North Florida Writer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Life Around Us
  • Contact
  • MY BOOK PAGE

The Spirit is Alive and Well in Charleston: Hallelujah!

6/24/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureEmanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC
When you look at the imposing exterior of this beautiful old Southern church, you would never expect it to be the scene of a horrible crime committed by a mad man  filled with hate.  Yet just a few days ago a troubled young man, Dylann Roof, walked into the Wednesday night prayer meeting, sat with the small group and their minister, Reverend Clementa Pinckney, for about an hour and then rose, pulled out a weapon and killed nine good Christian men and women including the pastor.

I wrote about the mourning of Charleston, a city which has grown and prospered over the years, several days ago and at that time everyone was fearful that more hate from agitators and those trying to capitalize on this tragedy would emerge.  After all, we've all seen the carnage in Ferguson, Missouri and in Baltimore, two far distant cities of greatly divergent size and all Americans are worried about anything that might light another fuse.  And yes, there have been a few in Charleston looking for blood and revenge but  surprisingly the city has come together in a way that is something to cause the singing of praise.

When Roof was arraigned, the relatives of those slain were allowed to be present and even speak to Roof via closed circuit television.  And the words stated, truly words of forgiveness, represented the true Spirit of God that is so needed in this country. 

One woman who was distraught said through her tears that despite her grief and her despair, "I forgive you.  Even though you have caused great pain, I forgive you."

And the good people of Charleston have come together in Christian love and forgiveness.  They are dealing with their pain and sorrow in Christian love, and it is a scene that all of America needs to see.  We have had everyone from the President and the headlines thirsty media try to point out the evil and find a way to capitalize on it for politics and/or profit, but Charleston can be proud for being above that.  It is an example for all and maybe, just maybe, it will create a spark to quell the violence and hate that is growing ever present in America.

Good Americans outnumber bad by huge numbers, yet they have normally remained quiet and fearful of speaking out.  Maybe the example of Charleston will change that.  Maybe Christians and all other Americans of decency and kindness will stand up and speak out against the agitation and violence that can do nothing but destroy this great country of ours. 

Speaking with truth, openly and honesty and without hostility is the way that things can be made different.  The problem isn't with flags and guns in the hands of good honest citizens, the problem is in the heart.  And the only way the heart can be changed is to open it to the light of the real Truth.  And the real truth, in the personage of Jesus Christ our Savior, can heal any wound and solve any problem.  All we need to do is ask.

I think the good people at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston and their good neighbors, both black and white, know this and that's why they have come together.  So out of sorrow, they may create a new joy: the joy of a reborn community in God.

God bless them. Let them mourn and heal in peace and let the hucksters, the politicians, and the agitators and mischief makers be gone.  They deserve their quiet time to get their families and their city back in order.  May God stay with them as they do just that.


And for young Dylann Roof, his day in court will come and he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law as it should be.  It is quite likely that he may face the death penalty for his actions which is certainly appropriate in such case.  But may God have mercy on his soul and help him to feel the sorrow for the pain he has caused.  And may he come to grips with his crime and ask the Almighty for forgiveness  before his permanent fate is sealed.

It's never too late to ask for God's grace, but it's up to each of us to ask Him.  After all, we were all forgiven for all of our transgressions at the moment He died on the Cross for us, but we must humble ourselves before Him and accept that forgiveness by truly following Him.  And yes, that opportunity is open to even a Dylann Roof if he sincerely accepts His terms.

And may God bless and keep the nine who died last Wednesday, now safely at home with their Lord and Savior.  What a truly loving God we have. Amen.

You might enjoy my broadcast tonight about the Spirit of Charleston.  It airs live at 9 ET on North Florida Writer Live. Here's the link:

                                                tobtr.com/s/7716951


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ABOUT ME

    Hi, I'm James, a writer who studies nature,  animals and all things created by God. I also write from time to time about what I think God expects of us.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects. I hope you enjoy my comments.

    Archive

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    America
    American Sports
    Animals
    Armed Forces Day
    Conservatism
    Doctorpatient0717615167
    Elections-2016
    Florida
    Florida-politics
    Freedom
    Freedom-of-speech
    Geese
    God
    Gods Glory0546cd6883
    Health Care
    Honor
    Integrity
    Jesus Christ
    Koch-brothers
    Leisure-time
    Love
    Military
    Nature
    Primaries
    Proverbs
    Safety
    Savior
    The Future
    Top-political-donors-list
    Tyrannical-government

