Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

Give credit where credit is due! I KNOW that the news today is FAR MORE than the result of what is being called “a direct result of human intelligence.” Brave humans fighting for truth, justice and the American way were indeed involved, yet it was the CREATOR GOD HIMSELF, Whom I and my struggling friend specifically petitioned on 03-09-11, Who heard and answered our particular prayer and brought about the death of Usama Bin Laden at about 3:30pm Eastern Standard Time on 05-01-11 (8 days from the 60 day deadline of 05-09-11 we had prayed about 😉). It is being said that around a total of 40 Americans (24 Navy Seals) were involved in this well planned operation and 4 helicopters with Special Operation Navy Seals were there (though one helicopter crashed and was destroyed due to mechanical difficulties). People around America and even on many of our college campuses are even now ecstatic and celebrating this victory and point of closure regarding 09-11-01. The “world’s most wanted terrorist” is now dead and GOD, not man or “human intelligence,” is the Primary Reason for this and HE should be given the Glory!

The CREATOR GOD has control of our life and death and every breath that we take! No medical doctor or other intelligent human being has the ability to bring about life and human intelligence can only sustain life to a certain point. GOD the SON is the CREATOR and HE controls life and death and sustains or holds all things together by His Awesome Power (see Colossians 1:16-17). GOD will indeed bring about Divine Justice in all things in His time and HE even does so in ways around this world every day. HE has control of making the earth shake or not and where and how strong the wind blows. Just as I wrote about after the local tornado in my area (before greater and record breaking tornado outbreaks the rest of April), the LORD has HIS way in the whirlwinds (tornados) and with where and how much precipitation falls (see that 04-11-11 Blog article: “Facing or Fearing Life’s Storms?). We dare not think we can control any of this or that merely natural processes do so. JESUS CHRIST is The WORD and not a mere man. HE is the Mighty CREATOR of all things and it is HIS Wisdom and not human intelligence or wisdom that controls all things. We had best learn to depend upon HIM to help us in any of our human operations and to keep us safe from future terrorist attacks or through disasters and tragedies!

Suffering and death is the stark reality that makes little sense to that human intelligence that seeks to explain all things naturally and from only human perspectives. I write about these things regularly and I discuss this important subject at the beginning of the second part of my book. This world is a fallen world, so there will be death and suffering until the curse of sin upon the world is removed. No matter how smart or intelligent we think we are, we human beings are simply unable to bring peace to the whole world. JESUS CHRIST, the Prince of Peace will bring true peace when HE comes again. As the CREATOR, HE will bring true unity and personal peace to any who put their trust in HIM and not academia or human intelligence.

So, at this incredible time in human history and following the news of this monumental event that is having an incredible impact in the intelligencia of this Great Country of America and with so many others all over the world, remember that the answer to how this 10 plus year “world’s most wanted fugitive” finally being found, captured and brought to justice, goes far beyond human intelligence. It is indeed a great answer to the prayers of so many, especially since 09-11-01, and an even more direct answer to the specific appeal that my friend and I made to the CREATOR (and my sharing this with many others specifically praying for me and the situation of my personal tragedy following 04-16-07). It was on 03-09-11, when we first appealed to the LORD GOD to show HIMSELF strong on our behalf (consider 2 Chronicles 16:9a) and bring about this very event in history before 05-09-11, that Usama Bin Laden was finally captured and even killed (and my prayer that he would even be offered some grace and another chance to surrender and even repent before his life would be taken) Those brave Navy Seals and other human beings who helped bring this about deserve great credit for their part in this, yet it is the CREATOR GOD, Who deserves the ultimate credit for bringing this about at this time in human history!

Human intelligence or a Sovereign CREATOR GOD Who answers the prayers of his choice servants who trust in HIM? You make the call and contact me or the witnesses I have for this if you want more proof!

