Germanwings Co Pilot Andreas Lubitz Crashed Flight 9525 - Suffered From ...

Romans 8:38-39Common English Bible (CEB)

38 I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers 39 or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.

The recent intentional downing of the GermanWings aircraft is illustrated of the need to grieve each and every loss in our lives. What we know about this GermanWings co-pilot is the following:

(1)He had been recently diagnosed with a eye condition  which may have made him unfit for continuing his career as a Commercial airline pilot;(2) he had been diagnosed with depression  and at in his possession doctors notes stating that he was unfit to fly;(3) just a day prior to the plane crash his girlfriend broke up with him after they had been living together 7 years;(4) he was facing the prospect of  losing his dream of flying the bigger jets.

loss of a job

diagnosis of a disease that impacts one'quality of life

breakup of a relationship

concern for one's future to live out their dream

Unfortunately for the 150 unsuspecting passengers this co-pilot went into denial of his problems and as a result a 150 lives perish with him in his successful suicidal attempt.

 When I think how people in general handle grief it really doesn't surprise me.  In our modern society we often view grief in some fluffy and unscientific way that can be simply tossed under a rock and forgotten.  We see no need to talk about our problems to a professional.  Doctors would rather over prescribe medications with many overriding side effects than to encourage their patients with caring support.

 Left untreated  grief can cause serious physiological damage to the body. We need to recognize grief and loss, not as some fluffy emotion, but something very real that needs to be processed with  non judgmental caring support.  Recovering from grief  is a skill equally as important as learning to read, write and  performing arithmetic because losses will occur in everyone's life time. Some of the losses that may occur in one's lifetime

picked on in school

getting a low grade on a test

not doing as well as you thought you could have done

losing a parent

losing a sibling
losing a spouse
breaking up with someone

losing a baby

losing a job

getting a diagnosis you never wanted to hear

being unable to continue life's work because of that diagnsis

having unresolved abandonment issues

As you can see grief isn't just the loss of a loved one. Grief  comes in many different forms and when each form occurs they must be resolved by allowing the griever to go through the pain of one's loss.. Each grief must be resolved with the understanding that there is no time table when such grief is resolved.

We  must make it safe for people to admit they are grieving a loss without the fear of being branded a 'crazy' person and shunned from society.  It is only when we give people permission to talk about one's losses,without repercussions, that true healing will come..

The 'what if's play on my mind for this young Germanwings pilot. What if he had sought counsel when:

he had been diagnosed with the eye condition

he saw his reality of losing his love for flying the bigger jets

when his girlfriend broke up with him

he saw a need to talk with someone about the potential loss of his career

he was seen by a caring doctor who recognize his need for loving and caring support.

I would venture to guess the outcome might have been much different. I would also surmise that all 150 people on board that day might have reached their destinations safely.

 The tragedy of this Germanwings flight is also illustrated of the need for the Christian church.  In each of us there is a need for God to fill the empty spaces of our hearts.  As each loss occurs in our life we are assured through the New Testament that God is there and wants to walk with us through each and every loss that occurs in life.

 For those of us who have a personal relationship with our Savior we are  assured that God will one day make all things new again which means that as each loss occurs he will bring us out the other side of our grief much stronger, much more resilient and with a new purpose in  life.

The next time you encounter a loss learn to ride those grief emotions, each and every wave, until there are no more waves to ride. Find a trusted listener who is willing to listen to you process the pain of your loss. Finally, losses will occur in many forms throughout one's lifetime. Learn to recognize them and do not attempt to bury those losses without properly processing the pain of that loss.

Do You Believe?

James 2: 14

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Recently, my wife and I  attended the latest Pure Flix movie 'Do you believe'. I highly recommend this well done Christian movie because it will  stimulate discussion among your friends about what it truly means to believe.

As I watched this movie with is captivating plot I was reminded how much we impact one another and become the thread that connects others into God's tapestry. 

When life is viewed from this vantage point suddenly it all makes sense that there is a reason for us to continue living in the midst of tragedy.

People around us need to hear the message of hope.

For me, I still believe  in the cross of Jesus Christ, even in the face of losing our daughter. I still pick up my cross and attend  Church services in the same building our daughter sang with her children's choir.

I still believe.....

I still believe even though I face unthinkable grief and sorrow in this world. With each loss  I know that Jesus was walking with my family  each painful step of the way.

I still believe....

I still believe in the Holy Spirit because it was in our journey that Jesus spoke words of wisdom into our souls to help us get through the day. 

I still believe...

I still believe because each day God would bring people into our lives who needed to know his love for them and  to remind them it is possible to survive grief and sorrow.

I still believe....

 God wants to use the pain in  your life to help others heal.  In essence, you are the thread that connects others to God's tapestry.

The person on the bridge getting ready to end it all is waiting for someone to  share the message of hope and purpose for their lives.

