God’s hand in this week

Many things have happened in this past week in Norman. This has been one of the strangest weeks I’ve seen. Many things have happened to me this week. However, it is not my life that has been the most changed this week; it is Chris Goree and his family that have had the drastic week. Christopher Goree has worked for the University of Oklahoma Baptist Student Union (OU BSU) and this past year I have been on his Ministry Team (MT). Chris has a wife, Laurie, and two children, Daniel and Anna.

As of Wednesday,  Chris no longer works for the BSU. Nothing illegal, immoral, or ungodly has been done; Chris is a godly and righteous man. What I have been told is that he and the BSU are going in different directions. What that exactly means, I don’t know. And I don’t think it is healthy give it too much thought, as it would be mostly speculation.

Here is what I know: John Kelsey (Kels), Director of the BSU, did not make this decision lightly or quickly. He agonized over the decision and consulted Max Barnett, John Strappazon, and Dick Jaques. I also know that both Kels and Chris love God and want to make disciples. And I know that while a great many people are hurt, blaming or slandering either party hardly seems wise or honoring to God. I’m not suggesting anyone has taken sides, I am simply encouraging anyone reading this not to ‘take sides.’

The situation being briefly described,  I would like to say a few things about Chris. As I said earlier, he is a very godly man; he loves God, God’s Word, and people. Chris earnestly and passionately seeks after God and intimately knows the Scripture. Few people remember names like Chris does and even fewer can tell stories like him. When he greets someone, that person knows that he really cares about them. He has poured out his life to those around him, demonstrating Christ’s love to them.

Chris has taught me an enormous amount over the past several months. He has taught me about prayer, relationships, and Scripture. Chris not only has practical advice on relationships, he demonstrates what he says, from students, to neighbors, to his family. Not to belittle what I’ve learned from my parents or grandparents, but I have learned quite a bit just from being in the Gorees’ home and watching Chris interact with his lovely wife and wonderful children.

I think you would be hard pressed to find another man like Chris Goree; or even another family like the Goree family. His wife, Laurie, sets an amazing example of Christ-likeness and is constantly recommending great books and resources. And it is a joy to talk with their brilliant son, Daniel, and insightful daughter, Anna.

Also, Chris is incredibly smart and educated. And one of the things that has really impressed me is that you would never know that from talking with him. That’s not to say that people walk away from conversations with him thinking he’s a moron; he simply chooses not to use impressive speech, does not flout his knowledge, and hardly ever refers to his education. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1991 with a BA in History and Psychology, and in 1994 he received his Juris Doctorate in law from Oklahoma City University. He has attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has a degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Chris and his family have impacted many lives, and though they are hurting right now, I think they know that they are loved and that they are being prayed for. 

How is God involved in this? Well, simply put, God is sovereign and in control of everything. He will work everything together for good.

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

I know there have been many times when people have referred me to this verse and I have hated it; and I am sure I have not been alone in that. Why is that? I felt it was cliché and trite and in some ways I was correct. It is easy to say that God is sovereign. However, it is a hard thing to believe. I suspect Romans 8:28 is one of the most oft quoted and least believed verses in the Bible.

Right now, it is hard to see God’s design in this. Really, we might never see it; but I suspect we will. Right now, probably what is needed most in the lives of those involved and affected is patience, trust, and obedience. Again this is easy to say – easy to write, but hard to do. Many times over these past few weeks, I have been frustrated with God. And yet, it was because God’

s will did not match my own and I needed to trust God and submit to Him in simple obedience.

Psalm 33:8-11 (NASB)

Let all the earth fear the LORD;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;

He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,

The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NASB)

I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:8-14 (NASB)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry,

For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”

For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good

And an advantage to those who see the sun.

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,

But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

Consider the work of God,

For who is able to straighten what He has bent?

In the day of prosperity be happy,

But in the day of adversity consider–

God has made the one as well as the other

So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

 

Proverbs 19:21 (NASB)

Many plans are in a man’s heart,

But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

 

Psalm 145:17-19 (NASB)

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

And kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He will also hear their cry and will save them.

 

            God is in control over all that happens and is kind and good. God is righteous and will care for those who love Him. And even when Christians are in need, they can rest in knowing that their hope is not in this world, but it is in Christ. That hope is not a wish or a delusion, but a confidence in what we know to be certain.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

There were many purposes in writing this post; the main purposes were to honor Chris and his family, to encourage those who are sad and hurting, and to glorify God. With those things in mind, I will leave you with the words to a hymn I love:

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus hath fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

Chris, you have had an enormous impact in my life – you have taught me, poured into me, and have shared your life with me. I thank God for you! You are in my prayers! I love you and will certainly continue to love you and be your friend, whatever is in store for you next.

This Week

Quite a bit has happened to me over the past week. Right now I am near Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have been at a week-long conference. This valley I am in is beautiful. The speaker was amazing and I will likely be posting many of the things I have gleaned from him. I have gone hiking, played miniature golf, played French Cricket, played BANG!, and I have greatly enjoyed the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Also, I have had a few discussions about Open Theism with a friend of mine. I will likely write a bit about that as well - though while writing about that I will likely borrow from my friends, Chris Krycho and Tim Graf (neither of which are Open Theists).

Also, in a discussion about con-substantiation, Tim suggested that our Lutheran friends be asked if “Christ can be in the bread and with the bread, but not under it.” In other words, what do they actually mean when they say that Christ is in, with, and under the bread?