Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

A number of factors come into why I am writing about this subject today.  As I have tried to work through my own ongoing tragedy (stemming from the VT Tragedy) I have been told by many, even legal authorities as recent as 03-25-09, that I am just stuck on wanting things my way.  This reminds me of the Frank Sinatra hit song, “My Way” in 1969 (incidentally, the year I was born, and when Henry Morris was essentially forced out of Virginia Tech).  I do not intend to critique or comment directly on that “My Way” song, yet I would like to play off of that idea again here and what we often hear about “My Way” or “Your Way” and even “The Way.”

Is it not true that we all want things done “our way”?  Some may just give in to the thinking of others around them and follow the latest fad, news story, or suggestions from those they hear; this is still the way they choose to take and often paradoxically seen as “the easy way out.”  This is more of an escape mentality.  Others try to force their way and even do so to extremes, such as violence toward others.  This is what happened with the VT Shooter, who became isolated from others to the point that he forced his way.  This is an attack response (and a most extreme one in the case of Seung Hui-Cho). I believe that the majority of people try to live in a more conciliatory middle, though they sometimes take a way of escape or occasionally even a way of attack.  In the middle, you will accept other’s thinking, yet even work to try to persuade others to agree with some of your own thinking.  A related subject here is acceptance (or conversely “Rejection” as I blogged about recently on 03-17-09—“The Tragedy of REJECTION”).

So, back to what led me to think and write about this today.  Yes, I do want things to be done my way, however I believe it is not originally or even ultimately “my way” that I am seeking.  In reality, and to be quite open and honest with you, dear reader, I am working to try to persuade people to be following GOD’S WAY, which as the Bible teaches, is “The Way.”  In fact, before they were called Christians, believers in Jesus Christ were called “people of The Way.”  (see also Acts 24:14ff).  Granted, there are many opinions about what the Bible actually teaches, however, most often that is used as a way of escape from following what it plainly teaches.  I think that the real problem most have with the Bible is not so much that they do not understand it, but that they are reluctant to follow something it teaches that they do not yet accept.

Following the Bible’s plain teaching does not mean that we lose our individuality or our freedom (see my “To Be FREE” poem).  God does give us much freedom (even what America’s founders called natural law or “inalienable rights”).  I will also address these concepts in my #8 of the Top Ten Lessons (tabbed above).  We are a diverse people, yet there can and should be a unity, even on various levels.  Personally, I DO WANT MY WAY and I want to convince you of my way, yet only in as much as it corresponds with The Way, as revealed in God’s book, the Bible.

Regardless of what you may think there, you should consider the EXCLUSIVE and quite INCREDIBLE statement by JESUS CHRIST (illustrating how wicked and arrogant He would be if it were not actually true).  Jesus said, as recorded in John 14:6:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

I am standing on The Way as revealed in The Word, and have been doing so most of my life at incredible personal cost and tragedy (especially since 04-16-07).  What way will you follow, dear friend?  This way of Jesus is also Truth and abundant Life because it brings healing to the spirit and the whole person!  You simply cannot find a better way—search and see if you doubt me.

It has become more popular today for people to talk about RESPONSIBILITY.  This is a good thing to talk about, for not talking about it leads to the tragedy of losing rights and privileges (see my 02-09-09 Blog:  “RIGHTS and Responsibilities” found below or at https://vtlessonstolearn.com/2009/02/09/rights-and-responsibilities/).  You may have even heard someone recently say, such as some political leader, “I take responsibility for that.”   It is refreshing and encouraging to hear someone actually talking about responsibility, yet what is The Tragedy that so often comes With RESPONSIBILITY?

I looked up the word “responsibility” to make sure I wasn’t missing something here.  😉   Aside from the typical definition using a part of the word to give the meaning (studying “responsible” can help too), the dictionary says that Responsibility is: “a. moral, legal, or mental accountability; b. RELIABILITY, TRUSTWORTHINESS.”  The word “BURDEN” is also used.  The first definition given for “Responsible” says, “liable to be called on to answer.” The explanation given also says that liable has the idea of “being held to account.”  The applications here are rather obvious.

When a person says that they are taking responsibility for something, this means that they are taking ownership of that said thing to work toward a desired result.  It means that if they are being true or honest about what they say, they will be taking some sort of action to bring about the result desired for the one to whom they acknowledge accountability.  So, the persons involved in any “responsibility” are 1. The one(s) taking ownership; and 2. The one(s) to whom they will answer.  Uncertainty comes when the goals of the one(s) looking for an answer are not clear or unified; failure is certain when the one taking responsibility does not act to meet the understood goals.

