GOD’S LOVE AND TRUTH ON DISPLAY: By David Maddox 
OK America – wake up! God has just allowed a demonstration of how He and His people do things when confronted with racial hate and violence for you to compare with how the politicians, phony civil rights leaders, and officials with other agendas responded in Baltimore and Ferguson. There are no lies on what really happened – or who “pulled the trigger” – or even on why he pulled the trigger. There are no fires and looting and riots and call s for revolution in Charleston. There is humble mourning – sadness – and forgiveness rather than more hate or violence. We see the truth that God’s people who truly follow Jesus are difference because Jesus is different. Yes this young man will receive justice as the law provides and what he did was born of racial hatred – but what he did will not become “a root of bitterness” for the families of those he killed – or the church he targeted – or the community where they all still live despite an ugly racial history leading back to slavery and the Civil War. It was all pictured for the world to see in a public bond hearing yesterday where family members of the victims confronted the admitted killer. Rather than hatred or anger we heard sadness and hurt and forgiveness – and even one (the grandson of a victim) urged the murderer “to turn his life over to Jesus Christ”. The granddaughter of the murdered Pastor really put it all in perspective when she said, “Hate won’t win.” And so it is true when leaders and people follow Jesus.
HAD ENOUGH YET – I am so humbled by these Brother and Sisters. They (unlike the political and other official dividers – the propagators of hate) know that Jesus is the Answer even as He is their answer. I for one have had enough of the political leaders and other officials and phony civil rights and religious leaders who only promote hate and division regardless of the truth. As a nation we are looking in all the wrong places for answers. Consider what would have happened if Martin Luther King had not been a Follower of Jesus or was like those today who claim but do not truly follow Jesus. Rather than a peaceful transition which continues – America would have endured its second Civil War – and that is what the hate filled crowd seeks today. Let the hate end in Charleston – let us take the Gospel throughout the land – let us publicly proclaim the truth of Jesus’ teachings in word and deed – and may we retire forever the politicians and other officials who would use race to divide us – those who feed hatred and fear so they may stay in power.
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.