The person who just lost her parents in a tragic car accident is waiting for  someone like you to step in the gap to show through your own painful circumstances that it is possible to survive the worst of tragedies and come out stronger in the end.

The veteran who just returned from Iraq suffering from severe PTSD needs someone to come along side them  to listen to the inner anguish he or she faces.

 You are God's personal connection to those who suffer.

While those I have loved are no longer with me,  I know that my life must continue so that others have the benefit of finding hope in Christ through my story. Will you stand believing in Jesus just as I did in the Spring of 1974 when I invited Jesus Christ into my life? You can with this simple prayer:

Dear Jesus, my life is without hope. I have gone through difficult times and today I am exhausted. I want this hope that only you can provide.  I open the door of my heart and invite you to come in. I ask you to give me the living hope that will help me live in this uncertain time so I can have a faith that says 'I believe'. Thank you Jesus for this free gift of everlasting life.

If you have said this prayer won't you stand with me and say 'I believe' and ask God to use your thread to connect others to his tapestry?

They may take my Christian symbols and they may destroy the physical buildings of my faith, but they will never,never take thy Holy Spirit from me

23 Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me.
25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion,[b]the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. Jphn 14:23-24

I love Christian testimonies because when Jesus Christ touches them lives are changed for eternity. This is something that those in Isis do not understand. Just because you can destroy the symbols of our faith does not mean you will destroy Christianity.  

Unlike other religions in the world which lean heavily on their physical trappings, Christianity grew from within, one holy spirit at a time.  When Jesus Christ enters the heart of the person lives are permanently changed for the better.  His holy spirit will never disappoint.  

When I encountered several significant losses over a course of 4 years the holy spirit of Jesus continued to reside in me to guide me through those tumultuous times that followed. This same Jesus that greeted each of my loved ones continued to reside in me through out the bumpy road of my grief.

 I don't know if it is even possible to be a news reporter without knowing the hope that only Christ brings. To read about beheading's destruction of faith symbols on a daily basis has to be a very daunting taskAs I read the front page headlines and watch my neighbors become anxious with each traumatic beheading or destruction of our symbols I am comforted knowing that Isis has no capacity to destroy the holy spirit of true believers. 

Each time I hear a new testimony for Christ I envision the devil in this world cringing and screaming at the top of his lungs when he realizes that he can never take that spirit from those in Christ.

I hope this cardboard testimony inspires you today. 

One night my son and I had a thought provoking discussion of the true meaning of our life's work

The meaning behind our life's work

30 Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. 31 Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 32 Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 33 A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ 36 What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?”
37 Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  Luke 10:25-37
My son and I had a very thought provoking discussion on the meaning behind our life's work. I saw a heart of compassion in him for other people that I wouldn't normally see in a young person,unless, that person also went through significant grief. 

The events of June 10th, 2007 had left a indelible mark in each of us when the emergency personnel had to call the time of death because they were unable to find a pulse in our son's sister, our daughter. Although the memory of that night is distant it is still there and serve as a constant reminder we are all  mortal beings unable to get out of this life alive. 

Our life's work is simply more than just making money, more than climbing the ladder of success, and certainly more than earning all sorts of academic degrees. The work we choose for ourselves has to be about the impact we can have in another person's life..

As I reflect on my own career I would have to say that 'empowering' people is my greatest gift.  I remember very early on in my career with the state having lunch with a friend who was employed in a similar position as me and I made the statement "I wished I wasn't so sensitive and more driven like those around me."  The response I got back from this friend who knew me surprised me. What he said was not what I thought I would hear, but these words: "the world needs more people like you who are sensitive and caring and don't try to change who you are.  As I thought about those words and was able to fast forward the tape of my life I realize that he was right. There are so many hurting and wounded people in this world that are in a philosophical sense laying on the side of the road waiting for some one passing by to lend a helping hand. Most will not because of a lame excuse of having to be somewhere, but occasionally, someone sensitive to see the need does stop to lend a helping hand.

The beauty about being a devoted follower of Jesus Christ is how Christ changes us from the inside out.It is as though radical 'heart' surgery had been performed changing us from the hurried person running pass a wounded person to a person with a new heart of compassion willing to take the risk to help someone.

No matter what career direction a person pursues in life we are all called to be that helping hand. Whether it is a group of men and woman traveling to Guatemala on a missions trip to help orphan girl's, or participating in community service we are all called to serve. I know when I finish a counseling session where I truly was able to be a positive influence in someone's life I feel invigorated.  When that happens I could almost hear the angelic choir in heaven singing praises into my ear.

Our life's work is more than making a lot of money, and more than climbing the ladder of success. Through my dad I would hear stories of a certain co-worker climbing his way to the top, stepping on human heads and when that same person was demoted he would have to  look eyeball to eyeball at the person he previously stepped over to get to the top. I learned through my dad that stepping over people to get to the top isn't always the right thing to do and can lead to a very lonely existence in the end.

