Nothing to Be Frightened Of

In June 2006, at the Kiev zoo, a man lowered himself by rope into the island compound where the lions and tigers are kept. As he descended, he shouted across to the gawping crowds. One witness quoted him as saying, ‘Who believes in God will be unharmed by lions’; another, the more challenging, ‘God will save me, if He exists.’ The metaphysical provocateur reached the ground, took off his shoes, and walked towards the animals; whereupon an irritated lioness knocked him down, and bit through his carotid artery. Does this prove a) the man was mad; b) God does not exist; c) God does exist, but won’t be lured into the open by such cheap tricks; d) God does exist, and has just demonstrated that He is an ironist; e) none of the above?

 --Julian Barnes, Nothing To Be Frightened Of 

 (a book I'm reading in preparation for Sunday's sermon on Resurrection and the power of God)

--Jack Lohr, Interim Pastor