Author: Lee A. Robinson

Reflections on the D.C. Plane Crash

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Tragedies happen every day, but we feel the impact of the ones that happen to people we know. I knew Casey Crafton, one of the passengers aboard the airplane that crashed. We went to church together. I know his family pretty well. We’ve laughed together, prayed together, worked together, etc. We were not close friends, but my heart grieves for his wife, 3 sons and their tight knit family network. I’ve been praying for them constantly since I heard what happened. It’s caused me to reflect a little deeper on life. 

“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4). 

The day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth

I am thankful that Casey was a believer in Jesus Christ. This is the most important thing. No one knows when they are going to die, but everyone knows deep down that something happens after we die. We can rest assured that because Jesus died and rose again, that anyone who believes in him will also rise from the dead to a glorious future. John 14:19, Jesus said, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” In one instant Casey left his earthly body and was present with the Lord Jesus Christ. Casey lives, because Jesus lives. He does not grieve. It is a mystery, but the day of death for the believer is better than the day of their birth. Birth is, at best, the beginning of a long joyful struggle. Death (in Christ) is the beginning of eternal joy with no struggle.

You could have been on that plane. Are you ready to depart from this earth? The Bible is clear that if we have Christ we have a confident hope of eternal life. The only thing that would ban us from being received into heaven is our sins – the wrong choices we have made in this life. But Jesus, the Son of God, came from heaven, to give his life as a substitute (a payment) for all of our sins. He came to earth to die so that we might go to heaven and live. What we have to do is acknowledge our sins before God and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God’s promise is this, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).  

Sorrow is better than laughter 

Being confronted by a tragedy sobers the heart. It has a way of pulling our soul away from the superficial things of life and back into what really matters. As much as we would in our humanity never ask for pain, suffering and loss of life, it is somehow a precious tool in the hands of God to heal us and bring us forward on the next step of our journey. The most tragic, catastrophic, and miserable thing that ever happened was the crucifixion of Jesus, but it brought salvation to the world. The repeated misfortunes of Joseph brought food to a globally starving world. The tragedies of Job have comforted millions (probably billions) of people over thousands of years. And so on. I pray that God graciously gives Casey’s family measures of his peace and comfort that they never thought imaginable, and that time will tell how this tragedy was designed for their ultimate good and the good of others. “Father, support them with your arms. Reassure them that you are good, only good. Reassure them that you are with them and that, to you, nothing happens by accident and that you are surprised by nothing; that all of this happened on time and as planned. I pray also for all of the other families of those who were in the accident. Reveal your love, grace, strength and comfort to them all in a divinely potent way. Help everyone who will be serving and ministering to all of these families. Amen.”   

Being grateful 

Life is a gift. Every day is a gift. We didn’t ask to be created and the number of our days is not in our hands. There are a myriad of different ways that could end our lives today that are out of our control. It is often said, “Live every day as though it is your last.” This is good advice. Be humble. Love your family. Be kind to everyone. Strive to not have an enemy. Perhaps take the time today to pray something along these lines: “God, thank you for giving me life, for putting breath in my mouth. Thank you for every good thing I have ever received – it is not deserved. Help me to see the little things as great blessings. Help me to show my gratitude by serving others and by not being overburdened by the constant cares of this life.”   

You never know how much you’re loved and appreciated. 

Within the first 2 days after the accident there were about 1,000 who donated $100,000 to the Crafton family, and many others signed up to bring meals to them through the Meal Train app. (link at the bottom of the article if you would like to help out). Of course, no amount of money or food can replace a loved one, but those gifts are massive statements of love and support for Casey and his family. I’m sure Casey would have never thought that that many people would respond in the way they have. We really cannot conceive how many people our lives touch. If you are feeling lonely today, like no one notices you or appreciates you – you may even feel like if you were gone no one would even notice – it’s most likely not true. I don’t know how it will help you, but take a moment to reflect on that truth. You are loved and noticed, and as long as you are here, your life has a special purpose and you are seen. I can say that Casey was a man who was a servant to his family, his church and his community and always had a smile on his face. The more you give of yourself to those around you, the more you will be loved and cared for, especially in a time of tragedy.

John 14:18-19, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” 

To Donate To The Crafton Family: https://mealtrain.com/yrz79e

Notes about the accident . . . 

On January 29, 2025, American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 series airliner on a scheduled domestic passenger flight, collided mid-air with a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter while on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people on board the flights. Flight 5342 was operated by PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group,[a] and was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas,[3][4] while the helicopter was on a training flight out of Davison Army Airfield in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Aircraft and crew

Aircraft

American Eagle Flight 5342[5] was operated by a 20-year-old Bombardier CRJ700 series, a regional jet commonly used for short- to medium-haul flights. It was configured as a CRJ701ER, designating a slightly higher seating capacity and extended range. Manufactured in September 2004, it bore the registration number N709PS and had been transferred to PSA Airlines for operations under the American Eagle brand[a] in December 2013 after the merger of US Airways and American Airlines.[6][7][8] It had been damaged after hitting a deer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2017, but was repaired and returned to service.[9] The flight originated from Wichita, Kansas, and was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after taking off from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.[4] No abnormalities were reported when the plane took off from Wichita.[10]

