Batman Movie – Who Would Have Thought?
You expect a bit of death and carnage when you go to see a Batman movie – but on the screen, not in the seats and on the floor of the cinema. Who would ever have thought – these people were on a great night out. 12 murdered. Some 60 injured. Lives lost. Families torn apart. Grieving fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, children …
And the alleged perpetrator an apparently mild mannered, law abiding citizen. What happened? How do you process it all?
Fortunately I’ve never had to face that sort of a tragedy in my life. But I know people who have.
My own parents lived through WWII in Europe. And much more recently, a good friend of mine lost 14 of his family members in a war in Africa.
That sort of pain and loss is unimaginable. And yet it happens all the time. The shootings in Denver, Colorado this past weekend were incredibly tragic – and I don’t in any way wish to diminish that – but you understand that in other parts of the world, hundreds … thousands are dying day after day, week after week.
Bullets. Mortar shells. Disease. Starvation. None of those people planned for those things to happen. They just happened!
And that’s the thing. None of us knows what’s coming next. You imagine you’re going out for a great night’s entertainment and some guy starts mowing down people in the cinema. None of us knows what’s over the next rise, around the next corner. None of us knows what’s going to happen today, tomorrow, next week.
So – where does our faith come in? Is believing in God just a crutch for the weak? Or is there something more to it than that when tragedy strikes our lives?
At a time of great disaster in Israel’s history, God spoke these words:
The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard: Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and before the sword:
The Chaldeans are coming in to fight and to fill them with the dead bodies of those whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness.
I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. (Jeremiah 33:1-7)
Ultimately God is in the healing business. Ultimately, He’s in the restoration business. Ultimately, He’s in the business of blessing.
I was reminded last night by a dear friend of mine over dinner – Petter Tyrrell, the Director of Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living Ministry here in Oz – that the most powerful thing that we can do in a time of tragedy is to praise God.
Because our God does have a plan – and it’s a plan for our good, not for our harm.
Tragedies will come and go in our lives. They just will. And when they do – as most certainly they will – remember ….
God is still in the healing business. He’s still in the restoration business. He’s still in the business of blessing.
One of the hardest things in life is to live life for a cause
I often look at life through the eyes of don quite who was chasing windmills becuase sometimes it is better to think of yourself as a fool because to humble yourself you will be given some of the thing that run deep with in your heart.
To be proud is foolish and i have not had to enter this subject with encouragement it just become me.
On one side i am lucky that i am curious by nature but it is a double edged sword. I look and get attracted to things so i can understand their essence. I was thought this by a good friend the age of 60 now named Chris and i understood what he meant. He says… “How dark will your life be if you live in darkness”
This hits home very hard it been said by someone else! “Be carefull little eyes what you see, be carefull little ears what you hear”. Next time i go on the interent and look on you tube and other places i better be prepaired for the implications.
Conspiracy theorys is one i have been looking into for years.
Remember this one… What you look at you will in some way become one with the content and subject. I think thats what shakespear meant ” We are all but mere characters”.
For me it has got in the way of laying down at giving my life to jesus.
Even if i believe most of the bible i do not commit. I have learn’t in life when you commit to something you have to wear the consequences.
I regret many of my motivations a lot of my curiosity has made me less presentable to god. Chris also says this… “Keep it simple stupid”. I would at least my brain has a hard time assimulating complex content.
May the God of mercy bless you Berni and all those partaking in this blog.
I simply pray that God will comfort all those who mourn.
Every time a major tragedy (and sometimes too the personal tragedies that we all each have from time to time in our lives), there are people who will ask ‘where is God when this happened?’ or ‘why did God let this happen?’
But then there are the times that God has been asked to quietly butt out of our schools (and crises like Blacksburg & Colombine happen), or keep out of the law, keep out of the government, and wherever else we don’t want His laws or directions, and we forget that until something goes wrong.
After 911 and 1012 many people questioned, and many looked to God for answers, but many still continue to say ‘where is God?’
