Deadly Louisiana Flood Damages Thousands of Homes

The Wired Word for the Week of August 21, 2016

In the News

Louisiana has been hit by a deluge, with six to 10 inches of rain falling on the southeast portion of the state on Friday, August 12, alone. Several more inches of rain fell the next day, and some areas received a total of 26 inches. By Wednesday, at least 11 people were dead and 40,000 homes had been damaged by the historic flood.

Fortunately, lives were saved through a number of heroic rescues. In one, a woman and her dog were pulled from their sinking car in Baton Rouge. A team of men in a boat came upon them and began to work as the woman shouted, "Oh my God, I'm drowning."

One of the men, identified by the New York Daily News as David Phung, jumped into the flood water and pulled the woman out from the car's sunroof as the vehicle sank beneath the waves.

Once above the water, the woman begged Phung to find her dog, which was trapped in the car. Phung plunged into the muddy water and came up holding her pet. "I got the dog," he shouted, "I got the dog." All survived and were able to escape the water to safety.

In addition, the National Guard and U.S. Coast Guard performed numerous rescues, using boats and helicopters to bring the stranded to safety. Last Sunday, President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for the state, making federal aid available to support recovery efforts.

Tragically, not everyone escaped the waters. According to ABC News, one elderly man drowned after slipping and falling into the flood waters of East Baton Rouge Parish. Another man died after his pickup truck was swept off of a submerged highway in St. Helena Parish.

Last weekend, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said that officials "won't know the death toll for sure for several more days." He reported that more than 20,000 people had been rescued from the waters and over 12,000 remained in shelters as of Sunday night. Edwards became an evacuee himself when several feet of water filled the basement of the Governor's Mansion and killed the electricity. The governor and his family had to seek shelter elsewhere.

When the deluge began, at least six rivers hit record levels in Louisiana. One of them, the Amite River, surpassed its previous record by over six feet. Statewide flood warnings extended through Tuesday and Wednesday, while warnings in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension remained in place until Thursday.

Around the state, residents with high-water vehicles drove through the flooded streets to help with rescue efforts, assisting people to get to higher ground. U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued more than 50 people from rooftops, automobiles and trailers. Two residents were brought by helicopter to a church that had become a shelter, and they told The Associated Press that there were between 250 and 300 people staying there on Sunday. Said one of the residents, "Everybody is just tired and nervous and wanting to see what kind of damage they have to their homes."

When a New Orleans native named Damien Callais heard about the people of Baton Rouge being trapped by flood waters, he drove to the region and began mobilizing volunteers. He collected a group that he called the "Cajun Navy," made up of fishermen with boats, locals who knew back roads and an assortment of residents who simply wanted to help their neighbors. "It's insane," he told The Washington Post, as he got ready to jump on a boat. "It's crazy how many people are willing to drive from anywhere to help." Callais and his volunteer navy pulled newborns, the elderly and even a woman recovering from surgery out of the water. They rescued people stuck on roofs and some who were swimming with their dogs, trying to stay alive as the waters rose.

More on this story can be found at these links:

'I'm Going Home to See If I Have a Home': Louisiana Flooding Leaves 11 Dead, Forces Thousands From Their Homes. The Washington PostMan Saves Woman and Dog from Sinking Car in Dramatic Rescue in Baton Rouge Flood.PeopleLouisiana Flooding Far From Over Despite Expected Respite From Rain. NBC News'The Worst Situation I've Ever Been Through.' Six Killed, Thousands Displaced During Historic Louisiana Flooding. The Washington Post

The Big Questions

1. What are the features of a flood that make it so terrifying? If you have ever been a victim of a flood, what was your experience like?

2. Floods come in many forms, not just water -- for example, financial crises or a child's illness. Think of a time you were overwhelmed. What resources of the Christian faith helped you to survive and recover?

3. What impresses you about the people of Louisiana who helped their neighbors during the flood? How can the church be a kind of "Cajun Navy"?

4. Every generation talks about "the end of times." If you were swept up in the flood in Louisiana, would you think of it as the end of times, or perhaps the end of your time? As a Christian, how prepared are you for "the end of times" or your earthly end?

5. What natural and man-made disasters have occurred in your lifetime? Which have had meaning to your Christian faith? In what ways?

Confronting the News With Scripture and HopeHere are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Genesis 7:4[The LORD said to Noah,] "For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." (For context, read 7:1-24.)

