Jesus saves

As we venture into a season of giving and receiving, 2 days ago, 2,817 miles from where I live, a gunman decided he wanted to enter a school and begin shooting. 6 adults and 20 children were killed, dead, they are no longer alive. Those children lived to only see kindergarten, a teacher saved her entire class by giving her life, and a principal charged the gunman to save her school. When we see the facts and see their pictures and we hear about each story, we forget about the gunman and how crazy he seems and we recognize that the children and adults that died were simple people with extraordinary circumstances. Those teachers never signed a pact to stand in front of a bullet for their students, or charge a gunman, or nor did they sign up to be present in a situation like this, but yet they stood up and protected the students they loved.

As we look back at the horrific shootings that have happened in the last 15 years, we can see the gunman that entered CSUF last week, or the gunman who made a movie date night into a horrible nightmare, or the two teenage gunman who entered Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 and decided that it was important for everyone to know that they were left out. 

I don't think I'll ever make a speech against the NRA, or talk with important Congressmen about gun control, or even own a gun. Yet I think that we are missing the point, if we were to lay out the circumstances and stand all the gunmen side by side, we can recognize that there is something there, something in common, and something painful. So here we are, people are dying too often and too young and some how we wake up the next morning and move on. 

So then what is the problem? 

Why do people feel the need to shoot up the entire school?
(and why is it usually a school?)

People feel hopeless, they feel that they are at the end of their rope. 

People feel as though they have nothing left, so they step out into the extreme. 

People feel lonely, and heartbroken. 

I am NOT condoning ANYONE'S actions, but I think we are missing the point. These people are crying out for someone to notice them. They are yearning to be loved and seen for who they are. 

Why can't we be gracious with people BEFORE this happens? I have been there I have felt as though I was at the end of my rope, that I was not worthy, and that I was hopeless and lonely. Yet, I have someone that has never left, even when I left him, Jesus. 

So we as we go into this season, where we say "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", what if when we said that, we actually meant "Jesus is the simple reason for me waking up every morning and I really hope that you have hope in Jesus because He is the giver of life".

Jesus came so that you could have life and have it abundantly and for eternity, spend each day glorifying Him by truly loving others. 


Jesus came so that you could have HOPE in Him.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:

Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. "Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!" 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------