Tag: tragedy

Lord, Have Mercy

Published on by nickcadyLeave a comment

Yesterday, I was deeply grieved to hear the news of the killing of Charlie Kirk and the shooting at Evergreen High School here in Colorado.

Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk rose in fame because of his advocacy for conservative social and economic issues. In recent years, he also became an outspoken Christian. Ever since the pandemic, his focus on faith in Jesus as the ultimate answer became even more pronounced. He was also a father and a husband.

One thing I always appreciated about Charlie was the way that he welcomed polite and calm dialogue with people who had opposing views. Even if someone disagrees with another person’s political positions or opinions on things like gender and identity, that does not warrant murdering them and leaving their children fatherless.

Evergreen High School

I grew up in Jefferson County, which means that I played baseball at Evergreen High School. A good friend and fellow pastor is on staff there, and his daughter is a student.

When I heard about the shooting at Evergreen High School (a JeffCo Public School), it reminded me of April 20, 1999 – a day I will never forget: I was a sophomore in high school, also in a JeffCo Public School, when the shooting at Columbine High School (another JeffCo Public School) took place. There were people I knew at the school that day, and it shaped my final two years of high school in a major way – as it did our country, and the world.

Thankfully my friend and his daughter were not harmed, but the sense of unease that one gets after experiencing something like this lasts well beyond the event.

Pray

  • Please pray for our country, and for the hurting and frustrated individuals who are considering hurting others.
  • Please pray for healing and peace in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed or were affected by these tragic events.
  • Join me in praying what Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.