Latest news Sandy Hook Elementary School

Our hearts continue to break because of the tragic shooting and loss of 6
adults and 20 children in Newtown, CT last December 14th. Out of the
tragedy, some heroes have emerged - including Victoria Soto.

Victoria Leigh Soto, 27, a first grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary
School, was one of the adults that was killed in the shooting. It was what
she was doing when she died that makes her a hero.

When Soto became aware there was a gunman in the school, she hid her
first-graders in closets and cabinets in her classroom. When the shooter
approached, she told him that the children were in the gym. The gunman
turned the gun on her and killed her.

"She was amazing and a wonderful teacher,'' said Yvonne Cech, a colleague of
Soto and Sandy Hook's library media specialist. "She loved her kids. It
seemed that at the start of each year she loved them automatically.''

And love them she did - to the very end. She loved them so much that she
put herself in harm's way in order to shield her students from the gunman.
She loved the children so much that she gave her life in order to protect
them.

Jim Wiltsie, Soto's cousin, told the Daily Telegraph: "I'm just proud that
Vicki had the instincts to protect her kids from harm. It brings peace to
know that Vicki was doing what she loved, protecting the children. In our
eyes she's a hero."

Soto's selfless love reflects the love that JESUS has for each one of us.

When we were in danger of being destroyed because of our sin (Romans 6:23),
God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our
sins (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus was the only One who could die in our place
because He was sinless (Hebrews 4:14-16). He placed Himself in "harms way"
giving His life for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1:4).

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his
friends." - John 15:13

It was this "greater love" that prompted Victoria Soto to lay down her life
for her students so that they might live. It was this "greater love" that
compelled Jesus to lay down His life so that WE might live FOREVER.

God will grant forgiveness and life to those who: will place their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into
Christ (Acts 2:38). Then, as we continue to walk in the light of His word,
the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7).

In loving gratitude, won't YOU submit your life to the Savior so that you
may receive the eternal, spiritual blessings that He wants you to have so
much that He gave His life for you?

David A. Sargent

Motive for shooting Newtown, Connecticut

 "And Gideon said unto him (an angel of the Lord), Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?" Judges 6:13

 

Last Friday, Dec. 14th, a week ago as I write this, a horrible scene played out in the small town of Newtown, Conn. A total of 28 people, including 20 children, were murdered. Of course, any murder is horrible, not only because of the death of a person, but also for the inherent fallout associated with the parties involved. In this incident, you can magnify the horribleness hundreds of times over.

 

Like you, I've heard many, many pundits, reporters and psycho-babblers offer their opinions of what happened and why it happened and I know, probably like myself, that you're tired of hearing the same thing over and over. For this lesson today, I'm going to use this terrible incident as the basis, but hopefully it won't be something you've heard "ad nauseam," as I intend to address it in a different manner than the pundits et al.

 

All of the ones I've heard discuss the incident have reasoned or related it to all sorts of causes, none of which related it to a scriptural aspect. That's the approach I'll attempt to take in this editorial today. I appreciate your consideration of it.

 

One of the things I heard the pundits say is that we have a "societal problem." In a sense that may be so, but I rather think that we have a "moral problem." Or, maybe better said, society has a "moral problem." To illustrate what I'm talking about, I received a photo from a brother that pretty much nails it. It was a picture of a T-shirt that read: DEAR GOD. WHY DO YOU ALLOW SO MUCH VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS? SIGNED, A CONCERNED STUDENT. Below this question was this reply: DEAR CONCERNED STUDENT. I'M NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS. GOD.

 

The pundits ask "What has our society come to?" I'm amazed that they even ask this question. I ask, "Where has society's morals gone?" and I don't see it as a hard question to answer. When the basis for our morals and ethics, our basis for what's right and wrong, has been systematically subjected to years of assault by those opposed to God and any of His precepts, what do you expect of society? A better one? Not hardly.

 

When for the past 40 years or so society, through its governmental entities, has prohibited God from being seen or heard, much less taught in schools or other public agencies, can you expect a God-less society to somehow be morally better? But, none of the pundits I heard speak ever made this connection.

 

Think about all of the behavior that used to be immoral that is now accepted as normal. Behavior that has, over the last couple of generations, been forced on and into society. I ask again, Why wouldn't society have a "moral problem?"

 

With the society we have "advanced" (?) to today, I'm hard-pressed to define "deviant behavior." I used to have no problem knowing what deviancy was, and "was" is the operative word here. I never thought that I'd say this, but I'm glad that I'm of the age that I won't be around to see what the next generation embraces. What deviancy will be the next "normal."

 

But one thing that I can see so far is that a lack or morals, a lack of decency, a lack of ethics leads directly to one thing - a lack of regard or concern for others. Or, said another way, leads to a total disregard for their fellow man. That simply means that they have no "love" for others.

 

All of the above "lacks" comes from a "lack" of God which teaches people what "love" truly is. John pretty much nails this down when he writes in 1John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."

