"Guns, God & The Problem Of Evil"

"Evil is real. As long as humans have walked the earth, people have chosen to do evil things," said Dirty Jobs host, Mike Rowe in a facebook post. "This is what happened in Florida. A nineteen-year old man chose to do an evil thing. He planned it. He executed it. He succeeded."

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week led to 17 deaths and a raging debate on why such things keep happening.

Rowe says that while it's important to figure out the contributing factors in the shootings, such as video games, accessible firearms, single parents, no parents, powerful medications, social media, mental illness, bullying, or anything else we can think of that might have driven the shooter--we shouldn't lose sight of the root cause: Evil.

Billy Graham, who passed away this week, left us the following example of how evil works:

"Satan may be able to put evil thoughts directly into our minds. For example, when Judas turned against Jesus and secretly betrayed Him to His enemies, the Bible says that 'Satan entered Judas'" (Luke 22:3).

"But Judas alone was responsible for what he did; he could not blame Satan for his actions. Driven by greed, he willingly accepted the money he was offered to reveal where Jesus could be found. In other words, Satan only took advantage of his sinful desires. The Bible warns that 'each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed'" (James 1:14).

The bottom line? Politically charged conversations won't stop evil people from doing evil things. The best we can do is make it harder.

"But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13

A wise man once said: "The Bible says that the problem is within us--within our hearts and souls. We are separated from God, and we need to have our souls restored. Something that only God can do."    -- Billy Graham 1918-2018

Billy Graham's Final Column" "By the time you read this, I will be in heaven."

News:

• The Wall Street Journal: Trump Holds 'Listening' Session For Victims Of School Shooting; pledges to push stricter gun laws, raise age limit from 18 to 21, ban bump stocks, and place armed guards or gun-trained teachers in schools.
• ABC News: Florida shooter claims he heard voices telling him to carry out massacre.
• USA Today: Billy Graham to lie in honor in Capitol Rotunda for service to the nation.

"Orlando Terrorist Re-Ignites Gunfight"

A terrorist in Orlando, Florida, armed with an assault rifle, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others, committing the worst mass-shooting in U.S. history.

Who gets the blame? The gun, of course.

The Congressional debate over new gun control laws was reignited after the slaughter in Orlando, as it is after every gun-related incident on U.S. soil and around the globe.

"There's no excuse for allowing suspected terrorists to buy guns," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

According to Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, they're not allowed to buy guns.

"Law enforcement is already being notified if people being investigated for terrorism try to buy firearms," McCarthy said. "If you listen, they are being notified."

But the left isn't listening because, as the Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says:

"Our suspicion is this is basically a politically motivated effort [by the Democrats]. We're open," McConnell continued, "nobody wants terrorists to have firearms--we're open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful."

The problem? Congress can pass gun laws from here to the moon and back and it won't fix anything. Terrorists and crazed gunmen are not law abiding citizens. To disarm the law abiding is to make us sitting ducks.

Phil Naman, a gun-rights advocate and radio host of "Firing Line Gun Show", says in shooting incidents in gun-free zones ( or as Naman puts it: "victim-rich environments") such as:

• the Aurora, Colorado movie theater
• Ft. Hood
• Virginia Tech
• San Bernardino
• Sandy Hook
• and the Chatanooga Recruiting Station 

an average of 14.1 people died. In an armed-security / conceal-carry environment 2.1 deaths occur, including the shooter. You do the math.

A wise man once said: "It takes a human being, and a human heart bent on evil, to pick up a gun, load it, and pull the trigger. The problem we have in this country is sin. We have a government that has taken God out of society." -- Franklin Graham, Samaritans Purse

"We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard."  Romans 3:22-23

News:

• Fox News Channel: Billy Graham Rapid Response Team offers hope and comfort following Orlando attack.
• CBS: "Gun control is now a matter of homeland security," DHS Sec. Jeh Johnson; Dems grow increasingly frustrated over right to bear arms.
• Rolling Stone: It's time to repeal the 2nd Amendment; "Sometimes we just have to acknowledge the Founders and the Constitution are wrong," says law professor.

 

"America in the Cross-hairs"

The debate over gun control reveals a lot about our nation. Number one? We are a divided people.

Pro-gun advocates, suspicious of any attempt to infringe on their 2nd Amendment rights, accuse the administration of taking advantage of recent events, while Joe Biden counters with the threat of using Executive Orders. The NRA (National Rifle Association) released an ad Tuesday labeling President Obama a "hypocrite" for allowing Secret Service protection for his daughters while dismissing the idea of putting an armed guard in every public school in America to protect other people's children. The White House called the NRA "repugnant and cowardly" for mentioning the President's children in the ad. The right accuses the left of being motivated by emotions and feelings rather than by facts, so anxious to "do something" that they often end up making matters worse. The left has become openly hostile to anything proposed by the right. A GOP Congressman threatens impeachment if Obama uses Executive Orders for gun control.

Really? Who's running this country--a room full of 12-year olds?

It's becoming increasingly clear that our once-great nation is in the cross-hairs of a spiritual attack.

The strategy? Divide and conquer. It's as old as the hills and diabolically effective.

Unrealistic? Not if you believe what Paul says in the Book of Ephesians:

"Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Chapter 10 of the Old Testament book of Daniel also touches on this theme with a spooky, behind-the-scenes look into the spiritual world. Read the entire chapter to get a feel for what is happening all around us without our being aware of it (and while you're at it, read 2 Kings 6:14-17 for another eye-opening look).

It's time to pray, people. This country faces a myriad of problems and none of them can be solved because our government is too busy going at each other's throats. We are divided already, let's not allow ourselves to be conquered, too.

A wise man once said: "Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens and then everyone disagrees." - Boris Marsholov

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end" (Mark 3:24-26).

News:

• Debka File: Tehran has developed a rocket with a payload capacity of 330 kilograms, capable of placing nuclear warheads anywhere on the face of the earth.
• Reuters: IMF's managing director, Christine Lagarde, says the global economy risks "catastrophic" consequences if the U.S. fails to raise its debt ceiling.
• Jerusalem Post: Google Store provides free app with "inspiring" Hitler quotes, including a quote comparing Jews to blood-sucking mosquitoes.
• Daily Intelligencer: Obama signs 23 Executive Actions relating to gun violence.