Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

Reflecting upon the 3^rd Anniversary of the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy and how GOD works to bring beauty from ashes got me thinking about what I would write next.  The news of a thick plume of ash coming from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull (try to pronounce that 😉 ) Volcano and disrupting flights in Europe and around the world further led me to this subject.  The Blog title was sealed when a friend recently reminded me of a song from the 1968 Movie Musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:  “From the Ashes of Disaster Grow the Roses of Success!”  How is it possible for beauty to grow from ashes?  How can good come from tragedy?

There is nothing good about tragedy in itself.  Tragedy can devastate you and certainly leads to great emotions of grief, sorrow and sadness.  When you dwell in that sorrow and sadness too long, depression will naturally follow and then the tragedy will be compounded.  When disaster strikes we are stopped from living life the way we normally would.  A disaster reorders the particulars in our lives.  Disasters force us to learn to survive and live in new ways. Beauty grows from the ashes of disaster when we let the dust settle and then water the ground with the truth.  Good comes from tragedy when a person learns to accept the reality of what has happened and not allow the impact of that tragic reality to depress or defeat them in some way.  Prevailing takes mental and emotional effort and will not occur naturally.

Philosophically, this comes down to properly understanding why GOD has allowed evil to exist in the first place.  This is such an important and foundational subject that I take time to address and discuss this in the opening chapter of the teaching part of my recently released book about the VT Tragedy and my ensuing personal tragedy.  Learning the theology of this will help you understand how GOD intends for beauty to grow from ashes.  HE intends to and indeed will make “all things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Prior to this verse, Romans chapter 8 reveals how GOD subjected the Creation to futility with the greater goal in mind.  One day in the future, after GOD’s purposes have been worked out and His people proven true, the LORD will deliver the Creation from the bondage of sin and bring it into the glorious liberty HE originally intended.  The question is, “Will you be a part of that prevailing crowd?”

The good news is that our CREATOR—JESUS CHRIST (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17) has made it possible for us to overcome the trials, troubles and tragedies of life.  He gave His life as the sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sins.  In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus applied the text of Isaiah 61:1-3 to Himself:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Friend, GOD would bring beauty from the ashes of the Virginia Tech Tragedy.  HE will do this for you in any tragedy you face, if you come to know Him and allow Him to work in your life.  He is doing this for me with the perpetual tragedy I have been facing since the Virginia Tech Tragedy.  My book and all I am writing is a reflection of this.  JESUS CHRIST will help your life bloom and be a sweet smelling fragrance to Him and all those around you.  Will you allow Him to help you overcome?  Will you allow Him to bring beauty from any ashes in your life?

Repulsive!  Stupid!  Hateful!  Silly.  Sad.  Ignorant. Crazy.  Psychotic! Unenlightened.  Naïve.  Shallow. Helpful?…

A wide range of emotions and responses permeated the streets of Blacksburg Friday as a few members from the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) group from Kansas chose to descend upon this tragedy torn town.  I was there.  I grieved in my heart for this group and for many of those that I saw in the counter-protesting.  The police stopped me from delivering my “Finding GRACE!” article (last one written), but I gave one to the officer who wouldn’t let me approach the WBC people.  There were only around half a dozen from the WBC at the three sites chosen for protesting, while hundreds lined up around them at each stop to protest back.  Music occasionally blared back at them.  Cars drove by and expressed support for VT and the counter-protestors by laying on their horns and bicyclers often rode by chanting, “Let’s Go!” with the crowd replying “Hokies!”  A couple of guys streaked around the area down Main Street, through the suddenly cooler and windy weather ;-), painted in orange and maroon and wearing just their skivvies.  At the first protest area by the Hillel Jewish Center, a couple of lesbian dressed engineering students came up beside me and were the main ones yelling chants back to the WBC group.  A couple of smaller children from the WBC even held up their incendiary signs.  There was quite a diverse group responding, ranging from the outwardly homosexual proponents to the more obvious and mainstream conservative Christians.  The police and authorities kept things in order and overall, it was a nonviolent demonstration on both sides.

I submit that this group was doing GOD’s work here in Blacksburg on 04-09-10, only one week from the 3^rd VT Anniversary of 04-16-07.  Please do not misunderstand me.  I do not support what they were promoting.  I also do not believe that GOD approves of it.  Then again, according to HIS Word, HE would also not have approved of much of the rebellious oriented spirit in the counter-protesting.  WBC matters, but not for the reasons that drive them to their insensitive, but legal protesting around the Country.  Why and how could this be?