 

It's a pretty simple equation, isn't it? If we know God, then we know "love" and "love" is what causes us to have concern for others. When we've done our best to remove God, the source of "love," from society's basic structure, should it be any surprise that incidents of horrible behavior occur in that society.

 

A man once asked Jesus what the greatest, most important commandment was and Jesus answered that it was to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind." Without being asked, Jesus then said that the 2nd greatest commandment was "like unto" the 1st. "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matt. 22:36-39) In my humble opinion, society today doesn't "love God" and therefor doesn't "love it's neighbors."

 

That's my analysis, but it certainly isn't the pundits. Their answers to these events is that we need to enact more laws. One thing that history has proven, over and over, is that you cannot legislate morality or moral behavior. Enacting more gun laws or more mental health laws isn't going to alleviate the "moral problems" of society. Do we have laws against drunk driving? Laws against theft? Laws against all sorts of criminal behavior? Of course we do. Has those laws stopped anyone from violating them? Of course not.

 

To borrow the words of the prophet Hosea, because we've "sown the wind" (been denying God) we're now "reaping the whirlwind." (Hos. 8:7) You can make all the laws you want. Legislate up a storm, which is what Congressmen do in order to make it appear that they're doing something, but that isn't going to address the underlying cause of our "moral problem."

 

Said in another fashion - you can't legislate a society to "love its neighbor" when that society has no basis for "love" which is the basis for our morals, ethics and decent behavior. You know what legislation would work? If the government passed a law that said that God's Law will be read in every home and taught in every school.

 

Then, perhaps, if God was "allowed to be in schools" we wouldn't be needing armed guards and locked doors in them. However, if we continue on in our path of removing and denying God we can only expect more of these horrible event to occur. My greatest fear is that our society will continue that path of destruction and I shudder to think what my grandchildren's generation will have to live with.

 

In conclusion, I would opine that the answer to Gideon's question might just be this: perhaps "The Lord" isn't with us as a nation because, like Israel of his day, we've left Him.

 

Ron Covey

 

Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people

Judges 6:13 " And Gideon said unto him. Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?"

Why? Why? Why? As I sit here thinking about this question being asked by Gideon, the words of Deut. 11:26-28 where a blessing is promised if people obey the commandments of God but a cursing is the result of not obeying God. I think of Prov.14:34 where we are told that righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. Israel had sinned, Israel had forgotten God (Judges 3:7). That is why they were in a pitiful, impoverished condition. It is now that I think of America.   Gideon here speaks aloud a question that is once again echoing across America. Another horrendous act of violence has taken place causing men and women throughout this great nation to ask "Why". It seems that this question is constantly on our lips, Why so much crime, why all the drug abuse, why  all the immorality, why all the suffering and pain, why all the greed, the wickedness, the violence. Why? Why? Why? I do not know all the answers to this question but each day I become more convinced that America is following in the footsteps of Israel of old. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our government have for the most part excluded God. God has been removed from our educational institutions. Godless organizations are allowed to dictate to us what is acceptable or unacceptable in the religious aspects of our lives (Acts 4:18-19, Acts 5:29). There is a lack of restraint regarding fleshly appetites (Gal.5:19-21, Col. 3:5-6). Sadly, God has been removed from many churches (Matt. 15:8-9, Gal. 1:6-9, 2 John 9-11). In short, God has either been excluded or relegated to an obscure position in the lives of masses of people (2 Tim. 3:1-5)  Still, we ask, "Why".    

The cry for conditions to change is now echoing throughout the land. I pray that change will be a renewed respect for God, a desire to walk in his ways, a desire to love and serve God with all the heart, soul, mind, strength and a willingness to keep his commandments  (John 14:15, 2 John 6, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 3:2-3,  Mark 12:30). It is time for a spiritual revival in America (2 Pet. 3:9, Matt. 11:28-30, Eph.5:14-17, Eccl. 12:13-14)

The circumstances surrounding some events of this life are truly difficult to understand, The impact they have on our lives is sometimes heart wrenching. I may not always understand but one thing I do know and understand is that the God I serve, the God in whom I have placed my faith and trust is in control of all things including my life. He will see that I have the strength, the courage, the ability to overcome all things (Isa. 12:2, 1 Cor. 10:13, 1 Pet. 5:6-7, Heb. 13:5-6)

Charles Hicks

 

How to find the church described in the Bible

Are you looking for a church home? Have you been searching Google to find the church described in the Bible? Have you wondered if Christianity is the only religion that is acceptable to God?

Finding a "church home" can be a challenge.  Finding the right "church home" (a place which also has God's approval) can also be challenging.

If you are looking for a church (and the word church describes a group of people instead of a building), you need to know what the Bible says about the church. 

There is a FREE BIBLE STUDY that will let you study for yourself and at your own pace what God says about the church built by Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).  To get this free Bible study sent to your home without cost or obligation (and no one will call or ever ask for some type of "donation"), click on the "how to be saved from sin" link to the right of this post.

