.  We wrestle like many of you on “Why? Why such a terrible death?”  Our hearts are heavy.  Just over the past week, I stood on the edge of the same body of water and witnessed over 75 being baptized.  At such a glorious moment (baptism), how can such a tragic “accident” happen?  I do know THE answers, but I also think it is healthy to ask questions and wonder.  It helps root our faith in the TRUTH, not just relying on responses we have rehearsed for times like these.  Believe me, in my work as a missionary, I have struggled so often with these situations when all the new young believers around us are screaming, “Why? Explain this to us! How could God…?”  It’s such a battle to know when to shrug, “I don’t know” and when/how to offer real tangible words that make a difference.  Sometimes those who are asking are not eager for explanatory expressions, but rather an authenticity that admits that God’s ways are higher and beyond our imagination.  Sometimes I will give my kids answers to offer them security in knowing that Dad knows what’s going on and it’ll be alright.  But sometimes I will say, “I don’t understand it either” so I can show them that wrestling with God is part of the developing of intimacy with our Creator.  He is our Maker.  We are His Creations.  There is a relationship already established.  By God’s kind grace, He welcomes us to explore Him, His inexplicable ways, His mysteries, His supernatural sovereignty, and His peculiarly permissive will.  How are you thinking about this tragedy?

Tomorrow, Kelly and I are planning on visiting a lady in one of our churches whose husband (Joseph L.) just “put her away” last week…returning her to her family…which is the cultural equivalent of a divorce.  What do we say when we see her?  Any words of advice?

On a lighter note, now that we are into November, we are gearing up for Tori’s party this weekend.  Tori’s 7th Wild Western Roundup (on the beach)!!  I am working on the cake and it is proving to be the biggest challenge yet (Tori would love to have a 3-D, edible cowgirl riding a horse….what???!!! come on!)  In the end, she’ll love it and it’ll get eaten, so we’re not stressing too much (doubt she’ll get her exact request).  We’re looking forward to partying with some of our Togo missionary colleagues (and their great kids).  

Jonathan is teething, so a little bit irritable.  Timothy is walking around the house yelling, “Nonnanon teeth coming out!”  We’re into dramatics around here.

-Randy