Greetings brethren and Happy Sabbath!  This week, there will not be in-person services in Columbia due to our changing hall locations  We will have in person services at 10:30 AM in Charlotte and 2:30 PM in Hickory.  In Hickory, we will have finger foods and our booklet discussion on 'Angels: God's Messengers and Spirit Army' after services.

A horrifying event

By this time, you've all heard of the events of last Tuesday in Uvalde, TX.  A very disturbed young man killed his grandmother, and then 21 people at an elementary school, mostly 10 year olds in the fourth grade.  This terrible tragedy only adds to the growing list of mass murders our nation has and will continue to experience.

Being desensitized

It's hard not to become numb to news like this.  I saw a TV show where the parents were asking a young boy how it felt to become so desensitized to the violence he saw on TV and in life.  His answer? "Meh..."  Although meant for comedic effect, it's a sad reality of our world.

As God's faithful servants, we CANNOT let ourselves become numb to this kind of news.  Consider the vision Ezekiel was given about the impending destruction of Jerusalem.  The Lord instructed seven men to go into the city.  Six had battle axes and one had an ink horn.  Notice the instructions He gives these men, "And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side  and the Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."  To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark..."" (Ezekiel 9:3-6 NKJV).  God tells those with the battle axes to kill those who don't weep for the abominations the see!

This is surely a powerful lesson for us.  When we see horrible things happen in our society, we MUST 'sigh and cry.'  While that may or may not be in a literal way, news of such atrocities should always deeply disturb us and drive us to our knees in prayer.  Please keep the families and entire community in your prayers as they begin to work with this unfathomable loss.

Every tear wiped away

Clearly, we should mourn for losses such as this one.  We should pray for those directly affected.  And while there may be little comfort you or I can give in a situation like these, we can cling to the knowledge that this and all mourning will eventually end. "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).  May God truly speed that day!