Crossroads II. November 5, 2023 Our Church/Ourselves: Living the Life and Teachings of Jesus. “Addressing the Problem of Gun Violence in Our Community”. The class will be held in the Session Room (and on Zoom)
Our guest speakers will be Police Chief Mike Balken and Beth McCall.
Mike Balken has been with the Ocala Police Department since 1994, and has served as Chief since November of 2020. Addressing the growing problem of gun violence, particularly among our youth, is one of his priorities.
Beth McCall is well known in Marion County for her advocacy for children. She is a former member of the Marion County School Board, and now serves as the Executive Director of the Marion County Children’s Alliance.
We welcome both of these community leaders, and look forward to learning about our county’s gun violence problems, promising intervention programs, and ways in which we might become part of a solution.
Note: The devotional by Joe and Jeannie Tyler is below.
Please join us for coffee (and on Zoom) at 8:45 and class will begin at 9:00.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211638783?pwd=dTBHQ1BsWGZJdGRTS1lBeHZ2MW9BQT09
Meeting ID: 832 1163 8783
Passcode: Micah6:8
Session 8: Gun Violence in Our Community
A devotional reflection
by Joe and Jeannie Tyler
Criminal justice is a large subject, but I would like to talk about only a small part of that, and that is justice. And to further separate it, I would like to talk about gun violence.
When a person uses a gun to hurt or kill someone because of something that person said or did, the killer is depriving that person of having a life—like seeing their family, going on a date, vacations, hanging out with friends, seeing and holding a baby, and a lot of everyday things.
What they don’t think about is that when they are caught—and they wil be caught and go to jail—they also will not be able to do all the things above.
But they also will miss things like driving a car and eating what you want and when you want, being with loved ones or having a family of your own. Whether you are a criminal or a law-abiding citizen, you need to think about the consequences. There are no “take backs” when you use a gun.
When you kill someone they will never do any of the things listed below. Look at all these things and—just think—these are also all the things and more that a person will not be doing while he is in jail. The victim will not be suffering any more. But you are, and you will be for many years to come.
Meeting with friends
Dating “the” girl
Driving
Walking in the sunshine
Walking with friends
Going boating
Going to a game
Eating what you want
Enjoying family
Seeing and holding a baby
Buying new clothes
Vacations
Getting married
Having a beer
Dining out
Being with someone you love
Watching loved ones getting together Seeing the sun rise
Seeing mountains
Seeing oceans
Flying in a plane