My friend Brian has autism. We are about the same age and I got to know him in my early teens when I bailed straw for his dad. Before meeting Brian, I did not really understand what autism was.
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A few years later the movie “Rainman” was released. Though there were similarities between Dustin Hoffman’s character and my friend Brian, there were also differences. Each autistic person is an individual and they do not all hate K-Mart.
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As we stacked bales I discovered something that is quite common among those with autism. Many, though not all, of those with autism like to follow a standard routine. For example, as we stacked straw, every other bale was mine and the other bales were Brian’s. I decided to help him out and take two bales in a row. I soon realized that if I did that, I had to take 3, because the next one was mine, not his. I also had to learn to stack the straw better. I would sometimes switch which side I started the stack on, but Brian’s dad had taught him to start on a particular side, so that is how we did it.
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My friendship with Brian prepared me to relate to 2 of my nephews. My sister’s sons Josh and Matthew were also diagnosed with autism. Though there are similarities between these three people and even with Rainman, each of them is distinct and may not have the same characteristics as others.
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My nephew Matthew cannot count cards like Rainman, but he has memorized many roads and railroads, by observing Google Earth. His brother Josh passed away this year in a car accident at the age of 18, but before he died he was elected a student ambassador for an online home school group. Rainman did not have the best social skills, and often this is characteristic of autism, yet Josh had such good online social skills that he became a mentor to other non autistic students.
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Recently our youngest son was also diagnosed with autism. He is almost 4 and is not yet talking. Once he gets to know someone, he is quite social and he does not have to stick to a routine, yet he has other autistic characteristics.
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Some people would describe autistic individuals as somewhat peculiar. 1 Peter 2:9 describes God‘s people, “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.” Hundreds of years ago, peculiar meant something different than it does today. It actually meant a possession of great value. Instead of “peculiar,” the NASB says, “A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION.” The NKJV says, “His own special people.”
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My son has autism and is not yet able to talk. If peculiar means that he is of great value, then I would agree. In fact, people with autism have been of great value to the world. It is believed that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may have had autism.
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We are all unique, whether we have autism or not. We are of value to God. In fact He loved the world and the people in it so much that He sent His son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Friday, August 21, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Trusting God in Tragedy
About 150 years ago there lived a wealthy businessman named Horatio Spafford. He had invested in Chicago real estate, and then lost most of it in the infamous Chicago fire of 1871. A few years later, he scheduled a vacation for his family, but had to send them ahead to Europe while he took care of some last minute business, hoping to join them later. The ship that was carrying his wife and daughters sank. His wife survived but his daughters did not.
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Imagine the heartache he must have felt. Within just a couple of years, he had lost wealth and family. Would you be able to trust God if such an event had happened in your life? Horatio Spafford then got on another ship to go and comfort his grieving wife. While on that trip he wrote these words, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
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The words were set to music and became the well known hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” Another verse of the song poetically describes Christ shedding His blood for our sins and that not just part of our sins but all of them were taken care of on the cross. In this song, we hear of a man trusting God in the midst of heartache.
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This spring after two of my nephews were killed in a car accident, our family was sad, but we did not fall apart. Our trust in God sustained us in the midst of our sorrow. My sister and brother-in-law were a great testimony to a trust in our almighty God- so was my mother.
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Mom called me this week and told about a friend of hers who had lost her adult son. This lady was understandably devastated, yet Mom commented on how she seemed to be taking it harder than my sister did when she lost her 8 and 18 year old sons. Mom was not being critical of her friend for her devastation, but was rather showing thankfulness that our family had such a confidence in God that we were able to face a tragedy and still say that it is well with our soul.
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Mom’s phone call reminded me that not everyone- not even every Christian- has such a confidence in God. The book of Job tells about a man who lost his possessions, his family, and his health, yet refused to curse God. Throughout the book, Job and his friends try to figure what God is doing and why. They all speak some truth, but they also say a lot of things that are totally wrong. Finally at the end, God speaks and reminds Job that he was not there when God made the earth. God then goes on to explain so many things that God does, that man does not understand. The point is that God is stronger and wiser than we are, and we should therefore trust Him no matter what.
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As we realize who God is- as we understand both His justice and His mercy- as we understand His chastening and His love- it becomes easy to trust Him no matter what happens. That does not mean we always enjoy the testing that we experience, but it does mean that we trust Him when it comes.
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I cannot help but think of a couple of my Mom’s favorite Bible verses. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
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Trust God and realize that the only way to be right with Him is to have your sin paid for. Then realize that the only one who can pay for your sins is Jesus Christ. Therefore, believe on Him as your Lord and Savior.
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For more information visit www.southtownchurch.com
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Imagine the heartache he must have felt. Within just a couple of years, he had lost wealth and family. Would you be able to trust God if such an event had happened in your life? Horatio Spafford then got on another ship to go and comfort his grieving wife. While on that trip he wrote these words, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
-
The words were set to music and became the well known hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” Another verse of the song poetically describes Christ shedding His blood for our sins and that not just part of our sins but all of them were taken care of on the cross. In this song, we hear of a man trusting God in the midst of heartache.
-
This spring after two of my nephews were killed in a car accident, our family was sad, but we did not fall apart. Our trust in God sustained us in the midst of our sorrow. My sister and brother-in-law were a great testimony to a trust in our almighty God- so was my mother.
-
Mom called me this week and told about a friend of hers who had lost her adult son. This lady was understandably devastated, yet Mom commented on how she seemed to be taking it harder than my sister did when she lost her 8 and 18 year old sons. Mom was not being critical of her friend for her devastation, but was rather showing thankfulness that our family had such a confidence in God that we were able to face a tragedy and still say that it is well with our soul.
-
Mom’s phone call reminded me that not everyone- not even every Christian- has such a confidence in God. The book of Job tells about a man who lost his possessions, his family, and his health, yet refused to curse God. Throughout the book, Job and his friends try to figure what God is doing and why. They all speak some truth, but they also say a lot of things that are totally wrong. Finally at the end, God speaks and reminds Job that he was not there when God made the earth. God then goes on to explain so many things that God does, that man does not understand. The point is that God is stronger and wiser than we are, and we should therefore trust Him no matter what.
-
As we realize who God is- as we understand both His justice and His mercy- as we understand His chastening and His love- it becomes easy to trust Him no matter what happens. That does not mean we always enjoy the testing that we experience, but it does mean that we trust Him when it comes.
-
I cannot help but think of a couple of my Mom’s favorite Bible verses. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
-
Trust God and realize that the only way to be right with Him is to have your sin paid for. Then realize that the only one who can pay for your sins is Jesus Christ. Therefore, believe on Him as your Lord and Savior.
-
For more information visit www.southtownchurch.com
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