Dear Friend in Christ,

I woke up early this morning with the teens and pre-teens in our church on my mind.  Opportunities for us to communicate as a group are limited so I thought that I would try to write some thoughts in a letter about the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, and let you know that I would be most happy to visit with any of you further about these issues, if you want.

The first thing I think we should learn from this is compassion.  I’m sure that you were saddened by this event, like I was.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to have that kind of sorrow and trauma.   As I listen on television to some of the parents and classmates describe the unique traits of each of the victims, and see pictures of their brief lives, I am deeply touched. What must it be like to arise one morning, just like every other morning, unaware of the fact that you will not see your child alive again.   I hope you will continue to pray for these people, even though you don’t know them.  Ask the Lord to comfort them in their deep sorrow.  I’m afraid that many people are losing compassion today.  As we hear about more and more violence and trauma, and as we live in an increasingly less personal and more technological world, it’s easy to lose a sensitive heart to others who are hurting.  I hope that will never happen to you, my young friends.

Second, I think it’s important to learn a lesson concerning the preciousness of time.  Could it be that someone forgot to tell their parents or brothers or sisters how much they loved them?  Think for just a moment about this situation:  You get up in the morning, have an argument with your brother or sister, and say something like “Please leave me alone and quit bothering me”.  Little did you know that you will never see them alive again.    Could that happen?  Yes it could happen to all of us.  I’m not trying to frighten you, but to help you think Biblically about this situation.  You see, the Bible tells us that life is brief and uncertain at best:  “What is your life? It is even as a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).  It’s so easy to get caught up in your own world and to forget that God put us here to serve Him and to help others, not to please ourselves.  Don’t ever let a day go by without telling your mom and dad “I love you” and without taking a moment to be a positive influence on your brothers or sisters.  Even if you feel that someone has done you wrong, settle it quickly.  Every day is a gift from God.

 Third, I want you to learn a lesson about faith.  We live in a pretty frightening world, don’t we!  Sometimes some unspeakably bad things happen.  How should we make sense of it all?  How can we deal with it? Well, I think it’s important to say that the person who believes in the Lord has resources that the unbeliever doesn’t have. The Christian can face every situation in life with a calmness of heart and poise of spirit that comes from knowing that the Lord is in sovereign control.  In fact, it is through situations like this that you gain experience in responding to life in a way that honors God, not just in the way that comes most naturally.  Instead of adopting a depressed and cynical attitude toward life, learn from these situations in your life how to think Biblically about the world in which you live. Don’t let tragedies like this shake your faith in God, or make you afraid of life or of people.  Yes, let it make you wise so that you understand what people are capable of doing because everyone has a sinful, depraved nature, but don’t let fear dominate your life.  Could this happen in your community? Yes.  Will it?  Probably not.   Whether it does or not, you cannot control another person’s actions but you can depend on the Lord to take care of you.  Think regularly about who your God is – He is the all-powerful, all-wise, sovereign Creator of the universe and He knows all about you.  He has promised never to leave nor forsake you (Isaiah 41:10; Heb. 13:5). So, be content to rest your life and future in His hands.  He knows how to take care of you.  “What time I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 56:3).

 Fourth, I think we can learn a very powerful lesson about the importance of feeding good things into our minds.  Think for a moment about the two young men who committed this terrible crime.  Though they are responsible for their own actions, yet it is evident that the kind of music they listened to and the kind of people they ran with had a powerful influence upon them.  I know, by my own experience, that teenagers argue that music is morally neutral – that is, it doesn’t really affect how a person thinks or what kind of attitude they have.  But deep down, I’m sure you know that’s not true.   Music does affect you.  The kind of friends you have exercise an influence on you.  In fact, everything you see and hear and encounter in life influences you either in a positive or a negative way.  The old saying is true, “Garbage in, garbage out”.  Sometimes when I counsel with someone over the word of God, I try to illustrate how music affects our moods and attitudes.  I turn my radio dial until I hear a “rocker” or a “rapper” and let it play for about 15 seconds.  I ask the person to notice what is happening in his/her own mind as they listen to this music.  Then, for effect, I tune to a “classical music” station or turn on a tape of hymns and say, “Now notice how this music influences your attitude.  What does it do to your mood? Does it make you calm or unsettled? Does it appeal to your sense of beauty or to the base and crass? Does it promote a humble attitude in you or a sullen, rebellious, and discontented spirit? Does it highlight the order that God has built into the universe, or does it focus on the chaos that sin has brought into the world?”  Why don’t you get your radio and try this little experiment.  Compare, for instance, 104.5 FM with 88.9 FM.  Think about the questions and notice what happens in your own thinking as you listen.  It’s true – we become like the people we’re around, the books we read, the programs we watch, the music we listen to.  No wonder Proverbs says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.”  Make godly people, beautiful music, good literature, and healthy shows your companions, and it will affect you in a positive way.  Be more concerned with pleasing God than fitting in with the crowd.  Be cheerful, dress sharp, keep yourself well groomed, stand up straight and show respect to everyone when you talk to them.  In a world of people who seldom smile, wear sloppy clothes, and display a deep-seated attitude of rebellion to authority, you will stand out for the glory of God and have a wonderful influence on others.  Dare to be different.  Dare to be a Christian!