God sees the wickedness of humankind and decides to wipe out all human life except for Noah and his family, because Noah is "a righteous man" (6:9). God instructs Noah to build an ark and fill it with animals and members of his family, and then God sends a great flood which destroys all life outside the ark. After the flood waters subside, God promises "never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth" (9:11).

Questions: Why does God use water to destroy all life outside the ark? What do you think is the reason God promised never again to "destroy the earth" through a great flood? What can the church do to be an "ark" for people in dangerous and turbulent times?

Psalm 46:1-3God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, through the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (For context, read 46:1-11).

Psalm 46 inspired Martin Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," and remains a comfort to Christians today who are facing adversity that feels like an overwhelming flood. In the face of illness, death and disaster, the promise remains: "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (v. 7).

Questions: Where do you see the earth changing and the waters roaring today? How do you experience God as a refuge and strength? What difference does it make to you that God is present in the chaos of the flood?

Mark 13:7-8When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (For context, read 13:1-8.)

After his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus speaks of the impending destruction of the temple. His disciples ask him about the timing of this event, and request a sign. Jesus warns them about false messiahs and tells them that there will be wars, earthquakes, and famines before the end of time and his return.

Questions: Why are Christians so quick to see a natural disaster and assume that the end of time is here? What attitude should we have toward such events? How should Christians behave in the face of natural disasters?

Romans 12:12-13Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (For context, read 12:9-21.)

The apostle Paul lists the marks of a true Christian, ranging from genuine love (v. 9) to overcoming evil with good (v. 21). He stresses the need to practice Christian virtues in the face of all kinds of suffering, persecution and sadness.

Questions: How do you reconcile patience in suffering with the challenge of taking action to reduce suffering? What does it mean to extend hospitality to strangers in a natural disaster? How can the church "contribute to the needs of the saints" after a flood?

2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (For context, read 4:16--5:5.)

Paul challenges us to live by faith, even when our body -- which he calls an "earthly tent" -- wastes away and is destroyed. He promises a heavenly dwelling which will give us shelter and security forever, and assures us that "what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (4:18).

Questions: Where do you find hope in the promise of "a building from God," especially when man-made dwellings are destroyed by floods? What does it mean to you to live by faith and keep your eyes on what is eternal?

For Further Discussion

1. The hymn "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" challenges us to stand on Jesus Christ, the solid rock. One verse says, "His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood." What does this mean to you? How have you felt Christ's support at such times?

2. What does it take to rebuild after a flood? Compare with Nehemiah 2 and the decision to rebuild Jerusalem. Why should Christians be involved in such work? How can we make a contribution?

3. If the church is going to act as an ark, what features does it need? Recall that Noah had to build the ark according to certain specifications. What can you do to make the church a true lifesaver?

4. Some Cajun Navy people have complained that local and state governments are hindering their efforts, blocking boat launching sites and at times even requiring that they have a law enforcement officer on each rescue boat. Sometimes our efforts to help others are blocked by forces beyond our control, forces which may even be well-meaning, if counterproductive. When you encounter obstacles to doing good, how do you respond? Describe situations in which you have faced similar problems.

5. How have you grown as a Christian through the storms you have faced? Have these storms made you more compassionate, generous, understanding or helpful? Name one benefit you have received from facing an overwhelming, flood-like experience.

Responding to the News

Look for ways to support the rebuilding of areas damaged by this historic Louisiana flood. Or try to help someone closer to home who is facing what feels like an overwhelming flood in their own life.

Closing Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for being our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Give your people in Louisiana the faith, strength and resources they need to recover from flood water. And help us to be caring and generous toward anyone who is in danger of being overcome by loss, pain or suffering. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Refugee Team Competes in 2016 Olympics

The Wired Word for the Week of August 14, 2016

In the News

This year's Olympics has a historic first: a team of 10 athletes who are displaced persons from South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria and are now together as members of the Refugee Olympic Team.

As a team, the 10 represent no nation, but at the opening ceremony, they walked in under the Olympic flag, while the Olympic anthem was played.

The team was created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to raise awareness of the world refugee crisis. IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement, "This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis. It is also a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society. These refugee athletes will show the world that, despite the unimaginable tragedies they have faced, anyone can contribute to society through their talent, skills and strength of the human spirit."

