The Tragedy In Roseburg
Most of you know by now that there was a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon yesterday.
Roseburg is about an hour and a half from Phoenix, the northern border of what is considered Southern Oregon.
It’s part of my homeland.
For those of you who don’t know me personally, let me share what those who do would affirm about me.
My first identity is as a Christian, my second is as an Oregonian.
I sometimes get the order reversed.
This is a deeply personal tragedy to me and to scores of others here in Southern Oregon.
Something like this was not supposed to happen here…
Social media exploded before the victims were even removed from the scene.
Before the shooter was identified, social media identified four different people as the shooter.
He was a Muslim for sure, no he was an atheist… he was black, he was white…he was a conservative, no, he was a leftist…the government is lying to us again.
Gun control advocates and gun control opponents wrote emotionally charged words with blood not their own.
Everyone wanted the shooter to be a representative of those they despise, that they might despise them all the more.
In the meantime we waited for the names of the victims…and the high school just south of us was locked down from another threat.
We no longer have the decency to mourn with those who mourn before looking for someone to blame that we might be “right”.
We no longer value decency, period.
The shooter was sick of mind and soul.
Those sicknesses became terminal for him and his victims.
What I saw last night makes me wonder what stage our societal sickness of mind and soul is at.
I said it last night, I’ll say it again.
Oregon doesn’t need you pontificating or your politics…it needs your prayers.
So does where you live…
Well said, Michael. I will do as you say and pray.
Thanks, EricL.
Thank you. Amen…..
Roseburg Massacre:
We were headed out of our town of Roseburg Thursday morning and at about the time of the killings we were passing Umpqua Community College. A police car flew by going about 100+ mph. We had no idea what was going on. We continued to see emergency vehicles flying down the road from as far away as Eugene. Then I got a text from our good buddy, Dave, who let us know what was happening. We know a few students there. We also know people who work there. We don’t know who the victims are yet. The names have not been released. Tragic, but just one more mass shooting in America. These horrific events have become routine and, by all appearances, acceptable in this country. This is just the latest one. It won’t be the last. . . . .
prayers, yes … and soul searching, perhaps … ?
Michael,
Sorry for your loss and your pain, it is a terrible thing to have something like this happen in one’s community.
I pray for the people affected, and the state.
Never know what is going on behind that smile, people live in pain, people live with sin, secrets, lets all be nice to everyone, in spite of ourselves and in spite of themselves.
God Bless.
“We no longer have the decency to mourn with those who mourn before looking for someone to blame that we might be “right”…
Oregon doesn’t need you pontificating or your politics…it needs your prayers.”
AMEN. (That goes for “my side” too)
Thank you Charles…thanks, Jim.
Good word Michael. Very sorry to see this tragedy happen and more so that it happened in your community. Will certainly keep you and So.Oregon in prayer.
Good post Michael.
When you say “this is not supposed to happen here”…well, then, where?
LA? NYC?
These things always seem to happen in places no one suspects. Columbine, Red Lake (northern MN).
Dan,
They shouldn’t happen anywhere.
When you are a native of a place like this, some things seem terribly foreign and malignant…they happen in places outside your experience.
Unfortunately, as I’ve said before…hell has no borders.
That’s true Michael. Shouldn’t happen ANYWHERE. Good points also about how people want to demonize and blame. Always lost in the hysteria and blame game and politics is the victims and the people who live near the tragedy.
I am deeply sorry for all involved, Michael this is not the thread to discuss this on but I would love to see an article or discussion on the spiritual aspects of such events and how we can effectively pray for such issues and other ways to combat such tragedies.
I wasn’t aware that you were so close to the event Michael. My condolences to you and the folks there in Phoenix, Roseburg, and the rest of southwest Oregon.
As this blog does not back down from the truth and does not take a head in the sand attitude as is the way of some when there are issues that need to be brought to the light.
I will share an angle point that is rarely heard during these trying times.
Guns or no guns we need to look at the reality of why this might be happening.
Before the late nineteen eighties, mass shootings and acts of senseless violence were relatively unheard of.
Just about every mass shooting over the last 20 years has one thing in common…
http://shekinahfellowship.blogspot.com/2015/10/psychotropic-drug-truth.html
Big Pharma does not want this truth to get out.
All of us are deeply sorrowful and feel completely helpless over this tragedy and all of the others of the past.
We are praying for those who are closest to the people where these outburst of evil emerge. And we ask for the Lord to comfort and protect them.
Until the truth behind these tragedy’s comes to the light and something is actually done about it, they will for sure continue happening.
We need to bring to the light the connection behind psychotropic drugs and every mass shooting.
God’s overshadowing presence comfort all of you who are wounded emotionally and in pain right now because of this current tragedy.
May your pain be turned over to our Savior.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
http://www.insight.org/resources/devotionals/a-very-present-help.html
Here we go….