The helicopter involved was a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk registered as 00-26860.[11] The helicopter was configured for use as executive transportation for senior U.S. officials and soldiers, and was flying under the callsign PAT25, indicating a “Priority Air Transport” flight.[3][12] No senior officials were on board the helicopter.[3][12] The helicopter, of B Company of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, was on a training flight out of Davison Army Airfield when the collision occurred.[13][2]

Passengers and crew

The airliner carried 60 passengers and 4 crew members; the helicopter had a crew of 3 military personnel.[14]

The airliner’s captain, Jonathan Campos, had worked six years with the airline. The first officer, Samuel Lilley, had worked with the airline for two years.[15][16] Campos lived in Ormond Beach, Florida, and studied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.[17][18] Lilley was a native of Richmond Hill, Georgia, and graduated from Georgia Southern University.[19] The Association of Flight Attendants reported that two of its members were on Flight 5342.[20]

The helicopter had a crew of three Army personnel: a captain, a chief warrant officer 2, and a staff sergeant.[21]

Victims

Within three hours of the collision, authorities confirmed fatalities.[22][23] As of 02:50 the following morning, no survivors had been reported, and search and rescue operations were described as “becoming more grim.”[10] Kansas senator Roger Marshall said that all 67 people were presumed dead.[24]

Among the passengers were several U.S. Figure Skating athletes, personnel, and family members returning from a national development camp held in conjunction with the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.[25] Coaches traveling as passengers were Russian nationals Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the pair skating gold medalists at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, along with Russian three-time figure skating champion and coach Inna Volyanskaya and another Russian coach, Alexandr Kirsanov.[26][27][28][29] As many as 15 passengers may have been affiliated with figure skating.[30] It was the second time members of the U.S. Figure Skating team died in an aviation accident, after the 1961 crash of Sabena Flight 548 in Belgium.[31]

Four passengers were members of the D.C.-based UA Steamfitters Local 602 union.[32] Three students and six parents from schools of Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia were aboard the flight.[16] Two passengers were attorneys from a D.C. law firm.[33] Another passenger was a civil rights attorney.[34] A colonel of the Philippine National Police who headed its Supply Management Division was among the fatalities.[35] Two Chinese nationals[36] a Pakistani,[37] and an unspecified number of German nationals were also on board the aircraft.[38]

The US military released the identities of two of the three soldiers on the Black Hawk: the pilot, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Andrew Eaves from Noxubee County, Mississippi,[39] and the crew chief, Ryan O’Hara, 29, from Gwinnett County, Georgia.[40][41]

Accident

Around 8:47 p.m. EST, less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter crew if they had the CRJ in sight while multiple CRJs operating in DCA. The crew confirmed visual contact with an aircraft and requested “visual separation” from the airliner—meaning they would visually acquire and maintain separation from the aircraft on their own—which was approved by the controller.[42][43] Moments later, the controller instructed the helicopter to pass behind Flight 5342.[1][44] The two aircraft collided at less than 300 feet (91 m) altitude,[45] with the airplane flying at 128 miles per hour (206 km/h; 111 kn) upon impact, causing the helicopter to explode and crash into the Potomac River.[46] The CRJ700’s radio transponder ceased transmitting about 2,400 feet (730 m) short of Runway 33, where the plane intended to land, with the Radio transponder providing incorrect data for an extra 1 minute after the crash, as seen on Flightradar24 ADS-B data.[1][44]

Duration: 1 minute and 2 seconds.1:02

Partial air traffic control audio between the helicopter, regional jet, and ground control

The collision was captured by a webcam at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,[47][48] and another video showed a brief trail of fire.[49] Witnesses reported that the airliner “split in half” upon impact, while the helicopter crashed upside down near the airliner.[20] A pilot in an uninvolved aircraft confirmed seeing the crash to an air traffic controller, and reported seeing flares from the opposite side of the Potomac as his flight was on short final.[3]

The jet’s traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), which might have helped prevent the collision at higher altitudes, does not send advisories to aircraft on approach when they are less than 1,000 feet (300 m) above the ground; this is to avoid directing an aircraft into a collision with terrain or another aircraft.[50]

Context

This accident was the deadliest US aviation accident since American Airlines Flight 587 on November 12, 2001,[b] the first fatal accident involving the CRJ700 series since its introduction in 2001,[54] and the first major commercial plane crash involving multiple fatalities in the United States since Colgan Air Flight 3407 on February 12, 2009.[55][56][57][failed verification] In addition it was the first crash in the Potomac River since Air Florida Flight 90 collided with a bridge before crashing into the river on January 13, 1982.[58][59][60]

The airspace around Reagan National Airport is considered to be one of the most difficult areas to fly in because airspace is restricted on both sides of the Potomac River to protect Washington on one side and the Pentagon on the other. It is also more congested by the confluence of civilian and military flights in the area.[61]

