OK! Now I'm really peeved!!!

While walking our dogs this morning, Cece came upon one of the neighbor girls who was headed for school. She informed Cece that her younger brother who is 12 (maybe 13), “got jumped yesterday on his way to school!” And why did young Collin get jumped you might ask? Three 18 year old thugs terrorized this innocent young man because, get this, he was wearing red shorts!!! Yeah! Can you believe it? They got out of their car, pulled a knife on this poor kid, and then beat him up because he was wearing the color red! I know some of you are saying, "Hey Tony! Wake up! This is happening everywhere, it's just beginning to seep ( or ooz) into your neighborhood!"

When my wife told me this it just sickened me, then it made me mad. I had thoughts of waiting in that same spot where he got jumped, pack'n an RPG (missile launcher) which I'd borrow, cause I know a guy, and then when these punks showed up, I’d ask them politely to get out of their car, and then after making sure that they were a good safe distance away and out of danger, I'd blow that hub cap spin'n, too loud base thump'n, attitude written all over it vehicle to smithereens, I don't think I've ever written the word "smithereens" before, much less use it in a sentence...Hmm...Anyway, then I'd tell those juvenile delinquents to "scram". Now, would I or could I really do that? Probably not, but I think that if the Holy Spirit weren’t with me and in me, and it was left up to me, my flesh, and I, I would more than likely try and find these guys and see what wuz up! But of course times being what they are, this would probably be the last email you’d get from me, in fact the next time most of you would see me would be stand’n at the pearly gates high five’n ya as you came on through, know what I mean?

So what can we do when we’re faced with violence like this? I mean as a Christian man or woman? We can’t go around blast’n all the thugs like they would have no problem blast’n us, and we can’t just sit on our hands doing nothing. You noticed in my description of what “I’d” do in this situation, I said that “if the Holy Spirit weren’t with me and in me, and it was left up to me, my flesh, and I, I would….” The key to all of this is the Holy Spirit! He assured me that “Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord”, and then he reminded me of two men who once were thugs like these, Raul Reis and Nicky Cruz (I’m sure there are others). If my God could grab a hold of Raul’s heart who after a lifetime of violence was ready to kill his entire family, and if my God could soften the heart of Nicky, who since he was a kid was a New York gang banger, my God can grab a hold of these three young men and love them like they’ve never been loved before. ONLY the Holy Spirit can make me feel this way, ONLY the Holy Spirit would cause me to pray for these young men rather than retaliate against them.

In this scenario would I be fearful if confronted by these men? Probably yes! “Would I fully Rely On God” for the outcome? Yes! Does that mean I should go down to the beach flats at 12:00 at night and just hang out? No! But if I’m called and led by the Holy Spirit to go down and share the love of Christ and His Good News, I’m more apt to go!

There was yet another shooting in yet another High school in Colorado very recently, this was a drifter who came into town, did his business and died in that town, all in a matter of hours. When I first heard the story it reminded me of Satan and how the Bible describes him as a “roaring lion, looking for someone to devour”, but then it also reminded me of Columbine, and how a young Christian girl would not renounce her faith in Jesus Christ, and for that she was executed. This young girl had the Holy Spirit in her and is now rejoicing and praising God “face to face”. Her legacy will live on until the end of this age. Her bravery is not something we can celebrate by seeing her in parades or personal appearances on television, she is no longer here, but her act of trust, faith, and strength that ONLY comes from the Lord, will always be remembered.

Thank You Father for Your Holy Spirit which You not only left as a “desposit” and “guarantee” until Jesus you come and take us home to be with You, but it’s also our “counselor”, our guide, the person from whom we can draw strength and courage as You remind us of Your “promises” Lord. Father I lift up these 3 young men to You, and ask that you would “grab hold” of their hearts so that one day they would be a testimony of Your saving grace. Thank You for protecting little Collin, I pray that even he would come to know You through this. You are mighty and awesome, and I Love You!
In Jesus name I pray, Amen!


In HIS Grip
Tony