My emotions have been running amok as I’m sure yours have as we watch the TV set and see another year of absolute destruction and chaos in our community.

And who do we blame for all this?

Too often we blame the Lord for everything this isn’t quite right in our lives. How can I love you Lord when I watch planes crashing into towers, terrorism gone amok, people setting fires everywhere and then the looting, too many wars and not enough peace, seeing the tears, hearing the screams, absolute chaos!

How can I forgive when I don’t know why You would let this happen in the first place? Before I’ll forgive anyone, I want to know why God, why did this happen and what is the truth behind it? What is the truth anyway? And could we handle it if we knew it?

Jesus says in the Gospel of John 8:32, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

The truth setting me free? What truth are you talking about Jesus? Because sometimes the truth hurts so much we just can’t seem to forgive.

The truth is, terrible things happen to good people. The truth is, people, bad people continue to try and destroy us!

The truth is, buildings are terrorized, and people die.

The truth is people convince others they are a god and people die.

The truth is, diseases, terrible diseases, kill people, innocent people, God-fearing people, and we mourn and don’t understand.

The truth is, God calls us to forgive and the truth is we don’t want to because we don’t understand.

The truth is, I want to know why.

The truth is, we need somewhere to go for some Good News and the truth that is the salvation promised without the need to know.

I want to know why!

Let’s face it, we are logical people, right? We don’t need a book and a cross, we need answers don’t we? We need the truth as concrete as it can be. We can handle it God. Give us the facts God, give us the facts.

What if we, representatives of humanity had the chance to put God on trial here just like in the movie “A Few Good Men” … to get at that truth thing … could we handle the truth? Could we accept what God had to say or would we doubt His words even then?

This Sunday, Aug. 5, there will be no services at First Lutheran Church in Lucerne due to the Mendocino Complex.

However, join us at an upcoming service when we will put God on trial for all the hell that goes on in this world. He will be asked some very tough questions. He will have to answer because this is the law.

All are welcome, so come as you are.

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572. Email Pastor Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..