“Like most of the country’s air traffic control facilities, the tower at Reagan airport has been understaffed for years”, The New York Times reported on January 30. On the night of the collision, staffing at the tower was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” according to an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety report about the collision that was reviewed by the Times. A single controller was handling helicopters in and around the airport and also instructing planes that were landing and departing. “Those jobs typically are assigned to two controllers, rather than one” between 10 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., the Times wrote.[62] The duties are normally combined at 9:30 p.m., when traffic has slackened. But on the night of the crash, an air controller supervisor combined the duties sometime before 9:30 p.m., to allow one air traffic controller to leave early.[63]

FAA administrator Mike Whitaker had resigned on January 20, reportedly as a result of conflict with Elon Musk, and an acting administrator had not yet been named at the time of the crash.[64][65]

Emergency response

Recovery teams at the scene

Emergency personnel, including units from District of Columbia Fire and EMS (DC FEMS), Metropolitan Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Maryland State Police, and other assets from local, state, and federal agencies, were dispatched to the scene. According to DC FEMS chief John Donnelly, emergency responders were notified of an aircraft crash at 8:48 p.m. The first units arrived at the scene at 8:58 p.m., where they discovered the aircraft in the water.[66]

Fireboats and divers were deployed to search for victims and survivors. However, rescue efforts were hampered by cold temperatures, strong winds, ice, and murky water conditions. The water temperature near the crash site was recorded at 35 °F (2 °C).[14] Several commercial yachts from CityCruise sailed from Washington Sailing Marina to assist in the search and rescue operations.[14] Officials said that they were confident they would be able to recover all bodies from the aircraft. Twenty-eight bodies were confirmed to have been found as of 07:48 EST, at which point the operation switched from rescue to recovery.[67][68]

After the collision, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport suspended all takeoffs and landings, diverting flights to nearby airports, including Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport,[69] and Richmond International Airport.[70] The airport remained closed until 11:00 a.m. on January 30.[71]

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority extended Silver Line service to help passengers whose flights were diverted to Dulles International Airport and dispatched “warming buses” to help relief operations.[72][14]

Investigations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Army announced they would launch investigations into the collision.[1] The NTSB prepared an investigation team to send to the site of the accident.[14] The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also stated it would assist in the response, though there were no indications of terrorism or criminal activity.[14] The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) deployed a team of two investigators to assist in the investigation.[73]

The fuselage of Flight 5342 was found upside down in three sections in the river and is being recovered.[10] The search for debris was extended to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, 3 mi (5 km) south of Reagan National Airport.[1]

On the evening of January 30, the flight data recorders (“black boxes”) of Flight 5342 were recovered from the wreckage and brought to the NTSB lab for evaluation.[74][75]

Responses

Aviation

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, in a video statement produced by the airline, said that the pilots flying the airliner were experienced.[5] American Airlines also launched a hotline for family members of passengers on Flight 5342.[3] Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, argued for the creation of more safety zones as well as more restrictions on flight patterns after the crash.[76]

Domestic

President Donald Trump was briefed on the collision shortly after it occurred. Shortly after midnight Trump wrote on Truth Social questioning the actions of the air traffic controllers and that the situation could have been prevented.[77] Later that morning Trump released a statement calling the crash a “terrible accident”, thanking emergency responders and saying of the victims: “May God bless their souls.”[6][14][10]

In later remarks during a White House press conference, Trump alleged that FAA diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals by former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama were partly to blame for the crash.[78][77] During a reporter’s questioning, Trump agreed that it was still too early in the investigation, but that he was sure DEI was to blame as “I have common sense” and said that the FAA under Obama thought personnel were “too white”.[78] Trump criticized the FAA for being open to hire people with “hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism”, which was a policy that existed unchanged throughout Trump’s first presidency; furthermore in 2019 the Trump administration’s FAA announced a program to allow 20 people with “targeted disabilities” (as mentioned by Trump above) to train at air traffic control centers for air traffic operations careers.[79][80]

Top Trump administration officials also criticized diversity policies on January 30, agreeing with Trump’s claim that such policies caused the crash.[81][82] Vice president JD Vance said, “When you don’t have the best standards in who you’re hiring, it means on the one hand, you’re not getting the best people in government. But on the other hand, it puts stresses on the people who are already there.”[81][83] Sean Duffy, the United States Secretary of Transportation, said, “We can only accept the best and the brightest in positions of safety”, while Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, said, “The era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department and we need the best and brightest”, including in “our air traffic control”.[82] Duffy also said, “What I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely”.[84] Hegseth also said that the helicopter crew were ‘fairly experienced”, and undergoing “routine annual retraining—night flights on a standard [flight] corridor for a continuity-of-government mission”.[85]

Trump received pushback for his claims that DEI initiatives were to blame for the crash, including by former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, whom Trump criticized in his address. Buttigieg stated that Trump’s claims were “despicable” and that he should be “leading, not lying”.[86] Representative Ilhan Omar criticized Trump for “blaming this deadly crash on minorities and white women” and that the comments were “disgusting, racist and sexist”.[77] Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also criticized Trump’s remarks, calling them “idle speculation”. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized Trump by stating that he was “making a political show out of this awful tragedy” about the crash.[20] Sullenberger responded to Trump by stating that “an airplane cannot know or care” about a pilot’s race or gender but can only care about “what the control inputs are”.[76]