When visiting the Virginia Tech campus on the 4th Anniversary of that horrific day that changed the lives of so many around the world and set the atmosphere to allow for my ongoing personal tragedy, I was again struck with a glaring omission. Not only are officials in this community continuing to ignore the reality that the 33rd life killed on 04-16-07 was also a Virginia Tech student and member of the Hokie Nation, but many continue to deny a particular symbol that they even find offensive. This symbol is one that millions, if not billions around the world will particularly remember this very week. This symbol is one even daily worn around the necks of thousands of people and one found in nearly every cemetery. It represents victory and forgiveness as well as death and suffering. It is the symbol found represented in the black hole center of the incredible Whirlpool Galaxy, as well as through the cell adhesion molecule (Laminin) that holds our bodies together. It is the cross, made more common and even popular with many because of The Divine Cross.

Despite the popularity of this important and influential symbol, the cross remains an offense to many people. When understood through its historical usage, the cross indeed is a horrific thing. Crucifixion was a torture perfected by the Romans and used as a means of signifying and even forcing submission to Rome. The cross was a method of slowly killing the one hanging on it as they gasped for every breath in agony and suffering. Some people find this or any type of torture or shedding of blood offensive and seek to ignore or avoid any representation of or even talking about such a thing. It is interesting that the arts along with many video games, television and movies often focus on various expressions of violence. Like it or not, violence is a harsh reality in this world and is regularly expressed as a negative aspect of human nature, particularly when any people are not held accountable and tempered by the rule of law and justice. The cross is just one of many symbols and expressions of violence, yet the cross is even more offensive to people who do not accept The Divine Cross. This is offensive, because it represents belief in and submission to the Creator GOD.

Why do you think that the War Memorial Chapel at Virginia Tech, a place set apart for reflection and prayer, contains no sign of a cross anywhere in the building—not contained in or around the framed pictures along the walls, on the statues engraved at the front or even on the platform or anywhere around the altar? Why do you think that the 32 stones memorializing the victims (incidentally, students spontaneously set out 33 stones in the immediate aftermath of 04-16-07) contain no crosses, even for the many victims who clearly professed faith in Christ? The cross is offensive. It is primarily offensive to the academic world, because it contradicts humanism. There is more to this than the historically ignorant position attempting to cleanse any institution of government from establishing a particular religion. The Divine Cross hits at the heart of the problem— people attempting to uplift man and trying to be accountable to only their own selves and not to The Creator GOD, Who became a Man and allowed Himself to be sacrificed on that Divine Cross as the Savior from sin.

Suffering is a difficult reality that we all must face. Disasters in nature happen all the time, just as so many recently have experienced through earthquakes and tsunamis around the world or floods in various regions and the many storms and tornadoes that have recently been raging around the United States. Tragically, many were even killed from the recent devastating tornadoes in North Carolina (at least 22 there), and several other States. Why do you think there has been so much severe weather and natural disasters lately? What will it take to get our collective attention? Will it take more natural disasters? Perhaps it will take more economic hardship or even personal tragedy to get our attention? Maybe 9-11-01 wasn’t enough and those of us in the U.S., along with others in the world, will have to experience more terrorist attacks? Because the Sovereign plan of the Creator GOD has included The Divine Cross, disasters and death and suffering will remain a part of our life experiences until Peace truly comes to the world. When tragic things increase, however (and whenever they individually happen), we should seek after the Creator GOD and consider whether our actions, or lack thereof, are a part of the reasons why devastating things are happening.

Consider what it took for the proud and rebellious Nation of Israel to turn and repent to follow GOD and His ways: “When He slew them, then they sought Him, And they returned and sought earnestly for God” (Psalm 78:34). Please think on these things and come to find victory and forgiveness through The Divine Cross!

There is nothing like a strong storm or tornado to reveal what is “Of More Value” to you (see my last blog entry)! The recent, yet rare, tornados spinning through Pulaski County, Virginia illustrated this to me personally: A family visiting at my home was protected from the danger of being in the direct path of a tornado that went through their neighborhood, where many things in their house and yard were damaged and things in their neighborhood destroyed. Strong storms with large hail and vivid displays of lightning, including some tornadoes are still bearing down on parts of the Midwest and Eastern United States. I have written about these things often and particularly weather and tragedy before (see my 01-19-09 article: “Weather and Tragedy”). In this blog article, I will posit this question to you, the reader: Are you Facing or Fearing Life’s Storms?

