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Dear Editor:

It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation of Haiti from the earthquake. My prayers are certainly with them as countless others’ prayers. Many folks, thankfully, are putting “legs” on those prayers by sending financial aid, food, clothing, medical supplies.

With the other long line of disasters, natural and man-made such as Katrina, Rita, 9-11, the fall of our republic, I say and I don’t say it flippantly, but very seriously, “We ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Jesus said it very plainly in Matthew 24:4-8 “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and the kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (This prophecy is repeated in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:7-36).

Some of you no doubt are saying why would a God, who supposedly is a God of love, allow such a thing? I’ll ask you this question, “Why would a creature who is elevated above all the other creatures in God’s creation, who was made in God’s own image abuse his unique freedom of choice and tell the creator, “I hate you. I want to be my own god.”

It’s interesting, with all this calamity with the economy, terrorism, freaky weather, folks flock to Wal-Mart and buy their Da Vinci Codes, Harry Potter books, vampire novels and yeah, the peace symbol is “cool” again. (Sure, it looks cute on a VW or a tie-dyed T-shirt. Satan likes it that way. It’s a broken upside down cross which mocks Jesus’ crucifixion).

Hey I’m not calling for a boycott and no, I am not demanding that this book or that book be censored or you go paint over our peace symbol on your car. I’m not the Holy Spirit. It’s perplexing that many of the folks that buy this stuff show up at church on Sunday. Even after they trust Jesus as their Savior they hang out with Jesus maybe one hour and the other six and three-quarters days they hang out with the competition.

Then they wonder why they’re not growing in their relationship with the Lord, why they’re unhappy with this church so they try that church and, are unhappy with it, too. Finally, they stop going altogether and wonder why God’s so far off and blame the hypocrites when in fact, if they bothered to look they would find quite a few people who are the real deal.

Here’s a little good news. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. Though He is exacting judgement upon the wicked, His hand is stretched out to forgive and restore that broken relationship with Him. He would rather forgive a sinner than send him to hell. Neighbor, if you put two fingers of one hand on the wrist of the other hand and feel a pulse. God has given you an opportunity to seek His mercy and grace.
Don’t waste that opportunity.

Sincerely,
William D. McClure
417 Mt. Lebanon Road
Maryville, TN 37804