    RSS Feed

Thanks for contacting northfloridawriter.com.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Arian Zwegers, trvlto, thomas pix, taberandrew, Justin A. Wilcox, Glyn Lowe Photoworks, ckay, phalinn, curtis palmer, bnpositive, oddsock, HooLengSiong, jespahjoy, illustir, ljlphotography, Out at Bob's, The Labour Party, ljlphotography, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, eli.pousson, JasonParis, Fibonacci Blue, wht_wolf9653, bsabarnowl, ` TheDreamSky, Ken_Hoffman, dsearls, NCinDC, James Byrum, DonkeyHotey, Waiting For The Word, cliff1066™, possan, dpape, David Holt London, akeg, Waiting For The Word, Glyn Lowe Photoworks, MilitaryHealth, yukali, infomatique, goforchris, cliff1066™, Wootang01, dctim1, Donald Lee Pardue, LizMarie_AK, campdarby, CedarBendDrive, bill85704, faeparsons, TMAB2003, cliff1066™, Rennett Stowe, KOMUnews, cliff1066™, chris.huggins, USDAgov, mat_walker, gruntzooki, DonkeyHotey, ljlphotography, Elvert Barnes, Paulsasleepwalker, facebook.com/snapshotsofthepast, foto3116, Miller_Center, digitonin, BostonCatholic, Watt_Dabney, jepoirrier, EpicFireworks, derekskey, cletch, DonkeyHotey, KOMUnews, DonkeyHotey, ravensong75, Alan Cleaver, Francisco Diez, hermmermferm, cod_gabriel, Marxchivist, Fibonacci Blue, dbgg1979, “Caveman Chuck” Coker, David Barrie, rjs1322, Just Another Wretch, Keith Laverack, Waiting For The Word, whoohoo120, AFS-USA Intercultural Programs, Brett Jordan, yisris, Michael Hodge, Waiting For The Word, MilitaryHealth, doceggman, AlmazUK, taberandrew, cliff1066™, krossbow, shinya, The Jewish Agency for Israel, kudumomo, “Caveman Chuck” Coker, cliff1066™, johntrainor, emilio labrador, cliff1066™, EraPhernalia Vintage . . . (playin' hook-y ;o), **emmar**, Mrs. Gemstone, Andrea Westmoreland, Jeff Kern, Waiting For The Word, Abdulsalam Haykal, Donald Lee Pardue, roberthuffstutter, Dougtone, b1mbo, DonkeyHotey, paularps, kaatjevervoort, Simon Davison, BONGURI, Marion Doss, ex_magician, Bergfels, Brett Jordan, Tim Evanson, Art4TheGlryOfGod, Jeff Kubina, sskennel, DonkeyHotey, VirtKitty, Rodrigo_Soldon, resistealeau, MilitaryHealth, edalisse, Mervi Eskelinen aka tasselflower, Kaz Andrew, nitram242, Andrew Aliferis, uitdragerij, Paul J Everett, Joe Shlabotnik, Jeffrey, Harry Thomas Photography, Tim Evanson, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Ron Cogswell, Nationalmuseet, escapedtowisconsin, Michael Cory, DonkeyHotey, timsamoff, mrbillt6, bnilsen, themonnie, valeehill, dichohecho, Waiting For The Word, technochick, cliff1066™, RTD Photography, Randy Wick, Enokson, Rising Damp, DonkeyHotey, Waiting For The Word, SteveNakatani, Fovea Centralis, Dru Bloomfield - At Home in Scottsdale, lisaclarke, Mulad, Roswell_UMC, Bengt Nyman, U.S. Embassy New Delhi, FreedomHouse2, SuperFantastic, Rory Finneren, Alaskan Dude, Larry1732, Mr. T in DC, ikewinski, Ivy Dawned, RLHyde, Waiting For The Word, heartajack, dyogi, dailymatador, David Paul Ohmer, Pleuntje, Leonard Bentley, midwestnerd, Donald Lee Pardue, DonkeyHotey, Oli-Oviyan, PatrikWalde, flamesworddragon, The U.S. Army, Zach Heller Photography, DonkeyHotey, EvinDC, Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections, Ronnie Macdonald, Gerry Dincher, The U.S. Army, Jeff Belmonte, DonkeyHotey, Texas Military Forces, jim.greenhill, Ben Sutherland, the Original Jeff Martin, Loz Flowers, CBP Photography, spbpda, OCVA, Hot Rod Homepage, brianholsclaw, dozodomo, quinn.anya, KOMUnews, wtstoffs, Leo Newball, Jr., lilli2de, dmott9, Justin A. Wilcox, sören2013, boboroshi, newagecrap, CoreBurn, simminch, ninahale, EvinDC, Mister Awesome, HeyRocker, beggs, Donald Lee Pardue