America is a Country where free speech has been protected.  Politically correct and academic, psychological and evolutionary thinking endangers free speech (take my tragedy, for a good modern day example), yet it is free speech and a free press that has been Constitutionally protected.  Truth becomes rather apparent for those who are spiritually enlightened, as they reflect on their surroundings and even their own emotions.  What WBC did was to bring out what many had in their hearts.  The responses were quite revealing.  I submit that GOD used them, similar to how HE uses tragedy, such as with the VT Tragedy or even the more recent mining tragedy in nearby West Virginia.  GOD does not tempt us with evil (James 1:13ff), nor does He passively ignore or approve of sin in any form (see Psalm 7:11).  GOD gives people over to their own ways and even uses those peoples not following Him to judge His own people (c.f. many Old Testament stories, other historical examples and Scriptures such as Psalm 17:14).  When speech is free (not absolutely, of course), Truth will eventually prevail.

I speak more about these things in the book detailing my personal tragedy, inextricably linked to the Virginia Tech Tragedy.  I focus on what I call the “Top Ten Lessons” (also tabbed above).  MUCH still needs to “Be” learned; things we still need to “See.”  WBC matters and so does your own response.  What comes from your heart through this WBC group?  Why does that matter?  What will you B?  What do you C?

One thing often misunderstood about GOD is His Graciousness.  Because Grace is by definition, “unmerited favor,” we often fall into the trap of thinking our efforts or “works” have nothing to do with Grace.  This is not a complete understanding.  I submit this is one obstacle blocking the blessings we all desire to see.  This relates to Eternal Salvation of course, so we must be very careful to get this right!  When you do properly understand this, you will be able to make it through whatever you face.  You will learn to trust GOD during the more “silent” times where He is not working in a more obvious way so that all would have to see.  You will learn to face any tragedy and trust GOD to triumphantly walk through it so you can prevail!  You must be Finding GRACE!

You will often hear people talk about how we are living in the “last days” (and indeed, we are, though this can also be misunderstood).  Jesus did speak about how the time nearing His coming again would be “as in the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:26).  The greater point in this, though, is that certain human behavior will continue on despite all the events happening in the world.  The thing we all must look for no matter what age of time we live in or in whatever circumstances we face, is GOD’s Grace.  That is what Noah “found” (Genesis 6:8) and it enabled him to be a channel that GOD could use to change the direction of the world (you may want to also reference that last poem I have written:  “Would GOD Use You?” –see the Poems tab).

Are you experiencing GOD’s Grace?  Of course, everyone is on a general level, for this is the Age (of Grace) we live in since Jesus Christ paid the price for sin on the cross.  My question goes deeper—are you growing in Grace as the Apostle Peter admonished (2 Peter 3:18)?  Have you found and even applied Grace to work in the first place?  That initial admission is by faith alone and not through any works.  Despite what some teach or say, GOD does not automatically favor you because of what Jesus Christ has done.  A common theological and psychological error today says that God loves you and gives His Grace to you because you are valuable to Him.  On the contrary, you are valuable to GOD because HE loves you and HE wants to extend His Grace to you if you allow Him to do so!  Would you specially favor and bless someone or even some Nation (see my 01-21-09 Blog: “The Tragedy of WISHful thinking”) who is not committed to following what you know is the right way?  Should we think that GOD would do any differently?  Do you see how so many (possibly even you?) have fallen for this error?

Dear reader, I do wish for you that you would come to accept and then come to grow in the Grace that GOD longs to lavish upon you.  GOD’s Grace will sustain you no matter what you face.  I know!  J  As this Virginia Tech community now comes to the third Anniversary of 04-16-07, may we all realize that our Gracious GOD has a special word for those who would turn to Him and it is also a 4:16!  Hebrews 4:16 says:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

May you be Finding GRACE to help you truly prevail, no matter what comes your way!

What do you think about all of this talk about healthcare and our being told we have the “RIGHT” to this?  That is essentially the basis for why the U.S. Congress has now passed a bill that is arguably Unconstitutional and most certainly unsustainable to actually best care for the health of all those in America.  What is this expected standard for “health” anyway?  Is Health Care a “RIGHT” that our Creator has given us, akin to what America’s Founders said was at least, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?  That is what we are being told by many leaders, but is this true?

Before discussing this further, it should be remembered that our “RIGHTS” are only as good as those in authority are at living up to the responsibility to enforce them.  You may wish to review my 02-09-09 Blog, “RIGHTS and Responsibilities.”  I also discuss these issues more in my soon to be released book—right at the time of the 3^rd VT Tragedy Anniversary on 04/16/10.  Should not a parent have the right to be around and help teach and direct their children?  Should we not have the right to freely speak our mind and opinion?  Should we not have the right to seek to worship GOD the way that we personally choose?  These are basic rights—Freedom of Faith, Speech and Family—that I personally am fighting for and have suffered much tragedy, as they have been repeatedly denied to me or diminished by authorities I have encountered.

Back to this “RIGHT” to health care:  Should certain “care” that others deem important or necessary for you be forced upon you?  That is what happened to me in the immediate aftermath of the Virginia Tech Tragedy.  I was, against reason and good judgment, but in a fearful and sensitive environment, involuntarily admitted to a mental Hospital.  I was then forced to take various anti-psychotic medications.  I have since been legally kept from my family due to this initial forced “healthcare treatment.”  Do you see what a dangerous place our Country is in?  Do you understand the control that the Government and others are about to have over your life and health?  We need to WAKE UP and LIVE UP to our GOD-given responsibilities if we hope to secure our RIGHTS and any standard of health we deem important.