One thing for certain is that we have little to no control of the weather. Perhaps clouds can sometimes be seeded to bring about precipitation, yet who has the power to control how much precipitation will fall and where and when it will happen? We may be able to control wind in an isolated environment, such as the Wind Tunnel at Virginia Tech, yet we cannot control the wind in the outside atmosphere. GOD is in control of this! We simply observe the processes enabling the wind and the ways in which it moves. Can you make the wind begin to blow or even tell it how hard to blow or perhaps to spin into a tornado? Some things, like the weather, are simply out of our sphere of influence or ability to control.

When extreme weather conditions occur, such as those during a strong thunderstorm, how do you respond? Do you run for cover and seek shelter? Do you panic and tremble in fear, perhaps even crying and screaming, or do you simply face up to the reality and respect the power of that vivid lightning and the sound of the booming thunder? Wisdom even tells those more inclined to chase the storms when they must avoid danger and take cover. The physical storms in life serve to regularly remind us of what we cannot control in the powerful forces of nature and how we must continue to trust the CREATOR GOD to keep us safe when these storms are raging.

The question this now brings me to here is what do you do with the other storms in life? Do you face or live up to whatever happens or do you allow the circumstances of life to control you? Do you emotionally break down when tragedy strikes or things do not go your way? Responding to tragedy and disaster through expressions of emotion, such as crying, is normal and not necessarily unhealthy. Breaking down emotionally to the point that you cease to cope and function, or at least function in a positive way of interaction with others, is not healthy and will only lead to further problems for you and those around you. You are not coping when you simply respond in fear. In fact, you allow the ones helping bring about the storm to control you, if you retreat in fear. Facing the storms in life with a positive attitude is possible if you keep your faith in the One Who Is able to help and Who Is ultimately in control! This is lived out in my life and I am regularly writing about how this is possible and what we should be learning.

Remember that we are each called and commanded to submit ourselves to GOD (e.g. James 4:7). Those trusting in Him are told to cast all their ongoing cares upon Him, because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus said to not even worry about tomorrow and what we will be able to eat or drink or how we can be clothed, but to seek the Kingdom of God first, and then all these things would be added (see Matthew 6:25-33). Remember that GOD not only has control of the life breath of every person, but that He also controls the forces He created in nature. Consider Nahum 1:3:

“The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.”

Face your Creator and this Spiritual reality and claim the forgiveness available through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not facing but instead fearing life’s storms will only bring you more!

Perhaps you have heard by now that just last Tuesday (nearly four years after the fact) the U.S. Department of Education has levied a $55,000 fine upon Virginia Tech, for what they say were violations of the Federal Clery Act. The fines are based upon what is said to be a less than “timely” response in the aftermath of the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy. There are many directions (even “timely” ones 😉 ) that I could take in response to this latest news story about Virginia Tech, yet in this blog entry, I wish to address an issue that I trust will bring more healing than hurt to this severely wounded community, still reeling from that most tragic day. $55,000 is a lot of money to some (including me and my family who have even financially lost far more due to this horrific tragedy), yet not so significant an amount in comparison to the $1.3 billion VT operating budget. This latest federal determination reveals a greater societal problem and primarily serves to stir up the emotions and hurts that have followed this terrible tragedy. These fines are not enough to make things right and not even as much as the disciplinary panel involved wanted them to be. There is no way to place a monetary value on certain things. In fact, one human soul is of far more value!

Think about it. What do you value? What value do you place on the things that you have? What would you do if you lost all your possessions in a fire or flood or perhaps even through this current downturn in the U.S. and world’s economy? What if you lost everything through an earthquake or Tsunami or deadly radiation contamination, such as those currently suffering in Japan? Of what real value are the material possessions that you have? Would you give your life for them (if you are not doing so already)? What about those people and relationships in your life? Are there not some things that are of more value? How many people give most of their time and energy for things like acceptance and love from others? Indeed, what is of more value to you?

Did you know that the way you live will reveal the answers to these questions? It really does not take that long to figure out what a person considers of more value in their life. Our daily actions give us away. We prove what we value (and even how much), by the time and energy we put into any action or give to any person. We reveal what is of more value to us as we daily interact with others. Our bank and credit card transactions reveal this as well. Simply put, we pay for and put money into the things that we value. As previously noted (see blogs entries such as my 09-28-08 “MONEY, LOVE and TRAGEDY”), you will either love (value) money and use people to get more or you will love (value) people and use money to give more. So, what does your life reveal that is of value to you and what do your actions show that you consider of more value?