Practically and personally this comes down to you, dear reader, BEING A PERSON LIVING UP TO YOUR WORD.  It means that if you say that you take responsibility, you will be acting and working to bring about the result.  If you tell someone you will do something, then you must actually do it.  If not, then your word is not trustworthy and you are not being responsible.  If you fail to keep your word, you should repent and seek forgiveness from those to whom you gave your word, yet failed to live up to it.

Oh, friend, the Tragedy coming with Responsibility is not living up to your word or even more so, not acknowledging the ULTIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY SOURCE you have.  Your CREATOR, JESUS CHRIST, said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).  We WILL have to give an account to HIM—not only for what we say, but what we do or fail to do and even what we think on  (c.f. Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10 for the believer; and even Revelation 20:12 for the unbeliever).

Please BE a person of your word!  Do not merely SAY you take RESPONSIBILITY.  Be certain of what your CREATOR requires of you and do it!  You will give an account to HIM (see also Hebrews 9:27) for EVERYTHING, and that day, dear friend, will be a TRAGEDY for you if you do not have forgiveness for your failures in living up to your own RESPONSIBILITY.  None of us are perfect there.  We need JESUS CHRIST!

I’ve been thinking about rejection and acceptance again lately.  This is a VERY IMPORTANT thing to understand.  Inherent in each living soul is the desire to be accepted and loved.  It is a key factor in all behavior and your thinking here will help determine the general mood that you will have from day to day.  Believe it or not, you can trace most tragedies, including the VT Tragedy, to the underlying root tragedy—REJECTION.

Everyone wants and needs to have some sense of meaning or belonging in life.  A newborn baby can be fed and kept alive, but without interaction and some degree of acceptance from others, the baby’s brain will not be stimulated to develop and it will die apart from life support.  A young child who finds no further sense of belonging will first turn inward and may even come to act out-ward.  As we grow and mature, we continue to look for a sense of belonging and when this is not found or found as we desire, tragedy most often follows.  Rejection (passive or active) is the root tragedy that almost always leads to more tragedy.

So, how does this practically apply to you, dear reader?  You have this inborn need, yet reality proves that you will not be accepted by everyone around you.  You simply cannot be, as there will inevitably be some around you who reject you or at least your way of thinking and behaving.  You cannot please everyone all the time.  In fact, the extent to which you live your life primarily looking to please other people is the extent to which you will be controlled by them and that your life will be filled with problems.  So, how can you avoid being or feeling rejected?

Dear friend, there is ONE who longs to know you personally!  HE is your CREATOR.  HE has accepted you as HIS special creation and specially worked with your genetic information to form you in your mother’s womb (see Psalm 139).  HE wants to extend HIS great love and blessings to you and has demonstrated this love through HIS GREAT SACRIFICE.  The LORD JESUS CHRIST became sin (rejection) for You (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)!  In fact, HE loves you SO MUCH that HE will not force you against your will to even accept HIM!  You should, as HE IS THE LORD and Your JUDGE.

REJECTION is a tragedy, yet the greatest personal tragedy for anyone (with eternal implications) is to REJECT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!  Because the LORD is HOLY, HE cannot accept you into HIS perfect heaven and presence unless you accept HIM for Who HE IS.  HE wants to even give you an abundant life now (John 10:10)!  When you accept your Creator, JESUS CHRIST, and His Sacrifice on the cross for your sin, you are then adopted into HIS family.  You are then ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED (Ephesians 1:6).  You can then come to know the POWER of HIS Resurrection.

Today being March 17^th, many celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Saint Patrick of Ireland understood this relationship with his Creator, Jesus Christ and was a missionary to help others understand it (not to be drunken with Irish beer or mysterious “luck” as is often promoted on this day).  Do not be green with envy or jealousy of others.  J  Even when others mistreat you or even come to REJECT you, you must not REJECT THE LORD.  Trusting GOD and HIS WORD is the ONLY WAY to avoid the tragedy of REJECTION.

What will it take to wake you up to action and being what you should?  Will it take a tragedy?  Will it take the death of a loved one?  Will it take economic hardship?  Will it take poor health?  Will it take “natural” disaster?  I wonder how the LORD GOD feels when all these tragedies fail to wake people up to reality and proper change?  We should study what Jesus Christ did for the world there to make salvation possible and procure peace!  Well, I started this article thinking of the three main news stories this week of Shooting Rampage Tragedies.  First, we had the pastor in Illinois shot through his Bible during a church service.  We have a shocking shooting rampage story from Alabama with more details coming out, even today.  I also just heard of another school shooting where at least 16 were reported killed in the astute country of Germany.  What is going on here?  When will the world, the leader of the free world (America) and when will you, dear reader, WAKE UP?!?

