Gospel

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)

God’s Chosen Method of Evangelism

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

What is God’s preferred method of delivering his truth (the Gospel) to the world? 

The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. The Church has been entrusted with the task of representing God and being witnesses for Him – I think most evangelical Christians would agree on this point. Where I believe much more of the divergence occurs though is in the area of methods – not so much about what the message is, but how are we to get the message out? How is it to be delivered? Does the Bible speak to this subject?

Some think the best way is through legislation – If we can change the laws of the land to be favorable to Christianity, then more people will come to Christ. Some think the best way is through building relationships (lifestyle evangelism) – If we can gain people’s trust, then they are more likely to hear and believe what we have to say about Jesus. Others focus on good deeds or acts of community service – If our community sees the church as the ones who bring blessing to this city, then they are more likely to believe. Still others emphasize the church building, services, events – If we can have the absolutely best community programs and get people in the doors, then we will more effectively assimilate them into the body of Christ. So there are many methods (and I am not in any way shape or form saying those activities are wrong. I believe all of the ones I just mentioned are good and to one degree or another should be done), but the specific question I want to answer is, “What is the Biblical method of evangelism?” How did the men of God in Scripture get the Gospel to the world? Are there any specific commands to us about how to deliver the message? I am going to present a quick survey of the New Testament, which demonstrates clearly that God’s preferred method is that of…preaching.   

Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The word gospel simply means good news, however the word has a very rich history. Consider the following description: The term εὐαγγέλιον (gospel) was used at the time of the Roman Empire to herald the good news of the arrival of a kingdom – the reign of a king that brought war to an end, so that all people of the world who surrendered and pledged allegiance to this king would be granted salvation from destruction. This term “gospel” was applied to the birth of Caesar Augustus, who was labeled as a “god,” who reigned as “Lord,” and who arrived to bring “salvation” to people. This can be found on the Priene Calendar Inscription. The simple fact that the message we are given to bring to the world is called a “gospel” tells us much about the method. It is a message of grand proportions, a world shaking message, one that is to be proclaimed throughout the earth – the announcement of a new, special emperor who has come to bring in an age of peace and righteousness. It is similar to the news of a new President winning the election, but just greater. It is news that must be published everywhere, now! It is not a message to slowly, carefully, cautiously weave into the lives of friends or family members, but rather to be announced, right now, with great joy! It is not a message that we are to slowly, strategically dovetail into our culture, but rather a bold message, to call our nation, cities, culture, families, schools, businesses, entertainment industry – everything and everyone – now, to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!  

How did Jesus get the gospel to His world? Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The first thing we see Jesus doing in his ministry is publicly preaching the Gospel. In this passage, do we find Jesus building relationships, priming them for his message of repentance? Was he striving in the Sanhedrin to pass new legislation? What was Jesus’ preferred method of evangelism? Preaching. If it was good enough for Jesus…

Notice that Jesus says, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” The message Jesus proclaimed was urgent. There was no time for delay – everyone needed to hear, now. It is no different today. People’s souls are in the balance, death comes unexpectedly, and their hope is to hear a call for repentance and faith in the Gospel. Jesus said in another place, “Today is the day of salvation.” If to day is the day of salvation – then the appropriate time to bring forth the call of repentance and salvation is today. 

What does it communicate to people if we wait a long time before sharing the gospel with them? Say you have coworkers that you have labored with side by side for months or years, and all of a sudden you begin to tell them the gospel message: “My friend, you are in a grave situation before God, in danger of Hell, and you have been since the day that I met you. If you had died since the time I met you, you would be in Hell right now. But Jesus did die for you and you can be totally forgiven today if you will call upon him.” Doesn’t that actually appear very offensive – even more offensive than sharing the Gospel with them right off the bat? You knew that they were lost, and how they could be found, but you never told them??? The most appropriate time to deliver the gospel to every sector of your life is…today. Another thing is, this may be your last opportunity to share the Gospel with this person – they could die, you could die.    

