Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

There is no question that money plays a necessary role in living and a very important role in the aftermath of a tragedy.  When a tragedy strikes, there are often needs that require money to help alleviate suffering or provide for those effected by the tragedy.  Victims of tragedy are often faced with circumstances that require money and resources for recovery.  It requires money to help bring supplies to those devastated by storms, severe weather or natural disasters.  It also requires money to bring people to the places of helping those who are injured by tragedy.  Sometimes, money (or the lack of it) can even be an important factor leading to a tragedy, brought about from someone’s misguided actions.  If you were paying attention to the statements of Seung-Hui Cho (the VT Tragedy Shooter), you might even remember his railings against those he considered “rich” and hypocritical.  Money is also an element in the majority of crimes and is a leading reason why many couples are tragically separated or divorced.  Money often plays a role leading up to a tragedy and it certainly is needed in the aftermath of a tragedy.  So, is money a curse or a blessing?  I believe this all depends on where LOVE is in the process.  Just consider the current U.S. Stock Market crisis…

Anyone who is paying attention to the U.S. Stock Market or the Markets around the world will easily be reminded of how connected we all are to the Market exchanges of money and how, depending on the markets, each of our lives can be affected in positive or negative ways.  Billions of dollars were lost in the Markets last week and this impacted each of us to various degrees, depending upon our investment in the Markets and our ties to those companies who are invested there.   Unless the U.S. Government steps in to help in some way, there is a likelihood of a rapidly falling Market that would panic people as did the U.S. Stock Market Crash of 1929.  The Great Depression followed that crash.  Lives were drastically affected; many lost their fortunes and many became despondent and depressed, even to the point of taking their lives.

So, how does LOVE come into play?  You can either love money and things, which leads to using people or you can love people, which leads to using money and things to help them.  If we have the resources to help someone we know is in need and we fail to do so, we are not loving those people more than our own money.  The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:17:  “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”  The Apostle Paul warned the young Pastor, Timothy that, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”  (1 Timothy 6:10a).  Jesus said that, “you cannot serve God and mammon [riches/money]” (Luke 16:13b).  Having been impacted through my own personal tragedy, I am much more aware of the truth in these verses.

Friend, are you loving money and using people or loving people and using money?  Please be careful not to love money–you may just lose it and you certainly can’t take it with you.  Demonstrate your love to others by “putting your money where your mouth is.”   You will be blessed in giving from your heart and the LORD will reward you.  Especially look to how you can help people who are effected by tragedy.  They are in greater need.

Recently, I have had several incidents reminding me of the importance of keys.  A key is an instrument that allows you to open something that is locked.  Aside from the obvious understanding of a physical key, speaking of a key can be a reference to the main thing that supports or can help a situation or idea be understood.  Certainly there is even much being talked about and even worked on right now in America as a key to the problems (and even tragedies occurring) in the financial world. When faced with living in the reality of the aftermath of a tragedy, it is easy to lock yourself into a room (a bubble of sorts) that you believe will offer protection from future problems or tragedies. You can easily withdraw and become depressed or at least disengaged and out of touch with what is going on in the real world.  That sense of protection and security is most often actually a prison and can even lead to additional problems or tragedies.  Read further below for more explanation and even check out my 05-13-08 Blog: “An American Idol…SAFETY.”

Security cannot be found in trying to control the changing circumstances of everyday life.  It cannot be found in the opinions or controls of men.  It is found in being secure by knowing your Creator and the one who formed this universe (one that has been severely impacted by sin—see my 07-12-08 Blog “Paradise Lost”).  Nobody can control every part of their life and you certainly cannot control everything that another person chooses to do.  You can, however, control your response to circumstances and even the improper treatment from others.   The key is available, yet it does involve something you cannot physically see.

The key to security, the key to peace, the key to joy, the key to not worrying, the key to freedom, the key to abundant life is to know and fear your Creator (Also my number one in the top 10 lessons—tabbed and referenced above).  As your Creator and the God-Man, Jesus explained the contrast of your options.  He said that you must find your security and life in HIM: “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” (John 10:10).  The wisest man who ever lived wrote about this too.  Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Please do not lock yourself into prison as the result of an injustice or even a tragedy in your life.  People have locked me up, labeled and judged me and even tried to keep me in “prison” (part of my own story and ongoing tragedy).  NOBODY can take the peace and security you can have in your soul!  Please be sure that you are rescued from the prison of your own sins and not locked up and living in the controlled, yet changing rooms of others.  Forgiveness is available to all who believe in the substitutionary death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ (see the Gospel tab above).  Ongoing peace and security are available if you keep the door of your heart open to Him (c.f. Revelation 3:20).   The key is to “Trust God and His Word, no matter what” (more about this statement in my upcoming book).

TODAY–09-11-08–is certainly a day of REMEMBRANCE in light of the terrible 09-11-01 Tragedy that changed the course of modern history and set the stage for the current warfares against terrorism worldwide.  It is a time to especially Reflect upon what happened and the lives of those lost that day.  It is a day to think about what really needs to happen for things to be better in the future–where do we need to reform or better yet, REPENT (see my last related blog there on 09-09-08)?  I believe the greatest tragedy with worldwide impact since 09-11-01 was this “worst U.S. Massacre” on 04-16-07 that also changed the course of modern history, effecting families and particularly educational institutions worldwide.  Anniversaries of tragedies force us to remember.  How we remember and reflect on any tragedy will influence what action we may or may not take.  Given that GOD is ultimately in control of history (what HE does or allows to happen), we had best look to how we need to turn and change (repent) to be more in line with HIS Created Order and will….

