And God spoke these words, saying,
"You shall not murder."
Exodus 20:1, 13
America is reeling once more from yet another series of senseless mass shootings…
"You shall not murder."
Exodus 20:1, 13
America is reeling once more from yet another series of senseless mass shootings…
A neighborhood supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where ten people were shot dead, and an elementary school with two teachers and nineteen young children all gunned down in the small town of Uvalde, Texas.
Our nation asks why? The "experts" give their opinions while the public demands answers, and Legislators promise change. "We are going to get to the bottom of this," lawmakers vow. "We will do everything within our power to prevent this from ever happening again," they furiously proclaim.
Yet it happens again and again. More killings, more questions, and more noble-sounding promises with more families left having to mourn. I know about murder because I committed murder. It was a dark time in my life when I lost my grip on reality and slid into what I could only describe as a state of demonic madness.
I regret the loss of innocent lives and how I brought grief to so many. Yet, with this also came the disgrace of being arrested and paraded around in handcuffs like a trophy on display. The arresting officers proudly pulled me along before a frenzied crowd. Humiliated, cursed at by an angry mob, there I was for all the world to see. I've named it the "gauntlet of shame."
Looking back, I was fortunate to have survived such a time of diabolic derangement as I did. But with it are no easy answers. It is too easy to finger the perpetrators of mass murder as "evil," or as "monsters." Labels are convenient and quick. But I must ask, is there more to it than this?
It's something for mankind to ponder. Is there really a God, and a literal devil, too? Do angels and demons exist? If they do exist, how much influence do they have, if any, over us? The holy Bible makes it plain how there exists a spiritual realm or dimension, and that it can and does at times interact with humanity.
Millions of people throughout the world believe this to be true. So what I am alluding to is nothing strange. "The foolish person has said in his heart, 'There is no God'” (Psalm 14:1). Thus, we have the choice to believe or disbelieve in the existence of another dimension to life, and how, if there is such a thing, might it affect us all.
This is all I wish to say.
D.B.
Our nation asks why? The "experts" give their opinions while the public demands answers, and Legislators promise change. "We are going to get to the bottom of this," lawmakers vow. "We will do everything within our power to prevent this from ever happening again," they furiously proclaim.
Yet it happens again and again. More killings, more questions, and more noble-sounding promises with more families left having to mourn. I know about murder because I committed murder. It was a dark time in my life when I lost my grip on reality and slid into what I could only describe as a state of demonic madness.
I regret the loss of innocent lives and how I brought grief to so many. Yet, with this also came the disgrace of being arrested and paraded around in handcuffs like a trophy on display. The arresting officers proudly pulled me along before a frenzied crowd. Humiliated, cursed at by an angry mob, there I was for all the world to see. I've named it the "gauntlet of shame."
Looking back, I was fortunate to have survived such a time of diabolic derangement as I did. But with it are no easy answers. It is too easy to finger the perpetrators of mass murder as "evil," or as "monsters." Labels are convenient and quick. But I must ask, is there more to it than this?
It's something for mankind to ponder. Is there really a God, and a literal devil, too? Do angels and demons exist? If they do exist, how much influence do they have, if any, over us? The holy Bible makes it plain how there exists a spiritual realm or dimension, and that it can and does at times interact with humanity.
Millions of people throughout the world believe this to be true. So what I am alluding to is nothing strange. "The foolish person has said in his heart, 'There is no God'” (Psalm 14:1). Thus, we have the choice to believe or disbelieve in the existence of another dimension to life, and how, if there is such a thing, might it affect us all.
This is all I wish to say.
D.B.