Monday, April 23, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - Rush to Judgment

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

A ‘Rush’ to judgment?

I shook my head when I read today that conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh on his April 19th broadcast identified Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui-Cho as “a liberal” repeatedly. Though I like Limbaugh, even as a fellow conservative, I just can not support him on this one.

Like many of you I was deeply disturbed by the media coverage of the massacre. While thirty-two bodies were yet to be identified and thirty-two families yet to be notified, fingers were already being pointed. Someone had to be blamed. Before the full blow of the news was allowed to resonate and grief to marinade, the college president and campus police were in the media crosshairs. Now, a week later, we are somehow led to believe that Cho did what he heinously did because of his misguided political persuasion. I just don’t buy it..

Friends, this was the worst mass shooting in US history! We’re still dealing with it – even in California. This is not the time to point fingers. It’s still too early. Let’s all be humans and grieve properly. This is not the time to blame or use a national tragedy as ratings-boosting fodder. These were real lives, cut way too short. The shooter’s political ideology and identification are irrelevant.

Want somebody or something to blame? Here’s my humble preacher’s opinion. Ready? Cho did what he did because he was a sin-fallen, sin-poisoned, and sin-perpetuating person living on a sin-fallen planet, processing through a sin-diseased brain sin-filled cultural and relational (mis)information, willfully manifested in the most senseless and sinful of ways.

Through self-imposed alienation from healthy, loving and meaningful relationships with Jesus Christ and others, he walked smack dab into the devil’s most proven and fatal of traps – isolation.

Rush, I just can’t get your back on this one. The deadly effect of festering isolation is not exclusive to conservatives or liberals. Satan is an equal opportunity bipartisan destroyer.

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer
www.1stchristianchurch.org

Friday, April 20, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - Hokie Family

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

What a difference a week can make.

Like most of you, my heart breaks for the thousands personally impacted by the tragedy on the Virginia Tech campus. Just a few months ago I was in that neck of the woods immediately following my father’s heart surgery. Not only is it a beautiful and peaceful part of our country, nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains; but, I found the people of this region to be its finest feature. Most I met were hard-working, community-minded, wholesome folks who took great pride in their state, their history, their universities and their way of living.

This week I was sadly reminded that one of our own FCC family members is a VT graduate who spent six years of her life in Blacksburg – Lauren Parker. Lauren faithfully serves in our Creative Arts Ministry. She emailed me this week - “There are no words to express the way all of us around the world in the Hokie Family are feeling. Horrified, overwhelmed, shocked, sad, and speechless. We call each other and sit on the phone talking about how we don't even know what to say, how we couldn't have ever imagined feeling the pain we do, the sense of loss, the sense that our beautiful and beloved home will always have this shadow cast over it.”

In the midst of such needless violence and heartache, Lauren added to the delight of this head-wagging pastor, “God is at work on that campus despite the evil thing that has occurred. There are some amazing churches and Christian student organizations who are reaching out to support each other, the school and the local community, to be God's instruments shining light in the darkness, but they are in mourning as well and need to be girded by the strength of our prayers.”

What a gleaming reminder from Lauren, that in the middle of national darkness, the light of Jesus Christ’s love and hope still shines so brightly.

Please join us this Sunday as we take a few moments to pray for Lauren, the “Hokie Family” and the family and friends of those who left this life too early.

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer
www.1stchristianchurch.org

Friday, April 13, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - The Ride

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

Yesterday I took my four little ones on a day trip to Mt. Diablo. For over two years now my family and I have enjoyed a beautiful view of the mountain from our back patio. Yesterday, with chamber of commerce weather and a few day-off hours on my hands, I loaded up the tater tots while Michelle stayed behind to spend time with a friend.

The day on the mountain together was very enjoyable for us all. From childhood I have always felt a strong magnetism toward mountains. As we read the Bible, we find that God loves mountains too, and used them in connection with many of His great feats of power, communication with mankind, and flagship showdowns and events.

From the summit we could see the entire Bay Area - from San Jose to the Sierras! The Holy Spirit reminded me of the time Christ was taken to the top of a high mountain and shown the kingdoms of the earth and tempted. However, at the end of the day, as I rewinded our time together in my head, and thought of all we experienced, the best part I concluded was the ride there.

On the way we swigged on water bottles, laughed loudly, told pathetic “knock knock” jokes, sang praise songs, sang really dumb songs, talked about things we wanted to do, discussed serious stuff, shared memories, shook our fists at the mountain tauntingly, and even enjoyed (limited) quiet. The ride was amazing – at least for Daddy.

Are you enjoying the ride?

Sometimes we get so caught up in the destination, that we miss experiencing the ride. There is nothing wrong with ambitions and goals, but what about the in-between times? Are you enjoying “on the way”? The ride is the little dash on every gravestone separating the birth date from the death date. That dash represents a lot.

My prayer for you is that that dash includes knowing and experiencing God, sharing and receiving with God’s people, enjoying your family and friends, living with contentment, speaking kindly of others (Imus!), making rich memories, having fun, and leaving a legacy of kindness and love.

You’ve heard the cliché, “Half the fun is getting there.” Wrong! With Jesus Christ – ALL the fun is getting there!

Ironocally, I’ll be talking about “fun” this Sunday while sharing Part 4 of our Core Values series. Come early to visit the 4th Watch (celebrating its 2nd anniversary!), attend Sunday School, and get good seats. WARNING! Sitting in the ‘Splash Zone’ (area in front of the baptistery) may result in wet clothes. We’ve had 21 baptisms so far in 2007, with more coming this weekend!

Don’t forget INVOLVE 5:6 on Sunday, May 6th!

In the Fight,

Steve