I went to elementary school in Littleton, Colorado. One of the students at Columbine High School who was also named Mike Johnson was shot in the leg. Many real people -- real sons, daughters, friends, and family -- were attacked. 25 dead. Many wounded with bullets and shrapnel. Hundreds emotionally wounded. This isn't a European, African, Asian, or Middle Eastern war zone we are talking about. We are talking about the city where I spent much of my childhood being assaulted with such hideous violence that it pales even the previous school violence in this country. Such things seem to be going on with no rhyme or reason anywhere in the USA. Now, more than ever, we need to put our trust in God and cling tightly to Him. First, boys and girls, moms and dads, friends and teachers, we need to know where this attack came from. Jesus said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) Clearly, this kind of tragedy isn't God's handiwork. God said "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13) We need to be very careful not to fall into the kind of trap that the murderers did. The Apostle Paul wrote: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galations 5:16-24) I read in the Denver Post today that the Trenchcoat Mafia murderers were into the occult (sorcery) and worshipped death. We obviously aren't to be like that. Now we obviously live in a fallen world where not everyone knows Jesus, yet. So what do we do? 1. We fulfill the Great commission. This is the best and only hope for peace. We tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. We stand in the full armor of God and make war on the spiritual forces of darkness wherever they are. (Eph. 6) 3. We stand firm in love and peace. 4. We pray with different kinds of prayer and for all of God's people. 5. We claim the protection of God. God promises protection for His people. We must believe God and claim that protection. Meditate and speak out Psalm 91: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." (Scripture quotes above are from the NKJV.) Michael Paul Johnson aka Soaring Golden Eagle PO Box 1151, Longmont CO 80502-1151, USA Rocky Mountain outpost 207, New Creation Church Jesus Christ is Lord! _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks!" RTKB&G4JC! Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rangernet.org
