Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this eNote to our faithful and devoted community of radical and contextually conscious followers of Jesus Christ, my heart breaks for the 17 victims from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this week.  This is an egregious act of pure evil and we as Christians must find the most appropriate way to respond.  And think about the frequency of these killings in places that used to be considered safe.

Nikolas Cruz was the shooter and more details about his life are being discovered every day.  He was a loner and expelled for disciplinary reasons from a school of 3,000 students.  Nikolas has been described as a “broken child.”  We may never know what drove him to commit this horrific evil, but for a high school with that many students, having a student with no connection with anyone, says a great deal about our current culture.

Pray for the Parkland community and Nikolas Cruz and remember we live in a fallen world where things are not as they are supposed to be.  In these moments, we realize our need to turn directly to the cross to show that God is not distant from this evil.  Jesus took that upon himself.  Jesus also said this is the kind of world you’re in now.  The spirit causes us to groan at the world around us.

Since we are now in the Lenten Season, this is a good time to grieve and lament.  The process of grieving and lamenting will allow for cleansing and self-examination.  God has not forsaken or given up on us, but rather God is nearer and more available now more than ever.

Mark’s gospel records, “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.”  Eventually John the Baptist would be beheaded. Jesus hears about John’s predicament and responds, “The time has come.  The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!”  Mark 1:14-15

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom,
“In moments of tragedy also look for the triumph of Christ!”

Remember to pray The Lord’s Prayer every day at 12 Noon!

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!
Pastor Stephen