Proverbs 7:13-15

"She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him: "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!" (Proverbs 7:13-15 NASB). Once the mind is caught, the body soon follows (cf. Proverbs 7:5-12, James 1:13-15). She seizes him and kisses him. This would have been unheard of in this culture—a brazen and shameless act. Her lack of shame is further seen in the double life she lives. She has offered peace offerings (which are designed to increase fellowship between God and man), but she cares nothing about the ways of God. She is just like a wolf in sheep's clothing. She has the public appearance of a religious woman, but this is not her reality. Religion is something she has to do, but what she enjoys is seducing men. Her conscience has become so calloused she can immediately plan and seek to sin after communing with God (cf. Ephesians 4:19). If he doesn't change his ways, this is the future of the young man Solomon is observing. He will become just like her living the life of a shameless hypocrite

 

--Jeremy Sprouse

26 victim families in Connecticut

Today I took a little extra time dropping my children off at school this morning. As I parked the car, we all got out and walked towards the school, I was more aware this morning of how many children were walking with their parents; particularly kindergarten age. The walk was a little slower than the normal rush to school. Today was a little different for me...all because of Friday. For 26 families in Connecticut, today was another day of unspeakable grief.

 

I have no words to take away your sadness or grief regarding the tragic event. As a father of three children (one in kindergarten) I struggle with feelings of pure anger and yet overwhelming tears because someone ruined the lives of others. One day, one person and countless numbers of lives changed. 26 families (plus the shooters) devastated in an instant.

 

To be honest, no amount of political debate or human reasoning can take away from the loss or return the loved ones to the family. I am not trying to be political, be let's be logical. The gun did not take the lives of 26 people on Friday, just as the rock did not take the life of Able. Each person committing violence choose their weapon. David choose the enemies army to murder Uriah, the Jews chose rocks to stone Stephen and the Romans chose nails and a tree to murder Christ. Evil took the loves of those people -- pure evil.

 

The debates will rage of gun control and beyond, but let's be honest and realize it is evil that murders the innocent – pure evil. The same day as the Newtown shooting, a man in China brutally assaulted 22 children with a knife. It was pure evil. Evil does not come in the form of an object, but of a soul without Christ.

 

Evil embodies itself, not in an object but in its use. Evil is an action taken by a person without care or concern for others. Taking away guns, knives or rocks does not solve the problem, it only make us feel better. Taking away objects does not get to the root of the problem -- evil. The only way to purge evil from someone's life is to bring them to a higher plane - a higher standard. Without a standard of morality in one's life, we will find no reason to do good to all men, much less care for them.

 

The only thing which will purge evil from one's life is Christ - pure and simple. No humanistic reasoning, self-help book or psychology class will bring a person to the highest calling one can attain -- simple Christian living. While the world debates the "items of violence' let us debate the cause - evil.

 

So, debate if you will, but I will choose to pray and share Christ; for He is the only solution.

 

Chris Gallagher

 

26 victim families in Connecticut

Today I took a little extra time dropping my children off at school this
morning. As I parked the car, we all got out and walked towards the school,
I was more aware this morning of how many children were walking with their
parents; particularly kindergarten age. The walk was a little slower than
the normal rush to school. Today was a little different for me...all because
of Friday. For 26 families in Connecticut, today was another day of
unspeakable grief.

I have no words to take away your sadness or grief regarding the tragic
event. As a father of three children (one in kindergarten) I struggle with
feelings of pure anger and yet overwhelming tears because someone ruined the
lives of others. One day, one person and countless numbers of lives changed.
26 families (plus the shooters) devastated in an instant.

To be honest, no amount of political debate or human reasoning can take away
from the loss or return the loved ones to the family. I am not trying to be
political, be let's be logical. The gun did not take the lives of 26 people
on Friday, just as the rock did not take the life of Able. Each person
committing violence choose their weapon. David choose the enemies army to
murder Uriah, the Jews chose rocks to stone Stephen and the Romans chose
nails and a tree to murder Christ. Evil took the loves of those people --
pure evil.

The debates will rage of gun control and beyond, but let's be honest and
realize it is evil that murders the innocent – pure evil. The same day as
the Newtown shooting, a man in China brutally assaulted 22 children with a
knife. It was pure evil. Evil does not come in the form of an object, but of
a soul without Christ.

Evil embodies itself, not in an object but in its use. Evil is an action
taken by a person without care or concern for others. Taking away guns,
knives or rocks does not solve the problem, it only make us feel better.
Taking away objects does not get to the root of the problem -- evil. The
only way to purge evil from someone's life is to bring them to a higher
plane - a higher standard. Without a standard of morality in one's life, we
will find no reason to do good to all men, much less care for them.

The only thing which will purge evil from one's life is Christ - pure and
simple. No humanistic reasoning, self-help book or psychology class will
bring a person to the highest calling one can attain -- simple Christian
living. While the world debates the "items of violence' let us debate the
cause - evil.

So, debate if you will, but I will choose to pray and share Christ; for He
is the only solution.

Chris Gallagher