"...something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it, they were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the devil, they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the Prince, true story. And so the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' And they kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, and ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor... the Island of Hispaniola is one island cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is, is, prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty, same Islands, uh, they need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come, but right now we’re helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable."

It is a presumptuous and dangerous thing to claim to know God’s intentions concerning specific disasters.  It is never acceptable for us to pronounce why God has done something unless God  has actually already told us. While the Bible reveals that God has often judged nations in the past, and has used natural disasters to implement that judgment, it does not follow that every natural disaster is an instance of divine judgment. 

God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1 ).

Most "natural disasters" as we call them, are a result of these laws at work. Most times we only give these events this name when humans are in the way. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. The movements of earth's plates in the surface of our planet are part of the ongoing way God has created this world. Is there great tragedy in the great numbers of humans who have died as a result of the quake?  Most certainly.  But this doesn't mean these deaths came because these individuals were under a special wrath or judgment of God.  Didn't their sin or their wickedness cause it?  

Our understanding of the earthquake in Haiti should be set in the context of Jesus' response to a natural disaster:

"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sin-ners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13: 1-5 ).

Suffering-- especially the suffering of others-- should remind us of our own tendency toward self-centeredness and generally missing the mark sin.  Suffering should always call us to reconsider our life, our values, and even our theology by the light in Jesus' clear message.  Jesus is saying that there is something more tragic than a natural disaster.  All who are out of step with God are in peril.  Do I mean by this that God will send a specific wrathful punishment or disaster upon those who are not right with God.  No, I do not.  I mean that life is inherently fragile. We do not know what tomorrow will bring.  I believe Jesus was teaching us the following: since our eternal destiny is hanging in the balance, it is a perilous thing to go on living, not being right with God.

Back to Pat Robertson's points.  Is there sin in the life of the Haitian people? I wouldn't deny it. The Bible says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."   It follows then that we, the America people, are not blameless or without sin.  So if we are going to get out the brush and paint Haitians with the label of sinner, let's be sure we paint ourselves with the same brush.

May we not lay the blame for this suffering on people of Haiti, or on the Devil, or upon God. Satan may be "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4 ), but the God of all eternity is still in control.

Since we have this opportunity to be kind, to show mercy, to help our neighbor, may we do it.  

Recommended Reading Resource: Disappointment with God, by Philip Yancey.

Fellowship Hours

The Hospitality committee is organizing monthly fellowship hours after the 10:15 service. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending them. This is an opportunity to socialize with your church family and meet new members and visitors. The first one was sponsored by the Church Council on January 24th, thank you to Shirley Woodruff and her helpers for setting that up. The fellowship hours will be the third Sunday each month and sponsored by the church's committees and social activities groups.

• Feb 21 ~ Education Committee
• Mar 21 ~ Finance Committee
• April 4 ~ Easter Sunrise Breakfast ~Hospitality
• May 16 ~ Youth
• June 20 ~ ET Circle
• July 18 ~ Trustee
• Aug 15 ~ UM Men
• Sept. 19 ~
• Oct 17 ~ Mission Committee
• Nov 21 ~ Lay Leadership
• Dec 19 ~ SPRC

Anyone who would like to help provide refreshments, can do so by contacting the Chairperson of the group or committee.

Dinner and Devotions

The first Dinner and Devotion was held on January 27th. They are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 5:30 pm in Stiner Hall, January ~ May. Following are the dates of the rest of the Dinners for 2010: Feb. 24th, March 24th, April 28th, and May 26th. Please mark your calendar now and join us each month, they only last about an hour.