Luke 8:1 says, “And it came to pass afterward, that he (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.” Along with Jesus going about the nation preaching the Gospel, he sent out his disciples to do the same. Among the instructions he gave them was this, Matthew 10:27 “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” Jesus instructed them how to deliver the message – preach it from the housetops! The message was urgent and universal; they were to be bold, loud and thorough. 

As Jesus left this earth, he commissioned his followers with a very specific task. Mark 16:15, 20 says,  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” The Church should feed the poor, live holy lives, seek legislation that accords with Scripture, be a blessing to the community, do everything with excellence, etc. However, the Great Commission: the thing that should be infused in everything that we do; the thing that at all costs should not go without being done, is to preach the gospel to every creature. Every other method of evangelism, or means we use to bring people to Christ, must fall underneath the plain proclamation of the Gospel. Other methods must be accessories to this main task. 

The word “preach” used in the Great Commission and throughout the New Testament is the Greek word “kerusso,” which means “to announce, proclaim aloud, or to herald.” We are to trumpet forth the knowledge that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All power, or authority has been given to Him in heaven and on the earth, so therefore, Go!

After Jesus ascended, his disciples, in obedience to the Lord’s command, waited in the city of Jerusalem, until the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. This happened at the feast of Pentecost, when the small city of Jerusalem was swelling with crowds of people. When the Holy Spirit came and filled them all, what were they prompted to do? They were compelled to go out into the open air and preach the gospel. Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words…This was the first sermon preached after Jesus left. They simply continued to do exactly what Jesus had been doing while he was here. This practice continued in the early days of the church in Israel: Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Again, what specifically did the Holy Spirit prompt them to do? Speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

An important passage to highlight is Acts chapter 8. Acts 8:1 says “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” So the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, but everyone else left. Now, what did they do as they were scattered? Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. This is important, because sometimes it is said the ministry of gospel proclamation was only given to the apostles, but here we see that everyone was preaching the word. The ministry of preaching is for everyone in the church, not just the pastors, evangelists, leaders, etc. 

The latter half of the book of Acts details the conversion and ministry of the apostle Paul. Hear this scripture: Acts 9:19-20 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. What did Paul do when he was saved? Immediately he began to preach Christ! It barely even needs to be said that the entire life of Paul – through and through – was a ministry of proclamation. Paul was one of the greatest preachers, if not the greatest preacher to ever live. For the rest of this article, I want to draw scriptures from Paul’s writings which demonstrate the preeminence of preaching as the main method the church must use for evangelism…

Romans 1:14-16 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. We are debtors to the world. We have received the message that can deliver people from Hell and has the power to bring people into a personal relationship with God. We owe it to everyone to share this message with them. We should not be ashamed of our Lord. We may be ridiculed, laughed at, mocked, or even physically assaulted, but any sacrifice given to announce this message is worth it! 

Notice in this passage also – what is the power of God unto salvation? The power is contained in the message of the Gospel. “For therein the righteousness of God is revealed…” (Romans 1:17 The power to convert a sinner is not in us being a good testimony or building relationships with people. Though this may help, the power comes when someone discerns the contents of the gospel and it is applied to their lives.

Romans 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? The regular means by which God converts a sinner could be stated this way: God elects – The Holy Spirit, at the appropriate time begins to woo and convict the elect – a Christian is move by God to evangelize that person – the Holy Spirit speaks through the word of the gospel being presented – faith is created and the sinner is born again.

The process I just described is further confirmed a few verses later…So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. There are absolutely a thousand other ways that God may bring someone into the faith (dreams, hearing a testimony, fear of death, etc.), but the normal means, the overwhelming amount of times it happens regularly is through the preached word. It is simply what God has chosen. Let us not neglect it!

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Again, what is the power of God? The preaching of the Cross. I think that many times the method of preaching is not followed because of the offense of the cross. The preaching of the cross to an unbeliever is foolishness. This is why when we evangelize, many times we are scoffed, mocked and ridiculed. Sometimes it is because the preacher is being harsh and not compassionate, but even when the gospel is being preached with love and grace, the reality is that we are telling people that they are sinful and worthy of Hell, and that only the death of Jesus on a cross can reconcile them to God. Unless they are being called by God, we are going to attract the disgust of our hearers, just as Jesus did. Paul said the apostles were the offscouring of the world. It is way more comfortable and easy to do good deeds and love on people, because it gives you a good reputation in the world. But the reality is that our good deeds do not convince people of their sins, rather the Law of God needs to be shone on people’s lives and then the cross will become powerful. Preaching is hard and intense, but it is powerful. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

There is a very powerful, key verse mentioned in Titus 1:2-3, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.