So what is the answer? For those of us who love Him and trust Him, keep believing that He does have all things in His hands, and that He really does know what’s going on. For those who don’t, then maybe it’s time to admit that our answers and solutions don’t work, and that maybe His do.
Just saying.
He never stops loving us, never misses one of our tears when we grieve and hurts with us when we hurt.
I agree Mark
Hi Berni. As you know, my earthly Dad very recently went to be with my Heavenly Father. In 2006 Dad was in a car accident, from which he never totally recovered. Over the past 6 years Dad aged with much difficulty. When he was hospitalised in 2006 Dad had a visit from a ‘man’ called ‘George’ whom nobody else in the hospital saw, and recommitted his life to Jesus Christ. The resulting gift of ETERNAL LIFE for Dad was the purpose of the past 6 years of his suffering and our struggling to cope with so many changes.
Rarely do people have closure with pointless killing such as this cinema incident, but we sure will get that from God, for He is close to the brokenhearted. Praying with those who are grieving…
Awesome story. Thank God for George, eh? Grace. And let’s pray that the Lord will do some amazing things through the tragedy in Colorado.
It is possible to say “If this makes sense” and equate it to something let’s say here the idea of the mystery of God.
It is possible because we have limited senses (Kant) and so we can’t know what an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent god has in mind.
However our senses can tell us things that are only even remotely possible.
As I posted a comment in response to Bernie Dymets’ email topic “The Dark Knight”
I caught him on local radio seconds later in a pre-recorded message answering my question that to believe in God is everything to him.
Take it from yourself how great it is when someone believes in you.
To me it makes sense, that a senseless act was performed in a world that makes no sense!
It is not that god has let this happen or is responsible for it – if only by default. We hate the idea of big government and regulation only by god we are truly free to make our own choices.
By the very nature of this world when our compass strays we make the wrong choices. Would you rather have a faceless god that you are totally free with or a heavily controlled society.
The hippies opted out in their own way… but I believe by the nature of our very own peace, a god given peace we can lose ourselves, still be functional and create a world that peaceful and makes sense.
Have peace and goodwill in you heart
Hi John
In reply to your response my conclusion is based on the premise it is better to believe in nothing than anything!
Believing in anything means you believe in something that is wrong and by numbers that is everything (not the book). Believing in nothing you free you self from getting it wrong.
By nature that is wrong as well but it’s not a step backwards as far as a series of steps is concerned.
So if you are left to you own devices to get back on track the process is somewhat linear an so it is easier to deconstruct in the future if it is trust upon you to do so
The thing I like about what Bernie Dymet and other like him have said is that by believing in Jesus the slate is made clean!
With all the disinformation around unless the Holy Spirit keeps residing in a person, then once again by the nature of your own history, feelings and reasoning you may be trapped again.
Possibly several steps back and this may advocate for a minimalistic approach when your beliefs are concerned.
Politics and Religion are out of bounds as topics and I might ask is this the reason?
The bible mentions not to sit on the fence and it also says that you will not know the day of the lord as it relates to you.
This can force a person’s hand so what do you do?
I think without the holy spirit in you… one cannot truly understand the bible and the battles that are being waged or one may soon forget through the rigors and apathies of life, its meaning!
As terrible as this event is, I often wonder why something like this it does not happen MORE OFTEN, considering the violence and destruction that is prevalent on our TV screens. For someone to go to the extent that this young man did, defies comprehension, but it does illustrate that anyone is capable of doing harm to his fellow man if his FREE WILL is not surrounded to God. Eric, sorry to disagree, but giving more people the ammo to fight back does not reduce the carnage and destruction but would only serve to promote it. Perhaps the cinemas in the U.S now need metal detectors like in the airports? As some one said, ” at least you can feel safe in a nudist colony – there is no where to hide a weapon!”
Hi Robert
Deeper study of God’s word reveals that originally Lucifer, before sin was found in him, was referred to as a type of star. (Isaiah 14). After his fall he is referred to as Satan.
