I returned from a meeting this afternoon and Pat
called me into her office to tell me the news of the tragic shooting at an
elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Where 26 people are confirmed dead,
18 of them children. It was only a few days ago when another gunman
opened fire in a crowded mall in Oregon killing two people and seriously
wounding a third before turning the gun on himself.
We find ourselves, yet again, stunned with the
breath knocked out of us. How could this happen? Today 18 children lost their
lives. So full of possibilities, dreams, laughter, joy, and innocence
senselessly taken, stolen, destroyed. Why? Why? In this season of
expectation and hope, we are experiencing painful reminders of the brokenness
of our world, and of our need for a Savior.
I call you to prayer! Today. Now. Pray for those
who died. Pray for those who were injured. Pray for those who weep and mourn.
Pray for those whose insides are so distorted, so desperate that they decided
to take not only their own lives, but the lives of the innocent around them.
Pray for all those who now wake up with nightmares and those who are now afraid
to go to sleep. Pray for the soul of the one who may be the next to pick up a
gun - please God, may he not.
We must not lose heart, lose hope - for this our
Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from sin, from despair.
As we continue on our Advent pilgrimage, let us
now more boldly and confidently be heralds of hope. Even in the midst of
death and tragedy, let us proclaim with every fiber of our being,
"Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing
you good news of great joy for all the people: unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke
2:10b-11)
In Christ,
Paul+
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