Friend, I trust this article is challenging you to think about this further. The things that we cannot see with our physical eyes usually end up being of more value that what we can see. When properly learned, the spiritual truths that I present will provide you greater healing than will any substance or monetary remittance. When you come to consider the spiritual of more and even of the greatest value, then the emotional and even the physical things that you value will fall into their proper places. You, as a human soul, are of more value than any material substance or any other earthly creature. Those who have come to value their Creator and His Word and His way, can be confident that HE values them. Jesus said that we need not fear what may happen or what any person will do to us, so long as we fear Him Who has the power over the soul—even to cast one into hell (Luke 12:4-6)! Jesus said, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).

You can see what is of more value to GOD; Now, what is of more value to you?

Whether or not you have had an earthquake of nuclear proportions (see my last blog entry 😉 ), you may have come to realize that life and even time itself moves on. Because of the precision that GOD has Created in our Universe and the way HE has established heavenly bodies for us to measure time, time marches on. We are powerless to change this. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours; hours turn to days and days to weeks; weeks turn to months and months to years. Often, years pass by before we realize all that has been happening. It may not be until mid life (for the typical 70-80 years) and some “crisis” of thinking and vocation or perhaps not even until later in life that a person comes to realize the more important priorities. This need not be so. You will either let time and life manage you as you just manage to exist day to day or you will manage your life and time and exist with more meaning in all you do, both now and in the future. Is your attitude, “well, I’ll manage” or “well, I’ll Manage!”?

The dictionary definition of manage is first, “to bring about or succeed in accomplishing, sometimes despite difficulty or hardship” and secondly, “to take charge or care of.” Manage can also simply mean “to handle” or “to continue to function” or “get along.” There is only one definition of usage that I found, where manage means something less than “properly handling.” In this case, manage means simply “to conduct business“ or “be in charge.” I submit that unless a person’s priorities are in the proper order that corresponds to the reality of Creation, that their managing will only mean that they are “in charge.” Being “in charge” of some things or some people for a given purpose does not mean that this time of management will result in what is best or even proper. The results will primarily depend upon the person who is “in charge” and how well they manage. 🙂

Life does not always present circumstances that are easy to manage. In fact, living in a world that is fallen from the way it was Created means that there will often be less than desirable circumstances to manage. How do you handle continuing to daily function when bad things happen? What if it is a natural disaster, such as an earthquake like so many places have recently experienced? What if it is the loss of a job or simply the negative effects of a downturn in the economy? How do you personally manage when difficulty comes or tragedy occurs? What if a loved one is killed in an accident or even murdered in some crime? What if you are just betrayed and abandoned by family and friends? Will you still manage to go on when life isn’t fair or going the way that it should? You will grow discouraged and depressed unless you keep a higher perspective. You will either turn to substances to help you cope or deaden the pain or you will turn to GOD and others to help you. Various substances, such as alcohol or drugs, will hinder your ability to best function and they may even lead to further tragedy or your life ending. People will also often let you down and may even further hinder your ability to manage. The only way to properly manage is to decide “I’ll manage!” by turning to GOD for His Grace and help.

I know these things are true, because I believe in The ONE Who claimed to be and IS “The Way, The Truth and The Life” (see John 14:6). Though I have personally experienced blow after blow from family, friends and the trusted mental health and legal organizations of society, I have managed by keeping a higher perspective (see my 04-26-08 Blog Entry, “PERSPECTIVE”) and by living according to higher education (see my 06-29-08 article “HIGHER Education”). I know I’ll Manage and do so as best as circumstances allow, as I continue to “Trust GOD and His Word, no matter what” (a key theme of my book and the last thing I said to my five dear children when they were last at my home in 2007).

Friend, whatever life brings your way and whatever GOD gives you to manage, I trust that you will not default to only what seems easiest or what helps you simply exist. I trust you will not merely be “in charge” of things or people, but that you will properly handle whatever you are given to the best of your abilities. I trust that you will learn to keep the highest perspective and live by the highest revelation and education that you can to best manage whatever GOD allows to come your way. As for me, I know “I’ll Manage!”