I have blogged much on this website about all of these things.  I am experientially positioned to do so from the tragic situation I am still facing, following the worst school shooting rampage in America—the 04-16-07 VT Tragedy.  I am finding it baffling and INCREDULOUS that people are not stepping up to do right in much greater numbers.  What will it take to bring about repentance?  GOD knows and we all had best BE READY for there is a coming judgment on the entire world (in particular to bring about the repentance of Israel).  Your Creator wants to bring about your personal repentance too.  The WRATH OF GOD will be poured out when it becomes full from the sins of men.  Please don’t choke on what I am saying here and investigate more–even in things I have publicly written about on this site.  The Bible gives us the answers here.  Yet, what are we to think about these most recent shooting rampages?

The problems in each shooting case are numerous.  The lessons needing to be learned also abound!  Each situation reveals weaknesses in our thinking and the societal structures.  It also reveals the sinfulness and dissatisfaction of the human heart.  We cannot control everything around us and the answer is NOT to regulate with more and more restrictions.  If you take away guns from people, will crime cease?  The answer there is obvious.  If you regulate banks will you do away with greed?  Certainly, we must have rules, yet rules will not change the human heart.  There is a greater law to discover!  There is an internal problem in the human heart that must first be fixed for healing and peace to be possible (see my 07-12-08 Blog, “Paradise Lost” https://vtlessonstolearn.com/2008/07/12/paradise-lost/ among other things on this site).

Shooting rampages are terrible tragedies and reminders of the frailty of life and importance of eternal things.  You, dear reader, can also help to prevent such tragedies by WAKING UP and being all you can be, as your Creator intends for you.  We must learn the lessons of life and of history.  We must be sure that we are healed from the inside out.  We must WAKE UP if we are to experience God’s blessings (so often wished for)!

Learn from the past, live in the present and leave the future to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!  Be what you should by trusting in and yielding to your Creator.  Help others come to know the healing and peace you will then have.  Tragedies will increase all around us until we do.

Spring Break is nearly here for many and tragedy is looming.  Between now and the week surrounding Easter, college campuses and other schools will give students a break from studies.  This year, the government has even warned that Americans not travel into Mexico, with the current unrest happening there.  Economic hardship may even be impacting some people from traveling as they might.  It is nice to have a time away from working or even your studies, yet there is a grave danger that looms during these times, and tragedy is often at the door…

Whether during the time away at Spring Break or simply at a party some night or on the weekend, many people’s lives become clouded with tragedy.  Relationships can become stronger during these times away from the routine, yet often there are casual relationships that turn bad and even immoral behavior that ends up leaving a tragic impact for life.  Often, there are parties filled with alcohol and sexual stimulation and immorality that will often even lead to violence.  Sexual crimes and assaults are common and even drunk driving after these parties will lead to tragedy for people not even partaking in them.

Even after the “youthful indiscretions,” often peaking around Spring Break times, there is a “party mentality” that seems to follow people into the work force.  If there are not parties happening throughout the week, then certainly there are on the weekends, when work is not as pressing.  I submit that it is the tragedy of this way of thinking that led to the excesses in the business and corporate world and has come to economically impact the entire world today.  More can be developed there, yet I trust you see my point.

People are “just looking for a good time.”  Songs are regularly written about this, and it has even become some human “right” that people will fight for (c.f. the old song that talks about fighting for the “right to party”).  Certainly, the founders of America understood a certain inherent and even unalienable right to pursue “happiness.”  Participating in wild parties and Spring Break excursions may bring a person some high or perceived moment of happiness, yet it will not last and often will lead to tragedy for years to come.  How many lives are forever changed during these party times?

I am not advocating a dull life without any fun.  The Creator of the Universe made so many wonderful things and even made us “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalm 139:14ff).  Jesus, Himself, said that He came to seek and to save the paradise that was originally lost in the Garden of Eden (see Luke 19:10).  There is an evil world system and an evil being that wants to take away any lasting happiness or joy you might find.  It is TRAGIC, if you allow him or the system to deceive and get the best of you.

Consider Jesus’ words in John 10:10:  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

May you come to have this abundant life in Jesus Christ and avoid the tragedy that can come during a “break” from the routine!  May you enjoy life, yet remember that God will bring every work into judgment (c.f. Ecclesiastes 11:9).  Fear God Above All!