For those out of the U.S. or who may not have access to media, bombings called 'terrorist' by the federal government have injured more than 100 runners at the Boston Marathon. Death and critically injured toll still being determined.
I'm pleased that the Prime Minister of Canada -- Stephen Harper -- has already communicated the Sorrow and Grief and Good Will of Canadians to our American friends! We suffer your pain also!
I'm the father of three marathoners, one of whom, my youngest has run in Boston .... the other son at Cape Cod ... my daughter ran the Marine Corps Marathon.
People from all over the world come to these events for mutual support and encouragement and good will!
We need -- in this troubled age -- to still stand firmly and diligently AGAINST the evils and dangers that rear their ugly heads in our Global Society!
Lord, have mercy.
Sad indeed and difficult to understand this broken world in which we live. Let's all pause to pray.
Some hopeful things in the midst of the grieving:
A message from New York to Boston projected on Brooklyn Academy of Music:http://instagram.com/p/YJbQeygCFP
NBC Sports Network @NBCSN tweeted: Reports of Marathon Runners that crossed finish line and continued to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood to victims #PrayForBoston
Wise words from my favorite Neighbor. I remember them from 9/11 and they are once again apt.http://streetpastor.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/mr-rogers-does-pastoral-care-for-boston-bombing/
have injured more than 100 runners at the Boston Marathon
Totally agree on the need for prayer in this situation, but may I make a small correction? Most of the injured were spectators, not runners. Reportedly, one of the dead was 8-years-old.
From FoxNews.com
[quote]Davis said at an evening press conference the bombing killed “at least three,” and multiple reports said one of the dead was an eight-year-old boy. A source tells the Associated Press the boy's mother and sister were also injured as they waited for his father to finish the race.Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/16/explosion-reported-near-finish-line-boston-marathon-spokesman-says/#ixzz2Qce46QfP
The Bahamas is praying.
Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;let me never be put to shame.2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;turn your ear to me and save me.3 Be my rock of refuge,to which I can always go;give the command to save me,for you are my rock and my fortress.4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,my confidence since my youth.6 From birth I have relied on you;you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.I will ever praise you.7 I have become a sign to many;you are my strong refuge.8 My mouth is filled with your praise,declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;do not forsake me when my strength is gone.10 For my enemies speak against me;those who wait to kill me conspire together.11 They say, “God has forsaken him;pursue him and seize him,for no one will rescue him.”12 Do not be far from me, my God;come quickly, God, to help me.13 May my accusers perish in shame;may those who want to harm mebe covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.18 Even when I am old and gray,do not forsake me, my God,till I declare your power to the next generation,your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,you who have done great things.Who is like you, God?20 Though you have made me see troubles,many and bitter,you will restore my life again;from the depths of the earthyou will again bring me up.21 You will increase my honorand comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harpfor your faithfulness, my God;I will sing praise to you with the lyre,Holy One of Israel.23 My lips will shout for joywhen I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered.24 My tongue will tell of your righteous actsall day long,for those who wanted to harm mehave been put to shame and confusion.
Praying for quick recovery for the injured, for the families of those who died, and finally that we as a nation in specific, and the world in general would turn from our wicked ways, and instead turn to Christ. Lord Jesus please come quickly.
And I will add that prayers are also needed for the person/people who caused this tragic event and his/her/their family members.
Peace, Tom! *smile* You are correct of course. Our Lord Jesus enjoined us to love our enemies and to pray for those who despitefully use us. We could do "quite" a Logos Resources Study on the matter, eh??? And, of course, have quite a discussion. Then, there is (from a Lutheran point of view) the Two Kingdoms. Cf. This Wikipedia article ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_of_the_two_kingdoms
Frankly, I find it very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to pray for my enemies; and yet we do need to take Jesus at His Word and obey Him!
In my branch of the Lutheran Tradition, we have for our Good Friday Services "The Bidding Prayer" (along with many other Christian traditions who also have and use "The Bidding Prayer.") What helps me personally is the one section of The Bidding Prayer that specifically deals with prayer for our enemies; and I tailor my personal devotions around some of these thoughts.....
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, here is The Bidding Prayer our congregation used in the past ....
Bidding PrayerGood Friday
The Bidding Prayer is the traditional prayer that is used on Good Friday. This is taken from the LSB Altar Book (pp. 406ff.).