Kansas Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran said that they were communicating with authorities about the collision.[3] Don Beyer, U.S. representative for Virginia’s 8th congressional district, where the airport is located, said he was in contact with airport officials about the crash.[3]

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin stated that first responders from Northern Virginia were being sent to help recovery efforts. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly stated that she was in contact with authorities about the collision.[3] Maryland Governor Wes Moore raised Maryland’s Emergency Operations Center status to “Enhanced” to help recovery operations.[14]

A vigil was held at the Wichita City Council chambers in memory of the victims.[87]

International

The International Olympic Committee said they “extend their heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, which we understand may include Olympians, young athletes, and their support staff.”[10] At the 2025 European Figure Skating Championships, which had begun the morning of the collision, a moment of silence was observed to mourn the figure skaters and family members lost. The International Skating Union and many international skating federations also offered their condolences.[88]

Pope Francis sent a telegram to the White House expressing condolences for the victims of the collision.[89] The Russian Embassy in the United States sent condolences to the families of the Russian nationals who died in the crash.[20] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences “to [the] grieving family members and loved ones who are facing unimaginable loss” and support of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada throughout the investigation.[90]

(Sourced from Wikipedia)

Caution In Hope. America’s Future?

/ Lee A. Robinson / 2 Comments

It is encouraging to feel the optimism because of a Trump victory. I’m reminded of the scripture, “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice.” It could simply be who I am surrounded by (most of my closer friends and acquaintances are of the more Republican type), but it seems like there is a general sense of relief, unity (for our times) and hope that the ship of America might not be completely lost at sea. However, I’d like to offer a thought or two – a reminder – of what really needs to happen in order for us to have biblical assurance of hope for our nation. 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12). The cornerstone of genuine, lasting blessing is surrender to and exclusive loyalty to the One True God – the trinitarian Christian God (Father, Son and Spirit). This is true for individuals, families, states and nations. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” applies to nations as well. In order for us to have the deepest confidence of good, we must, as a nation, be surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. A Trump victory is a sweet reprieve, but we need more than a mere postponement of judgment to truly thrive, we need genuine generational hope. Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” God’s blessing follows believing hearts. “Lord, somehow, turn the collective conscience of America back to you, in repentance and faith in Christ.” We must be very on guard against putting too much hope in a single man – especially a man with a pretty checkered past and a shady present (at least as far as humility before God and a commitment to truly following God’s ways. I enthusiastically voted for Trump, but I confess boldly that he is definitely not our Savior and hope, in any way shape or form. Psalms 146:3-5, Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:” Trump will be here for 4 years only, then will be gone. We want a plan that will put us on track for the next 40 years, yea the next 400 years, much more like the foundation that our founding fathers were building on. Jeremiah 17:5-8, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

Secondly, we have to stop killing babies. One of the surest ways to provoke the wrath of God on yourself is to harm an innocent child. Luke 17:2, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” God has made it clearly and forcibly known that he is an especially jealous protector of the fatherless and widows (those who are most vulnerable to attackers). There is no one in our nation as vulnerable as a human baby. Our leaders (from the lowest to the highest) must name abortion as nothing less than murder, and we must initiate and sign into law the strongest protections possible to preserve every human life from conception, and to appropriately punish those who try to harm them. Matthew 18:10, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” When we nurture and protect the little ones God has created, he will nurture and protect us, but if we continue to mutilate and annihilate them God will continue to do the same to us.

Thirdly, another red flag of a nation in decline is a public acceptance of homosexuality and perverted sex stuff. Romans 1 spells this out so clearly, as it seems that everyone is aware of nowadays. We must get back to the root, which is to be grateful to God for who He is and who he made us to be: Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Everyone has problems and everyone has been hurt by others to varying degrees, but we have all been blessed by God to be uniquely and specially created by God and also to be born into a prosperous nation. Whoever you are -whether male or female, whatever color, ethnicity or social class – accept the fact that a good, All mighty, perfectly providential God designed and planted you right where you are. Be content with what species your are, let your roots go deep and become what he has designed you to be. Our leaders – in public and in law – must make it abundantly clear that there are only – and will forever only be – two genders, that sexual activity must only be between a man and a woman, and that activity must only be within the boundaries of covenanted, lifelong marriage. The more we tighten up the culture and legislation on this issue, the more confidence we will have that good will come our way. Psalms 128:1-6, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.” 

There are many other things we could talk about that are important to thriving (good financial stewardship, protecting our borders, striving for unity, weeding out corruption of all forms, not giving place to lies, etc.), but the ones I mentioned I believe are the really big ones. 