He now only appears to be an angel of light (2 Corinth 11:14) in order to deceive people. (Deceptive light)
He is never referred to as the “True Light” – John 1:9, as Jesus is.
So Lucifer and Jesus are certainly not the same.
And in answer to the whole topic, we also look forward to the day when Jesus comes again and sin will be eradicated from the earth,- see Rev 21:4.
That blessed promise of the Lord!
Thank you John for this response. I was saved 2yrs ago and much still confuses me, my bookshelf now groans with books to help me but perhaps I am causing myself more confusion. How does one eventually get the light bulb moment of clarity? Your explanation was is clear and concise.
Hi Faye. I have been saved since I was old enough to make that decision & I am now 39. I still have many times of confusion, however, the one most important belief to understand is & will always be that Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was sent to redeem a fallen world, died on the cross of Calvary for you & I and if we but accept Him, we too shall have eternal life. Everything else is, of course, important to understand in order to lead a life pleasing to Him & to bring others to Him, but it comes slowly with A LOT of time spent with God in His Word. Praying to God to bring clarity to you when you study His Word, to open your eyes to what He wishes you to understand at that moment in your life will have amazing divine results!! I don’t believe that God wishes us to have just one single light bulb moment of clarity where it All makes sense, that would be almost overwhelming! I find He brings many instances of light bulb moments of clarity that are relevant to where I am at in my walk with Him at that time & what particular life journeys I am on then. He is amazing that way! He knows just what lesson we need at what time in order to have our eyes opened to His Word. Don’t worry too much about knowing and understanding everything! It will happen in His timing…as long as you are willing & open to it. God Bless!!
Thank you so much Andrea, I think you have replied to me in the past. I will take your advice and trust in our Lord. I admit to my prayer life falling off the last 3mths, perhaps this is the reason for my confusion. God bless and thank you again.
How do we overcome the fear of this new world? We hear of Government corruption that is not limited to third world countries, New World Order, people for and against guns and the list goes on and on. People who are convinced the Government is out to get them or not working in our best interests. (unfortunately much happens that then proves them right). How do we remain vigilant without turning our fear into hatred of other religions and ways of life? How do we stand up for our way of life as Christians without coming across as self righteous xenophobes? How do we lead by example when even Christians are baying for blood and spreading fear and intolerance all over the internet? I try to hold fast to Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you, nor forsake you” but I think I am afraid of fear itself and I feel compulsions to argue a point with people just because I can (I’m still learning humility). Does all this fear spreading over the internet perhaps tap into some part of a person who then thinks he has had enough and takes innocent people with them? Brievik and now Holmes, 911 and the list goes on. How do I overcome this? How do I fight for a better life for my grandchildren when the world seems out of control and waiting to harm them? I am a born again Christian and they are not saved, one more thing for me to worry over. I try to pray but lately have been dry and confused and not sure what to do anymore. I know people say trust in the Lord and I try very hard, but that doesn’t answer my questions. I’m afraid for my country and my family, I am 59yrs old so I don’t think it will remain a problem for me in the long run, but the Lord willing I want to see a better, safer world for them.
” alleged perpetrator an apparently mild mannered, law abiding citizen.”
C’mon Berni, This hardly describes someone who shoots up a theater full of innocents and improvises boobytraps and bombs! More so your description above applies to each of those innocent “mild mannered, law abiding citizen(s)” who were prevented from having the tools needed to defend themselves and swiftly bring this melee to an end by this theater being declared a “Gun Free Zone”. Well we now know how well that works, don’t we!
Well Eric, I have to say, that that’s exactly what he is. At this stage his perpetration of the act is only alleged. It doesn’t become a matter of fact in law until it is proven and judged to have occurred. Until then, he has the presumption of innocence.
If we presume that the suspect is in fact the actual perpetrator, then we deny one of the basic tenets of the legal system.
But if he did do it, then until the time he fired the first bullet, as far as everybody else was concerned he appeared to be a mild mannered, law abiding citizen. Just one speeding fine to his name.
