{"id":1899,"date":"2018-01-13T02:59:06","date_gmt":"2018-01-13T02:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=1899"},"modified":"2018-01-14T04:32:01","modified_gmt":"2018-01-14T04:32:01","slug":"things-cannot-comprehend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2018\/01\/13\/things-cannot-comprehend\/","title":{"rendered":"Things I Cannot Comprehend"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\n

Life is beautiful, loving, hopeful, caring, affirming, meaningful. Life is chaos, tragic, confusing, meaningless, destructive. Both sentences are true.<\/p>\n

God is love, holy, light, merciful, compassionate, caring, faithful. Sometimes my questions, confusion, hurt, grief, and even anger, make it difficult to believe what the Bible tells us of God. Both sentences are true.<\/p>\n

The Twelve Days of Christmas, which began December 25, 2017, ended with Epiphany on January 6, 2018. The first date is the joyful celebration of the birth of Israel\u2019s Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. The second date is the traditional date of the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, seeing Jesus not as an infant but as a growing toddler.<\/p>\n

Epiphany is biblically expressed in Titus 2:11-13, \u201cFor the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ\u201d (NKJV).<\/p>\n

It is also stated in Titus 3:4-7, \u201cBut when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life\u201d (NKJV).<\/p>\n

Like spoiled meat, sandwiched between Christmas and Epiphany are two important reminders of the sinful brokenness of humanity. First, December 26th<\/sup> is the remembrance of the death of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 6:8 through 8:1). Second, December 28th<\/sup> is when the church remembers the deaths of the \u201cHoly Innocents\u201d following the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-18).<\/p>\n

I mention all of this because this past week has been a week of deaths in the IPHC family. A movement with 1,800,000 members world-wide has hundreds of deaths across the globe. Most of these who die in the Lord are remembered by local communities and congregations; others are remembered by nations or continents; some are remembered through social media friendships and connections; still others are remembered because they are known more personally to leaders. But all are remembered in Christ.<\/p>\n

This past week there were three deaths which caused Susan and me, as well as many of you, to pause, pray, grieve, and reflect. I start with the oldest of the three. The death of Dr. Kundael Mrema in Tanzania shocked many of us. A dedicated African who had studied in the USA and was befriended by many, including Rev. and Mrs. Rabon Stewart, Dr. Mrema became an IPHC missionary and returned to Central Africa to lead that region for the IPHC. Battling health problems, he passed away while traveling for medical treatment.<\/p>\n

In her early thirties, Amy Lambert died after taking time to pray for street people. It was characteristic of her life to reach into the lives of people who struggled with drug addictions. Their stories were her story before her \u201cEpiphany\u201d with Christ. God opened doors of ministry in Africa for Amy with Reinhard Bonnke and Joyce Meyer. She spoke at the 2013 IPHC General Conference and stirred our hearts with her evangelistic passion. Her journey had its challenges and setbacks, but it also had hope in healing and restoration. We will miss the courage and spark of her young life.<\/p>\n

The third deaths raise so many questions of \u201cwhy?\u201d Many of you know Allen Raugh, who has faithfully served with Royal Rangers and other discipleship ministries, as well as with Gary Burd and Mission: M25. We learned earlier this week that Allen\u2019s grandson, Nate, aged 25, and Nate\u2019s three children, James, Missy, and Jordan, all four years of age and younger, died in a house fire in South Carolina. We cannot fathom the depth of grief for this family. The other night I called Allen. Tears and sobs were the only expressions which seem to matter.<\/p>\n

This weekend I still have a lot of questions. I understand the theological issues; I just find it hard to wrap my brain and spirit around the mystery of life.<\/p>\n