“Father, make your name to be hallowed in our land. May every heart confess his or her sins and sweetly cry out to Jesus for salvation. May every home, every neighborhood, every town, every county, and every state surrender to the authority of the Holy Bible. We don’t deserve it, but we appeal to your incomparable mercy and grace, and also the the prayers of our fathers in the past, who prayed for us that we might not stray from your ways. May it be in the soul of our nation, that, when we are blessed that we would not wax fat and kick against you, but be humble, generous stewards of your marvellous grace. Revive the churches and raise up preachers and prophets. Send your choice servants to the White House and to Washington in general. Whatever comes may we commit to joyfully praise you. Amen.” 

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Whenever you’re staying in a house you’re not familiar with there is a little bit of a learning curve. Things don’t always work the same as they do at home. Right now we’re away staying at a family member’s house. One of my daughters came up shivering after taking a shower and chattered, “The shower water was freezing cold!” Later on I heard that the second daughter, who also took a cold shower, thought the first one had used up all the hot water! No one likes a shower with only the cold option, but I didn’t think much about it until it was my turn to take a shower. 

I went to turn on the shower. The water valve was all the way to the right with the water. I turned the valve all the way to the left and the water came all the way on. After a minute or so the water was still freezing cold. Standard installation procedure is to install the hot water line to the left and cold water to the right. Even the plate behind the valve had the “H” on the left and the “C” on the right, but things are not always what they seem. I turned the valve all the way to the right, just before the point where the water flow would cut off, and sure enough steaming hot water came rushing out. I was pleased that this was the case, for my sake, but I also did get a giggle out of what the girls went though! Fortunately for me, I had the simple advantage of having trekked on this planet a couple more decades than they have. I’ve encountered the displaced water valve dilemma before. There are many other quandaries in every area of life that remind us that things are not always what they seem. 

One of my reflections from this simple incident is that if things don’t work the way they seem like they should, then try something else. God did a marvelous job ordering the cosmos. There are universal laws that we rightly attend to and rely on. However, we live in a fallen world managed by fallen people who make fallen systems. Worst of all we see the world through fallen eyes. Our interpretations can be skewed about reality, motives, causes, etc. Things are always changing and we’re always changing. You know those optical illusions that instantly look like one thing, but after you look a little longer it becomes something completely different? Life can be like that sometimes. We get stuck in routines and traditions, that most of the time can be good, but don’t close yourself off from thinking something new, learning something new, or tweaking your life in some way to accomplish what you’re longing for. In other words, if the water in your life is cold, turn the valve to the right, try something unconventional and see if the water gets hot. Of course, this suggestion of thinking outside the box still suggests that we think and act within the boundaries God has set for us in His Word.  

Another thought that comes to my mind is: don’t be a judgmental person. Jesus wisely instructed us to, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Things are not always what they seem. We watched the new Garfield movie last night (spoiler alert!). The overall plot of the story was that Garfield was abandoned in a dark alley by his father when he was just a kitty. Later on they were reunited but Garfield was angry and bitter. Every time his dad was about to explain what really happened Garfield would interrupt him with bitter objections. His dad would have just enough time to say something to the effect of, “It’s not what you think.” Later on Garfield learned the truth. On that dark night Garfield’s dad saw him get noticed by a loving man who took him in. His dad knew that Garfield would live a better life with his newly adopted parent than he would living on the street. His dad would go and watch him every day from a tree outside his new house and watch him live a blessed life. Garfield had it all wrong.

There is real evil in the world and it should never be simply overlooked, excused or enabled. However, most of the time, the people that we interact with on a daily basis are just people trying to do what is right but just have struggles like everyone. If we really took the time to ask questions and to truly see what it was like to walk in their shoes, we would find nuances and situations unique to that individual that would make you more sympathetic to their decision making. Other times it may look like people are living an ignoble life, but when you look into it you find out that they are doing very noble things. Some of the sweetest, most godly people in the world don’t look like what you would think they should look like. Just be slow in your evaluation of other people, and of the things they do. 

Is there any situation in your life today that seems positioned the right way, but you’re not seeing the right result? Look a little closer, think a little deeper about it. It may be that something needs to be adjusted. No need to take a cold shower just because an installer one day did a sloppy job! 🙂

The Wonderful Truth of Election

/ Lee A. Robinson / 13 Comments

Every teaching of the Bible is aimed at both the mind and the heart. Doctrine is meant to be contemplated and felt; to be discussed and also lived. Some subjects more than others quickly become intellectually heavy, abstruse and technical (and debatable). One such doctrine is the doctrine of Election. This is unfortunate, because it’s typical appearance in Scripture is couched between the warm pillows of hope and comfort. Election seems to pop up in the writers mind when he is deeply excited to encourage and strengthen the believer. So my goal here is to just take a few moments to revel in what the reality of election means for the believer…  

If you are a genuine believer and follower of Christ, the Bible is crystal clear that you have been chosen by God to be one of his very own: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved (greatly loved) of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation…” Your destiny has always been to belong to God, to know Jesus, follow him, represent him and to ultimately be raised from the dead and be given a glorified body like him. Praise God – what a destiny! You are one of those children of the promise (like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel) the Scriptures talk about!    

Before the earth was created God freely settled this decision that your destiny would be to become one of his chosen children: Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated (pre-determined, foreordained) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” You are a child of God! Your Father is the King of all the kings and Lord of all the lords. He is the supreme ruler of all things! The faithful love of a good father is secured towards you forever! Romans 8:33-34, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” No one and nothing will ever separate you from his love! 

