Chess.jpgNone of us would ever want to consider that something like the evil and tragedy that occurred in the Burgess family might or could take place in our lives.  But the truth of the matter is that it could happen.  No person on the face of the earth is immune to the evil tragedies of life.  No one… 

Are you ready for what we don’t know is coming?  Is it possible to prepare ourselves for the unexpected?  I say we can be ready and it is possible to be prepared.  It all depends on what we believe about God.  What we believe about God is THE determining factor of how we will process and handle evil events if they come into our lives.

Two weeks ago (Before the Burgess tragedy) I started a message series titled… “Seven Things To Settle Before All Hades Breaks Loose.”  From those seven things I came up with “Seven Hooks On Which I Hang My Hat.”  I have formulated these two things over the last 20 plus years as things have happened in my own life that I consider evil hardships.

The “Hooks” that come from the Seven Things About God are the bedrock of my faith.  I believe them… no matter what… at the end of the day.  I have determined to believe them regardless of the events or circumstances that happen around me.  These things are not open for question or debate.  As these messages are delivered they will be posted on the church website (Click here) along with the MP3 of the messages (Click here).

It was out of the desert times of my life that I have come up with the Seven Truths About God that lead to The Hooks On Which I Hang My Hat.  Please keep in mind that there is a lot of theology behind the “Hooks.”  As a preview, here are the Seven Truths About God after which follows the Hooks On Which I Hang My Hat…

Seven Truths about God…

  Truth #1: God is good (Psalms 73:1).  Truth #2: God is love (1 John 4:8, 16).  Truth #3: God is in control (Romans 8:28; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:9-10).  Truth #4: God is righteous (Ezra 9:15).  Truth #5: All God’s ways are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4).  Truth #6: God is trustworthy (2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 62:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 14:1).  Truth #7: God always has my best interest at heart (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13).

Hooks Upon Which I Hang My Hat… (These are based on the Seven Truths About God).

  Hook #1: Nothing bad has ever happened to me… Evil yes, bad no.  Hook 2a: It is impossible for me to mess up my life.  Hook 2b: It is impossible for others to mess up my life.  Hook 3: God only allows into my life what is ultimatley good for me.  Hook 4: Satan can only do what God allows.  Hook 5: I can rejoice in every circumstance by keeping a heaven theology.  Hook 6: These truths give me great hope, peace, contentment, and determination to serve God.  Hook 7: These are true for all believers.

  For me, these are things I have found that help while I am in the desert.  I would like to think that I am ready for my next desert experience, but the only way to know is as it ahppens.  Thus I remember 1 Corinthians 10:12-13… “Let him who stands take heed lest he fall.  There has no test taken you but as such is common to man.  But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tested above that which you can handle… but will with the test provide a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.”