{"id":2182,"date":"2013-04-16T15:37:54","date_gmt":"2013-04-16T19:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/?p=2182"},"modified":"2013-04-16T15:37:54","modified_gmt":"2013-04-16T19:37:54","slug":"reflections-on-a-boston-massacre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/reflections-on-a-boston-massacre\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on a Boston Massacre"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Boston\"<\/a>I have been heart-broken to see the images and hear the stories coming out of one of my favorite adoptive towns. Boston is a city that I spent a lot of time in during my eight years in Massachusetts and a city that Karen and I came to love immensely.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday was just the latest reminder that we are vulnerable; that there is truly no way to protect everyone at all times. \u00a0It is a reminder of the terror that can be inflicted on whole cultures and the changes in life that come as a result: heightened anxiety, tightened security and fear of the most insignicant items, like backpacks and garbage cans.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At any point and any place, explosions can happen or shots can ring out and mayhem ensue. \u00a0What do we do? \u00a0Well, I suppose the answer depends on your worldview; your source of hope or ideas of the future. \u00a0For me, I hope in Christ. \u00a0I hope in the God who created, who secures, who cares…who is there. \u00a0In all of the situations, both good and bad, the God who is <\/span><\/span><\/span>there<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>. \u00a0I understand that He doesn’t always prevent. \u00a0He doesn’t always stop it. \u00a0Sometimes He probably does but we probably wouldn’t know, because it didn’t happen, but in some form or another, He always shows up. \u00a0He’s always there…in hope during recovery, in comfort during grief. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Often, God allows the result of sin and rebellion to run it’s course in this world. \u00a0He doesn’t owe us deliverance in this life, though He often provides it. \u00a0That doesn’t mean He doesn’t care and it doesn’t mean He’s absent. \u00a0I trust that. \u00a0I hope in that.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, I respond by praying for His presence and comfort in the lives of those who need it…right now. \u00a0In the pain. In the loss. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I hope for a better day. \u00a0I’m not talking about utopia in this life. \u00a0That will never come. \u00a0I hope<\/em>, meaning I wait for with great anticipation, for the day that Christ comes back (and He<\/span><\/span><\/span> is<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> coming back) and He puts an end to all of this garbage. \u00a0Honestly, it’s days like yesterday that make me long for it more and more. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe that’s part of God showing up. \u00a0Maybe it’s part of the process of allowing sin to strike in order to draw us in to that place where we realize we need a savior. \u00a0Maybe it’s to remind those of us who have trusted Him not to hold on too tightly to <\/span><\/span><\/span>this<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span> life because it really is just a vapor, isn’t it? \u00a0Instead, I start to think less of my hopes and dreams right now and long for the dream and hope I have for a day that makes this broken world seem so insignificant.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Even so, I’m still here. \u00a0Right now. \u00a0I live. \u00a0I breathe. \u00a0I act. \u00a0I respond. \u00a0I think. \u00a0I grow…and I love.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The most heart-breaking story I’ve heard so far is of the little 8 year-old boy who was eating ice cream, enjoying cheering on the finishers one moment, then killed only moments later from the blast. \u00a0In the blink of an eye, a family is literally torn apart.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Life is but a breath and it’s gone.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, I determine to love well. \u00a0I hug my wife and my kids and thank God for them, hoping He gives me years and years with them, but so thankful for today. \u00a0Time is fleeting, my friends. \u00a0Last month I wrote a post about that in the Saving Daylight Series. \u00a0You can<\/span><\/span><\/span> read it here<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, if you’d like. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I hate death. \u00a0I really do. \u00a0As a pastor, I have such a love-hate relationship with funerals because, on the one hand, I get to celebrate the escape and deliverance from this world of those who have made it home. That’s such a good thing. \u00a0But I have to go through the agony of separation and absence with those who remain. \u00a0God, I long for the day when you bring that to an end!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Where is your hope? \u00a0Where are you spending your time? \u00a0How do you respond when tragedy strikes? \u00a0Don’t let tragedies go to waste without reflecting on YOU<\/em>. \u00a0What happens if the next one lands in your backyard; affects your family or friends and rocks your world? \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Life happens…but hope remains.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But <\/span><\/span><\/span>k<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>take heart; I have overcome the world.\u201d ~Jesus \u00a0(John 16:33)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tTweet<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have been heart-broken to see the images and hear the stories coming out of one of my favorite adoptive towns. Boston is a city that I spent a lot of time in during my eight years in Massachusetts and a city that Karen and I came to love immensely. Yesterday was just the latest…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[545,9],"tags":[547,546,85,683,684,222,548,331],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3jKZO-zc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4865,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/boston-bound-two-months-of-summer-missions-for-jacob\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":0},"title":"Boston Bound: Two Months of Summer Missions for Jacob","date":"May 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We just put Jacob on an early morning flight bound for Boston. He will spend the next two months working with a church plant in the Back Bay area of the city.\u00a0 He's really been looking forward to this for a couple of reasons: he's interested in church planting, so\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Missions"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":945,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/separate-truths-the-boston-globe\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":1},"title":"Separate truths – The Boston Globe","date":"April 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Separate truths - The Boston Globe Please read this interesting article on problems with Pluralism. Posted using ShareThis","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1915,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/gratitude\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":2},"title":"Gratitude","date":"March 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"A quick reminder...","rel":"","context":"In "Miscellaneous"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1123,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/what-a-gift\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":3},"title":"What a Gift!","date":"December 24, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Amazing video of the Kimyal people receiving the Bible into their own language for the first time.\u00a0 This is a good reminder to me on this Christmas Eve of the blessing of Christ coming and the very Scripture that reveals Him that I so quickly take for granted.\u00a0 God, forgive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Missions"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":214,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/whats-your-take\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":4},"title":"What’s your take?","date":"December 1, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Just a quick reminder that all will benefit from your take on these verses in 1 John that we're looking at.\u00a0 The Gathering folks are reading through these passages with me, so let me hear how God is speaking to you through it.\u00a0 It can bring about a very rich\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4390,"url":"http:\/\/davidcprice.com\/the-gathering-2019-theme-connections\/","url_meta":{"origin":2182,"position":5},"title":"The Gathering 2019 Theme: Connections","date":"April 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A couple of weeks ago, I preached a message revealing and outlining our theme for the remainder of the year. 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