Thankfully, God’s selection of you was not based on anything meritorious that he foresaw in you: 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Deuteronomy 7:6-8, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you…” Romans 9:11, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” Among of all humanity that would be created, why did God set his love upon you to make you his very own child? We are told – mysteriously, but simply so – that the reason why God set his love upon you is because he loved you (Deuteronomy 7:8)! Also, because he has a special purpose in your life to showcase his mercy (2 Timothy 1:9)! All of this is completely undeserved. Yes, the fate of grace has fallen upon us. Thank you, Father. You deserve every ounce of praise and love from us! 

Election isn’t referring to the fact that God saves those who believe in him. God does save those who believe in him, but election is focused on what lies underneath our decision to believe (or the realities that precede our conversion). The ultimate reason behind why you developed a fear of God, was convicted of your sins, realized who Jesus was, understood the Gospel, and called upon Chist for salvation, was that you were chosen by God to have your eyes open to all of these things: Acts 13:48, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained (appointed) to eternal life believed.” Everyone that day heard the same Gospel preaching by Paul. Why did some believe – because they were appointed to believe. It was their destiny.  

In John 10:26-28 Jesus said, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Everyone heard Jesus (the good shepherd) speak. Some yielded to his voice and some did not. Why? Because some were his sheep and others were not. I used to think that what made someone one of God’s sheep was that they believed in him. Sort of like faith being the door to the sheepfold. It seems to make sense, right? But I came to realize that the Lord classifies people as his sheep before they believe: John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Jesus had sheep that had not yet believed. They were still out wandering lost in the mountains somewhere. This passage in John 10 is revealing to us why the elect believe: because they are sheep. Only the sheep hear the voice of shepherd and come. You heard his voice and came to him when he called you because he had already chosen you as one of his sheep in eternity past. You love him. Why? Because he first loved you (1 John 4:19).  

We did not do anything to be elected by God. He did not stand on the precipice of eternity and scout through the corridors of time for all the faithful people and then stamp his seal on them. He foresaw all people as fallen, corrupted, degenerated sons and daughters of Adam. God’s justice, righteousness and good wrath was pleased to reserve many for judgment, but his goodness, kindness, grace, longsuffering, mercy and love yearned to make His-story a rescue mission. So he chose many to be redeemed through the precious work of Christ, in history. Why we were numbered among the sons and daughters of mercy is beyond our comprehension. But it is true, and it has come to pass. Hallelujah!   

How precious is all of this! Think about how differently your destiny could have been! God could have chosen you to just be an ant, but he made you a living, breathing, thinking, feeling, worshiping creature. But even then, God could have allowed you to run headlong into deserved everlasting destruction, but he didn’t. He chose you. He wanted you. 

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” You are not a believer today because karma is rewarding you for being noble in a past life. The fortune of good luck has not just happened to fall on you. You’re not a child of God because you were a Pastor’s child, grew up in a Christian home or went to a Christian school. You’re not a Christian because you were raised in western culture. You didn’t repent of your sins because you have a softer heart than others or because you are just naturally more good than others. You don’t understand and believe the Gospel because you have a high I.Q. There is nothing about you that is the ultimate cause for why you believed. Your faith is a gift from God. Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” The same saving faith that was given you to start believing in Christ is the same faith that will continue to be given you forever. Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12). God promises to never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13). God’s everlasting kingdom is your home. He has many mansions and there is a room prepared for you (John 14). 

God has promised you “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5). Do you think of this enough, how your life is going to end??? No matter the difficulties, struggles, tragedies of life – it is all going to end soon and glory will be born and you will be enveloped by it. Amen! 

God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t recall any of his elections, and praise God he doesn’t miscount them either! Believer, friend, brother: rejoice today rest in his unfailing love for you. Confess your sins. Renew your commitment to him. Strive to imitate the apostle Paul and work hard in God’s harvest field so the other elect children of God will come to know him as well: 2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

On Sinning Less

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

I heard someone recently ask Elon Musk what he thought was the greatest piece of advice ever given him. After some deliberation he concluded that it was “to strive to be less wrong.” This struck me as a different and perhaps helpful way in approaching life. It is futile and frustrating to strive for perfection. However, to simply shave off a little bit of imperfection seems much more likely and encouraging of a goal. I could say, “I am never going to eat anything unhealthy ever again!” Wishful thinking. However, if I say, “If all else fails, I’m just not going to drink soda for a few months.” This is much, much more likely to be realistic and, if achieved, will push my health in a positive direction.

The ultimate goal for every person is to become more and more like Jesus Christ. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:28-29). We are born in the image of our fallen father Adam and it is the lifelong challenge for us all to be recreated and restored into the image of the perfect son of God. This is aiming at perfection. My thought at this moment though is not to think of it as, “I have to become perfect,” but rather, “Today the goal is just to remove something – even if it’s seemingly small – from what is unlike Christ. Sculptures start with a bland block and chisel away little by little until the desired image appears. 

