April 25, 2005
Volume 3: Issue 4
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with Luke Lin
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Why does God allow tragedy to happen? Why do people suffer injustice they
don't deserve while others prosper by taking advantage of people? If God
is all-good and all-powerful, why is the manifestation of injustice,
oppression, and hate so prevalent throughout the world? Why would God
allow what happened ten years ago on the morning of April 19, 1995, with
the Oklahoma
City bombing?
Why would God allow the tragedy of
Columbine High School
six years ago? Why would God allow the merciless killing of six million
Jews in the Holocaust?
No easy answers exist to the problems of tragedy and evil in our world and
the Sunday School answer of "It's okay, God's in control" only applies a
theological band-aid onto the gaping wound of hurt and loss that one
suffers as a result of injustice or misfortune. So how is the Christian to
respond?
Most certainly, we cannot just sweep the atrocities that occur under the
carpet. Christians must first be attentive and cognizant of the many
wrongs and tragedies that have occurred throughout history across the
globe. We do a great disservice to our faith and to others when we don't
remember what has gone on before. Instead of brushing them aside, we must
instead allow the effect of meditating upon those great injustices to
impact our lives - the way we think, the way we act, the way we speak. We
must allow those evils to grab our heart as much as they grab the very
heart of God, and we must take time to grieve. We must remember and honor
the past.
Not only must we honor the past, but we must also take action in the
present in order to transform the future. True, there are injustices that
we cannot prevent, such as the Oklahoma City bombing and September 11th,
but we must do what we can, with what we have, wherever we are. As
Christians, we exist as people of faith and hope. Thus, we must trust God
even when we cannot understand, and we must live in the hope that justice
will be served. Part of living in hope, however, is taking appropriate
action. The motto of SLU 301 calls for our emerging leaders to "Honor the
Past and Transform the Future." If you attended 301 last year, you will
remember that one of our 301 items mistakenly read: "Honor the Future and
Transform the Past." Although this may evoke a chuckle, that is precisely
what too many Christians are trying to do - speak a lot about what's
already happened, say what they would have done differently, and what they
would do about these issues in the future but when the time comes for
action, hardly anything is done.
As leaders, we
must not allow this theme to be reversed in our own lives. We must
remember the past and allow it to impact who we are and how we act. But we
must also take action for the future instead of only speaking about it.
When we begin allowing the depths of injustice and tragedy to shape us, we
can begin taking steps as people of faith and hope to transform the future
that is before us.
There seems to be a false rumor about faith that has sadly been spread in
the pulpit to the public - what you believe as your personal faith is all
that matters; there's no need to do anything else. "I've got Jesus and the
Bible, so all I need to do to be a good Christian is to stay at home and
pray." Nope, sorry, but that view completely misses the boat on
Christianity. James 1:27 defines genuine and true religion as "caring for
orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself from being
polluted by the world." No, we can't prevent the bombing of Oklahoma City,
September 11th, the tragedy of Columbine, or the other atrocities and
injustices that arise in our world. But, we can do something about the
people affected by those injustices. We are to be there for the people who
need the soft, gentle, and healing touch of Christ that not only says but
demonstrates: "I love you." We simply cannot ignore the charge of the two
greatest commandments - to love God and to love our neighbor.
How do we do this? We must not allow our faith to remain handicapped! We
must put feet to our faith! That is, we must begin doing what we believe.
Give to the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the unclothed, invite the
homeless to dinner, spend time with the outcasts, provide a shoulder to
cry on for those who have lost loved ones, grieve with the devastated, and
comfort the discomforted. Our articles this month are full of examples of
ways in which our world has been devastated - especially the violence's of
the Oklahoma
City bombing
and Columbine High School. Tragedy always exists alongside of us and we
may not be able to do much to prevent them from happening, but we
certainly can provide the presence of Christ to those who suffer from
those devastations through putting our faith to practice and acting. For a
wonderful example of this, read this month's featured testimony, and you
will see exactly how faith can be put into practice.
The world has and continues to roll the dice of life's events. How will
you respond? You have the ability to effect change in the lives of
countless others by getting involved somewhere, with whatever you have,
wherever you are, whoever you are. What will you do? It's your move.
