this not the ONLY problem - but it is part of it - http://greenfield.patch.com/blog_posts/tolerance-does-not-go-near-far-enough

Well said, Pastor Steve!

Thank you Pastor Steve for this lovely article. Our hearts are all breaking today because of this latest tragedy.

We try to fathom the enormity of this great loss and wonder, where is our merciful God in all this?

God was there - as you start to hear the stories of people that acted selflessly in order to protect others... you can easily spot the likeness to Jesus ...
in the courageous actions of the school principle & the others ... how they cared about the lives of innocence - at the risk of their own life ... that reminds me so much of the example we have set before us in the life if Christ....

the unfathomable part to me is how we could as a nation - publicly and proudly push God out the classroom - push him out of the public arena and then be surprised when the Godless actions of evil men start to appear in the very places we have asked God to leave.

this young man full of hate and rage does not remind me of Jesus at all -
but I can see Jesus in the actions of the teachers, and the actions of the police, firefighters and medical personal that rushed in to protect / aid and heal....

did you see that picture of a police officer walking holding hands with a lil' boy wearing his Sheriff's coat???
THAT reminded me of Jesus... that was a great picture of MERCY ...

Pastor Steve, You have expressed our grief most eloquently. At times of darkness like this words are necessary. When I first heard this news I was totally shocked and angered asking rhetorically: why do so many evil doers live in this country? Evil exists all over the planet, but good always has to come out of it. I think that present day society has created monsters, and unfortunately at times these monsters rear up, do their unfathomable evil and we all suffer for it. The entire Nation has to suffer.
We are an American family. All these innocent lives are our children. All who have died in these massacres everywhere in the country, including our Sikh Temple, are our brothers and sisters. Too much sorrow, strife, division, corrupt politics, shooting, self-seeking, poverty. And now we are even more poor than before.
The so-called "leaders" in this country, whether in the White House or Congress, capital buildings or city halls, are cowards. Every time there is a tragedy they cry on television and wring their hands, saying "never more". Until the next time. Why do we have millions of assault weapons in the hands of civilian citizens? These are tools of death. They cannot be called anything but that. These tools of death are made only for the killing of human beings. There is no other purpose for them. Therefore, they need to be taken out of circulation and destroyed. There are four words coming down to us through the ages: Thou shalt not kill!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Hm7yxy4AA - watch the WHOLE thing - it is BRILLIANT - I don't always agree with everything this man says or advocates - but this is a tremendous response for this particular horrific act of hate... evil ...

thanks for your kind heart felt response - we truly do have a lot to consider as a result of the events of last friday.
our youth pastor preached a tremendous message yesterday - teaching us to NOT ignore the PAIN of those around you -
... our best response is ALWAYS going to be one of LOVE - don't give anyone power over you ~ by you giving someone else the right to chose your response -
just because someone comes at me with HATE - does not dictate that I must respond with HATE -
Jesus said - in Matthew 5: But I tell you: LOVE your ENEMIES and pray for those who persecute you ...

<< http://greenfield.patch.com/blog_posts/tolerance-does-not-go-near-far-enough >>

Dominic,
Just for starters - I STILL really feel that the whole PC push for "Tolerance" owns a HUGE piece of responsibility to our societal woes ...