Tornadoes and Ecclesiastes

A massive tornado in Oklahoma City. Dozens of lives lost. The president declares an emergency. City blocks of homes and at least one elementary school leveled. No running water or electricity in the area for the unforeseen future. More storms expected to hinder recovery efforts. Lives on hold in stunned grief. Uncertainty about the future. Some rush to help. Some are ovecome with fear.  Many question God. Some suppress their questions with denial and just try not to think about it. There is great vulnerability in the human condition.

How helpless we are!  Skirting reality or shortcutting grief will damage the parts of our hearts where compassion and humility reside.  Living in helpless frustration will gnaw away at our faith. 

A few are trained to assist--medical personel, skilled technicians, administrators  with organizational skills. Some have the resouces to aid financially. Everyone can pray. God alone can bring good from bad, hope from despair, meaning from senselessness. But what can we learn to settle our own confused and burdened hearts? It was the dilemma of Solomon when he wrote Ecclesiastes. Take a look:

Ecclesiastes 1:6
The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere.

1:9
History merely repeats itself.

1:13
I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under the sun. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.

7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining effect on us.

7:15
In this meaningless life, I have seen everything, including the fact that some good people die young and some wicked people live on and on.

12:13
Here is my final conclusion:  Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty f every person.

This is a wise and interesting conclusion. Sorting out meaning behind the randomness of human suffering has no satisfying end. Tragedy gives us opportunities to question the goodness of God. That is how Satan would like to use tragedy. Tragedy also offers us opportunities for doing good, for rising to the occasion, for selfless sacrifice, for admitting our need for God, for becoming more humble and more urgent about the things that really matter: faith, hope and love--nothing else will endure.  (I Corinthians 13:13)

It’s Your Life - London ICOC Women's Day

On Saturday 27th April 2013 the London church hosted “It’s Your Life!” a women’s evening attended by nearly 1000 disciples and guests from all over England and from as far afield as Germany and France. With tickets completely sold out by the end of March and in hot demand, excitement had plenty of time to build and the event certainly did not disappoint.

Guest speaker Carol Mc Guirk from the Paris church delivered a powerful yet relatable message that will be remembered for years to come as we were reminded to “put the big rocks in first”; to keep our walk with God as our very top priority and to fit everything else around God.

The London Teen Choir’s outstanding performance had an impact on women of all ages. We were treated to a beautiful performance of The Flower Duet by our string quartet and enjoyed a dramatic presentation portraying an ordinary woman’s struggle to get to grips with the various faces she feels obliged to wear to get through life. Stunning artwork and costumes were produced especially for the day.Moving testimonies were shared by women who have been through incredibly challenging situations but whom God has rescued by his amazing grace.

We were supported by dozens of the most serving, best-dressed brothers in town who served as ushers for the event, for whom we are very grateful. Some guests who attended on Saturday have already started studying the Bible this week. Older disciples found the event refreshing and invigorating; seeds of kingdom dreams were planted in the hearts of younger women and we were all thrilled to see what God can and will do in the lives of women who believe. And to God be all the glory.