Pretty bold statement, let's dig into what Pastor Shane Russell of Lubbock, TX has written. ========================= I know it’s comforting to say that God is in control normally, but that doesn’t explain what happened this week. So let’s be slow with our words and know sometimes it causes more confusion than help. If God is in control, there is no way this tragedy could’ve happened…. BUT God is in control of the outcome. Free will doesn’t allow God to control choices as Evil or as Good as they are. He won’t force us to Love Him. So yes, God is good. Those babies are in His arms because again… He isn’t in control BUT He is in control of the outcome. Who is in control? We are. Jesus gave us the ability to go in and change the atmosphere on this earth OR leave it the way it is. Go realize your ability to influence others. Be kind. See people. Don’t get too fixated on yourself. You never know what an encouraging word can do for someone. The teen who did this pure evil had a level of evil in his heart that we can’t even comprehend. This leads me to a bunch of what if’s… There is a lot that we don’t know but… What if he wasn’t raised by his grandmother? What if he had parents who loved him? What if he had students who saw him? What if he had an adult who saw him and cared for him? What if he was connected to a church who pour identity into him instead of judgement? I’m not defending him at all. I’m just turning the eyes inward so we can do better and be better. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him and Jesus still washed his feet. Let’s love others like He loves us. Pastor Shane Russell of Lubbock, TX ========================= So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments below! * cover image from Jason Clark's God is Not in Control available at https://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Control-Whole-Better/dp/1946503088