God, who foresaw your tribulation, has especially armed you to go through it, not without pain, but without stain.[1]

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord, who has worked wonders for you. (Joel 2:26)

We all know there are troubles in life. Probably each one of you reading this has had at least your fair share of crises, troubles, and trials. Some of us have had quite a bit more than our share.

 What I decide is fair in life may be something all, or  most all of us could agree with. However, just because you and I, or even every single one of us, agree that something is fair doesn’t guarantee it will be what happens in our life.

Even our Creator does not promise us a trial free life. He does promise us blessing, but we live in a fallen world, an existence that is not perfect by any possible definition. The one thing Christ does promise us is that he will be with us through any trial we may encounter. He will prepare us for the journey. That doesn’t mean an advance warning of death or disease, of financial crisis or vocational disaster, of family bliss and leak free roofs at home.

Advance warning only means we have time to prepare OURSELVES. That isn’t what God promises. He promises HE will prepare you. It may be that the events of yesterday are the fallow ground for God’s work and preparation to be taking root in today.

There are so many events flying at us that we don’t have time to know every aspect of the what and why for each one of them. It is generally best to leave that in God’s hands. Why do we have cancer? I don’t know. Why did our loved one have to die? I don’t know. In fact, it is very likely that, in this life, we won’t be able to come to an answer we can easily accept.  

The memory of the hurt or trial will be a part of our life going forward, but it does not have to define our life from that moment until our life’s end. It does not have to leave a stain. Some of the wonders God works in our life come when we are finally able to see the bigger picture, when we are allowed the behind the scene view and gasp at the wonder and infinite compassion of God’s plan. It is a blessing when we can see it in this life. It is closure when we stand before the throne and worship the one who led us through all things to that very spot.

Craig C. Krueger

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[1] C. S. Lewis

When Bad Things Happen

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Do you suppose that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the others because they suffered such things? No, but except you repent, you shall perish as well. Or consider those eighteen the tower at Siloam fell on and crushed them. Do you think they were the worst sinners in Jerusalem? Again, No, but unless you repent, you will perish in the same way.”

(Luke 13:1-4)


It has been a tough several weeks for many across wide portions of our country and around the world. The Boston Marathon Bombing, The explosion at the fertilizer plant in West, accusations of chemical weapons in Syria, bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan, and – closest to home – the tornadoes of May 15th, and, even last night, the awful weather disasters in Oklahoma. Before that, we had a host of mass shootings in various parts of the country. So many innocent people suffering so much.


Why do bad things happen to good people?  It is hard to say. People asked those questions in Jesus’ time and got no more of a complete answer than you have probably received in the past.

The popular answer in Jesus day was that bad things do not happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people. It was thought that God used the events of the world to punish the wicked. It makes sense doesn’t it, the flood, the plagues sent upon the Egyptians, even the invading armies occupying the disobedient Israelites from time to time.


However, Jesus put forward a new concept. Maybe bad things just happen. That doesn’t mean that there is nothing to learn from the event, and it does not mean that the interpretation automatically has to include punishment of someone for something.


Jesus interpreted the events of the well-known local disasters in light of eternity rather than in light of past events. What should we consider based on the tornado that struck our community this past Wednesday? According to Jesus, those events should motivate people to be prepared for the future, their transition from this life to life eternal.


The perishing Jesus warned against was not that of a tower falling upon a group of people or an evil king seeking to motivate a population through fear. No, Jesus was warning about the suddenness and abruptness of life. This warning speaks to our preparation for life eternal, but it also speaks to the need to say those kindnesses that need to be said while there is still time.


What is your warning? Is there an encouragement you need to speak? Is there a transgression for which you need forgiveness? Is there a commitment on which you need to follow through? Is there a faith you need to live out in the world around you? Jesus encourages us, “Do it while there is yet time!"


Pastor Craig