Initially, 43 potential candidates were identified by the various National Olympic Committees for inclusion in the team. The final selection process considered sporting ability, personal circumstances and United Nations-verified refugee status. To pay for athlete training, the IOC established a fund of $2 million.

The 10 refugee athletes include:

• James Nyang Chiengjiek, who fled South Sudan to avoid being captured by rebels intent on recruiting child soldiers. A runner, he is competing in track-and-road, 400m.
• Rose Nathike Lokonyen, who fled South Sudan at age 10, competing in track-and-road, 800m.
• Paulo Lokoro, another refugee from South Sudan, competing in track-and-road, 1500m.
• Anjelina Lohalith has not seen her parents since she was 6 and her village in South Sudan was destroyed. Competing in track-and-road, 1500m.
• Yiech Biel lived for 10 years in a refugee camp after fleeing South Sudan. Competing in track-and-road, 800m.
• Yonas Kinde fled Ethiopia. Competes in track-and-road, marathon.
• Popole Misenga fled Democratic Republic of Congo at age 6 after his mother was murdered. Competing in judo, 90kg.
• Yolande Mabika, a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo, competing in judo,  70kg.
• Rami Anis fled Syria. Competing in swimming 100m butterfly.
• Yusra Mardini fled Syria. When the crowded small boat she was on started to capsize, Mardini and her sister swam for more than three hours in the sea, pushing the boat and helping more than a dozen non-swimmers on the boat survive the journey. Competing in swimming, 100m freestyle.

This is not a fairy tale story, and none of the refugee team competitors is likely to medal, but for many, the symbolism of their participation is powerful. They are 10 people, representing 60 million refugees. 

There are critics who view the refugee team as an exploitation of the athletes for political gain, but whatever the case, these 10 people have expressed their sense of thrill to be competing at an international level. Several of the refugee team members say they hope their participation in the Olympics will bring hope and inspiration to other refugees.

More on this story can be found at these links:

From Helplessness to Hope: Inspirational Tales of the Refugee Olympic Team. The Guardian She Swam to Escape Syria. Now She'll Swim in Rio. New York Times 
James Chiengjiek's Escape From the Clutches of War to Rio 2016. Rio 2016 
Two African Refugees Aim to Make History at 2016 Rio Olympics. The Guardian

Applying the News Story

There are some gospel songs that were once quite popular, but which we hear less often today. They include lines such as these:

• "I've got a mansion, just over the hilltop, in that bright land where we'll never grow old."
• "I am a poor, wayfarin' stranger, a-travelin' through this world below."
• "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through."
• "My heav'nly home is bright and fair; I feel like traveling on."

The common theme in those songs is that we Christians are primarily citizens of God's kingdom in eternity and that our sojourn here on earth is just a temporary stop on the way to that "glory land."

While those old songs continue to have some value, they may be sung less often today because they seem to suggest that once we are headed for heaven, our existence as "earthlings" is unimportant. While we get the point, many of us aren't ready to write off our lifetime on earth.

We're not sure that "refugee status" is any more effective as a metaphor to describe what's intended by the Bible's teaching about the kingdom of God, but TWW team member Malia Miller points out that "Although we as Christians haven't necessarily been 'driven out,' we don't always 'fit into' our earthly home. Like the refugee team, we Christians look to others who share our beliefs and experiences for support and strength to live out our lives in a world that doesn't always acknowledge Christ as the Son of God."

While in some parts of the world, Christians are literal refugees -- people seeking safety from danger -- all Christians are at least "pilgrims," if not in the original sense of the word as a traveler away from home, at least in the modern sense of a traveler heading to a sacred place. Hymns of pilgrimage and of journey are still sung fairly often, and you may recognize these lines:

• "I'm but a stranger here ... short is my pilgrimage: heaven is my home!"
• "Jesus, lead thou on, till our rest be won."
• "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land."

These hymns focus on God’s guidance through this world to the next. If anything, we are refugees from the world who take refuge in God.

In any case, we're going to use the refugee status symbolism to think about what it means to belong to God's kingdom.

The Big Questions

1. How is our Christian walk similar to the experience of a refugee? How is it similar to the experience of a pilgrim? How do those who live apart from their spiritual homeland maintain their faith, hope and courage while in the "foreign" land?

2. What is the home ground from which Christians are separated? For those who are separated from their spiritual homeland, what are their moral and spiritual obligations to the places where they currently live?

