So...it has been a few days since the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I feel better about going about my daily life, but I still have strange feelings of despair, sorrow, and fear. I know that life will quickly return to normal, exams will be here soon, CCY in Chicago (although that will be difficult, meeting students from VT and missing those from the VT Student YMCA who were supposed to be with us), doing my summer internship work, then it will be time for a new semester. But, I know that I will not forget what happened this past Monday; the images, the feelings, the event will never leave my mind. I know that for the next three years while I'm here at GWU anytime I hear sirens, see UP acting as if they are in a hurry, or hear a loud noise or scream I will be startled and frightened.

Today at noon the university had a prayer service in Dover Chapel. I went and it was nice. They had an American flag on the left side of the stage and a GWU flag and VT flag on the right side. Tracy Jessup opened the service and Dr. Bonner offered a few remarks followed by a time of prayer and a song. It was good to be with others as we prayed for Virginia Tech and what took place there. As I was walking across The Quad this afternoon seeing the VT flag hanging on our flag pole with the GWU flag brought a sense of comfort and warmth to me. At first I wanted to cry, but now when I see it (for however long it remains on our Quad) I will feel a sense of safety and security inside.

This week has been so tough, probably one of the hardest weeks in my life thus far. I know that there will be more difficult times in the future, but I know that God is faithful; I find it important to remember that God never leaves us nor forsakes us, He is always there. Also, today during the prayer service, I prayed that God would take my burdens. It is so amazing how we are taught that God can take our burdens and we can take his yoke for it is easy to bare, yet we continue to carry so much on our heart and weigh ourselves down...

Labels: God, Virginia Tech, VT

As I sit here early on Thursday morning, a little over two days after the horrific shooting that took over 30 lives at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia I am shocked, upset, and scared. For me, I really have no direct connections to VT, anyone who was shot or injured, or the shooter, Cho Seung-Hui; but I feel as if I am in a state of shock at what has happened, that so many could die in so short a period of time, I feel deep sorrow for those who were killed, for their friends and family, I feel fear for me, my classmates at Gardner-Webb, and, really, my "classmates" all over the world.

I spoke with my mother and father earlier today about the whole ordeal at VT and also about the University Police here at GWU finding an unloaded handgun in a student's car last night. While UP decided that the student was not going to cause harm and was an avid target shooter, when I read the news on MyWEBB my heart sunk. Why, only one day after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history did our campus not go overboard and lock down. I know it might have been a little much, but I think I might have felt safer. I called my parents to let them know that I am safe, but shaken; that I am doing fine, but filled with sadness; that I am still here, but having troubles. As I said earlier, I don't know why I am so upset about this incident, but I just am and I can't explain it. I have thought: maybe this is God's way of showing me this is what I should do with my life, work with others in crisis intervention; or, maybe this is God's way of showing me to stay away from crisis intervention. My mom told me that I just have a heart for people, that I always have and always will, and that I just can't help it that I grieve with others, that I feel for others in their loss.

I have made myself stop watching the news, I just can't see it anymore. The images of the dead students, the discussions of what took place, the experts giving their opinions on why Seung-Hui did what he did, and, today, the release of newly recovered pictures of Cho Seung-Hui holding guns and knives. One picture, the one that I actually found myself looking at when I visited CNN.com, is of Seung-Hui holding a handgun and pointing at the camera; honestly, I don't believe I will ever be able to forget this image.

While I feel so upset, shaken, and full of so many other concerns and issues, I also find hope, especially in the speech given by Nikki Giovanni during the convocation held at Virginia Tech yesterday afternoon. From what I understand, Giovanni's speech encouraged all in attendance. She said:

"We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness."

Wow, how amazing; while I am talking about feeling upset, shaken, shocked, and scared, this lady is saying that "we are strong, brave, and innocent, and unafraid." Now, while I know she is talking to the VT community, I find she is sharing this hope with the whole world. I think it's important to remember that there is hope.

Expect more in the coming days...

Labels: Cho Seung-Hui, CNN.com, Nikki Giovanni, Virginia Tech, VT

The Crucifixion

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son[e] of God!"

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

The Burial of Jesus

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

The Resurrection

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matthew 27-28

Labels: crucifixion, death, He Lives, Jesus, live, resurrection

So, as part of The Call taking place later this year there has been a huge discussion of 2007 being a year of generational landmarks. In case you didn't know, a generation is 40 years and generations are used throughout the Bible. This year, 2007, marks the 40 year (a generational landmark) for a few things: first is the 40 year anniversary of the beginning of the Jesus Movement, next is the 40 year landmark of the beginning of the sexual revolution in America (a time when American youth began heavily using LSD and experimenting with sexual practices), and finally, 2007 is the 40 anniversary of Jerusalem being recognized as a part of the state of Israel. These three things are very important when it comes to The Call, what the gathering is all about, and the background behind it (if you don't know what The Call is all about read the last entry, a letter from The Call founder Lou Engle about the event).

Tonight I was watching "The 700 Club" (I know it may not be the most appropriate show for a 19 year old guy to be watching, but after seeing a recent documentary about Tammy Faye Baker and her husband's influence on the show, I wanted to see what it was all about). As I was watching the show a segment called "A Covenant Nation" came on. The first thing I recognized is the fact that they were talking about 2007 as the 400 year anniversary of the first American settlement in Jamestown, Virginia (40 years to 400 years...do you understand now?). I got chill bumps. The fact that I have been intrigued by the idea of the generational landmark made me appreciate this 400 year landmark so much more. I am not going to spend time explaining the whole story, but I will include a link at the end of this post for you to visit the CBN website and read more about it. But, I do want to include a quote:

"It is literally impossible to properly understand American history if you do not understand this word, 'covenant.' America was and is a covenant nation. God has not chucked that out. The symbolism of the cross at Cape Henry and the prayer of dedication, I mean, God takes that kind of thing seriously. It is desperately important, it is of paramount importance to the future of this nation, that we recover the original American covenant." ~Author and Historian, Rev. Peter Marshall

You can read the article here: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/132346.aspx

Labels: 1607, 40 years, A Covenant Nation, CBN, Covenant, generation, God, Jamestown, The 700 Club, TheCall