There's hardly a more credible voice than Lane Palmer to lend insight for a pastoral response to the Virginia Tech tragedy. Lane was a youth pastor working with Columbine students during their crisis.  

Virginia Tech: A Pastoral Response to an Unspeakable Tragedy
by Lane Palmer, Dare 2 Share Ministries

"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Mat 6:32-34 NNAS

from my daughter - madison  sperovita@gmail.com

easter

the pain of finding my Lord not there
the sorrow of seeing his body hung admist the fathers night air
To serve so long! To follow, believe, to Trust.
For what?
To see his body bloodied and beaten?
to find his grave robbed and barren?
My Lord, I followed! I trusted!

I denied you, three times, as you said.
But was I wrong?
Three days gone deep into the ground.
I find my faith fading
Fooled again-
Tis my greatest sin
Seeming so real, so true
Lord, how deeply I loved you!

To veiw your face, hear your voice for one time more
to be filled with the joy of your love
Illusions! Tricks!
How I make myself sick
But, you weren't just a man!
Water into wine, loves and fishes,
Where these figments of mans mind

Walking, solemnly to the tomb, where I know you still lie
Carrying the last of my praise,
No longer believing you'd raise

Stopped, detoured from my plan
This man in my way- there is no way I'll let him keep me from reaching you
I know I'll find you!
This mere man wont stand in my way.
See how I still love you Lord?
Even when you are no longer here.

The man passed on the path softly calls my name
But I keep going forward
Determend to seek your body
Again he calls,
My mind scoffs. I've been with Lord! I've no need for this man!

Yet he calls again and I find myself turning
My eyes open and I see
it is He!
My Lord, My God,
How dare I doubt thee.

Isn’t it strange how from Sunday to Friday the fans go from waving palms to cheering for nails to be driven into his palms . . . isn’t it strangely like me.

A fan is defined as an enthusiastic devotee - usually a spectator. A follower is defined as one in the service of another.

Its easy to say “King” when you are a fan. Its easy to say “hail the King” when you think he is going to give you what you want.
Until he disappoints.
Until he threatens your dream.
Its easy to say “Hail the King” if you’re a fan
It’s just as easy to say “Crucify him!”

Are you a Fan or a Follower?
Jesus is not looking for fans; he is looking for followers

Even committed followers behave more like fans sometimes, one minute we are exclaiming God’s praise. When he disappoints. When our agenda is not his. We lose enthusiasm. When he calls us on our stuff. When he exposes our false source of security, when he threatens our ambitions, when he cleans our temple, somewhere we shout crucify him.

The truth is its hard to tell fans from followers. Because followers fail and fans often follow.  The difference between a fan a follower is what we do when we are disappointed and when we fail.

Today I am submitting a devo by a friend, Jeff Reed. It is a great reflection on one of my favorite passages by John. Jeff's devo is from www.churchwithoutshoes.com lenten devotion for 2007. I hope you enjoy. Pastor Art

1 John 3:1,2

What do you see? What is it that actually ignites our final transformation into God’s likeness?

Family resemblances are passed through the genes. I look a lot like my mother because the DNA that she gave me directed the shaping of my features. I am proud to see her eye-wrinkles in my smile. I am glad that I am linked to her in this way.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (ESV)

Forgive the rebellious sins fo my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord. Psalm 25: 7 NLT 1996