God’s plan all along, before the foundations of the world, was that Jesus would come, die, rise again and be the Savior of the world. In God’s timing Jesus stepped into the world and accomplished the long awaited plan of God. Paul tells us how God determined that this message would be delivered to the world – through preaching. 

Finally, as the apostle Paul passed the baton on to Timothy, he gave him this parting charge; which word I will part with for this article: 2 Timothy 4:2 says simply, “Preach the Word.” 

God’s preferred method of delivering the Gospel to the world is through preaching! If you are a Christian you should be a preacher. Preach! Love preaching, encourage preaching, financially support the preaching of the gospel, pray for those who are preaching, and ever be grateful to those preachers who had beautiful feet as they came to bring the gospel to you. Freely ye have received, freely give!

Will Heaven Be Boring?

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Can you think of any people that you just love to be around? It seems like time flies and you wish you could just be with them forever? It may be someone whose humor hits the spot with you, or someone who is so kind and understanding, or someone you simply adore? When we are with that person, it is not the setting or situation that makes it special – the person makes it special, and your relationship with them. It is not the things you possess, the activities you are doing, or the food you are eating that draws you in, but rather the person is all you need. It is enough to observe how they interact with the world around them, with you. Simply watching them is worth living. 

It seems as though most times, when heaven is thought about or discussed, there is more attention given to the setting rather than to the Person who we will be with. There will be no sin, no sorrow, no pain; streets of gold; the tree of life; the river of life. Yes, but all of those things are simply accessories, they are additions to the real thing – being with God. People say, “Heaven sounds boring – floating around on clouds for all eternity!?” That is not at all what Heaven is, but the main point is missed – Heaven is being with God! And being with God means that will will be in uninterrupted, unending fellowship with a Perfect Being of Love. No person on earth can truly satisfy us, especially forever. Everyone at some point either gets boring or frustrating, but God never will.  

Can you imagine the jokes that God will tell? We have experienced on the earth some pretty deep humor in our relationship with God. He knows how to reach deep into the depths to tickle our soul. What kind of laughter will be produced in us in the presence of an infinitely wise, good, and all-knowing God! And that added to the fact that there will be the utter absence of uncleanness and pride – those types of things that kill joy. You that belly laugh we all get when we crack up? It is surreal. Will we laugh like that for a thousand years? 

Can you imagine watching God at work or play? Have you ever watched in awe at a person working their craft? I have always been floored by how some artists draw or paint. Can you imagine watching God draw something? I’m sure there would be pin drop silence, and all of heaven with jaws dropped, amazed at his handiwork on a canvas. Have you ever watched a man with wonder doing some kind of task that requires great power? I remember staring at a video one time watching a man do what seemed like endless amounts of a variety of pull-ups, just thinking, “Man that is some strength right there.” Can you imagine what kind of works of power we will get to watch God perform? How about watching God bowling with planets as pins? Can you imagine the rumble of that strike!? Can you imagine being in the crowd of saints and angels cheering? 

Can you imagine hearing God sing or play an instrument? I absolutely love music. I get it. I love to just sit and close my eyes, contemplate and muse over music. It really strikes a chord with me for some reason :). There are times when I am just in awe over the beauty and inspiration of some pieces, it can be truly and deeply satisfying. But what will these be in comparison to God as composer? To experience him singing or playing? Our hearts will burst! We will be elevated straight up into the air. We will be totally floored. Can you imagine the standing ovations? Recitals lasting for a thousand years, each piece better than the one before, but the first was absolutely divinely magnificent?!  