3. To what degree should Christians become comfortable with the secular society in which they are immersed? What does it mean to be too attached to this earth? To your nation?

4. What are the dangers of thinking of life on earth as dwelling in a land that is not our own?

5. What is your attitude toward actual refugees? How about toward refugees coming to the United States? How do you differentiate between those who are legitimately refugees and those who are claiming to be refugees for other reasons? What responsibilities do refugees have to adapt themselves to the culture in which they are seeking refuge? How do your answers to these questions reflect your understanding of Christ's teachings? Explain your answer.

Confronting the News With Scripture and HopeHere are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Hebrews 13:14For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. (No context necessary.)
Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (For context, read 3:17-21.)

The Hebrews verse is one in which a biblical writer stated the refugee theme quite plainly.

The Philippians verse shows that for the apostle Paul, there was no question where the ultimate citizenship of Christians is held. He envisioned Christians on earth as living colonies of heaven.

Philippi was a colony of Rome. As such, its residents were citizens of Rome, a city that many of them had never seen. Some were retired military personnel who had fought in Rome's wars even if they had never seen the city. Philippians received the privileges of Roman citizenship. Paul probably used this image in his letter to the Philippians because they would understand what it meant to be a citizen of heaven, a place they had not seen either, but which operated by different rules than their earthly city.

Questions: In what sense is your church a living colony of heaven? In what sense is it not? Do you think of yourself as a Christian or as an American first when the two citizenships are in conflict? Or is this an "apples and oranges" comparison? Why or why not?

2 Kings 17:6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (For context, read 17:1-23.)

In 722 B.C., the Assyrians conquered the northern Hebrew kingdom, Israel, and marched many of the Jewish inhabitants to other lands of the Assyrian empire. Then, the Assyrians imported some peoples from these other lands and settled them in Israel's territory. As a group, the exiled Jews never got to return. 2 Kings 17:23 notes, "So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day."

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered the southern Hebrew kingdom of Judah. Many of Judah's citizens were then taken en masse to Babylon, where they lived in colonies, separated from their own country. 2 Kings 25:21 sums up this sad event by saying, "So Judah went into exile out of its land."

TWW team member Frank Ramirez points to the various exiles when the Jewish people were scattered, and notes that they ultimately created a new identity as residents of many nations throughout the diaspora, while still maintaining their original identity as well.

Many biblical scholars describe the Babylonian exile as a creative era "in which traditions were adapted and reformulated to meet the challenges posed by political, religious, and social disruption" (quoting Jill Middlemas, The Templeless Age).

Questions: Why does one's religious identity sometimes become wrapped up in one's physical location? When you move for a job or other reason, why does it sometimes seem difficult to find a new church? What are some reasons you should try to find one?
Were you able to creatively redefine yourself religiously or socially during a period of "exile" (such as a move, a loss of and/or change in job, a change in marital status, attendance at college)? Describe how.

Jeremiah 29:7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (For context, read 29:1-14.)

This is from a letter the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the people of Judah shortly after they arrived in captivity in Babylon. Some apparently argued that the stay there would be short, but Jeremiah had heard different news from God. Although Jeremiah said the people would be allowed to return to their homeland eventually, that was to be many years in the future.

In the interim, said Jeremiah, the people should not only resign themselves to a long stay, but actively seek the welfare of the land where they had been taken. They were actually to work for the good of Babylon. They were not to forget who they were or where they came from, but neither were they to think of themselves merely as short-term visitors.

Questions: The term "diaspora" is from a Greek root meaning "to spread about" or "to sow." In what positive sense does the "to sow" definition apply to Jeremiah's advice to those in exile? How does it apply to you as a "refugee" from the kingdom of God?

Isaiah 2:2
In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. (For context, read 2:2-4.)

This is a prophetic vision mentioned both here in the Old Testament and in Revelation21:24 in the New Testament. The idea is that in God's kingdom, we won't march under the flags of our nations, but all nations will walk together.

Questions: What is the importance of this vision? Why?

For Further Discussion

1. When have you felt that you have become too settled in the secular way of life of our society? What have you done about that?

2. As a group, look at the lines of the songs listed above in "Applying the News Story." To what degree do you identify with them? Why?

3. Respond to this, from a TWW team member: "Yes, we Christians are citizens of two worlds, but we live our 'kingdom principles' here on earth, in a culture that is our home at present. Moreover, God is the sovereign of this world as well as of the next one."