A Let us pray for the whole Christian Church, that our Lord God would defend her against all the assaults and temptations of the adversary and keep her perpetually on the true foundation, Jesus Christ:P Almighty and everlasting God, since You have revealed Your glory to all nations in Jesus Christ and in the Word of His truth, keep, we ask You, in safety the works of Your mercy so that Your Church, spread throughout all the nations, may be defended against the adversary and may serve You in true faith and persevere in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for all the ministers of the Word, for all vocations in the church, and for all the people of God:P Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified, receive the supplications and prayers which we offer before You for all Your servants in Your holy Church that every member of the same may truly serve You according to Your calling; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for our catechumens, that our Lord God would open their hearts and the door of His mercy that, having received the remission of all their sins by the washing of regeneration, they may be mindful of their Baptism and evermore be found in Christ Jesus, our Lord:P Almighty God and Father, because You always grant growth to Your Church, increase the faith and understanding of our catechumens that, rejoicing in their new birth by the water of Holy Baptism, they may forever continue in the family of those whom You adopt as Your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty:P O merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand all the might of man and because You have ordained, for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well, all the powers that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly pray You graciously to regard Your servants, (USA) especially Barack, our President; the Congress of the United States; [name], our Governor; and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws;
(Commonwealth) especially [name], our Queen/King; [name], the Governor General; [name], the Prime Minister; the Parliament; [the governments of this province;] and all who have authority over us;that all who receive the sword as Your ministers may bear it according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray our Lord God Almighty that He would deliver the world from all error, take away disease, ward off famine, set free those in bondage, grant health to the sick, and a safe journey to all who travel:P Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may rejoice in Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for all who are outside the Church, that our Lord God would be pleased to deliver them from their error, call them to faith in the true and living God and His only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and gather them into His family, the Church:P Almighty and everlasting God, because You seek not the death but the life of all, hear our prayers for all who have no right knowledge of You, free them from their error, and for the glory of Your name bring them into the fellowship of Your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for peace, that we may come to the knowledge of God's holy Word and walk before Him as is fitting for Christians:P Almighty and everlasting God, King of Glory, and Lord of heaven and earth, by whose Spirit all things are governed, by whose providence all things are ordered, the God of peace and the author of all concord, grant us, we implore You, Your heavenly peace and concord that we may serve You in true fear, to the praise and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for our enemies, that God would remember them in mercy and graciously grant them such things as are both needful for them and profitable for their salvation:P O almighty, everlasting God, through Your only Son, our blessed Lord, You have commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who persecute us. We therefore earnestly implore You that by Your gracious visitation all our enemies may be led to true repentance and may have the same love and be of one accord and one mind and heart with us and with Your whole Christian Church; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Let us pray for the fruits of the earth, that God would send down His blessing upon them and graciously dispose our hearts to enjoy them according to His own good will:P O Lord, Father Almighty, by Your Word You created and You continue to bless and uphold all things. We pray You so to reveal to us Your Word, our Lord Jesus Christ that, through His dwelling in our hearts, we may by Your grace be made ready to receive Your blessing on all the fruits of the earth and whatsoever pertains to our bodily need; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.
A Finally, let us pray for all those things for which our Lord would have us ask, saying:C Our Father, who art in heaven:hallowed be Thy name,Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
So very true.
Frankly, I find it very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to pray for my enemies; and yet we do need to take Jesus at His Word and obey Him! So very true.
yep. it reached Australia most likely as soon as it could be broadcasted.
it is very sad. It just doesn't make sense to blow up people just because they happen to be in a group.
my heart wants to give a portion of something to that family which was most affected. yet there is nothing I can express except an eye to eye acknowledgement of their grief.
Edit: sorry, I believe their was more than one family affected by a death, and none of them are any less significant. (I especially went back online to acknowledge them too.)
Edit 2
Respectfully I also acknowledge those affected by major physical harm. This too would be something that might have up-to the same amount of grief. And I don't say that to diminish any one, I say it to acknowledge these people too.
No doubt there are many others affected.
All I can say is: don't be afraid to show up if you know them in due time. And don't be afraid to show up and just say nothing. In fact i'd say, in due time if you are called, just do that. There is nothing you can say anyway - and this is one of the times that saying something significant probably means very little compared to just showing up at the proper time.
I don't know. just do what you are called to. instructions don't really count either.
Sage advice for almost any tragedy.
And don't be afraid to show up and just say nothing. In fact i'd say, in due time if you are called, just do that. There is nothing you can say anyway -
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