We could go on and on about how wonderful it will be to watch God (we will one day). But then we could talk about things that hit home a little more. Can you imagine God doting on you? My wife sometimes just stares at me. Sometimes it can be a little embarrassing, but it is precious, because she is adoring me (at least I think that’s what she’s doing). Try to ponder God’s face, staring at you with a gentle smile and soft countenance, looking deep into your soul, non-verbally communicating to you, “You are mine, forever. I love you, forever. We are together, forever.” How could that be boring? More like thrilling and completely satisfying. What will His hugs be like? What will it be like to make plans together with God? There is much about my life right now that is an adventure- and a part of me wishes I had a thousand years to be able to do in this earth all that is in my heart, so I cannot imagine how interesting and thought provoking it will be to adventure with God in an unveiled state.  

What will it be like to be taught by God? Any true Born-Again Christian has experienced a supernatural relationship with the Bible. There have been times when we just sat back in fear mingled with joy saying, “This Book is alive!” But can you imagine His lectures in Person (no zoom meetings in heaven)? Lectures on any topic not just theology, but also physics, art, or communication? We will be learning, right? If Jesus as a man learned, then of course there will be learning and growing in Heaven. Can you imagine how profound those “aha” moments will be? “Whaat?”  

So, in answer to the question – No, Heaven will not be boring. It will never be stale, dull, uneventful, colorless, repetitive, flat or mundane. Each moment will overflow with inexpressible peace, joy, happiness, wonder, amazement, passion and super-abundant glory. And none of this is ultimately derived from the places or things that will be in Heaven, but rather from GOD Himself. O for that day to come! 

Do you have a loved one that has died? Imagine the glory they are in right now. 

Is life today feeling more like death? Hope in God. He is good, and will bring you to His Paradise in due time. This too shall pass. We are going on from glory to glory. And draw near to God. If Heaven is bliss because of God, not the setting, then recognize that you already have God. Our understanding is yet imperfect, but focus on who He is today, what He is saying and doing, and you’re guaranteed to find much more pleasure and joy than focusing on yourself or the things of this world. 

If you don’t know Christ as your Savior – today is the day to secure your future with Him. 

There is only one thing that would keep us out of Heaven, and keep us from enjoying Him forever. That one thing is sin. It is not a lack of religion or good deeds that keeps people away from God, but rather the presence of something unpleasant and repulsive to God – sin. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If you want to be united with God today and for all eternity, you must be forgiven and cleansed of your sins. And this is all that needs to happen. Thankfully, God, in His love, gave His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for your sins on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead, ascended back to Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, as a Mediator or Advocate before God, our ultimate Judge. God has promised that if we acknowledge our sinfulness and trust in Christ’s offering for our sins, that He will forever forgive all of our sins, even our future ones. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Call upon Him today, right now, and I’ll look forward to seeing you in glory!    

The Authority of God

/ Lee A. Robinson / 3 Comments

Understanding the Gospel – Part 2

He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11

The first feature of the Gospel that we must grasp a hold of is the absolute and supreme Authority of God. Everything in this universe finds its proper place in relationship to GOD. If we are to see the picture clearly it must fit within the frame. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36) We exist purely because He willed it to be so: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure (or, because you desired) they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) We were brought into life for God’s purposes; we continue to live here and now for God’s purposes; and one day we will return back to God for his purposes. 

Authority by definition is, “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.” The Bible is explicitly clear that the world and everything in it is under the complete and total rule of God. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1) The universe (including earth) is all in God’s jurisdiction or domain. He is the Lord, not only over the land, but also over all the souls. “Behold, all souls are mine…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4). Jesus’ authority extends, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:21) God owns, rules and controls all lands, souls, spirits, governments, plans, powers, etc. 

AUTHOR

Related to the idea of “Author-ity” is the word Author. An author is an originator or creator of something, especially a plan or idea.  God is the ultimate Author of everything that exists. Everything in this life first existed in the mind of God before it came to be a reality in history. If we could imagine the totality of this world from beginning to end as a giant book, God wrote the whole thing before it was put to the press. The characters and events of the story are not determined by themselves. The author does not ask permission of his characters to make them the way they are. “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” (Romans 9:20-21) The Bible is plain that God has endowed man with a will, and that man is totally responsible and accountable for all of his decisions, but in an ultimate, overarching sense man can do nothing to change the will of God. Whether he is directly making it happen (earthquake) or allowing it to happen (bullying), history (His-story) is reading just as He wrote it. “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35). 

