This might be a difficult subject to address today but one I believe we are going to need to address because it is the Jesus thing to do.  Last week at this time there were 33 people dead as a result of a shooting rampage and murder suicide by "Cho" on the campus of Virginia Tech University.  There is no mistaking the fact that outrage and anger is a part of how we all feel in times like these but probably even more so "Why" is the real question.  Regardless, after calling the facts as they are and for what they are, we now come to a pivotal point in all our lives that we have to ask ourselves the question what would Jesus do now?  The answer is more simple than the ability to actually do it but the answer, none the less, is Jesus would offer forgiveness.  The very sad part of this whole terrible situation is the parents of this young man who killed his fellow class mates obviously never dreamed how he would destroy the lives of his family and his own race.  The reason is people are very cruel and to be cruel is to take on the character of the shooter if we don't to forgive him for his wrong.

It is amazing how people can see the toothpick in someone else's eye but they can't see the telephone pole in their own.  Jesus even said if you hate you are just like a murderer.  If you lust you are just like an adulterer.  I am not going to void my being forgiven of my sins by nailing someone else to the cross.  If I don't forgive others and you don't forgive people and not judge them, how do we expect to have our own sins forgiven.  It really is not that complicated until something significant or a tragedy affects you or I personally that we then become defensive and can't find ourselves forgiving someone else.

We must and the victims of that terrible tragedy in Virginia must, if they are ever to move on with their lives, forgive their attacker and even his family who had nothing to do with it.  Here is a verse that goes along with what I am saying, "All we like sheep have gone astray and we have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all".

Dr. Lee Singley

Pastor

Wall Highway Baptist Church