That brings me to the final word.  I think we need to learn a lesson about being courageous to testify of your faith in God from one of the victims, Cassie Bernall.  Cassie was asked the strange question (a question that shows that these young men were influenced by the wrong spirit) “Do you believe in God?”  Without hesitation, she affirmed “Yes, I do believe in God.”  Then the troubled youth pulled the trigger and Cassie went home to be with her God.  Think about the significance of her testimony for just a minute.   What would you have said?  I was interested to hear her parents interviewed.  Her mom was asked, “Do you ever wish Cassie would have said, “No” to that question? For if she said “no”, she might still be alive.”  Cassie’s mom, no doubt heartbroken over the loss of her daughter, paused and thought about the question briefly, then said, “No, I don’t.  That would’ve been a lie; there are some things worse than death and denying your faith in God is one of them.  No, I can’t think of a more noble way to die than Cassie did, giving such a strong testimony even when she knew it would cost her her life.”

I don’t know how that affects you, but it moves me deeply.  The effect her genuine faith has had on others is tremendous.  The Denver Post reported, Bernall's young friends at the West Bowles Community Church youth group cling to that story like a lifeline. With her last breaths, she affirmed the faith she embraced and it made the shy, quiet Bernall a hero in their eyes.  A man told Cassies father at her funeral, Ive been asleep in my walk with God for 20 years. Cassies story woke me up.

May I tell you that as your pastor, I have a great passion to see each of you develop into strong followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In fact, sometimes it hurts deep inside I feel so intensely about your spiritual growth.  I remember when I was your age I was often so concerned with being cool and popular that I didnt always speak up for the glory of God.  I was sometimes even embarrassed to tell people that I was a Primitive Baptist.  Now Im embarrassed that I was not more genuine more real.  I hope Cassies story will make you realize that no one is more important in your life than the Lord.  Never, never, never, be ashamed of Him.  Dont hesitate to tell others that you believe that He is sovereign that He is on the throne that He is the Creator and that He is your Savior and Lord.  And never hesitate to tell others about salvation by grace alone, the foundation of what we believe as Primitive Baptists.  Be a courageous Christian.  Your life will make more of an impact if you speak up and stand up than it will if you are afraid of what people might think.  None of us are courageous by nature.  I sure wasnt born that way.  But God can give you the strength to stand strong.

We have a neat group of young people in our church.  Of course as Primitive Baptists, we dont have formal youth organizations and Im not embarrassed about that.  I hope youre not either, for Gods word must always be our guide. I want to do things His way.  But, within the context of ordinary church life, it is not wrong for me as the pastor/teacher to try to instruct you and work with you so that you might grow closer to the Lord.  And it is not wrong for you to form strong relationships in the Lord with one another.  I want to encourage you to talk to each other about the things of the Lord.  Encourage each other to read the Bible and to memorize Scripture.  Inquire into each others lives.  Sometimes, get together after lunch at church and sing some in the sanctuary.  Make sure you include every person who might want to be included.  Dont form your own little group.  Think about each other and try to write each other encouraging notes from time to time.   And always keep your fellowship together on a spiritual level be careful about thinking of each other in terms of boyfriend/girlfriend right now what you need more than anything is just to be real, genuine, tried & true friends.   I love you each very much.  Maybe sometime we can get together and talk personally about some of these issues.  Id like that.

Please keep me informed about what is going on in your life.   I really want to know.  If you have questions about the Bible or need guidance from Gods word about an issue in your life or just feel the need for prayer, please dont hesitate to let me know.

Thanks for listening to my mini-sermon J.  I pray for you all often.

Blessings in Christ,

Brother Gowens