From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “We Mourn”
This morning I can’t think of anything else to write about other than the horrible and
despicable mass murdering of innocent young people in Orlando, Florida. As a parent of
three adult children who all mirror the ages of those killed, my heart aches tremendously
for the families whose world’s have been turned upside down by unexplainable terror and
hatred. We sat glued to the news reports late into the evening and fought back tears as
each new bit of information emerged about what happened earlier that morning in a club
in an otherwise peaceful community.
Hate that results in the taking of a life is certainly not new to our human existence or
history. It literally goes all the way back to the first family. Cain’s rage and jealously against
his brother prevailed so deeply in his heart, that he took his life as if he was authorized
and justified to do so. It’s beyond my understanding how a person becomes so inclined as
to end another’s life especially in such a heinous, deplorable, and uncaring manner. Life is
so precious and only the one who gives life is justified in determining when that life will
and should end.
As I write my thoughts and hurts about this painful incident, the members of the F.B.I. are
working around the clock to try and answer the question everyone wants to know…Why.
We may never get a full understanding of the number of things that motivated this man to
kill, we do however, know that one of the obvious factors of rage and distain in him, was
the way he felt about the LGBTQI community. He targeted a well known gay club and
unleashed his demonic fury upon people, it appears he did not know.
Life…ALL LIFE is precious and was created by God. What we may feel about how a
person lives their life does not permit us to bring harm to that person. We are not God and
we do not have the right to determine if someone should remain apart of the human race
because of differing ideologies, beliefs, or practices. Our country, however, has a long
history of racism and violence against it’s own citizens based solely on the fact that
something about that person is different. White against black, rich against poor,
heterosexual against homosexual, Christian against Muslim, Jew against Gentile, and on
and on and on.
I wish I had answers as to why this man did what he did, but I do know who the author of
confusion is. The devil looks to steal, kill, and destroy. Christ came to give us life and life
more abundantly. When you walk into the morgue and see a person lying on a cold metal
slab, it doesn’t matter how they lived differently from you, what matters is that they no
longer live. Please pray with me that the violence will one day end. For now…We Mourn.
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)