Where Are Our Prayers In Tragedy?

The Dunamis Word joins in mourning and prayers for the families who have suffered loss in the wake of the tragic helicopter crash that took place Sunday morning Jan. 26th, 2020. 

Most notably, NBA Legend Kobe Bryant and his beautiful daughter Gianna were unfortunately taken away from this present world, leaving Kobe's wife Vanessa, oldest daughter Natalia, and younger daughters Bianka, and Capri. 

In all 9 people lost their lives in this event, including Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton who was Gianna's team mate, legendary Orange Coast College Head Baseball Coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa who was also Gianna's team mate, Christina Mauser who was an assistant girls bball coach at an Orange County private k-8 school and experienced and well liked pilot Ara Zobayan.

Transition To Prayer

Like in many issues, the church world seems to be stuck between radical spirituality and interpersonal humanity. Many people I have read and listened to are confused between judgement, comfort and reconciliation. ie: they don't know how to interpret either Kobe's death or what they should do in response to it. 

Why Can't The Church Simply Be The Church? 

During his career, on Sundays it was time for Kobe to work. He did his job in the NBA for 20 years, delivering and giving his best through good and bad times. He died doing a fatherly duty. Loving his daughter who had expressed her desire to become a basketball player like her Dad, and pouring all the information and knowledge

he had into her life.

See, it seems that everybody is doing their job! 

However, I have just been amazed at how it seems the church has forgotten or lost sight of its job or duty to the world and especially its duty to the community in light of and in response to tragedy. There are people claiming that all talk about Kobe and his family and career is nothing more than idolatry, while others basically claim that Kobe didn't live for God therefore is not worthy of the church's attention (paraphrasing from a conglomeration of very weird and spiritually insensitive posts, I've read)

All of this caused me to place a post on my Facebook addressing the issue from what I believe is a more balanced, biblically centered and human moral value perspective. 

Don;t get me wrong, tragic events occur in our communities everyday, but nowhere do I see God withholding his goodness because of who people "are" as the sun and blessings shine and fall upon the just as well as the unjust. In all actuality if this horrific event never happened, there is enough to pray for and about.

Please excuse my apparent anger but HERE is the post and this is what I said:

"Never seen so many hate filled, insensitive, biblically illiterate and devoid of the nature of God church folk in my life...don't like it? SWIPE UP NOW!!!

Confused...In death we want to examine judgement which is reserved for God himself. Ooh yes, we can be sure that all them that live for God and who are able to display such love will do so. Every tree bears some sort of fruit or nothing at all...so don't be confused about what I am saying however, Fact is SOME of us who "look" or "appear" like we know HIM outwardly really don't know or love HIM inwardly...and the proof is in the pudding or lifestyle lived.

I don't know what Kobe did. Whether he had a confession of faith or not. Whether he called on Jesus for Salvation or not. I didn't know him personally nor did he write me to share..That one is not my call when he can't respond to me one way or another...

However, I can know and do what I am commissioned to do for ALL men, whether they are believers or not...we can COMFORT the living:

Romans 12:15-Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep

"them that weep" NOT "church folk who meet your approval"...further "them" is EVERYONE...one likes to be with them that rejoice, but what of them that weep? Where is your part with them who need comfort?

Here we have a mother ripped from her daughter and husband. Allegedly another mother ripped from her husband and daughter and a father and husband that also lost his wife and daughter...how insensitive can you be to criticize the prayers of the righteous offered for them that remain?

Then some are fighting a battle of righteous indignation and judgement when we should be constructing a covering. Some simply don't know what time it is and don't care what time it is. All you know is what you "think" you know.

But as BELIEVERS we should know the time and be aware if it. What does the WORD say?

Ecc. 3:1-8 - 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

And sorry, but I say some of you critics don't know the nature of God either. How and why do I say that? Because you seem to be unaware that HE is a God of comfort...

2 Cor. 1:3-4 - 3-Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4- Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

So you mean to tell me that we should be selective of whom we comfort in tribulation? Or that tribulation is only something us "church folk" can experience?

Then answer this...to whom do you preach a message of salvation? To them already saved? Or to them lost and in need of help and direction?

Then, as if it is a mark of superior wit, you ask why didn't we pray for Billy who lost his aunt? (insert your own hypothetical) Was it because we didn't or don't care? Or could it be because neither Billy nor his aunt (God bless her soul) was known by us? Or maybe he nor she was ever a part of our family or household celebrations? Might it be that Kobe was there with our family working as he was paid to do on holidays, most Sundays after church and many other times?

See, we're not God. We can only pray for who we know and for those brought to our attention.

So stop with the comparison nonsense..."we pray for Kobe because he is popular"...PLEASE! We pray for the survivors and community because we and they all need it!

Know this, the devil is the ONLY one who will make you feel bad about praying for anybody...Why? Scripture is clear:

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Pray that men will understand that death and it's progenitor, sin, is an enemy to ALL men. As a Father and also a coach of my daughter, I pray for the wife, their babies/children who must now live apart from their husband and father. I pray that the many families, school class mates, team members, parents, grand parents and extended family members will be lifted from the bout of confusion, depression, and utter hopelessness that will come as a result of this tragic event and mental trauma.

In short, I pray that people come to DISPLAY the bible and the real sense of humankind of which the bible consists more than the memorized quotes from the bible. I am afraid that one can quote the bible all day and not know a word it says.

Sad, because in tragedy that's when we are to shine...

Matt. 5:16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"

 My prayer is certainly for the loved ones dealing with this tragedy both now and in their futures. Kids, who's routines are suddenly changed forever. Parents who's world has been turned upside down by loss. It's OUR turn now, to heal the scars and turn ashes into beauty. It is our job to communicate that death, is NOT the ultimate and final abode, but one day even it will be destroyed and that those of us who love him walk through death into new life.

We pray that these and all the communities and families effected will be ministered to now. Upheld. Carried by God through his vehicle the church and placed safely on solid ground.

I certainly understand this as I will share my experience in a future podcast, but I want it on record that the Dunamis word responds by taking this pain and tragedy to God in prayer. HE HEARS!

Blessed