4. Discuss the statement of  IOC president Thomas Bach, quoted in the "In the News" section above, about the purpose of creating the refugee team.

5. Comment on this, from TWW team member David Lee: "I'm reminded of the people of Israel calling themselves the Am Ha'Aretz, the people of the land. Sometimes they didn't have land, but the land was what they carried in their hearts. I may have been born in one state and I have lived most of my life elsewhere, but in my heart, I know where my home is."

Responding to the News

This is a good time to find out what your denomination is doing to address the refugee crisis around the world and consider how you might help.

Prayer

O God, help us to live faithfully for Jesus Christ, wherever we are. And help us never to lose contact with "Christianity Central." In Jesus' name. Amen.

You may also use (or sing) the final stanza adapted from the hymn in Pilgrim’s Progresssung by Mr. Valiant:

Since, Lord, you will defend
            Us with your Spirit,
We know we at the end
            Will life inherit.
So fancies, flee away!
            We care not what men say!
            We’ll labor night and day
To be true pilgrims.

A Special Day Turns Into an 'Unspeakable Tragedy'

The Wired Word for the Week of August 7, 2016

In the News

A hot-air balloon crashed and burned during an early morning flight near Lockhart, Texas, on July 30, killing all 16 people on board, making it the deadliest balloon disaster ever in the United States, and the second deadliest worldwide.

Part of the balloon hit power lines in the crash, though it's not yet known what role, if any, that played in the disaster. The incident is still under investigation by the NTSB. Robert Sumwalt, a spokesperson for that group, said that to determine the cause of the crash, investigators will look at three main factors: the balloon, its operators and the environment.

Right now, however, the main story is the tragedy of lives lost -- 15 passengers and the pilot.

The balloon was operated by Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides. A statement on the company's website says, "It is with extraordinarily heavy hearts that we announce the suspension of operations at Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides. The horrific crash near Lockhart, Texas, has taken from us our owner and Chief Pilot, Skip Nichols, as well as 15 passengers, all of whom saw what was planned to be a special day turn into an unspeakable tragedy."

At this point, there is no known history of problems with that company's flights.

More on this story can be found at these links:

Hot-Air Balloon Crash in Texas Kills 16, Officials Say. New York TimesTexas Hot Air Balloon Hit Power Lines Before Crash, NTSB Says. CNN
Heart of Texas Hot Air Balloon RidesHeartbreaking Selfies Emerge of San Antonians Killed in Worst Hot Air Balloon Crash in U.S. History. My SA

The Big Questions

1. In what specific ways do you try to keep yourself ready to "meet your Maker"?

2. Do you find the biblical teachings about living "ready" a source of fear, of comfort or of some other emotion (and if so, what emotion)? Why?

3. If we are saved by faith and not by works (Galatians 2:16), which one is involved in being "ready"? Explain your answer. How does the concept of Christian hope (i.e., not "wishful thinking" but "a strong and confident expectation") come into play?

4. Do you prefer not to know when your earthly life will end? Why or why not?

5. If you knew for sure that your life would end within the next three months, what, if anything, would you do differently from what you are doing now? Why?

Confronting the News With Scripture and HopeHere are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Matthew 25:13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (For context, read 25:1-13.)
Luke 12:40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. (For context, read 12:35-40.)

These are but two of several verses from the New Testament that highlight the suddenness and the unexpectedness that will mark the return of Christ. But they equally well apply to the sudden and unexpected timing of death as it comes to any of us before Christ appears.

Questions: What might keeping "awake" look like? In your own words, what is the essence of these two verses? Is being ready a fretful, a frantic, or a joyful thing? If you were to die today, are you satisfied you could give a good account of your time on earth?
How does Luke 21:28 -- "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" -- apply here?

Luke 12:20-21
But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God. (For context, read 12:13-21.)

This is the ending of Jesus' parable about a farmer who had a bumper crop and decided to build bigger barns, thinking he "had it made." His sudden and unexpected death changed all of that, and reminds us of the need to always be ready to come face to face with God.

But the parable also causes us to think about the matter of reasonable expectations. There's nothing unreasonable about a farmer building bigger barns to house a bountiful harvest. Likewise there's nothing unreasonable about scheduling a flight in a hot-air balloon and expecting to have a good and safe time. Even the author of Ecclesiastes said, "Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do" (9:7), and that sounds reasonable as well.