Many questions may
still exist, but we can rest in the hope that, even through tragedy, God
is present, working among us, striving to defend those who cannot defend
themselves. May we be strong and do the same. |
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What is a student to
do as they face two horrific anniversaries back to back? On April 19th
we remembered the Oklahoma City bombing and on the next day, the Columbine
High School shooting. Parents, students, pastors, counselors and educators
all vowed in the midst of these tragedies that we would never forget the
painful lessons. Timothy McVeigh was one of our own as were Dylan
Klebold
and Eric Harris
in their black trenchcoats. Looking back on their lives, one can see that
they always seemed to be a little troubled, left out, ostracized, or
bullied, they were the "un-cool". Then, tragedy struck yet again as we
were rocked by 9/11 and reminded of 2 Timothy 3:1 that says, "We are
living in perilous days". We again vowed a new ministry with a new
emphasis and a new touch. Most recently, The Passion of the Christ
showed us, as we had never seen before, the sacrifice of Christ, our
Savior and Lord. With tears, we vowed we would never forget, never be the
same. I am afraid we have become a nation a lot like the way James Bonds
describes his drink, shaken but not stirred. Read through this month's
articles on the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine and think how you can
honor the past and transform the future. |
featuring Jenny Forbes
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SLU taught me many
lessons about being a leader, and these lessons really helped
me last summer when I organized and led a mission team to
Zambia, Africa. One of the greatest lessons that I learned at
SLU is that you will be the most successful when you help
other people become successful. Some people achieve fame and
the veneer of success, but are dissatisfied. If they stopped
focusing on themselves and put their energy into helping
someone else, then they would know true success.
Originally a
missionary kid from Zambia, I have been exposed to other
cultures and have a different view of the world than the
average North American. My parents are full time Christian aid
workers who rescue orphans and street kids in Africa and other
developing countries whose parents have died from the
widespread AIDS pandemic. My dad is the Canadian Director of
Kids Alive International - a non-profit Christian organization
that brings Jesus to orphans and street kids by building
homes, schools, and day programs.
When my team went
to Africa last summer, we did various work projects and kids
programs in the Kids Alive ministries. It was during this time
that some SLU principles really hit home for me. Lessons about
perseverance, passion, seeing the big picture, and not letting
failure stop you. But the most relevant lesson learned is that
you will be most successful when you help other people to
become successful. Lasting satisfaction comes from serving
others, especially the poor.
SLU also taught me
that I could be successful right where I am, within the
circumstances that I live. One way I'm doing this is by being
involved with Kids Alive not just overseas, but in my own
community.
We've started a
youth wing of Kids Alive called Teens Saving Lives. The
mission statement of TSL is: "to make God famous by
developing the leadership skills of our members in order to
serve the less fortunate in our community and our world."
We are a group of teens that have a passion to serve our
Savior, Jesus Christ, by using the gifts he has given us to
make a difference in our world. We do fundraising to support
Kids Alive ministries as well as public speaking to raise
awareness about what is happening in other parts of the world.
In addition, we are involved in serving in our community. I
can't say how much SLU has helped me not only to lead, but in
all aspects of my life. This year I am taking a team of teens
to Peru. I look forward to attending SLU 301 and 401 in the
years to come.
Jenny is a
graduate of SLU 201. For more information about Kids Alive and
what you can do help fight the AIDS crisis in Africa OR to
find out more about Teens Saving Lives and starting a branch
in your community, visit
www.kidsalive.ca or e-mail Jenny at
jennyforbes01@yahoo.ca |
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Don't miss out on
the last chance to register for this summer! Registration is
fully underway, and we are on our way to yet another
record-setting summer! We are incredibly excited about
what we have lined up for you during the intense and fun
weeks of SLU, and we know that
it is an experience that you will not want to miss!
Register
Online today!! All that is required at this point in
time is a choice of
dates and a small deposit per student. If you have any
questions during or about the registration process, please
feel free to call us Toll-Free at out office -
1-888-260-2900. Check out Dr.
