 |
| 
geej
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 1/29/2002 3:36 PM (GMT -6) |   | Hey guys,
I could use some help. I just found out that one of my former students was picked up on murder charges today (his sister). It is sort of not a surprise that it has happened because I teach special education, emotionally or behaviorally disordered. First off, please, please pray for the family; they were in dire straights prior to this; I can't imagine what it would be like to lose both kids on the same day and in such a horrifying way. The boy was a nice but very hurt kid with an unpredictable temper. He was one of the kids that I wanted so terribly badly to tell about Jesus but...I'm in public school...that's not an option. What the heck are we even doing with these kids? Some help we (the system) were with him and his family. Its amazing how we pretend to have all the answers when in the end, its all a bunch of meaningless crap unless you can put Christ into the mix. What do they get? A dead kid and a kid in jail...that's just really great. This is one of those times when I really wish I knew why the hell God didn't stop him and save him from himself and his own torment. And, why let him (the kid) take it out on his little sister? What is the point? What possible good will come from this? How is the kingdom going to triumph? If you guys can see one single way that Christ can be glorified in this, I'd be real interested to hear it.
Geej
| | Back to Top | | |
 |
Triskal
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 198
| Posted 1/29/2002 5:51 PM (GMT -6) | | I know exactly how you feel, geej. He was one of my friends and he lives right behind me. When I heard the news my jaw literally dropped a foot. His sister was a very sweet girl who we had over at our house on several occasions. It's hard to grasp how someone can be here one minute and just gone the next. My prayers are with you on this one. God bless.
In His Grip,
Matt
"In Him we live and move and have our being" - Acts 17:28 | | Back to Top | | |
|
PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 1/29/2002 6:06 PM (GMT -6) | | I remember back in the mid 70s when a mother and daughter from our church in Roseville were kidnapped. The guy finally slipped up and they escaped from his house. But the day of their being taken he had them in the trunk of his car at a park a few blocks from our house in Arden Hills, and a local kid saw him. THAT kid was taken, and later killed. But that kid maybe has something to tell us.
Three Christian in a trunk. None of them in control. But his report comes to us. He saw an angel. God was there. The dangers were lethal. But God was there. Regardless of whether two of the three escaped, or none. God was there.
Then, back in the 70s, one family had to join their voices with their little boy -- he with his voice joining those around the throne. Them with the saints on earth. But all together.
There was a cross in the heart of God before the foundation of the world.
Edited by - potonwheel on 01/29/2002 11:08:05 PM | | Back to Top | | |
|
trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 1/29/2002 6:35 PM (GMT -6) | | Geej,
I can hear the anger and questions through your words. I will definitely be praying for you and for the entire family.
Lord, be with them all.
trosie
"Sometimes when your heart breaks God is the only one who can put it together again." Author Unknown | | Back to Top | | |
|
GregBoyd
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818
| Posted 2/1/2002 2:07 AM (GMT -6) | | Geej: why let him (the kid) take it out on his little sister? What is the point? What possible good will come from this? How is the kingdom going to triumph? If you guys can see one single way that Christ can be glorified in this, I'd be real interested to hear it.
Doc: I read about the tragedy in the paper. Its terribly sad. Your question "What is the point" and complaint that God didn’t stop it presupposes that God specifically allows each free act for a higher purpose. This is what I call a ‘blueprint" worldview, for it means that every specific event in the world follows a specific divine purpose. If this is so, then I don’t see a plausible answer to your questions. But in giving us free will, why do we need to suppose a second more fundamental divine will behind the event? God couldn’t stop it because stopping it would mean he never really gave free will in the first place.
I thus would never look for a divine purpose preceding the event. I WOULD however look for a divine purpose FOLLOWING the event. What redemptive value might God BRING OUT of this situation? I don’t know, but I’d encourage you to pray about how he might use YOU to help bring healing to the situation.
Stay centered
Doc
"Three is the magic number, oh yes it is, it's the Magic Number" - De La Soul | | Back to Top | | |
|
Springs
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636
| Posted 2/1/2002 6:13 AM (GMT -6) | | Geej,
I'll pray for you too. I hope that you will give yourself time to grieve. Tell the Lord all about it. Take some serious time out. Let him see your heart's cry. I pray that you will see his heart, hear his voice and be touched by the God of all comfort.
People tell my I'm an optimist. And I know that this is too soon for you to hear when any vision of the future bodes so much pain. But God WILL be WORKING in it, through us, and WITH us. That is a fact. And there WILL BE great blessings that follow this, to the point where people will say, God did that so all this good would happen. But I don't believe that.
I thank the Lord for all that he is doing and will do in this situation. My prayer is that eveyone that was touched by this tragedy will allow themselves to be touched by God.
Springs
"God has instituted prayer so as to confer upon his creatures the dignity of being causes." — Blaise Pascal
| | Back to Top | | |
|
geej
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 2/1/2002 3:49 PM (GMT -6) | | Gosh Greg, I know you're right; it's just hard sometimes. As an open theist, I cognitively "get" the whole problem of evil and free will thing; I also understand that God doesn't "make" evil happen. It's just that when you're close to something and you question whether YOU (me..I) did everything you could... well, I wish God would make a few exceptions to the rule. The kids I work with are, in my view, my ministry. This kid needed help and he obviously didn't get what he needed.
A co-worker at my new district said that we can't take responsibility for the actions/choices our students make...that we can't control their destinies. Because, I'm no longer in contact with this family, I can't help...I can't fix it (even though a lot of us sped teachers feel like we should be able to "fix" our kids). Perhaps the best route to take is to cling to God (no brainer) and try like heck to become a better teacher.
For this kid and his family, I've been praying that God comes into their lives through this and that some how, some way, his sister was a Christian. Society often says to forget the perpetrator and think of the victim but boy, its hard to do that when you know the perp (and yes, he absolutely should take the consequences for his terrible action). It was really hard to see him crying on the news.
For me, I've been praying that God provides me with the wisdom to help these hurting kids in the best way possible and that I put Christ first and that I'm doing kindom work in my secular job.
Well, that's enough babbling from me for one posting.. For those who are praying for this kid and his family, thank you.
Geej
| | Back to Top | | |
|
trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 2/1/2002 6:58 PM (GMT -6) | | Geej:
quote:
For me, I've been praying that God provides me with the wisdom to help these hurting kids in the best way possible and that I put Christ first and that I'm doing kindom work in my secular job.
I have taught in various classrooms as a sub and I have seen and heard of some cases that I wish I could do more. I realize that sometimes the BEST we can offer is to pray for the person that is so heavy on our heart.
I want to share with you a technique I have acquired for letting go when I have no control -- perhaps this will help and if not that's fine. I take the person or worry I have on my heart and mind and place them in a box. I seal the box and hand it over to Jesus to keep for me. This WORKS for me especially at night when I tend to think the most! This technique has helped me with sleeping. Try it if you think it might help in separating from your work.
Geez, it seems that you cared for this family the best possible way a special ed. teacher is able, (and probably more if you also were praying for them), maybe you need to place this heavy heart you have for them in a box and share the grief with Jesus? He will take your burdens upon Himself.
I just wanted to share this with you because it really does work for me. Do with it as you'd like.
Sincerely,
trosie
"Sometimes when your heart breaks God is the only one who can put it together again." Author Unknown
Edited by - trosie on 02/02/2002 12:00:01 AM
Edited by - trosie on 02/02/2002 12:00:51 AM | | Back to Top | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 11:06 AM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|