All posts tagged: Violence

Violence: Are we ready?

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A few years ago, I was driving on a wide and busy road. It was a warm summer evening, and I was caught in a slow stream of traffic. It all seemed normal. On the other side of the wide road, and slightly ahead, I noticed a group of people. I glanced over at them, and it looked like an argument was starting. It looked a bit scary, when I looked closely. One older man was talking to some younger men. The older man was not old, just older than the others. He was probably native. The young men were white, and they looked like skinheads. They had short hair and work boots, and they seemed aggressive. The boots are important in this story. If we could describe a racialized and ugly encounter, like a scene in a movie, this was it. Then the fight started. The lone, older man was shoved, and he fell to the ground, on his hands and knees. The fight continued, and I can still picture one of the young …

Ten murdered, 15 wounded in stabbing attack in Saskatchewan, Canada (UPDATED)

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Please pray for the James Smith Nation Band and the families and people impacted by this horrific violence. UPDATE, Sept 9, 2022: After being arrested alive, apparently Myles Sanderson has died, possibly from an overdose. READ: ‘Collective sigh of relief’: Mass stabbing suspect Myles Sanderson dead after highway pursuit UPDATE, Sept 8, 2022: Police report that the final suspect, Myles Sanderson, in the killing spree that saw 11 people die and 18 injured has been arrested. READ: Stabbing spree suspect Myles Sanderson arrested, RCMP say UPDATE: What the Parole Board said about one of the alleged murderers, Myles Sanderson, before they released him earlier this year: “you will not present an undue risk to society.” READ: Saskatchewan stabbing suspect was not considered a risk by parole board, report shows UPDATE: One mass stabbing attack suspect found dead, other may be wounded AND BREAKING NEWS: One of the two brothers suspected of killing 10 people in Saskatchewan is found DEAD: Canadian police say his wounds were ‘not self inflicted’ as they continue to hunt second man …

Man killed over windshield fluid splatter?

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The New York Post reports that the father of two children died in a road rage incident, after being shot by someone driving a BMW. Dennis Anderson and his partner Brandy Goldsbury were driving along a coastal road in Oregon, when Dennis sprayed windshield fluid to clean his car window. A BMW was passing at the time, and it seems that some fluid may have spattered on the passing vehicle. The outraged driver of the BMW sped ahead, but a few miles later the passing couple saw the vehicle parked in a rest area. After Anderson and his partner passed, the BMW allegedly pulled out behind and began harassing their vehicle, trying to force it off the road. When Anderson finally pulled over to call 911, the BMW pulled up beside and its occupant opened fire, killing Anderson. Kind of reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s description of the last days leading to Christ’s return:  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of …

Reckless

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By Rick Renner

Many years ago, Denise and I took our sons to Rome for a study tour of the ancient world with a special emphasis on early Christian history. As we stood inside the great Roman Coliseum, we listened as our doctoral guide spoke to us at length about the barbarism and atrocities that were so loved and cheered by the Roman citizens who packed that great stadium nearly 2,000 years ago.

We are living in violent times

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Not only are we witnessing Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine, but on Saturday, May 14, 2022, 10 people were killed and three injured in what was allegedly a despicable racially motivated attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, NY. READ: Buffalo shooter, 18, planned attack for MONTHS before driving three hours to gun down 10 in supermarket ambush motivated by his hatred of black people: Cops interview his parents as four victims named RELATED: Buffalo Suspect’s Manifesto Revealed: 5 Statements Proving He Wasn’t a Christian Conservative RELATED: Authorities Missed Clues on Buffalo Killer; Strong Believers Among the Dead – She Was ‘the Apple of God’s Eye’ That same day, Saturday, May 14, 2022, 21 people were shot and injured in three separate incidents in Milwaukee, WI, near celebrations involving an NBA playoff game. READ: Milwaukee shootings injure 21 near NBA playoff game gatherings, prompting curfew Jesus warned of increasing lawlessness and violence in the end times, and said because of this, people’s love for others will grow cold. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love …

Does God Care?

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When things are going well, it is easy to feel that he does care. Even when things turn bad we can still feel like He cares. But when awful things happen we can lose sight of his love as we struggle through illness, job loss, and death. Once the shock and intensity of the trauma leave us, we can look back and see how his love and care carried us through these times. But what if the bad times never ended? There are many tragedies in our lives. Most are only for a short time. Some are lifelong. When I was disabled and in severe pain and chronically ill for thirteen years, I still felt God loved me. I still felt He cared for me. But just not as much as other Christians. In my mind I was a second-class Christian. This was my lot in life. To suffer and persevere. Not to thrive. In the end I was healed. I was restored to clarity of mind and heart as much as healed in my …

Study: Murder increase in major US cities in 2020 unprecedented

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According to a study recently published by the National Commission of COVID-19 and Criminal Justice, there has been significant increase in murders in major American cities in 2020 over 2019. This included a 43% increase in murders in New York City. The study described the year over year increase as being without precedent in modern times. The Western Journal explains: The report from the National Commission of COVID-19 and Criminal Justice titled “Pandemic, Social Unrest, and Crime in U.S. Cities” said homicide rates in 34 cities jumped 30 percent from 2019 to 2020. “The coronavirus pandemic and protests over police violence are likely contributors, along with yet-to-be-identified additional factors,” the authors of the report wrote. According to the report, a nation on edge amid COVID-19 fears and lockdowns was already topping 2019 in homicides when Black Lives Matter-fueled protests erupted in cities such as Minneapolis and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Homicide rates “increased significantly in June, well after the pandemic began, coinciding with the death of George Floyd and the mass protests that followed. Overall, homicide rates …

Montreal student riot May 19, 2012 Credit: scottmontreal/Flickr

Are you ready for when “It Begins Nov 4?”

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I am writing this a few days before the big day. It is always interesting to remember the time before it all happened. Apparently this is a time we will forget because big things will happen on November 4. Some radical groups, mostly in the U.S. have committed themselves to a violent uprising on one day. The promise is a threat to anyone who thinks differently than them. Some opponents think this promise is only bait, to make any opposers look bad and to get them arrested when they try to stop the uprising. “Take To The Streets And Public Squares in cities and towns across the country continuing day after day and night after night—not stopping—until our DEMAND is met” RELATED: November 4 the day it begins Are you ready? I don’t know what will actually happen, maybe some angry demonstrations, but I am not worried about the action, I am afraid of the reaction. The police know more about this than us, and they have been getting ready for weeks. My high school …

Violence breaks out during Catalonia's vote for independence on October 1, 2017 Credit: Beverly Yuen Thompson/Flickr/Creative Commons

Prophetic marker: A spirit of violence?

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As we study the Bible’s ancient account of Noah leading up to the flood we read that it was a wicked time. But there is one verse that sticks out: 11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11 NASV) The earth was filled with violence. In fact, the Bible refers to the violence the permeated Noah’s day a couple of times. The Hebrew word for violence is ‘hamas’ and refers to violent acts and the same word is used to describe a mass murder recorded in the book of Judges when a brother murdered 70 of his siblings (Judges 9:24). For one to murder his brothers there must be a raging hatred. But ‘hamas’ encompasses all levels of violence words, intimidation and oppression. It was a violent world in Noah’s day. But the Bible adds one more key descriptor, it says the world was “full” of violence. The Hebrew word ‘timmale’ is not a complicated word. It means simply to “contain as much as …