Wordly Troubles

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV

Grieving, that's what a lot of us are doing over this senseless tragedy. Worrying, is another thing some of us are doing as our safety has once again been compromised.

Churches, movie theaters, malls, and now schools are now a place where we wonder "are we really safe?" All of these are places some of us go to regularly without a second thought to our safety. These past few months have shaken our world and caused us to rethink.

Rethinking things is good, it's just horrible that people had to die in order for us to rethink. We've become desensitized to violence. It has become a common occurrence on television, at the movies, or in video games. Fiction has become non-fiction, sometimes we don't even think twice about what our children are watching. As long as they're occupied and being quiet it's OK. It doesn't effect them.

Let me tell you it does, I have worked with children for over twenty years. I can tell which ones watch violence and which ones don't. It comes out in their playing. I continually redirect them and try to get them playing something different. At times I'm successful other times I'm not.

We don't have any guns on our home, play or real. It's not worth it to me. I rely on God to protect me.
Having guns or not having guns is a personal choice, I mean if they became illegal people who wanted them would still get them. The pioneers had them displayed over their fireplaces. I don't ever remember reading in my history book about a teenager getting his father's rifle and shooting up his school or the local general store.

Maybe the answer doesn't lie in the hands of the government, but in the hands of each of us. We need to get back to the basics. Teach our children about God. Teach our children the Ten Commandments, and the new laws that Jesus taught which basically cover the Ten Commandments. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

After all God did command his children to talk about him when we get up, when we go about our day, and when we lie down. Maybe if each of us do this there will be less violence and more love. each of us has a choice it's our God given right. What will yours be?