READ THE FOLLOWING

Read the following and tell me that there's not something truly, deeply wrong with something fundamental in this country.

Read the following and tell me that it's not something deeper than poverty or race or education or the placement of community centers.

Read the following and tell me that it isn't time to talk about everything, including all of the things that we've been saying we can't talk about.

Saturday, December 15, 2012. A gunman opened fire at St. Vincent’s hospital in Birmingham, wounding 3 people before being killed by police.

Saturday, December 15, 2012.  East of Birmingham, a man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle killed 3 people and injured a child who was under 2 years old, in Cleburne County near the Georgia state line. Police shot and killed the man after pursuit.

On Friday, December 14, 2012, 28 people, including the gunmen were reportedly shot and killed at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, CT. 20 of these casualties were children.

Friday, December 14, 2012.  In Homewood, a 30-year-old woman and her two sons, ages 4 and 5, were found murdered in their apartment.

Tuesday, December 11 2012. A gunman opened fire in an Oregon shopping mall, killing 2.

December 11, of this same week,  22-year-old Jacob Tyler Roberts killed 2 people and himself with a stolen rifle in Clackamas Town Center, Oregon. His motive is unknown.

September 27, 2012. Five were shot to death by 36-year-old Andrew Engeldinger at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis, MN. Three others were wounded. Engeldinger went on a rampage after losing his job, ultimately killing himself.

August 5, 2012. Six Sikh temple members were killed when 40-year-old US Army veteran Wade Michael Page opened fire in a gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Four others were injured, and Page killed himself.

July 20, 2012. During the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, CO, 24-year-old James Holmes killed 12 people and wounded 58. Holmes was arrested outside the theater.

May 29, 2012. Ian Stawicki opened fire on Cafe Racer Espresso in Seattle, WA, killing 5 and himself after a citywide manhunt.

April 6, 2012. Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 32, shot 5 black men in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in racially motivated shooting spree. Three died.

April 2, 2012. A former student, 43-year-old One L. Goh killed 7 people at Oikos University, a Korean Christian college in Oakland, CA. The shooting was the sixth-deadliest school massacre in the US and the deadliest attack on a school since the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.

 

And that's just the list from this spring till now.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a pastor, writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Call me at 334-288-0577
Email me at atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.

 

If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116