I collected some thoughts from friends on Facebook and placed them below. I think it is extremely interesting the discussion posted there. I left them anonymous because it is the ideas that they express that are powerful, and who they are is not significant in this setting. While I am not endorsing all of these ideas, I think there are some things here to consider and pray about. As you process the awful reality, I pray that God will give our nation wisdom and comfort in this horrifying time.
John 16:33: "In this world you will have troubles but take heart I have overcome the world."
John 15:17: "This is my command: Love each other."
___________________________
"'Today's tragedy in Connecticut is not about guns. This is a spiritual battle between good and evil; without God there can be no morality. The only answer is Jesus Christ, without whom there is no cure, no hope; no salvation. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV) Only God knows the darkness in the heart of man and our need for redemption, for a Savior. This is the message of Christmas. In spite of our ungodly culture, He is with us.'"
"Please don't let all these knee jerk response posts about the political implications of this tragedy cause you to forget that there are presents waiting under Christmas trees in CT bearing the names of children who will never come home to open them. As we learn more details about what happened there will be time to debate what our nation needs to do to prevent situations like this (a debate that encompasses far more than just guns) but as the shock and pain are still new and raw, maybe at the moment we should instead choose to mourn with those who mourn and regardless of what comes next commit ourselves to build a strong community that is always there to sustain each other in times of tragedy."
"The terrible tragedy in Newton, Ct where 26 people have been senselessly shot by a 20 yr old deranged young man should be a huge wake-up call for all of us. Those families will never be the same. Pray for each of them, none of us can come close to understanding the depth of the agony and hurt that each family is enduring. Friends we live in a society where violence is tolerated, a mental health system that remains broken and ineffective, and a lack of respect for human life. Violent video games will be purchased by parents as Christmas presents. Reality TV which promotes violence and disrespect of others flourish. I wonder how many of these tragic events could have had stopped if someone would have cared enough to report bizarre behavior. The problem is that most of our laws regarding getting people psychological help have been shut down by certain "rights" groups. I grieve for the families in Newton, Ct. and for the direction our sick society is headed. Pray."
"I taught kindergarten.
I was a public school kindergarten teacher.
I just keep thinking and thinking...
Do you ever notice when watching a kindergarten teacher cross the street with her class, she stands directly in the middle of the road? Kindergarten teachers have the natural yearning to protect your child, even at the expense of their own lives. I was one of those teachers that would have risked my own life for those of the kids in my class.
That being said, I wasn't always treated kindly by parents. A parent was once irate with me because her son cut his hair in my classroom. It's petty. That same kid, I would have jumped in front of a speeding car, if coming at my line of crossing kids.
So, please treat your teachers with the kindness, compassion, and respect that they deserve. Your child is your world and for 7-8 hours out of the day your child is the world to his or her teacher.
Hug your children, first and foremost. But, please, don't forget to hug your child's teacher, too."
"When I crime as horrid as this happens, we start to hear about how we need stronger gun control from some. However criminals are not known for following the law and making something illegal doesn't make it disappear. Just look at the war on drugs. Illegal drugs can be found easily. If guns are made illegal, criminals, terrorists, psychos, etc. will still get them illegally just as they do right now.
It was the choice of the man who pulled the trigger that caused this tragedy. Look sometime at the stories of lives that are protected because someone legally had a gun. Outlawing guns just disarms the good guys."
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."
"All of my friends know that I am not someone to shove my beliefs down the throats of people. I don't force them on people who don't want to listen. The events of today sparked something in me though and if you don't want to hear the answers I believe I have for the lives of my friends who don't know The Lord and have not put their trust in Him, please stop reading now. The events of today were a reminder of how sin destroys lives and I can not stay silent. For those of you with the slightest interest in the One who made me who I am, please continue reading...
I have always tried to model my faith by my actions. I always figured that if people saw something different in how I treated people they would want to know why. Today I feel the time has come for words to be said. Please know this doesn't come from anything that remotely resembles a high horse. The tragedy that happened today happened because of sin in our world. It is sin that resides in the hearts of every person in the world. That sin separates us from God who is holy and perfect and will at some point separate those who don't place their trust in Him from Him forever. The penalty for sin is death. I think we can all agree that we have sin in our lives. We lie, cheat, feel hatred and anger. We are all at fault. I believe that there is a Savior in Jesus. I have trusted in Him and made Him Lord of my life. I have asked Him to forgive me for my sin and save me. I have also committed to serving Him with my life; I've committed to putting aside my own desires to honor Him. Now the part that tends to offend people. I believe that believing in Christ: that He died for my sins, rose again and lives in me; is the only answer. I believe in heaven and hell and I believe that if you don't place you faith in the God who loves you, created you to be in relationship with Him, and has called you to believe that He is the answer, that at the end of your life, you will be found guilty and separated from God forever. Sin reigned today in Connecticut. Fortunately, the Bible tells us that the story ends by God triumphing over sin. God is not passive in our world. So today I beg you to think about your life. I beg you to see how sin has seeped into every fiber of our world. But more so, I beg you to see that there is a way to freedom. Freedom from guilt and sin. Salvation brings a life more abundant that you could ever imagine. My salvation has changed my life. My faith is not emotion... It is the groundwork for who I am and who I was created to be. God reigns in my life... Does He reign in yours? If you have any questions please ask. Death and Eternal separation from God is much too high a price to risk your soul for. I love you all and pray for you everyday. I pray that you would come to know the God who saved me and if you already do that He will continue to mold you into a person fully committed to honoring Him."
No comments:
Post a Comment