The point I was making, which may have been a little obscure as it was implied rather than explicit, was that it doesn’t matter how ‘good’ people appear on the surface …. you never can tell.
Blessings,
Berni
Eric, I understand your feelings, but people who carry out these horrendous acts have no regard for life and I feel that even if one or two people had of “got one in him” he wouldn’t have cared and if more than 10 people in the theatre were all reaching for their guns it seems to me a lot more would have died by “friendly fire” than by the shooters fire. ( a dark picture theatre, confusion, thinking it was part of the excitement, a recipe for making a bad situation far worse).
HI BERNI YOUR FRIEND IS ABSOLUTELY 100% RIGHT WE GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE GOD IN ALL THINGS FAITH BY LEANING ON GODS STRENGH WHEN TRADGEDY STRIKES IN EVERYTHING PRAISE GOD WE YES CAN PRAY FOR THE LOVED ONES FAMILY,S FRIENDS CHILDREN YET BY READING THE WORD DAY BY DAY HAVING THAT MOST IMPORTANT QUIET TIME WITH OUR LORD JESUS BRINGS US INTO FOCUS INTO A DIFFERENT DIMENTION AS I HAVE LEARNED ALL MY LIFE BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR TYPING WITH ONE FINGER CEREBRAL PALSY FROM BIRTH MEANS NOTHING TO ME NO POINT IN ASKING GOD WHY AS HE KNOWS OUR SITUATION YOUR RIGHT BROTHER BERNI WE CAN ONLY TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME I LIVE ON A SMALL ISLAND CALLED THE ISLE OF MAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IRISH SEA I BECAME A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN WHEN I BECAME 14 YEARS OLD NOT EVEN FROM A CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND BUT PRAISE GOD WITH A JOYFUL HEART WHEN MEETING MY HUSBAND TIMOTHY HE CAME TO THE ISLE OF MAN WHEN HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD LEFT IS MUM STEP DAD HIS WHOLE FAMILY AFTER LIVING IN LONDON TIM CAME TO KNOW JESUS AT 25 PRAISE GOD BERNI NOW MARRIED FOR 9 YRS BOTH 41 YRS OLD BOTH BORN IN 1971 BOTH GOT SIMILAR BACKROUNDS GOD UNITED US FOR HIS PURPOSE ALONE TIMES OF SORROW AND OF GRIEF HAVE HAPPENED FOR US THIS WEEK MY AUNTY DIED OF CANCER BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE ALL OVER THE GLOBE ONLY GOD KNOWS WHY TO SUM IT UP I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PRAISE GOD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE FORGIVE THE MAN WHO KILLED THOSE FOLKS IN COLORADO BLESS YOU ALL IN JESUS NAME
Joanne, thak Ji so much for sharing that. A powerful testimony of God’s grace. :-). Berni
The dark night?
Read a bit about the topic last week. Revelation 22:16…”I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
Helena Blavatsky seem to think and i have also come to this possible deduction that Lucifer maybe in fact be Jesus as he too is referred to in second peter as “The son of the morning”
This contridiction troubles me very deeply. I leeds me to think this is in line with a plot that says the the light bearers on earth are hear to confuse and decieve us… what is Albert Pike trying to say?
Who a the people of light who are the people of darkness we need more information or do we.
Lets just leed a good life i say!
God is awesome beyond our comprehension and I agree with what has been said, I find in times of pain, nothing to what these people have experienced, I savour this time of being close to Him.
I would like to say that, as horrified as I was at the news, I thought the first Dark Knight was just that, dark and evil. The Bible warns of not guarding our mind and you surely would have to question this atrocity and its alignment to the film.
I have not seen the second Batman movie, so I cannot comment. I find it very sad that in this day and age, that you can’t go and be entertained without the concern that you may die for such an innocent pastime.
Morning dawns, my spirit longs to praise you in deeds;
Rising Son, my uplift arms, praise & wonder indeed.
Great message for such a tragic time. Yes, God wants to heal, He wants to save, He wants to restore. Only He has the Power to do so. We must turn to Him.