Church on Fire

Here's a passage from Psalm 66 that can serve to remind us that God is with us in our challenging hours:
10 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. 12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

You may be in the middle of a real challenge today - you can be confident that this didn't take God by surprise, He is with you, and He has a purpose even in the midst of difficulty - He will teach, strengthen, refine, or comfort, and maybe all of the above!  

Or, you may have just emerged from a challenging season of your life - rejoice and reflect that He has brought you through. 

And, you may be just minutes, days, or weeks away from an unexpected turn in your life - even now, you can be building the endurance that will more effectively prepare you for the rough road you may encounter ahead.

In Isaiah 43, we see how God has promised to be faithful to us, accompanying us, walking with us, even in the most difficult circumstances of life:
1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

It's a situation that is just begging for some spiritual commentary - maybe you've seen the video already, despite some controversy over whether or not the video should be on YouTube...it's receive 50,000 views and people are discovering it left and right, it seems.

It's from the Easter musical at First Church of the Nazarene in Canton, Ohio...the musical soloist is bringing it on a song about the resurrection, until the time comes for Jesus to emerge from the tomb.   Apparently, a pyrotechnic device called a "flash wire" was supposed to go off, perhaps to simulate lightning, since that was referred to in the song.  Instead, the "stone" was encircled by a ring of fire, and then the tomb prop burst into flames.   The man playing Jesus continued to go through his actions, holding out his hands as if nothing was happening.   The soloist kept singing beautifully.   The youth pastor grabbed the roasting tombstone and ran it off stage, and men with fire extinguishers put out the small blaze before the song was over.

Apparently, the fire chief in the city is not amused.   Division Chief John Whitlatch of the Canton Fire Department said that, “They broke several laws in doing that. It’s very dangerous and alarming...Jesus may forgive them, but the fire department doesn’t have to.”   The department is considering issuing citations against the church, which apparently should have obtained permission before using indoor pyrotechnics - note to church worship and drama leaders:  check with your authorities if you're doing fire inside your sanctuary.

Despite their ignorance of city laws, I think the church did respond well to an instance that could have been a lot worse.   And, I am left with this image of the Jesus actor emerging from the fiery tomb with hardly a blink.   I'm reminded of the three young Hebrew men that were thrown into a fiery furnace and came out unscathed.   

There is an element here of "the show must go on".   And, when we encounter distractions and difficulties in our lives, it's helpful that we develop the mindset to keep walking - as we talked about yesterday, keep pressing on.   We don't necessarily ignore or deny trouble that comes, but as we keep focused on Christ, we can trust that He is performing His perfect work, even through the fire.