But the parable makes clear that people with reasonable expectations need to not only allow for the possibility that things will go far differently from what is reasonably expected, but also be prepared in a spiritual sense for facing God.

There's nothing wrong with our reasonable expectations for life and for each other, but Jesus didn't come to fulfill reasonable expectations, but an unreasonable one -- that when we die, we can be raised up in him. Or as Paul put it in Romans, "... neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (8:38-39).

Questions: What is right about the rich man's attitude in this parable? What is the main shortcoming of the farmer in the parable?
If your house caught fire and your family and pets were safe, what items would you try to save from burning? Why? What has this question to do with the "bigger barns" parable Jesus told?

Luke 13:4-5[Jesus asked,] "... those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." (For context, read 13:1-5.)

Jesus here speaks about a random accident that took the lives of 18 people, who were no more deserving of such a fate than any others. Thus he refused to view what happened to them as any kind of judgment or punishment. However, Jesus did use the incident to make a point: that repentance of our sins is necessary so that we do not perish in the eternal sense -- and that we should be ready to meet God because our time on earth is finite.

Questions: No reasonable person would conclude from the balloon accident itself that the 16 people who died in that tragedy were more deserving of that fate than others, so how should we think about the randomness of accidents in a world that we believe is in God's hands? Do events such as the balloon incident ever cause you to re-evaluate your life? Should they?
Jesus used the tower of Siloam incident to create a teachable moment. In what sense can the balloon tragedy be a teachable moment, and how would you summarize the lesson?

1 Peter 3:15... but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you ... (For context, read 3:13-22.)

Here's a verse that speaks of living "ready," but where the author was probably thinking not so much about being ready to die, but ready to speak up for the Lord.

We think, however, being ready for that eventuality also makes one ready in the other eventuality as well.

Questions: Assuming the hope Peter spoke of here is "in you," how do you account for it? What situations seemed hopeless to you until God provided light?
Consider inviting volunteers in the group to "give an account" of their faith, hope,and/or belief.

John 14:3, 6
[Jesus said,] "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. … I am the way, and the truth, and the life."(For context, read 14:1-7.)
Hebrews 9:27-28
And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (For context, read 9:23-28.)

We offer these verses simply as a reminder of the gospel and why believers can live without fear of what is beyond death.

Questions: If Jesus is the way, do you see yourself on a four-lane highway, a narrow and bumpy road, or a dead-end street? Why?

For Further Discussion

1. Discuss this, in terms of being ready: During the Nazi rise to power in Germany prior to World War II, the Nazis subordinated the church to the government, in effect placing loyalty to Hitler above loyalty to God. In response, a pastor there named Martin Niemoeller started the Pastors' Emergency League to defend the church. Hitler became angered by Niemoeller's rebellious sermons and popularity, and in 1937, had him arrested. Niemoeller then spent more than seven years in concentration camps, and wasn't freed until Allied forces liberated the camp in 1945.
            While Niemoeller was imprisoned, an American, in contact with Niemoeller's parents, who were both Christians, expressed sympathy to them about their son's plight. The elder Niemoeller replied:

When you go back to America, do not let anyone pity the father and mother of Martin Niemoeller. Only pity any follower of Christ who does not know the joy that is set before those who endure the cross. ... Yes, it is a terrible thing to have a son in a concentration camp. ... But there would be something more terrible for us: if God had needed a willing martyr, and our Martin had been unwilling.

2. Do you ever give thanks that you're alive? The poet Andrew Marvell once wrote, "But at my back I always hear, Time's wingéd chariot drawing near." How often do you feel the urgency or the blessed miracle of today? How often are you so blinded by your to-do list you forget how precious life really is?

3. The late Isaac Asimov, a prolific writer, was once asked what he would do if he found out he had only six months to live. His reply: "Type faster!" Have you identified something you are really passionate about? What causes do you intend to passionately support? Are are doing those things right now? Why or why not?

4. Respond to this statement from the apostle Paul: "For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

Responding to the News

We don't think that being "ready" is something you put in place like you might an insurance policy or a fire escape on the side of your house. Rather, it's one of those things that takes care of itself as you live faithfully -- receiving, following and trusting Christ. So this is a good time to simply consider your commitment to Christ and make whatever adjustments seem necessary to be a faithful disciple.

Prayer (by Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 90)

Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home!