Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Saturday is the funeral of National Guardsman and Shell Rock native Don Nichols. Nichols was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside I.E.D. He died serving my country. He was only 21 year old.
Westboro Baptist Church is a hateful group of people (falsely labeled as a church). They protest the funerals of servicemen and women who gave their lives for my country. They believe that the death of every soldier is God's judgement on my country's tolerance of homosexuality.
Don Nichols' funeral is scheduled to be protested by Westboro Baptist Church. This is embarrassing to me as a Baptist and as a Christ follow. True Baptists and Christ followers do not do this.
My community is faced with a choice. Choice A: we could resist hate with hate. Choice B: we could resist hate with love. I'm proud to say that my community has decided on Choice B. I believe that the grace of God allows this choice to be made because my gut wants Choice A.
My community is organizing 1,200 volunteers to hold 400 large flags and line the street in tribute to our fallen hero as his body is taken from the high school gymnasium to the cemetery. People have decided to ignore the hate of Westboro Baptist Church and instead lavish love and respect on the late Don Nichols and his family.
I'm humbled to say I'm going to be a part of this outpouring of love for a family confronted with pain, loss and hate. I hope, if you're in my community, you will do the same on Saturday.
Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Overcome evil with good in your life today.
I hadn't heard about this. Where do we go to participate? Where can I get a flag? Although I think I have a small flag at home I could use.
ReplyDeleteTo participate you need to go to the Wal-Mart parking lot between 9:30 and 10:00. The large flags are the ones that we need volunteers for, but if you have a flag and want to line the sides of the street that is encouraged as well.
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