Here are a few suggestions on how to effectively purge off imperfections of your life…

  1. Remember who God is and who you are. God made you. You did not exist eternally and then at one point create a god to worship. God always existed, then in time he made you, to worship him. God created the game, therefore he gets to set the rules. He embedded the rules in our hearts. We intuitively know what is right from wrong. We didn’t create our conscience, it was factory installed. Who put it there? God. This all means that our obligation is to obey the rules. Obey and live, disobey and die. Submit to God’s authority & rules and be happy, or rebel and be sad. Where is your heart right now? Is it resting under God’s authority? Are you content being a servant of God, or are you still longing to be the master of your own life? Positioning yourself gently under God is the first step to sinning less. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10)
  2. We must admit that we are sinful and that the true enemy is within. We are our own worst enemy. Of course, there is a devil, a corrupt world, difficult people, and severely challenging trials, but if we were like God (if we were holy) we still would not sin because we would be patient, merciful, forgiving and full of faith. I am the problem, not something or someone else. I have this part of me that doesn’t want to admit it. Why are we so quick to judge others, to point out their faults, to excuse our own and to think that we are better than others? Why does it seem so offensive when other people wrong us, but when we do wrong it doesn’t seem to bother us as much? This is our real nature manifesting itself. We are sinners. Admit it. If we don’t we will always be making excuses for ourselves, never actually growing spiritually. We must be quick to turn ourselves in to God. “Woe is me, for I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:5) “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
  1. Meditate on the consequences of your sins until it hurts. Our sins displease God: our wise creator, benevolent provider, redeemer, savior and friend: the one who left heaven and was crucified for us. There is no one so gentle towards you; so kind, compassionate, merciful, longsuffering, encouraging, thoughtful, committed. Think of how loving God is to you. He only wants your good. He never makes fun of you, hurts you, lies to you, or abandons you. He is by far your best friend. When you choose to sin it breaks God’s heart because he loves you: he knows that in some way your joy and peace is going to be disturbed because of this. Do you see him? He’s not upset or mad, he’s broken. Honor him by doing what pleases him.  
  1. Our sins also displease and hurt others. Every time we sin, no matter what it is, we hurt other people. Sometimes it is directly, by saying or doing something wrong to that person. But think about the other people involved in your life. Those who witness your wrong doings are presented with an unpleasant thing to watch and the weak are encouraged to do the same. When we sin other people are inconvenienced by it. There has to be valuable time spent trying to deal with the sin until it is corrected. Life is not all about you. We know deep down that it is more honorable to put others’ needs and desires in front of our own. Love other people by choosing to sin less. Another thought on this is, every time you sin, you become less equipped to serve other people in the future, so people who could have benefitted from you now will not. “Consider one another” (Hebrews 10:24). 
  1. Sinning now conditions you to sin easier and more in the future. Most people don’t like smoking the first time they try, but many acquire a taste for it. The more you allow yourself to do the same wrong thing over and over and over again, the easier it is going to become and the more you will enjoy it. Drug addicts build up a tolerance to the chemicals. This means that the more their bodies become used to those chemicals, the more chemicals are needed in order to get the same effect. A person who started consistently smoking a couple cigarettes a day will be smoking a whole pack after some time. Do you want to enjoy sin more and need more extreme sins to get the same feeling? God forbid. If not, sin less. Be afraid of where you may end up. Ask any old person and they will tell you that time flies. Time flies. They say about things that happened 40, 50, 60, 70 years ago, “It seems like yesterday.” Don’t wake up tomorrow being deep in sin because you excused your “little sins” today. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13). 
  1. Sin robs you. Do you like being robbed or lied to? Of course not! But when you sin you are freely giving away the most precious treasures you have: your peace, your joy, your freedom! Think about it. When you sin you hide because you’re scared and ashamed. Sin never leads you to joy or confidence. It may feel good for a brief moment, but then you are plagued with worry: you start having to think of ways to not get caught or to get out of the consequences. All of this is dark. Sin is a shrewd liar: promising you freedom but only bringing you into bondage. It’s proven that little children are happier if they play in an area that has clear boundaries. If they have no boundaries and no rules then they get frustrated. Dealing with God’s rules and boundaries are hard to handle sometimes, but playing inside of them is unexpectedly the true path to freedom and joy. “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:21-23).
  1. You only have one life. If you break your pencil you can always go and get a new one. You can’t just go get a new one if you break you. You only have one opportunity to manage the life that you have. How many days old are you? Today, I am on exactly day 13,600. That’s a lot of days. I will never be able to live any of my past days, ever again. I only had one chance to either make good decisions or bad decisions. The person I am today is the culmination of all of those decisions. The more that I consistently do what is right the better my life will be. The more I abuse my body, soul, mind and spirit, the worse my life is going to become. Also, we have to live with this life for the rest of our lives. You will always carry your past decisions with you. Strive to live in a way that will preserve your life instead of destroying it. You are precious and valuable – there is only one you – so treat yourself as though you are. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
  1. Have faith. There are times in your life when you desperately wanted something and didn’t get it, but it was ok. For example, there was a night when you really wanted dessert, but your parents said, “No.” It hurt alot and it seemed in the moment like you couldn’t handle it. But the next morning you completely forgot about it never to think about it again. Recognize that temptations only last for a short while. If you overcome it in the moment it will go away. Whatever the sin is, it will try to convince you that you will never be happy without it, but this is a lie. The truth is that you need righteousness and holiness, because without them you truly will not ever be happy. Crave what is good, yield to holiness and it will satisfy you for real. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).
  1. Believe the Gospel: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. You cannot sin less without Jesus. You have a fundamental problem: you are a sinner, you’ve sinned already and you will want to sin more in the future. Thankfully, Jesus died for all of your sins – past, present and future. Not only did he die for you, but also rose from the dead, for you. This means that he is the way for us to have power over the temptations of sin. Jesus came out of the grave: he can create life out of death. If he can do that, then he has the power and wisdom to be able to make you happy and content without that sin. You do need water and food to survive, but there is no sin that you need to survive or to prosper. You need the miraculous, creative power of Jesus to generate in you what is not there. This miracle happens as we internalize and obey the truth. Jesus said, “The truth shall make you free.” There is nothing in this world you can see or touch that will truly make you happy. Truth, righteousness and love makes you happy, and these are received only through the Gospel. So, confess your sins to God. Ask Jesus to forgive you. Thank God and rejoice in his forgiveness. Next time you are tempted to sin, run to Jesus and ask him to save you and do a miracle in your life. Ask him to give you contentment without having whatever sin it is you’re being tempted with. “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).
  2. Meditate on God’s Word. Fill up your heart and mind with his Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy Word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s Word is alive and powerful. The Word will lead you to a better understanding of God, yourself and the world around you. It will make you wiser to understand good and evil. The more you learn and grow in knowledge and understanding, the more you will be able to identify sin and avoid it. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalms 119:9-11).