Personally, are you being responsible to live in healthy ways that you can, and do you have habits of good, personal hygiene?  Do you allow for putting substances into your body to “treat” things that you face physically, emotionally or even spiritually?  Friends, I am not advocating that any human being control you in these things and particularly not any nebulous and changing “Government” authority or system of thought.  I am concerned for our Country on many levels and primarily on the level that we are spiritually weak and sickly.  We are pleasure seeking for things and relationships, which are incapable of delivering the greatest pleasure and happiness that we seek!  We are talking a lot about spiritual things today, but most often denying the true power of GOD (c.f. 2 Timothy 3:5).  We are focusing more on our own ideas of education and not the “HIGHER Education” that I spoke about in my 06-29-08 Blog Article.  We are not doing very well at keeping our own word (I wrote about that too 😉 ), much less GOD’s Word—the Bible.

I wish good health for you and that must start with spiritual healing.  Do you know GOD through the Person of Jesus Christ?  Have you experienced His Grace and Forgiveness from your sin?  It is available, but GOD is not like the current Government authorities who would under good intentions “force” some deemed health care onto you.  You have to come to Him and believe on Him.  You have to ask for His help to be happy, no matter what problems or tragedy you face.  Consider the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 17:22 and whether or not your spirit is whole:

“A merry heart does good, like medicine [literally, is good medicine], But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

That, and not fear, doubt and anxiety, is the RIGHT Health to have and you can only have this in a personal relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ, no matter what other healthcare you seek.

The power of music often amazes me.  Music most often brings people together, though it can even tear people apart or bring about tragedy.  Music is meditation.  It is a language that can transcend various speaking languages and even other cultural barriers.  Music is so powerful, that you would hardly even be interested in any movie, without the sound and music in the background.  Just try watching a movie without the sound and see the level of impact it has on you then.  Many couples have “a song” that helps fuse them together.  Songs play a part in so many aspects of our lives!  Companies sell products using music and people’s moods are often controlled through the music to which they particularly listen.  Students often can tell you about the latest songs or let you listen to an MP3 file on their electronic device.  Many people even put songs onto their cell phones or to be the ring tune for when certain people are calling.  Did you know that GOD is Musical?  What music might GOD most appreciate?  Can you NAME that TUNE?

When you talk about music you are apt to get strong emotional reactions from others, for music ties itself to the emotions in our lives.  If you dare to criticize any type of music, you most certainly will face a reaction from those who seek to protect what is tied to their emotional feelings.  Music is also mathematical.  Those who are naturally gifted in music or who have learned more about how to play some musical instrument understand more about the detailed patterns of sound and how they work together to make music.  Music is very influential in our lives and very powerful!

Evolutionary minded people have a problem trying to show how various music has come about.  Sometimes, they suggest that people have just learned music from simple experimentation or mimicking certain animals.  Clearly, music (and much else) cannot be reasonably explained by evolution and it goes much deeper than some learned practice.  GOD Himself must be musical because of how HE created sound.  There is even a harmony of sound in nature.  Scientists have also learned that inanimate objects, such as rocks or even planets, have a certain sound frequency through their atomic vibrations.  You just have to be in tune with the frequency to hear the sound.  Just as roaming through the radio station will tune you in to various frequencies to hear different music, so tuning in to matter on the molecular level will bring out particular sounds at various frequencies.

As I noted in my 01-30-09 Blog, “Choices and Voices” (which I wrote during my 3^rd involuntary commitment), Scripture teaches that there is a voice or speech and language that comes from all of what GOD has created (Psalm 19:1-3).  All of the sounds that GOD has created are forms of worship toward Him.  There is nothing inherently evil about sound or individual notes of music.  Music, however, is not amoral (as many Christians today try to argue), for music is a collection of sound patterns that convey moral messages.  Is it not then logical and easy to understand how some combination of sound patterns run contrary to the way that GOD wants us to live and especially to worship Him?  In a fallen world filled with evil and with a created being (Lucifer) who is called “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), is it not easy to see that their must be music that is counter to what would be in tune with GOD Himself?  Would that not be a very common thing for the devil to now use, particularly with him originally being Created to specially worship GOD (Ezekiel 28:13ff)?

Do you know what sacred music is?  Did you know that music is an important part of the story in my own personal tragedy?  This explains why my phone line randomly breaks (discovered since 05-21-07), when I sing sacred music and rarely breaks up when simply talking.  Can you NAME the TUNE of what music pleases and truly worships GOD?  Meditating on music that pleases GOD will give you much power and help you be in TUNE with HIS NAME (see Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).

I welcome any feedback or communication with any wishing to discuss this further.  See my contact information on this Website below.