We Pray For Orlando, Our Hearts Are Broken Again

Words cannot express what happened in Orlando on Sunday.  Two very special ladies, Twinkle Yochim and Shelby Hartshorn shared their thoughts yesterday on Facebook and I wanted to be sure that Sarasota Post readers got a chance to read them.  Thank you.

Twinkle Yochim

The deadliest mass shooting in US history, here on our home front, in Mickey Mouse’s back yard. My heart and condolences go out to the victims and their families, and to those in the LGBTQ community who were targeted by this absolute coward.

I’m reminded that most people who are violent against homosexuals are repressed homosexuals themselves and have a great deal of self-loathing, it’s very sad, and it makes me incredibly angry at those who perpetuate a culture of hate towards “them”. “them” could be anyone not like you, Godamnit, we’re all in this together people, all of us, and the children who are growing up now, need that support more than anything else, more, not less acceptance and love of each other.

Isn’t that the reason you people go to church, or the synagogue or the temple? Isn’t religion supposed to help unify and assist? In Mother Theresa’s words, “You want to change the world, it will never be enough, but do it anyway.” I’m so, so, sorry to the mother’s and father’s of these people, I wish I could do something….I will hug everyone even more.

 Shelby Hartshorn

What has happened in Orlando is tragic and my prayers go out to the families of these precious victims. My whole life I have been encouraged to have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ and not simply call myself a Christian for the sake of religion. Throughout history, RELIGION has been responsible for thousands of unjust deaths. People have killed for the sake of religions like “Christianity” and Islam. It breaks my heart because that is not the heart of the God I serve or what His word has commands.

“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law” – Romans 13:10

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

The kind of love being commanded is “agápē love” which embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances. Homosexual, Heterosexual, Bisexual etc.

photo credit from Google/Facebook www.wsj.com