In this life there will people who will experience some of the greatest tragedies in life. The question I have is this. Will we be the one who quickly passes by without so much as diverting a glance, or will you be the one with the heart of compassion to stop and lend a helping hand? Will we be the one willing to climb into the pit of despair and help them recover from their life's tragedy, or will you be the one who offers a quick word of condolence before rushing off to perform life's duties?

Miriam's Story and Song- A 10 year old asks for forgiveness for Isis

21 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”

22 Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.[a] 23

Oh, the power of forgiveness! The sweet aroma of God's love flowing from a 10 year old Christian girl in a area surrounded by unspeakable darkness and evil. Lo, even in the valley of the shadow of death God's love is flowing. 

This video has gone viral  and is a reminder that even in darkness God will go to all extremes to prevent anyone from perishing. This little girl's testimony reminds me of the Children's prayer ministry at New Hope Church and how the prayers of innocent children flow upward  to heaven.

I think you will be encouraged by listening to this little girl's message.  Her message is a life lesson to grown ups all over to never give up, but keep praying and keeping the faith.

Oh thee why those emotional triggers? Why thou do they happen at moments you least expect them?

2 My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3 When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. John 14:2-3

My son is home for Spring break. While some of his friends traveled south to enjoy the warmth he decided to come home for some much needed R & R and just hang out with the family.

 In honor of his successful finish of some difficult exams my lovely bride of 26 years and I decided to take him out to eat. The place we decided on was the Baker's Square on Round Lake Blvd in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

Over the years this place became the scene of many meals out with our growing children. As a dad I remembered the fun times of young children giggling and as they matured having plenty of conversations about the day. I remembered watching  and coloring with our children on the paper place mats and enjoying conversations about their day.

When my wife was the school librarian at Meadow Creek Christian school I would often meet them there for supper. It was a place that served comfort food and 'yes' pie.  After the loss of our daughter this place took on  more of a surreal feel that wasn't quite like the place I knew  when our daughter was alive. 

In the beginning, each time I drove by this place I would have 'triggers' that would pop up that for the moment would bring back a cascading flood of emotions and memories and for me the what if's from the evening she passed away; until, that is when I was reminded of the words of my friend, "you made the best decision possible with the information you were given at the time."  

On this evening I sat across from my son. Directly in front of my line of vision sat two young ladies, one of which appeared to be Hispanic, approximately 18 and in my mind a spitting image of our daughter Maria.  Maria would have been a senior at what is now called Legacy Christian Academy and I am sure would have been, like our son, involved in all of the usual activities of college tours, SAT preparations, high school classes and just hanging with her friends.  She would have been on the side lines rooting for her two friends playing girl's varsity basketball. We would have been communicating with the parents of these girls sharing common memories.

 When she died unexpectedly it was as though this huge iron floodgate slowly closed out all contact with the outside world that knew us as a family of four and silence would set in as the big elephant of grief sits down in the room. We know it's there, but no one knows what to do about it.

In another moment in time I remembered, shortly after my cousin Craig died unexpectedly, filling up at a gas station in North East Minneapolis ( the area he lived) and just as I was about to pay for my gas I glanced at a bench outside the station and seeing a heavy set man who was a dead ringer( no pun intended) for my cousin. He looked like he was waiting to board a bus with his suitcase beside him.

In still another moment I remember eating in a restaurant with my wife and in the corner of my eye sat a 80 year old gentleman eating dinner with his family and of course, he looked very much like my dad.

When a loved one dies we all at some point have these trigger moments where the one who died lives out in a person who looked like them. When these moments occur we have no choice but to ride the emotions created like a surfer learns to ride the waves. We learn to enjoy the memory of our loved one through the person we see. 

I remember the words of Pastor Greg, the one who was there at our home that evening reminding us that there are plenty of 'little Maria's' who will remind you of your own. He was in a way preparing us for those triggers that would no doubt occur in the coming days, weeks and even years.

In the beginning of our loss it was hard riding each of every trigger, but as we traveled our  grief journey  those once painful triggers became joy filled moments of remembering our loved one and the great times we had with her. It was as though God was reminding me that we do not have to worry about our loved one.Her mission is complete, but mine continues. Life is indeed worth living, even in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

Now I could have said no to all of these places we once enjoyed, but that would be giving in to the pain and suffering of my loss. If I give in then every time I pass by a place that reminds me of my loved one the pain will still be there and my recovery will take longer. 

By continuing to eat at this particular Baker Square our family is creating new memories. If my journey is worth any weight in gold it is that we ought to ride the emotions of our trigger moments by continuing to enjoy the places we frequented with the one who died. Riding those emotions, like a surfer, helps us to heal from the pain of that loss.

.Because he lives in each of us He is riding the storm with us and as he does so healing will come as new memories are created in the places we visited with the person no longer present.