One Reason Many Christians Don’t Vote

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Most Chrsitians in America believe in what is called the Rapture: the idea that at any moment Christians all around the world will be instantaneously “raptured” or “snatched up” into heaven by God. Accompanying this idea is the belief that the world is going to get worse and worse leading up to the rapture. There will be an increasing decline in morality; an almost total abandonment of true religion; chaos worldwide and dramatic political upheaval. Simply put, the current craziness of our world today is the harbinger that Christ is about to return at any moment – certainly within our lifetime, but most likely within the next couple years, weeks or even days. This doctrine I believe has the power to have a profound effect on the worldview of Christians specifically as it pertains to politics and voting. Here’s how:

If the world is certainly going to hell in a handbasket, and if Jesus is literally about to snatch the church away from this world, why would we invest any effort into culture or politics? As it is commonly stated that it is foolish to “polish the brass of a sinking ship.” If Jesus is coming back tomorrow afternoon the list of things to do is very limited: basically shout the gospel from the rooftops until he comes. Not only is there no time for casual activities, but there’s also no time for wholesome, godly, constructive activities such as: reading books, planting a garden, building homes, writing songs, starting schools or businesses or striving to redeem our state and the culture we live in. 

As a new Christian I took the rapture and its corresponding end-times belief system to heart. I think this is one of the main reasons why I used to not vote. Why would I vote? I thought, “It doesn’t ultimately make a difference. Things are going to get worse and worse anyway. This world is not my home. We just need to get the gospel out to the world before Christ returns, etc.” 

Over time I have seen another possibility from the Scriptures, namely Post-millennialism, or A-millennialism. What both of these views share is the belief that the world is actually going to slowly but surely become more and more Christian until ultimately the world as a whole will be discipled, which will culminate at the 2nd coming of Christ. I like the way Doug Wilson describes this: “In other words, the Great Commission will be successful in history.” Not only will all of the people groups of the world as a whole be converted, but also the governmental structures and systems of the world will also be redeemed. The world will become a Christian world. 

Now, how does this viewpoint affect the mind of the Christian as it relates to politics and voting? Well, if we have the promise that Jesus is already the King of all the Kings and that he is the ruler of the nations (Rev. 1); that he is going to save the world (John 3:17); that all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth already (Mat. 28:18-20); and that he is committed to partnering with the global Church and all Christians to redeem the world: then the time to get involved is now. In this system the harbinger of Christ’s coming is that all enemies are placed under his feet (1 Cor. 15). So, it’s not the ungodly passions of the world that attract the coming of Christ for judgment, but rather the passion of Christians redeeming the world and presenting it to Christ at his coming.   

The point of this article is not to defend in detail the postmillennial view over the premillennial view (maybe a later time some more analysis will be given), but my goal is to show that these different systems do exist in the minds of Christians and they do have an impact on how we view the world and live in it. 

Whether you are premillennial or postmillennial there is no absolute guarantee that Jesus will come back in your lifetime. It has been 2,000 years, it may be another 10,000 before he comes again. Either way there is nothing in Scripture that would negate the possibility that you might experience the greatest revival that has ever happened in history; that your country might become the most Christian nation that has ever existed.

So, pray, then go vote.