An ugly\u00a0cloud has\u00a0been cast\u00a0upon this region of the nation with the shooting of an 18-year-old on Saturday by a local police officer. The young man, Michael Brown, was allegedly unarmed when the officer shot him, allegedly in the back, allegedly more than once. Details are unclear at this time; the FBI has been called in to help investigate. [Note: later reports revealed that Brown was not shot from behind; the shots were fired as Brown faced the officer.]<\/p>\n
After a peaceful prayer vigil Sunday night, the protest that followed\u00a0quickly\u00a0deteriorated into chaos. At least sixteen stores were vandalized and looted; a Quik Trip was gutted and burned; and there have been dozens of arrests in connection with the lawless activities.<\/p>\n
Pray. This part of St. Louis county has experienced renewal and a renaissance of sorts in recent years, and the tragic loss of this young man and the ensuing\u00a0destructive\u00a0bedlam\u00a0has brought a cloud of suspicion, mistrust, “I-told-ya-so’s”, reawakened fears, and unnecessary and unearned finger-pointing both locally and nationally.<\/p>\n
I have frequently shopped in the area. I have friends living in the area. I had lunch with my sister in the area last week. This area has been a success story of an integrated\u00a0community working together to improve the quality of life for as many as possible. And one thing the devil despises is a harmonious success story; hence, he seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.<\/p>\n
As for the looting, I felt I must give my opinion here, seeing as the mother of the deceased young man has publicly and very\u00a0vigorously decried and denounced every bit of the destruction, calling it extreme disrespect to the memory of her son. And after watching the news Sunday night into the early hours of Monday morning, I developed a theory that may offer some insight as to how to pray.<\/p>\n
The reports revealed that looters had removed or covered\u00a0the license plates of their vans, SUVs, and large-trunked cars. Many also wore masks or covered their faces with cloths. As I thought about it, I realized that these were very likely not<\/em> spontaneous crimes of grief or even racially-oppressed anger. I became suspicious that the looters\u2014prepared with concealed license plates and roomy vehicles\u2014were more than likely not<\/em> from the immediate area, but\u00a0might have arrived from other townships and cities. I have a feeling that many of these people\u00a0pre-meditated their moves and used this tragedy as an opportunity to grab some goods to sell online. It’s my belief that\u00a0few\u2014if any\u2014of the looters gave a second thought to the grief of\u00a0Michael Brown’s\u00a0family\u00a0as they yielded to\u00a0greed and violence, destroying businesses that contributed to the\u00a0well-being of this community. When I hear people speaking ill of the region\u2014and one area commentator\u00a0not blaming QT or others if they chose not to rebuild there\u2014I get angry.<\/p>\n And although\u2014as of Monday night\u2014unrest is still brewing, I am convinced that we are not really<\/em> dealing with merely a\u00a0racial issue. We are dealing with a sin<\/em> issue. We are dealing with\u00a0a devil who is taking advantage of anyone he can to stir violence, chaos, and destruction. Don’t join with the naysayers. Instead, pray for the grieving parents, family members, and friends. Pray for the\u00a0authorities to work with integrity\u00a0as they seek to learn the facts\u00a0necessary to bring\u00a0about justice. Know that the majority of souls living in this community despise the destruction; understand that Satan seeks to use anyone he can to steal, kill, and destroy. Use your authority to stand against the\u00a0spirit of lawlessness seeking to\u00a0control minds and behaviors. Use your\u00a0faith to stand for God’s will\u00a0to prevail in this region\u2014and in yours.<\/p>\n I won’t stop believing that God can turn this around for good\u2014as ugly and painful as it is\u2014and to use it to bring men and women, boys and girls to a saving and healing knowledge of Jesus Christ. God will<\/em> be glorified. To believe less is to\u00a0doubt His almighty power and mercy. But\u2014we must stand in the gap through which Satan seeks to enter, and pray\u2014<\/em>with the help of the Holy Spirit\u2014to block, thwart, and restrain\u00a0the enemy’s\u00a0evil strategies.<\/p>\n Standing fast,<\/p>\n Dorothy<\/p>\n Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. <\/em>Put on the full armo<\/em>r of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. <\/em><\/span>For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. <\/span>Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.<\/span> <\/em>Ephesian 6:10-13 <\/p>\n