Generally this mid-month e-mail update to the church will simply be updates on events and announcements to pass along. This evening though, I am stunned, angry, and deeply grieved at the events that have occurred in Blacksburg on the campus of Virginia Tech University. I have no doubt that for next few days there will be attempts at explanations, opinions about how the situation should have been handled, opinions about prevention, and the like. I am not sure one can ever comprehend such random, horrific, evil acts. This kind of act provides evidence that we still live in a depraved, fallen world - as if we need any further evidence. In spite of that I will remind you that we are Christians and part of what we profess is - though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet . [from "This Is My Father’s World" by Maltbie D. Babcock]. We must not let our anger, our grief, our shock, our outrage, or any of the deep emotions the strike us in times like these have the last word. Nor must we succumb to apathy and resignation. If anything, such acts could and ought to propel us to take some positive and deliberate steps that reflect our values and commitments as followers of Jesus. Let me offer a few for your consideration:

1) The names of the victims will most certainly be published. Pray for the families.

2) We can pray for the entire Virginia Tech community.

3) We are blessed in our church to have a number of teenagers and young adults as members. Make a deliberate decision to express your love and care and appreciation to them by speaking to them in church or writing them a note.

4) There are youth and young adults in Stanley, our community, who do not have the benefit of a church family to let them know how much they are cared for. Go out of your way to say a positive word to one.


I am sure you can come up with some other positive ways we can respond. Malicious evil can never have the last word.

-- Jim