The Battle Rages On

The Battle Rages On

Up until Sept of this year in the US there have been 389 school shootings since Columbine in 1999 according to the Washington Post data. I have been on a kick over the last few weeks of writing about my home town. This historical account is in Wikipedia:

“On May 16, 2018, a 19-year-old student, entered Dixon High School and fired shots during graduation practice.[13] He was pursued by School Resource Officer Mark Dallas, of the Dixon Police Department. After firing shots at the officer, the shooter was wounded by Dallas as he returned fire. (___) was then taken into custody. There were no additional injuries.[14] (___) was diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder and initially found unfit to stand trial.[15] On July 14, 2022 he pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm towards a peace officer and aggravated discharge of a firearm in a school building; he was sentenced to thirty years in prison.”

One of my granddaughters was practicing for that graduation. That's pretty close to home. My heart goes out to the victims that have been targeted and hit. Here's another one in my region. I took out the names of the shooters because sometimes the reason someone does these acts is for notoriety.

“The Northern Illinois University shooting was a school shooting that took place on Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. A shooter opened fire with a shotgun and three pistols in a crowd of students on campus, killing five students and injuring 17 more people, before fatally shooting himself.”

I believe these tragedies stem from mental health issues possibly contributed to failures in our public schools. I have to admit I have not been inspired by this weeks prompt on 'Academia' so have pulled out a soap box to spout off upon. I am not entering this into the contest because I am borrowing someone else' words, Executive Director Jim Schneider, of the VCY America Radio Network. WVCY-TV is a 24/7 television station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“Gone are the days when society recognized and advocated for those things that are right and condemned things that are wrong. Gone are the morals and values that once were upheld and promoted in our culture. Gone are the days when patriotism was considered normal and socialism was exposed and scorned. Gone are the days when one could send their child to the school or county library trusting they would be safe with materials they picked up. Gone are the days when the vast majority of educators a school boards trusted parents and did not see hem as a hindrance or a threat.

“As a new school year has gotten underway, it was appalling to see a column in USA Today which suggested adding several 'health related' items to the back to school supply lists for high school and college age students. The list is chilling.”

...The list included things like contraception. Fentanyl test strips which they called 'harm reduction tool', and other overdose medication with instruction how to use...What happened to pens, pencils, rulers, calculators and notebooks?...Covid -19 warnings and notification for next rushed vaccine boosters...and mental health related issues with reference to parents being alert to warning signs if their kids are struggling...

“One wonders how our society can be so blind as to what we are doing to our children that is actually propelling them into mental health issues.

“Young people are being indoctrinated with hyper-sexualized materials, books, clubs, and even counseling sessions with advisors who purposely keep information from parents. Then we scratch our head and wonder why today's youth are having mental health issues. How confusing when we are teaching 'Johnny' that he might really be 'Joanie'. Or we tell 'Beth' that she might really be 'Bill'. Those who are 'expert' in the field are providing a steady diet of how to 'transition' to the opposite sex socially, chemically, and surgically. We give counseling to biological girls to accept and get over their objection to biological boys using their restrooms or showers. We scold women who object to gender-confused men who are taking away their medals and placements in sports. No wonder why there is a sudden rise in mental health issues.

“Our present society has become more concerned about having access to the latest abortion pill than promoting abstinence until marriage. The psychological harm to a woman is advanced greatly by killing the unborn child in her womb. The scars left behind will only escalate in their aggravation. Our culture caters to the most immoral standard in all aspects with the lame excuse, 'Well, they're going to do it anyway.' So, we are certain to be sure they have access to contraception or at least a contact number to the nearest Planned Parenthood where direction can be given on how to kill their preborn child even if they have to be transported across state lines to do so.

“As to drugs, we now have communities creating so called 'safe injection sites' where one can take, ingest, or inject drugs 'safely', and just in case they take too much we can be ready with Narcan to help them out. What a mixed message this provides! Mental health ills will only increase in such conditions.

“We must realize we are in an intense spiritual battle. Our enemy the devil is accurately characterized in John 10:10: 'The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.' How hopeless we would be if this verse ended here. However, it goes on to say, 'I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly.'

“Indeed the battle is intense. It is the battle between the works of the devil filled with darkness and deception, versus the Just One, Jesus Christ, who came as light into this world to save us from our sin. It is critical for people everywhere to turn to Christ and place their trust in him...

“As long as we forsake God, as long as we ignore and disregard Biblical truth, as long as we shake our fist at our Creator and put out the welcome mat for the devil and his minions, we will continue down the path of degeneracy.

“The battle is raging. This battle is spiritual. The answer is also spiritual. Victory can be found alone in Jesus Christ.”