Episode #103 - Disciples Amongst Disaster

Over the weekend, catastrophe struck four different states - especially the towns of Bowling Green & Mayfield, Kentucky. The largest tornado on record, along with many others, touch down and wreaked havoc upon the lives of thousands. 18 billion dollars in damage & over 100 lives lost as a result, many are left trying to pick up the broken pieces of their life. How do we respond to such tragedy? Well...just as the Christians did in the first century when disaster struck. When disaster arises, disciples act. Each of us, as we have the ability, have the opportunity & responsibility to put Christ's love on display and send relief to those who are in great need. Let's roll up our sleeves and open up our wallets, and do all we can to serve those who are suffering! 

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Transcript

Welcome back to all of our listeners! I’m BJ Sipe, and you’re listening to the Set Your Mind Above podcast – where everyday ordinary events teach us extraordinary eternal truths. I’m so glad that you’ve tuned in today, I am excited to share my life and my faith with you, and I sure hope that you’ll do the same with me along the way. 

Seriously, welcome back to all of our listeners – and thank you so much for coming back after I went MIA all last week. As you know, I went out west to spend the week helping to tend to my ailing grandmother. Originally, I had hoped to continue my efforts with the podcast through last week, but what I didn’t realize upon arrival is just how much my time would be spoken for once I landed. My days were starting around 6 am and ending around midnight pacific standard time, and so there was absolutely no opportunity to keep up with the podcasts. So I want to thank you for your patience and your understanding, family just had to come first last week. I had originally planned to discuss many different lessons that I learned last week with you all, but after the events of this weekend I think the only appropriate thing for us to do today is to address the catastrophic tornados. I want to begin by saying that my heart breaks for the hundreds and thousands of people that have been impacted by the storm. They say that the supercell tornado is the largest in recorded history, surpassing the tornado of 1974 that my father lost his home to in Madison, Indiana. It traveled 4 states, across 230 miles, and caused great devastation all around it from the many off-shooting tornados that touched down as well. Among the hardest hit were the towns of Mayfield, Kentucky & Bowling Green, Kentucky. Even here in Danville, KY a tornado touched down and decimated our small airport – but praise God that no injuries resulted from it. Devastatingly, the same cannot be said elsewhere. Over 100 people have been reported to have lost their lives as a result of these storms, and that number continues to climb as we learn more. Over 18 billion dollars in damages were suffered. Countless Americans lost their homes, their businesses, and the saddest of all some have lost their families. I have no words that can adequately comfort those who are suffering, nor can anything I say or even do take away the immense pain that you are now feeling. But now more than ever is a time for Christians to rise up and show the world what the love of Jesus looks by giving strong support to those who have experienced great loss this past week. In fact, that is what I wanted to share with you today. While there are great lessons we can learn from this event surrounding loss, grief, or even the power of God, I believe there is a powerful lesson we can learn about the love of God’s children to show true discipleship amid disaster. I received dozens of calls and messages Friday night and Saturday morning asking if my family was safe back in Danville as I traveled back to them, which warmed my heart to feel the care & concern of so many. But then I started to receive different kinds of messages. Since we live close to where the tornado hit the hardest, I started getting texts and calls from brothers & sisters in Christ all over this nation asking me, “Where can we send support to help those who are in need?” Within a matter of hours, hundreds of thousands of dollars were being raised to give aid in relief of the tragic circumstances. Everywhere I turned, people were rushing to help. The Chick-Fil-A truck that normally services our area changed their schedule for the week, and went to park themselves inside of Mayfield and planned to donate meals at no charge to those in need. Another Kentucky man packed up his grill and ice chests full of food and then did the same. He was not a cook, a chief, or a restaurant owner – just an ordinary guy. When asked why he was doing it, his simple response was powerful, “It just had to be done, so I’m gonna do it.” These good deeds cannot heal or mend the broken hearts of those effected by these storms, but perhaps if nothing else their love can point others to the only one who can: Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior. 

The wonderful actions of disciples over the past few days rushing to help those in great need reminded me of an event that is recorded for us in the book of Acts. We read of another cataclysmic event in Acts 11:27-30, “In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.” What a powerful series of events that has been recorded for us here in the historical book of Acts. Famine, while not as fast acting as a tornado, can be just as devastating to a region. Historically, famines have been the occasion of the rise and fall of entire nations because of the great devastation they bring upon a nation. In this instance, the famine was going to effect almost the entire known world, but particularly those whom would be hit the hardest were those living in Judea. Well, when disaster strikes, disciples act. Every single individual, according to their own ability, resolved that they would send relief in order to aid other brothers & sisters in Christ that lived in Judea. Those who took part in this generous act would have not known any of those who were effected personally, and yet that did not matter to them. They knew it was upon them to do good to all men, especially to those that were of the household of faith (see Galatians 6:10). They were all a part of the household of God, and they were going to care for other members of Christs body as though they were their own. Now stop for a moment and think about this: can you imagine how powerful this was to non-believers as they saw the love that these people had for one another? Can you imagine how much they wanted to be a part of it? I believe it is by no coincidence that in Acts 12:24-25 we read the following, “But the word of God spread and multiplied. After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.” Even amongst great trials and calamity, the gospel flourished. Why? Because even in such circumstances, God’s people rose up and put the love of Jesus on full display. Is this not what Jesus said, that the world will know that we are his disciples by the love that we have for one another? My friends, we have such an opportunity today. The church of the first century is teaching us in this very moment the way in which we are called to respond to such an event as this past weekend. Each one of us, according to our own ability, has an opportunity and a responsibility to love those who so desperately need our support right now. If you personally want to know points of contact of whom to send support to, I am more than happy to share those with you – and please reach out to me so I can share those we are aware of in need with you to help support. Even if you don’t reach out to me, reach out to others in these areas and just ask, “What is needed, and what can I do to help?” You never know. Perhaps your efforts and love, no matter how great or small, will lead someone to turn and embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior after they have been recipients of the love of his people. 

Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. Tune in, Tuesday-Fridays, as a new podcast episode will be uploaded each day. Also, be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Set Your Mind Above podcast for future announcements and video sessions. As you have the opportunity, share these thoughts with your friends and family, and share with me what important lessons you are learning from every day, ordinary events. Until next time know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.