MIracle Baby Survives, But What About Those Who Don't?

11-month old Kyson Stowell was found alive following the killer storms that battered Tennessee two weeks ago. The storm destroyed much of Kyson's town of Castilian Springs and claimed the lives of six people, including his 24-year old mother, Kerri. According to news reports her body was found in the same field where her son was found the next day about 100 yards from where their home once stood.

Kyson was found by two firefighters from the adjacent county. At first they thought he was a toy baby doll that had been strewn with the rest of the rubble from the storms. It wasn't until he moved that they realized he was a real baby and alive. He was lying face down in the mud for hours and was found with only a t-shirt and loose diaper. Kyson is the miracle his hometown desperately needed to ease the pain from so much death and destruction.

Kyson's survival has brought hope to many across Tennessee and beyond. The hopeful point to it as a sign of God's grace and protection. But those who lost loved ones, or parents of children with terminal conditions across the country might well be asking, "But what about my child?" Its fair to ask, if God can save an 11-month old from a killer tornado using mud, then why doesn't He intervene for the thousands of terminal children around the world? I don't have an answer for that question. I'm not God and to be honest, only He can answer that question. Others may try or believe they know, but the truth is that only God knows, and only God can answer the question. I can't answer it, but I can share how I have learned to cope, process and come to peace with tragedy, natural disasters, horrible accidents, acts of violence and premature deaths. And please understand that I don't move through these without mourning, struggle, grief and heart ache. Some take much longer, but there are things to which I cling n the face of such tragedies that help me. I don't offer them as the cure all for everyone's pain, but simply as what has given me and thousands of Christ-followers hope in tough times.

First of all, I believe God can handle our questions, frustrations, pleas and complaints in situations that don't seem to be resolved the way we had planned or hoped. A casual stroll through the Psalms, Jeremiah and Lamentations confirm that people of greater faith than me were honest with God about such struggles. The fact that we have the biblical testimony of David, Moses and others who honestly struggled with such issues, or complained before the Lord makes it easier for me to do the same. One thing I've learned, God can handle my questions, laments, complaints, and pain. Remember, over half of the Psalms are laments or complaints to God. I also notice that the biblical ancients of faith followed their questions, complaints and struggles with strong declarations of their faith, or the faithfulness of God. Something we often fail to do after we complain or gripe.

Second, I trust Him. I trust Him because the Bible tells me too, people of greater faith and intellect than me have said so, and I have seen what happens when people exercise trust in God. I trust Him because I have a personal relationship with Him and realize that He loved me so much that He experienced the personal tragedy of watching His own Son suffer and die a brutal death for the likes of us----people who have repeatedly disobeyed, rejected, and even run away from Him. Yet, He loved us so much He pursued us with the never-ending passion of Jesus that defies human logic, reason and comprehension. Every time I receive communion I am overwhelmed with that thought. He did this for you, and He did this for me. He didn't have to do it. Scripture promises that His love is an everlasting love that cannot be taken from us even in death, war, suffering, nakedness, hunger, disease and more (Romans 8:35-39)!

Third, I know that He is God and I am not. A lot of doctors and theologians need to be reminded of that as well. Boy am I glad He is God and I'm not. I would show so much favoritism. My personal biases and bent would interfere with my decisions, actions and responses even when I didn't mean for them to do so. I'm human, God is not. And He doesn't owe me an explanation for anything. That's a hard pill to swallow when we lose a child, or someone we love suddenly and without warning. However, His word teaches that we are not God and that His ways and thoughts are above and beyond ours (Isa 55:8-9). He is God

Let's also remember that while little Kyson survived, his mother did not. He will be raised by family, but the one who gave him life is gone. Her heroic efforts to save her son were paid with her own life. As I reflect on that, I think about Jeremiah in the middle of serious darkness during his own time who found the power and faith to pen these words:

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed;
for his compassions never fail,
They are new every morning;
great is our faithfulness......
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lam. 3:22-23,25 TNIV)

The Frozen Crowd at Union Station

The world needs more stuff like this! Harmless, funny, and entertaining. What a great idea for a church youth group in the local mall!

Happy Valentine's Day!

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. -John 3:16

My Pre-Valentine Valentine's

Most people mark February 14th with candy, flowers, and dinner out with their spouse or partner. Nothing wrong with that. But for our family it has always been preceded by the life celebrations of my Mom and our son, Casey the day before. February 13th is their special day, when God smiled. For Casey this is #23 (yikes, I'm getting old!) and for Mom, well you never ask a lady her age!

Both Casey and Mom have had a huge impact on my life. Besides the obvious in terms of their DNA/blood impact, they are fun to be around, engaging, challenging, know how to laugh, appreciate people, politics, culture, the arts, great books, and both are tenaciously loyal to their family, practice unconditional love and genuinely care about others and the world around them. They have made me a better son, husband and father. Trust me that's still a work in progress.

Today we celebrate their birth and thank God for smiling in their respective birth years on the 13th of February! Happy Birthday Casey and Mom. Much Love!

Grandpa MiIls' Step Stool

This little stool has been a vital part of our home for years. It has been repainted, recovered, and reinforced throughout the years. I think we've had it 24 of our soon to be 25 years of marriage. This weekend it began to sag in what appears to be beyond life-saving measures. Since my "Mr. Fix-It" skills are pretty much limited to painting and yard work I'm pretty sure it could be time to say goodbye to this old family friend. You say, "Monty, it's just a stool, let it go." I can't.