Surfer51, I’m trying to make sense of what you have posted here and what you wrote on your blog.
Are you stating that all of the Members of ISIS and other terrorist groups through the years take psychotropic drugs? Can you say what percentage are? Is it possible at least some of the violence are not related to big pharma? What about Chicago? That city is a killing zone. Has there been a study done to see what % of murders there and throughout the nation are related to big pharma?
You state on your blog…. “Psychiatric drugs are more dangerous than you have ever imagined. If you haven’t been prescribed one yet, you are among the lucky few.
If you or a loved one are taking psychiatric drugs, there is hope; but you need to understand the dangers and how to minimize the risk.”
I take psychiatric drugs and an anti-depressant that supposedly is one of the worst when it comes to violence. Many people who visit this blog and some who no longer do take or have taken psychiatric drugs. Typically people like us are victims of violence and not the perpetrators of it.
Do you know how many people with depression, PTSD, bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia owe their lives to the drugs they take? Quite often it’s the individual who stops taken their meds or hasn’t been diagnosed who fall into our prison systems and don’t get the help they need.
I understand there’s a lot of problems when it comes to psychotropic drugs. Some doctors pass them out like candy. And some patients do some horrible things.
There’s a lot of stuff that contributes to the out of control violence that takes place here and around the world. That’s never going to stop until Jesus sets up His kingdom.
There’s enough stigma attached to mental illness as it is. But a person should never be directly or indirectly be made to feel unspiritual or weak because they take strong medication.
I try to encourage believers who battle mental illness. I do not advocate medication but I know it’s a viable option for those who are suffering.
I don’t mean to offend but your post compelled me to respond.
Well said Erunner. The VAST majority of those on meds do not kill people.
Erunner,
Thank you…well said.
I know many people who owe the life they have to medication.
Thanks Michael for backing up Erunner. Let’s not have this post turn into a debate about this nonsense.
Thank you Michael and Dan. I must also state that Surfer 51 came to my home years ago when I was having a difficult time to pray for me. That Is Christ’s love in action.
both Surfer and Erunner made valid points IMHO – i understood the concern and the connection to these shootings was the overuse of medication on school-age boys… label every squirrelly kid as ADD, then medicate them into a submissive state …?…
as Erunner noted, “There’s a lot of stuff that contributes to the out of control violence that takes place here and around the world. That’s never going to stop until Jesus sets up His kingdom.”
every thing that i have read about the fella this week points to evil, pure and simple… but i don’t know… that much i do know 🙂
We are a sin sick people. Satan is the father of lies and according to Jesus is a murderer from the beginning. There are powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places working to fulfill their master’s will, namely the destruction of God’s creation.
The man who perpetrated this evil upon my hometown was demonically inspired and did the bidding of his master, satan.
To spin it and to even try and understand it is useless.
We will survive as a community, however, will forever bear the scar of this act. God bless and have mercy upon these victims and their families.
And t hat is perhaps why these senseless killings will persist.
It appears that many of the young mass murderers were on psychotropic drugs, when they committed their horrors. I’m wondering if this man was.
I apologize to Erunner if my 25 causes offense. I had not read the previous posts, but had just finished re reading some articles and posted.
I have the utmost respect for Erunner and he has taught me (and many others) much about mental health and the needed care and compassion for those who suffer.
Foot in mouth Nonnie
We must never neglect the facts.
“Truth is that which delineates that which is.”
There is a very big problem that is affecting society at large.
The side effects to society at large are at unacceptable levels.
Explore this data link which shows, by drug, the side effects to society and the actual drug related events.
http://ssristories.org/
Another issue facing society is the homeless issue.
Some cities are wanting to sweep this issue under the carpet.
Using some stupid laws in an attempt to do so.
http://www.mediachannel.org/the-city-that-outlawed-free-food/
praying this weekend for the families and friends of Michael and Scott – may Christ gain ground among the folks who call that area home … about 100 years ago some of my family were vintners there
I think the various issues surrounding these tragedies are worth discussing, but would encourage all to remember the spirit of Michael’s post. Some wounds never fully heal, but I wish we would allow time for those effected to find some form of equilibrium before we pontificate.
just came from a quick browse of Wondering Eagle’s thoughts… we live in confusing times, and it is the fact of the cross that brought me to worship God, but it is the fact of the devil that turns me to God… with David i declare: Psalm 73:22-28 and with Peter i say, John 6:68-69
just sayin – cuz i can 🙂
Thank you, em for praying.
I drove past the the main road that leads to the college this morning on my way to Eugene. I could not contain my deep sorrow for the families and friends affected by this. To see the road still blocked off with a police presence and accompanying news satellite trucks is unnerving and something I never thought I’d see in our beautiful tranquil community.