We find ourselves in quite a dilemma here: God has the absolute “power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience,” and we have to make decisions every day that we will be held responsible and accountable for. There are two ways to respond to this: surrender or resist. But more about that in a little bit. Let’s meditate a little more on how central God is to everything that exists.    

CREATOR 

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) How do we know that there is a Creator? Because there is a creation! Every building has a builder. When we see a building, we do not question how it got there. Most times we do not even question why it is there, because it is self evident. You drive by and see a playscape in a local park. How did it get there and why is it there? We already know the answers. 

Why do we even begin to question the creation of this world? We know how it got here: “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.” (Romans 1:20) The Bible also gives us the answer to why mankind so desires to question God as our Creator. It says that men “suppress the truth in their unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18) They try to smother their conscience so that they can enjoy their sin. Creation points to a Creator; a conscience points to a Moral Creator. We are beings with a con-science (con–with, science–knowledge). The only reasonable explanation is that a Being with-knowledge put us here. A Being who cares more carefully about right and wrong, purpose, meaning, and stuff like that.  

Fallen mankind needs to find out a way to vanquish God if he is going to be the master of his own destiny. The problem is our eraser ain’t big enough. We are trying to press an impenetrable beach ball to the bottom of the ocean and expect it to stay. We can’t even swim down that far; and even if we could the ball would rise to the top before we ourselves surfaced. We are not free to do whatever we want and we know it. 

We must be humbled before God and surrender to his will. Otherwise we become fools. “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. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:21-22) “The fool hath said in his heart, ‘No God’.” (Psalm 14:1).

God remains our Creator. He gets to make the Rules. Need help understanding how to play a new board game? Consult the rule book included with the game which was written by the creators. Need help understanding life? Consult God’s Book (The Bible) and find the answers. Without turning to God we assemble our lives with a bunch of pieces still left over, much of the hardware in the wrong place, and “Oh, no…we assembled it upside down!”

PROGENITOR

Progenitor: A person from which a person originates; a parent. 

Should children obey their parents, or should parents obey their children? Come on, I know you know the answer. The important word here is “should.” We know many children don’t obey their parents, but they should. How sweet it is when children do cheerfully submit to their parents! (The assumption here is of course with normal, loving relationships) The children come from the parent, not the other way around. The child is an extension of the parents’ very nature. A child does not know the responsibility that a parent carries. The parent loves, feeds, protects, guards, thinks about the child, etc. It is proper and right and godly for children to recognize their place.

God is our universal Progenitor.* “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17:24-29) This passage also tells us why God made everything and made it the way he did, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:26-28).

SURRENDER 

What’s the point? Whether we see God as the Author of history, Creator of the world, or the Progenitor of life, the point remains the same – our working properly in this life is inextricably tied to GOD. We did not decide to be born, but here we are. We did not decide the most basic, fundamental things about ourselves (gender, personality, family, nationality, social status, etc.) but here we are. We didn’t request a rational mind and will, but, Oh, do we love to use it! What can we do, but yield ourselves to God? “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea…If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” (Psalms 139:7-9,11-12) No matter where we go, God is not only there, but is in Control there, and we remain accountable. One says, “I will end my life, so I can get out of this!” But suicide will only escort you to the unveiled, naked Face of God, who is a consuming fire. Suicide is the worst option for avoiding God.

What is the best option? 

Surrender to His Supremacy. Be a loyal subject. Acknowledge your role in His-Story. Sit comfortably on his divine Knee as an obedient child. Play by His rules. Do what David did, “When thou sadist, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Yahweh, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8) Or even better yet, follow our Chief example, the Lord Jesus Christ! “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38) Also Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

Our prayers and our posture must be, “Not my will, but thine be done.” It is only then, as we are surrendered to the supreme wisdom and free decision-making of God, that we are in a position to rightly understand the Gospel.

