365 day ago...

the worst school shooting in U.S. history
32 people killed by a troubled student who then turned his gun on himself
a campus suddenly rocked by tragedy, grief and mourning.

but is that the end of the story?

i don't think so.

the story didn't end when joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and then thrown into jail for a crime he didn't commit?

or when the israelite people are taken off to babylon?

or when saul oversees the stoning of stephen?

or when Christ is nailed to the cross?


no, our God is a God of redemption.

joseph rises to prominence in egypt.

ezra and nehemiah lead the israelites back to jerusalem

saul takes the road to damascus

the empty tomb on sunday

and so i think there's a redemptive story for virginia tech. i've seen parts of that story with the people that have come to Christ because of last april. and i think there's still more to tell. I think God is continuing to do something on our campus. and that the students who went through last april will go out and do great things.
i hope that i'll be able to see how God redeems our story. but if it's something i dont get to see this side of heaven, i still have to trust in God's goodness.


"the Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit"
-psalm 34:18-

technological isolation and learning to be still

i've come to the realization that i've become dependent on technology.

the world we live in, and us in turn, have become so accustomed to instant gratification.
need directions somewhere? google maps
need information about something? wikipedia
need a book or movie? amazon.com
music? itunes
we can even order pizza online now.

we never have to leave our houses, use a map, take time to learn and remember things. The internet takes care of all this for us.

and because of this technology, we've also become increasingly independent from each other. if we want to talk to someone we've got cell phones, facebook, instant messaging, etc. face to face interaction is being replaced by talking across technology.

what's happened to our relationships because of this? what will happen if we keep going in this direction?

i think this is why the ministry of presence is so necessary in the world today; because it doesn't exist in our day to day lives anymore. we've made our lives so busy that we don't sit down anymore. we don't remember how to be still. Jesus sat down shared meals with his disciples, taught them, had community with them. we have drive through coffee shops, even restaurants like olive garden and applebees have to-go services.

i think this has been one of my biggest problems this semester. i never am still. i try to read the bible over coffee and then run off afterwards to do my next thing. i wonder why it seems like God isn't answering me sometimes. it's because i'm not listening! while it's all well and good to spend time reading scripture or studying theology i need to stop and reflect on these things. spend time being still in God's presence. in prayer or just in sitting.

so rather than being immersed in technology i need to simplify my life, be more content to sit and be still rather than running here and there, spending time online or watching tv. immerse myself in Christ, in His Word and in community.

and yes, i realize it's rather ironic to rant about too much technology via blog. oh well