Bob - I’d like to know your thoughts on this article.

Paula

My thoughts?

- Luke Rudolph’s carelessness cost a man his life. Good example of David’s warning that a moment of carelessness can change your life forever
- Luke Rudolph showed genuine repentance. It would have been easy for him to walk away and no one would probably ever have known he caused the accident. He owned up to his responsibility.
- Steve Herlihy showed incredible grace in forgiving Luke. I don’t know if he’s a Christian, but he showed far more grace in this situation that most Christians probably would.
- I believe Luke Rudolph is a Christian. Note his experiences in Iraq and his belief in the sovereignty of God. The “only comfort he could find, he added, was his Christian belief that the deaths had been God’s will. Everything happened for a reason”. This paragraph says volumes about Luke Randolph - ’Since Pete Absolon’s death, Luke Rodolph has lived quietly in Casper. He works for his brother’s landscaping service and spends a lot of time praying and trying to “stay focused on my walk with Christ.” The news that he wouldn’t be prosecuted was no cause for celebration.’
- Contrary to the prosperity gosepl, bad things do happen to Christians
- Was justice served? I don’t know. Clearly from the perspective of Pete Absolon’s wife, the answer is “no”. On the other hand, who among us (as forgiven sinners) ever gets what we really deserve?

Here’s the question in this story that is the white elephant in the living room: Was God in control here? Did this tragedy happen within His sovereign will? How one answers that question is vitally important; it’s foundational for their worldview.

Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)

“Who among us gets what he really deserves?” - Its a chilling question. This article really hit a nerve with me because I have done so many careless things in my life.

Is the fact that Rudolph isn’t in jail a bad witness? Would Absolon’s wife have more peace if he was in jail?

It is pretty incredible when you think that Rudolph owned up to it. Wouldn’t the majority of people have run - I mean they would have just assumed the rock fell naturally.

What a sad story.

Paula

I picked up Outdoor magazine and “just happened” to read about the tragedy with Luke Rudolph. I live in NC and Never read any kind of magazine, but found this one story and would like to write to encourage Luke. Do you know to what address I should send a note? And do you have the address of the widow?

Amanda
North Carolina

Amanda,

In the past I have sent letters directly to the magazine and just in wrote it c/o.

Example: Luke Rudolph
c/o Outdoor Magazine

Sometimes that works. No clue how to get their personal address.

Good luck,

Paula

Paula: Regarding Absolon’s wife having more peace if the man who killed her husband was in jail… I was reminded of a story I read this morning in “Life’s Ultimate Privilege.” The story of a lady who suffered in a concentration camp and many years later, after a talk she gave, met one of the guards from the camp. She had specific memories of this man’s cruelty. The former guard didn’t remember her, but rather congratulated her on a fine message and agreed how good it is to know that, as she had stated in her talk, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea. He mentioned he was a former guard, but since that time had become a Christian and knew that God had forgiven him for the cruel things he did, but he would like to hear from her lips as well. She acknowledged within herself that her sins every day had to be forgiven, yet how could she so simply erase all those things he had done?

The point was forgiveness is not an emotion, it is an act of the will. And once she acknowledged that struggle within herself and truly submitted to God’s will to forgive the repentant former guard, and prayed for Jesus help to align her feelings with what she knew was God’s will, she extended her hand to shake her former enemy and a healing warmth filled her whole being. She was able to have that peace because she truly forgave him.

So often I myself want the by-product of God’s plan (like peace or guidance) without the appropriate goals and conditions (like seeking the Lord or being justified by faith).

I doubt Absolon’s wife would truly feel more peace if Rudolph was in jail.

- Rich

Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It