Tuesday, July 5, 2011

justice

i hesitate to write this, but not because of my beliefs, because of the reactions others might have. i will admit that i do not recall the events of three years ago, as i was out of the country at that time. i have taken notice of the justice system and have enjoyed hearing court cases. i think the whole package of it intrigues me. there is a crime committed, then a person accused of the crime. eye witnesses are good and so is other types of evidence. the defender's job is to make sure their defendant receives a fair trial. the prosecutor's job is to use the witnesses and evidence found to prove that the defendant is guilty. our justice system was founded on the right that every person receives a fair trial and is innocent until proven guilty.

murder, especially of an innocent young person tends to strike the core of emotion in people. and it should. we are to protect our young ones and teach them ways that are fruitful and godly.

as i watched this particular case i could not get mad at the defendant. and i will admit, it was not because i felt her behavior was appropriate or right, i felt quite the opposite. to some degree i cannot even pinpoint why i felt sorry or had remorse for her. most days her demeanor did not appear of a grieving mother. the lies and confusion that she brought to this case did not quite seem right. but i am not the judge of that.

did she do it? this is a question that i have asked myself, but the justice system did not elect me to answer whether the prosecution proved that she was guilty or not.

some individuals are outraged at the verdict. complaining that it was obvious and she is getting off free. i am certainly not an expert on the law, but it appears that recently some have determined that one is guilty until proven innocent. this upsets me. i was not able to watch every minute of the case, but i will admit i watched a lot. in the time that i watched, eye witnesses or evidence found that had fingerprints or other dna on it to show who was involved never happened. there was evidence, but nothing concrete pointing directly to her. behavior cannot determine every thing a person might do at some point in time. and behavior after the fact is not concrete evidence either. it may look odd to me, and i definitely do not understand how each individual grieves, but again, that is not concrete evidence.

my heart aches because i think we have forgotten the whole picture. because we are fallen people, this is not a perfect world. death is nothing new. does God desire for any one to perish? my bible says no. we can look at this situation and say the jury got it wrong, or the prosecution did not provide adequate evidence. either way, there is someone out there who needs prayer. who needs jesus. i believe in heaven with all my heart, and because of scripture, i believe that God desires for all of us to be there with him. all of us who have sinned. including me, you, and casey. no matter what happened.




i encourage you to read 2 peter 3:1-18


1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.


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