19 Feb, 2008
Another school shooting
Gunman opens fire on Ill. campus; six dead
DEKALB, Ill. - A former graduate student armed with two handguns and a shotgun opened fire Thursday in a large lecture hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University, killing five students and wounding 16 others before killing himself, authorities said.
University President John G. Peters said six students — four women, the shooter and another man — were killed in what he described as a “very brief, rapid-fire assault.” Sixteen other students were injured by gunfire or flying glass, authorities said.
All of the victims were students, including the shooter and the instructor, a graduate teaching assistant, who survived, Peters said. Two of the survivors were in critical condition last Thursday night.
The gunman, who was not identified, was a former graduate student at NIU but had since enrolled at another college, Peters said. None of the victims were identified pending notification of their families.
The man entered the room from behind the instructor and, without saying a word, began shooting from the stage, Sundstrom and other witnesses said. Firing in the general direction of the students, he emptied a clip of ammunition and calmly reloaded before resuming firing.
“He just walked in and just started shooting at people randomly,” Sundstrom said. “I crawled out to the main aisle, then just got up and ran and turned around and saw him shooting.”
Sundstrom added: “I just don’t know why anybody would want to do anything like this.”
photo & story courtesy msnbc.msn.com, 2/14/08
Job 42:1-5 (NLT)
Job Responds to the Lord
1 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about what to do even when God's wisdom can not be explained?
The background to Job's story up to this point is that he had asked God "WHY?" sixteen times to explain all the suffering he had endured. After God's speech to him, Job humbled himself and God blessed him with a family and even greater material possessions than he had before.
In today's text, Job is admitting that he had been foolish in questioning God's control and wisdom. He confessed his attitude of demanding God to explain His ways.
As I write this DAILYBIDE, I'm watching news reports of the Northern Illinois University tragedy. The shock is overwhelming - it's happening again...the question of "WHY?" is mentioned in television interviews every few minutes.
Today's statement by the student searching for answers to the shootings at Northern Illinois University leads me to believe that there are many family and friends who are asking God the "WHY?" question.
You and I may be asking the same question as our hearts and prayers go out to the friends and family of all the victims. We wonder why this keeps happening?
The hard reality is that God's wisdom in this event may not be explained in this earthly life. So what do we do?
Job's story gives everyone an example to follow. We must come to the point where we don't demand for God to explain the "WHY" and in humility recognize that our focus must be on the "WHO".
This "WHO" is the almighty, loving God Who uses His wisdom to accomplish His perfect plan. Our response must be absolute TRUST in Him because:
God's wisdom is understood through His Spirit.
God's wisdom and knowledge are infinite.
God's wisdom is part of accomplishing His purposes.
God's wisdom may not be explained in this life, but we must trust Him.
- Praise God for His infinite wisdom, which He reveals to us through His Spirit as He accomplishes His perfect purposes. If you have been angry with God in demanding an explanation for the circumstances in your life, admit that right now - He understands and loves you. If you have been using what you can't understand about God's ways as an excuse for not trusting Him, admit this to God right now and ask His Spirit to give you the faith you need to trust Him in complete humility. Thank Him for the fact that He will continue to use all of His wisdom to help you glorify Him as you become more like Jesus.
- Pray every day for God's Spirit to give you faith to choose to trust Him rather than doubt Him as you face life's unanswered questions.
- Keep a written list of your "WHY" questions in life, but at the top of your list, write:
I'M TRUSTING THE "WHO" AS I WAIT FOR THE "WHY"
How can connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray that the families and friends of those killed and injured in the Northern Illinois University shootings will experience the peace that only Jesus Christ can provide.
- As you hear more in the news about this latest campus shooting, let it remind you to pray for God to use His wisdom and power to reach many people for Christ through this story.
- Use this story as a conversation starter to learn more about the stories of those in your storysphere who need Jesus. Focus on listening rather than feeling the need to answer the questions, especially since we don't know the answers. BUT, this may be an opportunity for you to share more of your story - that you are trusting the "WHO" as you wonder about the "WHY".
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
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- December 2007 [19]
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- June 2007 [10]
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