*”God is our universal Progenitor” – This is meant only in the sense that everyone has been created by God. Not everyone born into the world are children of God. We must be Born-Again to become to children of God (John 1 & 3)

Biblical Sexuality Sermon Sunday

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Teaching begins at the (11:53 Mark).

Canada just passed a new law (Bill C-4), which makes it illegal to freely teach the Bible’s doctrine on sexuality, calling it a “myth.” Anyone (including pastors and even parents!) could be sentenced to 5 years in prison for teaching that the only right form of sexuality is between one man and one woman in lifelong holy matrimony.

Pastors from around Canada and the US committed to defy this ubiblical, unrighteous, evil, hateful law by publicly preaching sermons yesterday on January 16, 2022. I decided it was appropriate to do the same. This video is the sermon that I preached yesterday.

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Understanding the Gospel – Introduction

/ Lee A. Robinson / 2 Comments

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message in the world – no exceptions, no comparisons and no rivals. The Gospel is the proclamation of God’s central act in history: the incarnation, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of Scripture and all of history hinge on this act of God. The Gospel contains the express revelation of God’s character, the one and only true way of salvation and the paradigm of godly living. Without the Gospel all humanity is lost, without God and without hope in this world (Eph. 2:12).

Most people in America know about the Gospel (although a decreasing number). It’s pretty common knowledge that there was a man named Jesus, who “died for the sins of the world,” and that this Jesus has something to do with knowing God and going to heaven. They have heard the information. But how many people – even professing Christians – actually understand this Gospel? 

To understand means to grasp the nature or meaning of something. Understanding goes far deeper than simply knowing facts about something. When I turn the ignition key my car starts. Amen. I am personally a novice when it comes to auto mechanics, so I would have a hard time explaining why the car starts and keeps running with all the details and interactions of each part working together. I can start the car fine, but if it breaks in some way I am usually at a loss as to how to fix it, or even where to start. A seasoned auto mechanic however, with his understanding, can think through why it is breaking the way it is, and his perception will lead him where to begin looking to fix it. So, understanding is powerful. Understanding is not just being aware of something, but being able to dissect the key elements of it, perceive how they work, how each part interacts with each other and the world we live in, and also how to explain that to others.

I think understanding the Gospel is perhaps the most powerful thing in the world that we can come to grasp the nature of. So many areas of life are understood better when we master this message – personal salvation, strengthening relationships, being a good leader, evangelism, etc. For me and countless others, it was when we became aware of the true nature of the Gospel that we were born again. We found forgiveness of sins! Our eyes were opened to the true God and his expectations. Understanding why Jesus died, for me, was the key that unlocked eternal life. 

As a parent I cannot imagine what it would be like to try to train children without understanding the Gospel. The basis of house rules, sibling conflicts, conflict resolutions, etc. are all made plain and simple by the Gospel. “You should love and serve your sister because God became flesh to love and serve you.” “You should be patient, long-suffering, merciful and forgiving with your sisters, because God did all of that to you by sending his Son to die for your sins.” These and countless other examples could be given of how a good understanding of the Gospel can have an effective impact in our homes.

Another major reason to master this message of the gospel is in regards to evangelism. If you know the facts about the Gospel you can share the Gospel with anyone. Memorizing the Romans Road verses and repeating them to others is getting the Gospel to people. However, we have a formidable foe, one who has strategies and plans (2 Cor. 2:11), who has “blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Cor. 4:4) In order to effectively apply the Gospel to each individual’s current way of thinking, break down strongholds, and answer objections with clarity and simplicity – even unexpected, or unheard of ones – we must understand the Gospel. We must be able to perceive other people’s errors and misunderstandings about essential, foundational truths that are in opposition to who God truly is, what he has done, and what he expects from us. If you understand the Gospel, your eye will be keen on anything being said that is in opposition to it, which will all be inestimable to you when you’re trying to lead someone to Christ.  

My hope for this series of articles, for whoever reads them, would be for each person to move beyond the mere awareness of what Jesus did to grasping why he did it, and how we can apply that understanding to every area of life. May the Scriptures and reasoning presented be a true to help to you. Thank you for reading.