IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!

Here in Alabama, yesterday, Tuesday 24 May 2022, started out as an important day. It was the Primary Election Day. And I was a clerk at one of the local precincts. During the day, we discovered that another shooting had happened; this time at a school in Uvalde, Texas. And in The Blink Of An Eye, our hearts were broken for a community we had never heard of, until then. My mind and heart immediately started praying for the community. As of this writing the death toll stands at 19.

These were 19 people who were getting ready for the end of the school year. Most of which probably had wonderful plans for the summer break. It would be a time to catch their breath and enjoy life. Now–in The Blink Of An Eye–those wonderful plans quickly faded away. In The Blink Of An Eye, an entirely community has been forced to cope and find ways to deal with the chaos that must be flooding their minds and hearts. Vacations? Plans for playing with friends? Sleeping in? All these and much more are only a distant memory at best. All in The Blink Of An Eye.

And immediately the blame is being placed on an object. And no, this is not the time to talk about protecting the Second Amendment. In fact, it’s entirely inappropriate and callousness to the n^th degree. It’s time to change the conversations and the narrative. The true narrative is EVIL! Objects are not evil–but become evil in the hands of people who are under the influence of evil. Folks! Here’s the hard, cold, reality: These are EVIL times and all because so many have turned a blind eye to what is evil. Minds and hearts must be awakened to this horrible reality. And we must address it and make the narrative about evil. Evil is an attiude, a heart, and spiritual force. Because it is spiritual, laws and such will not change it–CANNOT change it. This is a war that is first fought on our knees and then in our hearts.

Remember what Paul wrote in Romans chapter 12, verse 21–“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Good, as defined by The Bible! The life of the young shooter will be analyzed and over-analyzed many times. But the core–the core of the problem will, more than likely, be unmentioned. The core is evil, and it’s time to speak into the true narrative. And what we speak next, will determine if evil wins or loses. I leave you with more words from Paul, found in Ephesians chapter 5, verses 11-16. And pay close and careful attention to the last line:

¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” ¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

(The New Living Translation)

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What’s Broken? More Than You Realize!

Yesterday it happened again. This time it was in Oxford Chartered Township, Michigan. This time 3 students are dead, 1 teacher and 7 students were wounded, some seriously. Reports say it was done by a 9mm Sig Sauer with multiple clips purchased by the shooter’s father 4 days earlier. That isn’t accurate reporting–and the American people, and people around the world, deserve better reporting than this.

Yes, the shooter had the aforementioned 9 mm Sig Sauer–but it didn’t do the shooting. The thing about guns, any gun, is that they are incapable of doing anything by itself. Here are some quotes from this article in the aftermath of this tragedy–and it is a tragedy!

In a statement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer described gun violence as a “public health crisis,” adding: “No one should be afraid to go to school, work, a house of worship, or even their own home. This is a time for us to come together and help children feel safe at school.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Politicians seem to think that if something is declared a “public health crisis” that people will rally together to put an end to it. But she has been misinformed–this is NOT a public health crisis. Hong Kong Flu; small pox; Ebola; salmonella; tuberculosis; cancer; heart disease; anthrax; COVID–now these are most definitely health crises. The problem is much deeper. Here’s another quote from the article:

“We must act to properly address gun violence in our schools and the ongoing threat of another unconscionable tragedy if we continue to only offer thoughts and prayers,” Ms. Nessel said. “Our kids deserve better.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel

She is both right and wrong–which makes her declaration false and invalid! She is absolutely correct in asserting that our kids deserve better. No doubt about this statement. But what she said before this nullifies and makes void her assertion that kids deserve better. The problem goes deeper.

And the Average Joe or Average Josephine will quickly pipe up and say, “The problem is we took the Bible and prayer out of our schools! That’s the problem!” Joe and Josephine, I am sorry, but I am here to inform you there is some bad news. You are now standing with Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel. You are wrong also! The problem goes much deeper.

More laws and putting the Bible and prayer back in schools will not stop tragedies such as this from happening again. Thinking like this is like putting a Scooby Doo band aid after your brachial artery has been cut. The bleeding will continue until death arrives. As I mentioned several times, our problem goes much deeper that social or even religious band aids. But not beyond the abilities and willingness of Jesus.

What we have here is a twisted perspective that is blind to the critical social, political, and moral problems that is akin to a 9.0 earthquake on the Richter Scale. People and leaders are treating symptoms rather than causes. And any doctor worth his or her weight in salt knows that there are medical issues where treating the symptoms does nothing to cure the disease. And here is where we are! The issues are complex–beyond most folks abilities to comprehend, much less resolve.

Doctors who define the disease without offering cures are worthless. Though the issues are complex, the “treatments” are not so complex–but it will be an uphill battle. Here are some things I offer for your considerations:

• Read the Bible at home! Make it a priority at home and you won’t need the teachers to read it to the kids.
• Pray together as a family! Those prayers are more effective and powerful than any prayer said out loud a school.
• Have no less than one meal a day where all the family is together. No electronic devices allowed during meal time.
• Establish clear boundaries for what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Whining and throwing a hissy fit because they didn’t get what they want is UNACCEPTABLE behavior.
• Be consistent with your punishments. Don’t over-react, but don’t under react.
• Teach that there are always consequences for their choices and their reactions. We can’t control others but we can control our reactions.
• Let them know life isn’t fair–but it can be good if you so desire.
• Respect others, especially older adults and those in authority.
• Nobody owes you anything! ‘Nuff said!
• Hard work and determination are virtues and will help you achieve worthwhile goals and will give you both inner peace and outer contentment.
• Life doesn’t owe you anything! You owe life–to help others succeed and to be kind.
• Putting down other people only makes you lower than the ones you talk about.
• To care more than to be cared for is the recipe for a successful life.
• Don’t be your kids’ friend! They have friends! What they need are parents who act like parents. If they call you “mean”, remember that it will mean more for their development in the long run. You do not exist to be loved by your kids. Your purpose is to do everything you can, even the hard things, so that your kids won’t be mentioned in the evening news!
• Model all these virtues before your kids. They are virtues because they will encourage and build up their hearts more than anything else.

How long before the Whitmers and Nessels of the world realize that our current path JUST AIN’T WORKING! Coddling and excusing bad choices are what led us to what happened yesterday in Michigan. Laws didn’t prevent it from happening. More laws won’t prevent another tragedy from happening. The real PROBLEM goes deeper, much deeper. Treating the symptoms will only lead us into more problems. The solutions are deeper, much deeper!