In writing this, I find why we continue to pray for these grieving families and friends. I find comfort in knowing that the Gospel witness of Christmas and Epiphany surrounds the soiled meat of tragedy, heartbreak, and disillusionment. It is a witness to the One who stood at the grave of His friend Lazarus, and wept.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[510,515,513,108,134,216,512,263,516,514],"class_list":{"0":"post-1899","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bishops-blog","8":"category-general","9":"tag-510","10":"tag-allen-raugh","11":"tag-amy-lambert","12":"tag-bishop-doug-beacham","13":"tag-bishops-blog","14":"tag-christmas","15":"tag-death","16":"tag-epiphany","17":"tag-grief","18":"tag-kundael-mrema","19":"entry"},"title_es":"Cosas que no puedo comprender","content_es":"Por: Doug Beacham La<\/strong> vida es bella, amorosa, esperanzada, cari\u00f1osa, afirmativa, significativa. La vida es ca\u00f3tica, tr\u00e1gica, confusa, sin sentido, destructiva. Ambas oraciones son verdaderas Dios es amor, santo, ligero, misericordioso, compasivo, atento, fiel. A veces, mis preguntas, confusi\u00f3n, dolor, pena e incluso enojo hacen que sea dif\u00edcil creer lo que la Biblia nos dice acerca de Dios. Ambas oraciones son verdaderas Los Doce D\u00edas de Navidad, que comenzaron el 25 de diciembre de 2017, terminaron con Epifan\u00eda el 6 de enero de 2018. La primera fecha es la celebraci\u00f3n gozosa del nacimiento del Mes\u00edas de Israel, Jes\u00fas de Nazaret. La segunda fecha es la fecha tradicional de la visita de los Reyes Magos a Bel\u00e9n, al ver a Jes\u00fas no como un beb\u00e9, sino como un ni\u00f1o en crecimiento. La epifan\u00eda se expresa b\u00edblicamente en Tito 2: 11-13, "Porque la gracia de Dios que trae salvaci\u00f3n se ha manifestado a todos los hombres, ense\u00f1\u00e1ndonos que, negando la impiedad y los deseos mundanos, debemos vivir sobria, justa y piadosamente en la edad presente. , buscando la bendita esperanza y la gloriosa aparici\u00f3n de nuestro gran Dios y Salvador Jesucristo "(NKJV). Tambi\u00e9n se afirma en Tito 3: 4-7: "Pero cuando apareci\u00f3 la bondad y el amor de Dios nuestro Salvador del hombre, no por las obras de justicia que hemos hecho, sino seg\u00fan su misericordia, \u00c9l nos salv\u00f3, mediante el lavado de la regeneraci\u00f3n y la renovaci\u00f3n del Esp\u00edritu Santo, a quienes derram\u00f3 sobre nosotros abundantemente por medio de Jesucristo nuestro Salvador, que habiendo sido justificados por su gracia, debemos ser herederos seg\u00fan la esperanza de la vida eterna "(NVI). Al igual que la carne mimada, intercalada entre la Navidad y la Epifan\u00eda, son dos importantes recordatorios del quebrantamiento pecaminoso de la humanidad. En primer lugar, Diciembre 26 \u00ba<\/sup> es el recuerdo de la muerte de San Esteban, el primer m\u00e1rtir cristiano (Hechos 6: 8 a 8: 1). En segundo lugar, 28 de Diciembre XX<\/sup> es cuando la Iglesia recuerda la muerte de los \u201cSantos Inocentes\u201d a ra\u00edz de la visita de los magos (Mateo 2: 1-18). Menciono todo esto porque esta semana pasada ha sido una semana de muertes en la familia de IPHC. Un movimiento con 1,800,000 miembros en todo el mundo tiene cientos de muertes en todo el mundo. La mayor\u00eda de los que mueren en el Se\u00f1or son recordados por las comunidades y congregaciones locales; otros son recordados por naciones o continentes; algunos son recordados a trav\u00e9s de las amistades y conexiones de las redes sociales; a\u00fan otros son recordados porque son conocidos m\u00e1s personalmente por los l\u00edderes. Pero todos son recordados en Cristo. La semana pasada hubo tres muertes que nos hicieron a Susan y a m\u00ed, as\u00ed como a muchos de ustedes, hacer una pausa, rezar, llorar y reflexionar. Comienzo con el m\u00e1s viejo de los tres. La muerte del Dr. Kundael Mrema en Tanzania nos sorprendi\u00f3 a muchos de nosotros. Un africano dedicado que hab\u00eda estudiado en los Estados Unidos y se hizo amigo de muchos, incluidos el Reverendo y la Sra. Rabon Stewart, el Dr. Mrema se convirti\u00f3 en un misionero de IPHC y regres\u00f3 a \u00c1frica Central para dirigir esa regi\u00f3n para la IPHC. Luchando contra problemas de salud, falleci\u00f3 mientras viajaba para recibir tratamiento m\u00e9dico. En sus primeros a\u00f1os treinta, Amy Lambert muri\u00f3 despu\u00e9s de tomarse el tiempo para orar por la gente de la calle. Fue caracter\u00edstico de su vida alcanzar las vidas de las personas que luchaban contra las adicciones a las drogas. Sus historias fueron su historia antes de su "Epifan\u00eda" con Cristo. Dios abri\u00f3 las puertas del ministerio en \u00c1frica para Amy con Reinhard Bonnke y Joyce Meyer. Ella habl\u00f3 en la Conferencia General de IPHC de 2013 y agit\u00f3 nuestros corazones con su pasi\u00f3n evangel\u00edstica. Su viaje tuvo sus desaf\u00edos y retrocesos, pero tambi\u00e9n tuvo esperanzas en la curaci\u00f3n y la restauraci\u00f3n. Echaremos de menos el coraje y la chispa de su joven vida. Las terceras muertes plantean muchas preguntas sobre "\u00bfpor qu\u00e9?" Muchos de ustedes conocen a Allen Raugh, quien ha servido fielmente con Royal Rangers y otros ministerios de discipulado, as\u00ed como tambi\u00e9n con Gary Burd y Mission: M25. A principios de esta semana nos enteramos de que el nieto de Allen, Nate, de 25 a\u00f1os, y los tres hijos de Nate, James, Missy y Jordan, de cuatro a\u00f1os o menos, murieron en un incendio en Carolina del Sur. No podemos comprender la profundidad del dolor de esta familia. La otra noche llam\u00e9 a Allen. L\u00e1grimas y sollozos fueron las \u00fanicas expresiones que parecen importar. Este fin de semana todav\u00eda tengo muchas preguntas. Entiendo los problemas teol\u00f3gicos; Me resulta dif\u00edcil envolver mi cerebro y mi esp\u00edritu en el misterio de la vida. Al escribir esto, encuentro por qu\u00e9 continuamos orando por estas familias y amigos en duelo. Me reconforta saber que el testimonio evang\u00e9lico de Navidad y Epifan\u00eda rodea la carne sucia de la tragedia, el desamor y la desilusi\u00f3n. Es un testigo de Aquel que estaba en la tumba de Su amigo L\u00e1zaro, y llor\u00f3.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2016\/05\/Bishops-Blog-2016.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Bx-uD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}