In our world over the past few weeks, a great deal has happened. I’ve said little - and obviously nothing dramatic was lost from any conversation, but I have felt that my stint skipping what Tim Challies calls the spiritual discipline of blogging has taught me quite a few lessons - and hopefully it can teach you one as well.
Disasters
Just take a look at some of the terrible college disasters that have happened over the past few months. Union University was demolished by a tornado, yet what we have seen come of that tragedy is only good. Miraculously, not one student was killed and the national attention placed on Union gave their godly faculty a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel and to show a nation how a Christian responds to tragedy.
Another story is the horrible tragedy at NIU. Five dead plus the shooter. Gayle Dubowski, 20, of Carol Stream; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Julianna Gehant, 32, of Mendota; Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; and Dan Parmenter, 20, of Elmhurst. All of them, in an sudden instant of shooting rampage, dead — for some reason, they were the victims of Steven Kazmierczak’s attack. It leads us, as usual, to ask “why would God allow such suffering?” It is clear that this is just another example of the depravity of human nature. Yet so many world-views would have us to believe that deep down inside we are innately good. Obviously, a quick look at the newspaper (and obviously not just this tragedy alone), will point us to man’s innate evilness. Only Christianity truly answers this problem of evil.
Politics
On a completely different spectrum, we’re looking at an election year like no other. John McCain certainly does seem poised to win the Republican nomination. I know many of my friends are saying that it’s not over for Mike Huckabee, and I certainly agree, but I do want to point out this link. On the Democratic side, we’re looking at a tight, tight, tight race. All I can say is that I’ve seen that Obamamania has truly hit the nation. It’s amazing - and absolutely frightening. If he wins the nomination, I am predicting his win over John McCain (if he wins the Republican nomination.) That’s very scary.
Still, during these uncertain times, I am resting assured in the sovereignty of God over our nation’s leaders.
Blogging
Again, switching gears just a little bit, a lot has gone on in the blogosphere itself, from bloggers becoming published authors to bloggers making fun of my posts. It really creates an atmosphere, for me, that develops humility in my life.
A great blessing in the blogosphere has been the last few posts from my good friends Alex and Brett Harris. Their latest post on “Starting Small, Aiming Big” was another great reminder to me.
“One of the key principles behind the Rebelution is the balance between “big hard things” and “small hard things.” Big hard things are hard things that are often too big for us to do alone. Small hard things are hard things that don’t pay off immediately — and that are often repetitive and seemingly insignificant.”
In another part of the blogosphere, Tim Challies has finally completed his “hard thing” and has published a book, taken some heat for not having a doctorate in the field, and is still blogging away. I can’t wait to get my copy of The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. I believe it will be a great blessing to the church.
A few other exciting things going on in the blogosphere include the new blogs of C.J. Mahaney (what a blessing) and the blog Forthright Fixation. Also, another blog added to my blogroll was The Blazing Center. All of them fantastic blogs.
Lastly, I found the following biography of myself to be, well, quite amusing. I’m quite honored to be featured in the “Weird Christian Blog Roundup.” And yes, that’s me at #1 on the list of “weird Christians.” Not every day that happens.
“Agent Tim Online. Tim Sweetman is a 17 year old journalist, blogger and student who lives near Washington DC. He is known as “code name” agent Tim. He was moved to tears by the blessing of not giving away enough of his clothes to charity and thereby having too many shirts and pants to fit in his drawers. He is a true believer who can make mountain of a blessing out of a molehill of a problem.”
Seriously, even I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when I read that. What a great piece of work pointing out what Christians should be - completely different. It doesn’t make sense to the world - the cross truly is “foolishness.”
The Point
Well, I know someone has to be asking, “what’s the point of this somewhat random selection of happenings around the world that most of us knew about?” The answer is this: God is unchanging. He is what theologians call “immutable.” No matter what happens, He and His Word do not change. When the tornado struck, He did not change. When the shooter appeared on that platform and opened fire, He did not change. When Barack Obama won the Potomac Primaries, He did not change. When C.J. Mahaney started a blog, He did not change. When someone made fun of my post, He did not change.
We change - He does not. I take great comfort in knowing this. His promises have not changed. What He has done on the cross has not changed. I am justified before him because of the sacrifice of Christ - he doesn’t change his mind. He has sent His Holy Spirit - He will not change and take that away. The Gospel does not change.
Amid all this chaos is the One Unchanging God. Only through Him can we have peace amidst chaos.
“For I the Lord do not change…”
Tim Sweetman is an 18-year-old journalist, blogger, and student who lives near our nation's capital,
Washington D.C. He is much more widely known by his "code-name," Agent Tim. This name also serves as
the name of his popular blog, which has received over 750,000 visits since its debut three years ago. Contact Tim 
