a series of shootings scattered across america, all within a week of each other. how are we as Christ's body, to respond to this. as a body, we need to be reminding and asking ourselves, if and when disaster strikes, will we know how to move on, will we know what to do? will we know how to meet the needs of others in the community? tragedy and disastrous occasions are rising in our backyard and we need to be prayed up and ready for the fight.
on december 5 in an omaha, nebraska mall; a 19 year old male opened fired killing 8, wounding 5 others and then turned the gun on himself, resulting in 9 lives lost. this is the second mass shooting in a mall this year (the other happening in february in salt lake city, utah). on december 9, in colorado springs, colorado; a 24 year old male went into new life church and opened fire, wounding 4. this shooting was part of a pair of shootings that happened that day. the first shooting happened 70 miles away in arvada, colorado; where two people were shot and killed in a Youth With A Mission (missionary training school) dormitory. the colorado shootings resulted in 4 wounded people and 4 people being killed, including the gunman who was brought down by church security, at new life church. on december 11, in north las vegas, nevada; 6 young people were shot after getting off a school bus that left from a high school. one suffered critical injuries. the police are investigating and suspect gang affiliation.
i will not bring up gun control, right to bear arms, and the like because that is not the source of the problem. yes, guns are some how landing in the hands of angry, insecure and unsafe people. but again, that is not what is causing the problems. i refuse to make this a political issue allowing the media to vehemently point fingers and look for someone to blame. the source is the lack of Jesus in the world. no metal detector or revised gun law is going to solve the problem. we need Jesus, we need new hearts. just as God talks about the new hearts of israel in ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh". this should be what we are crying out for in america, not for gun control, etc. because in the long run, unstable and insecure people will still end up with guns, knives, drugs, behind the wheels of cars, etc.
we as believers need to step up, meet people where they are without judgment and give them the best gift ever given, the gift of eternal life and life abundant. because we know that without the gift of Jesus, they will be lost forever. we know that it says in John 3:3 "truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." these people need to know that they are walking down a path of destruction. they need to hear that Jesus loves them, that He died and rose again, was beaten and flogged for our sins. we need to let the world know that satan is a massive reality in the universe that conspires with our sin, flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others. but we also need to let them know that satan is under control of the Living God. we need to pray that God would soften and entice their hearts to his word, open their eyes to his miraculous wonders, unite their hearts to fear and honor him, and satisfy them with his love.
we need to pray and reassure people that even as servants of the Most High, we still get cut down, broken and bruised from day to day life; but the security found in Jesus Christ makes it all worth it. God's love covers the sins of humanity, if only they will accept it. God's love conquers even in calamity, even in chaos. the people of this world need to know the life that they can find in Jesus. even now, with christmas just a few weeks away, the holidays are a time where people are emotional time bombs just ticking away with every bit of stress that comes along with this time of year. we need to make sure we're bringing this season back to what it should be celebrated for. not for jolly ol' st. nick and not for the presents and snowman. but for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of man. lets use this christmas season and new year to bring the opportunity of new life and spiritual births to those around us; remind people that there is Hope and Joy that they can experience. hope and joy in Jesus Christ. agape.
on december 5 in an omaha, nebraska mall; a 19 year old male opened fired killing 8, wounding 5 others and then turned the gun on himself, resulting in 9 lives lost. this is the second mass shooting in a mall this year (the other happening in february in salt lake city, utah). on december 9, in colorado springs, colorado; a 24 year old male went into new life church and opened fire, wounding 4. this shooting was part of a pair of shootings that happened that day. the first shooting happened 70 miles away in arvada, colorado; where two people were shot and killed in a Youth With A Mission (missionary training school) dormitory. the colorado shootings resulted in 4 wounded people and 4 people being killed, including the gunman who was brought down by church security, at new life church. on december 11, in north las vegas, nevada; 6 young people were shot after getting off a school bus that left from a high school. one suffered critical injuries. the police are investigating and suspect gang affiliation.
i will not bring up gun control, right to bear arms, and the like because that is not the source of the problem. yes, guns are some how landing in the hands of angry, insecure and unsafe people. but again, that is not what is causing the problems. i refuse to make this a political issue allowing the media to vehemently point fingers and look for someone to blame. the source is the lack of Jesus in the world. no metal detector or revised gun law is going to solve the problem. we need Jesus, we need new hearts. just as God talks about the new hearts of israel in ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh". this should be what we are crying out for in america, not for gun control, etc. because in the long run, unstable and insecure people will still end up with guns, knives, drugs, behind the wheels of cars, etc.
we as believers need to step up, meet people where they are without judgment and give them the best gift ever given, the gift of eternal life and life abundant. because we know that without the gift of Jesus, they will be lost forever. we know that it says in John 3:3 "truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." these people need to know that they are walking down a path of destruction. they need to hear that Jesus loves them, that He died and rose again, was beaten and flogged for our sins. we need to let the world know that satan is a massive reality in the universe that conspires with our sin, flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others. but we also need to let them know that satan is under control of the Living God. we need to pray that God would soften and entice their hearts to his word, open their eyes to his miraculous wonders, unite their hearts to fear and honor him, and satisfy them with his love.
we need to pray and reassure people that even as servants of the Most High, we still get cut down, broken and bruised from day to day life; but the security found in Jesus Christ makes it all worth it. God's love covers the sins of humanity, if only they will accept it. God's love conquers even in calamity, even in chaos. the people of this world need to know the life that they can find in Jesus. even now, with christmas just a few weeks away, the holidays are a time where people are emotional time bombs just ticking away with every bit of stress that comes along with this time of year. we need to make sure we're bringing this season back to what it should be celebrated for. not for jolly ol' st. nick and not for the presents and snowman. but for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of man. lets use this christmas season and new year to bring the opportunity of new life and spiritual births to those around us; remind people that there is Hope and Joy that they can experience. hope and joy in Jesus Christ. agape.
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