If you have been able to watch or pay any attention to the memorial events of this day, you should be amazed, as I am, at the detail and symbolism of what has been done to memorialize these events!  Much work has been done at each particularly impacted location to lead one to reflect.  From the newly unveiled memorial at the Pentagon, we understand that the number, size, direction, substance, and atmosphere surrounding the memorial all have meaning to help the observer better reflect upon what happened and the lives of those lost.  Some people have worked very hard to make this the best memorial possible.

As you remember and reflect on this day or in response to any tragedy, would you please consider doing something even greater?  Would you look to see how you, personally, need to change; how you need to repent (turn around) from some errant path where you may be?  This starts by accepting the Gospel (Good News) about what GOD THE SON (JESUS CHRIST) has done for you (see the Gospel tab above).  Further, any change must occur in your thinking–in your mind–first.  This is the front for the greatest battle (see the “Battle of the Mind” tab above too).  Check out the other Blogs and Poems on this Website.  Learn what you can from tragedy, my own reflections on this website and, most importantly, the unchanging Word of your Creator God (the Bible) that can help you prevail through any tragedy or circumstance you may ever face!

Consider Acts 17:30-31:

30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Whenever there is a tragedy, there is a call for change.  This is either in bolstering things that could prevent a future tragedy or changing course to possibly avoid a future tragedy.  We saw this played out after the 9-11-01 U.S. National Tragedy (the 7th Anniversary in 2 more days).  There have also been a number of measures implemented after the 04-16-07 Virginia Tech Tragedy, both on this campus, in the State of Virginia and even across the country and the world.  Most of these are good in helping prevent future tragedies, yet some are reactionary and could lead to other tragedies if people are not careful (see my 04-21-08 Blog, “Could It Happen Again…Could It Happen To You?”).  Now, some consider the direction of the United States to be a tragedy.  Regardless of how one views that, there is an awareness by most that there needs to be some kind of change.  REFORM is an additional word that has been used of late.  What will bring about the BEST kind of reform or change?  I KNOW the answer!

In the book that I am writing, I will detail more of how the lessons I’ve learned and been reminded of through my own ongoing tragedy are lessons that we all need to learn so that we can do what is possible to prevent future tragedies.  Until there is the BEST change (when Jesus Christ comes back to the earth to reign in righteousness), there will be tribulations.  Jesus said in John 16:33 that there would be tribulations in this world.  Believers in Christ need not worry or fear, regardless of circumstances or tribulations, as HE has overcome the broken and sin-cursed world system (you might want to also check out my 07-12-08 Blog, “Paradise Lost”)!  Until Jesus comes back again to reign, we are to do our best to live in righteousness and order in society.

So, when one looks at where our U.S. Society is (and even the world at large), there is a broad recognition that something needs to change.  The debate will continue as to what opinion is best suited, when implemented, to bring about real change and reform.  Friends, man’s opinions can only bring about reform.  Following God’s opinions, as HE has revealed them in His Holy Word–the Bible–is the ONLY WAY TO SEE THE BEST CHANGE POSSIBLE.  This would be REVIVAL!  May you, dear reader, be revived in your own heart and life and work to spread this to those around you, wherever you go!

If you have further questions here, please check out the other things on this site or contact me (see the info. below).  Feel free to comment too by logging in and replying on the screen to your right.

Facts are facts–reality does not change.  Feelings however, do change–according to mood, thought or your response to circumstances.  When a tragedy happens, such as the VT Massacre or some effect from weather, like a hurricane, your perspective will have a lot to do with how things go (see my 04-26-07 Blog, “PERSPECTIVE”).  You cannot change the facts, so you must be certain to have the best INTERPRETATION of the facts.  Only then can the right perspective prevail and lead to the right feelings and actions.  The starting point is to have the right interpretation…

Each of us looks at the world through our own eyes or perspective.  Because we are all unique people, it is possible to look at the same event and interpret it differently.  This is true for everything, including a basic understanding of the way our world works.  Consider the opposing views of Creation and Evolution.  Both sides look at the same facts, yet come to opposite conclusions.  The interpretation of the evidence is the key, and interpretation often relies on a presupposition.  The observable evidence is the same, yet the conclusions are often vastly different, depending on the assumption, or presupposition.

When it comes to things that cannot be directly observed, one relies upon experience and speculation.  This is where opinions come in and why there are so many different views of things that are more abstract.  Now, when it comes to dealing with a tragedy, you cannot change the fact of it happening; you can only be diligent to have the best interpretation of the facts.  This is where I say having an eternal perspective is the key.

We simply do not know everything.  We are not GOD.  We do not have everything figured out either.  GOD does and is even working all things together for good (Romans 8:28), for those who love Him and have believed in Him.  He has revealed this and many other truths to us in His HOLY WORD, the Bible.  By reading and studying the Bible, you can have an eternal perspective.  But what about all the interpretations people have about the Bible?  This is where much confusion comes.

You must interpret the Bible as it is written–at face value, unless the context determines it has another meaning.  This is how we interpret everything else in life (or should) and this is how we must interpret Scripture.  It is not up to us to make it say what we want it to say (c.f. 2 Peter 1:20-21).  It is not of any private interpretation.  Scripture does have many personal applications, but one primary interpretation.

If you have further questions here, please contact me (see info. below) or respond with a comment.