Jay's new book - The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar!
Read about this incredible book that is a must for your
personal reading and book collection by checking out some
more
info about the book! You can also find out how to place
an order for your own personal copy.
Don't forget that
most SLU information is available online through our website at
www.studentleadership.net. We want to
continue hearing from you! Let us know how you've been putting
leadership into practice. It is always a blessing to hear from
you. Our toll-free number is 1-888-260-2900.
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To view past
editions of The Edge, check out our archive
here.
Questions or comments are always welcome. E-mail us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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April 2005
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On the
Edge
This month Luke
Lin, an editor of the SLU Edge Newsletter and a
graduate student at Duke University Divinity School, takes a closer look
at the issue of tragedy and injustice in the world
and the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995. How should a Christian
view God in relation to tragedy and injustice? |
Edge Ledge
Your section
for culture and Christianity takes a look at
some ways in which you can honor the past and transform
the future, as well the importance
and the impact of taking action as Christians and
putting faith to work. |
Life on the Edge
This month, read
about a practical way in which one of our
students has put her leadership into genuine action.
This month's featured student truly represents what
Christianity is all about, as she tells of
leadership on the mission field and in service to the poor.
Want to be motivated to act? Read her article. Have an SLU story? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net
This month, we feature the inspiring story of Jenny
Forbes. |
Cutting Edge
What's up at SLU? Get the latest scoop on
what's happening here at Student Leadership University. |
Featured Articles
Check out the featured
articles of the month. By being
informed of these critical events, we can begin to shape
an effective response to culture. Stay informed by reading
this month's featured articles. |
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Follow the links for the
full article. |
Where is God
in Tragedy?
To
what degree can we rely on God to be with us? Is God
really trustworthy? Can we truly rely on God in times of
trouble?...
Read full article |
10 Years
after OKC
Read about how the tragedy ten years ago in Oklahoma
City is still affecting the lives of individuals today...
Read full article |
Moments of
Silence
Read
about how Oklahoma City and the Nation gathered to
remember the tragedy of ten years ago that took the lives
of 168 people and affected the entire country and world...
Read full article |
Attack in the
Heartland
On
the matter of national security, are we better prepared
today than we were ten years ago? How prepared were we ten
years ago? What about today? What about smaller cities?...
Read full article |
Pausing for
Columbine
The
nation pauses to remember the tragedy that took place at
Columbine High School six years ago...
Read full article |
Original OKC
Article
Read
the original article of what happened the morning of April
19, 1995...
Read full article |
Still Afraid
to Go to Work
Caren
Cook didn't go along when the Department of Housing and
Urban Development moved into the new Oklahoma City Federal
Building in March 2004.
Cook and more
than a dozen of her HUD co-workers, ridden with anxiety
over returning to the place where a bomb killed 35 of
their colleagues a decade ago, were allowed to go to work
a few blocks away...
Read full article |
Roses Honor
Victims
Friends and family members of those killed in the
Columbine school shooting marked the six-year anniversary
of the massacre Wednesday by visiting victims' grave sites
and placing flowers on black granite crosses honoring the
dead...
Read full article |
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"I
cannot manage the past. There are other people in my
government who manage the present. It is my unique
responsibility as a leader to shine a spotlight on the
future and marshal the support of my countrymen to
create the future."
Lady Thatcher
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“The
empires of the future are the empires of the mind."
Sir Winston Churchill |
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"Those
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana, The Life of Reason |
"Wisely
improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy
future, without fear."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) |
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“Those
who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done
evil will rise to be condemned.”
John 5:29
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We want to hear from you! Do you
have a thoughtful response to the articles here? Have you
written a paper on one of the issues we're discussing this month
or have discussed? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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Established in 1994, Student Leadership University's
purpose is to empower students to conquer the future!
Combining hands-on experimental learning with a dynamic
classroom setting, students are equipped to influence
their generation for Christ with confidence.
For more information, visit us at
www.studentleadership.net or call us toll-free at
888-260-2900.
Edge Executive Editor:
Chris Crowe
Edge Associate Editor:
Luke Lin
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