It's not about the stool, we've got a couple of nicer and sturdier stools. It's what the stool represents. You see a godly man who was everything you think a Grandfather should be built it from scratch. Teri's Grandpa Mills (affectionately known as Gramps) made this stool for us many, many years ago. Now there was a handy-man! He was a gentleman and a gentle man. I can close my eyes right now, smell his pipe and see him holding our son on his knee on the back porch of their home in northern Indiana. Both Grandpa and Grandma Mills have long sense gone to heaven. He went ahead of her to prepare the way. People of faith can look forward to heaven!

You can have our new LCD television. You could take my car, but don't you dare touch Gramp's step stool! There's a lot behind that old stool: Honest character; hard work; a man who survived the depression, raised two sons who served their country and went on to be godly husbands, fathers and men of profound faith; and someone who quietly contributed to society by helping others, serving through his church, voting, and genuinely caring about people. I miss that old gentleman, like I do my Papa.

The ailing stool points to something I don't want to lose. A simpler time when life was less complicated by technology, global warming, political and civil unrest, terrorism and complex lifestyles that seem to be flying at record speeds. That stool represents a back porch and a workshop where hands of love touched the lives around them. It speaks of unconditional love when some of us just made mistakes or exercised poor judgment. It reminds me of a time at Mom and Dad's old house on the lake when I saw that precious old man get as excited as his great-grandson (our son) who had just caught his first fish with his grandfather, my father-in-law and Gramps' oldest son.

I owe Gram and Gramps' so much. Because of them, my precious wife, God's gift came to be! I close my eyes and I can see both of our parents living out that same kind of love, character, honesty and faith before our children over these fast-flying years. I am indeed grateful and blessed because of them. I'm not going to get rid of that stool. I'll wait for my son, who has inherited Gramps and Dad Mills' "fix-it" DNA and trust that he can bring it back to life because one day it's going to be his.

So what are the step-stools in your life? Those little things that appear worthless to the world that remind you of a simpler time, people of their word, devotion to Christ and His church and unconditional love? Is it a picture, a frame, an old car, tools, a fishing rod, a sewing basket or chair? Don't get rid of it. It seems now more than ever we need to be reminded of these things so we may pass them on to future generations. Some of life's greatest treasures are as junk to the world.

Remember Union University in Your Prayers

Tuesday evening a band of fatal winter thunderstorms and tornadoes ripped through several Southern states. Among the tornado victims was Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Union is Baptist college. Union's President, Dr. David Dockery was one of my seminary professor's when I attended Southern Seminary in Louisville. Dr. Dockery is one of the most humble, godly and authentic Christian leaders I know. He is also a gifted scholar. Close friends of ours have a son attending Union. He was on the lower level of a dorm underneath a mattress when it hit. He lost all his possessions and his car was totaled, but he escaped unharmed. Thank you Father for taking care of Drew! The devastation on the small West Tennessee campus was brutal. These pictures are from damage on the campus.

According to the AP: The university's main dormitory complex of 13 two-story apartment buildings was damaged beyond repair.
Some buildings collapsed, and others were missing walls and roofs. The complex parking lot was strewn with wrecked cars and small trucks, many flipped on their backs and other stacked in small piles here and there.
"I've never been through anything like that before — the noise. Your ears pop. It makes your skin kind of crawl. It's really creepy," said Andrew Norman, 20, who huddled with seven friends in the bathroom of a dorm room during the storm.
The college, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, has about 3,200 students, with 1,200 living on campus.

Amazingly no students were killed although the campus looks like a war zone. Again from the AP:
Danny Song bolted for cover as a tornado tore through the dormitory complex at Union University — then the ceiling came crashing down on top of a couch that was wedged against him. For the next hour and a half, he lay pinned in the rubble.
"I was in a fetal position," the 20-year-old junior recalled Wednesday. "I tried to lift up but I couldn't. I was thinking I would lose my legs. I couldn't feel them for a long time. I just felt really helpless."

Rescuers ultimately dug him out, along with 25 other Union students who were stuck behind jammed windows and the wreckage of walls, floors and furniture — damage wrought by the violent weather that swept across five states Tuesday.
The storm left more 50 people dead across the South. Remarkably, no one died here.
About 50 Union students were taken to a hospital, nine of them with injuries classified as serious, said Tim Ellsworth, the school's news director.

Though the small, private college was heavily damaged, school officials said students escaped life-threatening injury primarily because they quickly took shelter in dorm bathrooms and other interior spaces.

This isn't Union's first brush with twisters. Tornadoes damaged the campus in 2001 and 2002. A tornado struck downtown Jackson and killed 10 people in 2003. It's unclear whether or not students and professors will be able to resume classes and finish the semester. Imagine trying to come up with housing for this many students in a town of 60,000!

We need to pray for Union University and her leadership, faculty, students, parents and the 50 who were hospitalized with injuries. In addition, if you feel led please send a contribution to the school. As a private, Christian college, Union does not benefit from state support. The Board of Trustee has established a fund to receive recovery funds. Just mark your contribution "Tornado Relief" and make it payable to Union University. Send it to : Union University Disaster Relief Fund, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, TN 38305.

Ash Wednesday: Preparing for the Passion

Ash Wednesday (2/6) marks the beginning of the Lenten season. One of the oldest Christian holy observances. A time of fasting, sacrifice and reflection. It's a time to focus solely on our personal relationship with Jesus and to be reminded that without Him and His atoning sacrifice we are but dust! The lectionary Psalm reading for Ash Wednesday is from the 103rd. Read it, weep, reflect, confess, draw near with gratitude as we begin the journey heading toward the week of our Lord's Passion. May these 40 days bring all of us closer to Him and His will.

Psalm 103:8-14 (New American Standard Bible)

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows [b]our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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