Wolves and Sheep: The Day Darkness Became Darker BUT The Light Became Brighter!
The day started just like any other. Devotions, chores, breakfast, school....
Well, maybe not exactly like any other. I was running behind. Seemed the more I tried to catch up the further behind I got.
Finally made it to the school house.
"Yes! Now to start our school day." I thought.
Sit down and begin dictating the required sentences to our oldest.
Suddenly we hear a strange bark coming from one of our more quiet dogs.
This immediately raises a suspicious concern.
We open the school house door to find the fence between the dogs and the livestock yard has been breached. (You know, that fence I was suppose to be fixing but just couldn't find the time. Yes, that one.)
So, due to this breach, we were greeted by 4 of our 6 dogs in with our two sheep and miniature horse.
Needless to say, it was a real show that followed as we attempted to get all the critters back into their proper yards.
One good thing we discovered through this ordeal is the fact that we have a great "Mini Guard Horse". He was giving those dogs all he had to get them away from his sheep friends.
P.S. The breach has been repaired and a secondary (maybe even a third) boundary is getting worked on to avoid such a catastrophe in the future.
Fast forward a few hours:
As we prepared for church we received unbelievable news about a man we considered a brother in the Lord and a lover of our country. A man who has helped so many know the truth. A man who loved Jesus. A son, a husband, a daddy, a friend and an inspiration.
We continued on and made our way to church, although moving rather slow and trying to find out what is going on all at the same time.
When we arrive at church we find the others have already heard and are grieving as well.
The feelings, the questions. It is so surreal. Has this really happened. Could it all be a nightmare?
Then the voice of reason. The Pastor.
Praise the Lord for good pastors, who, even though they are hurting as well, they still pass on the truth and comfort from God's Word.
It seemed he knew that talk would be futile and discouraging. It's like he knew a word of encouragement was needed. Possibly because his heart was just as heavy as every body else.
So immediately service was started:
The pianist knew just the right song to play to open the service:
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
(Author: Joseph Medlicott Scriven -1855)
After the song the pastor pulls up a chair and sits. He begins to talk about the young man who had given his life for the cause of Christ. Not in a foreign country, but on our very own soil. This young man was Charlie Kirk.
In a pastors "knowing" way he acknowledged the desire to fight back, but this acknowledgement was followed by this question, "Who would we fight?"
The truth is, we wrestle not against flesh and blood.
Ephesians 6:10-18 says:
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Interestingly, the theme we have been hearing from a few different pastors, most recently, is the theme of the two ditches.
Two very extreme differences. We shouldn't be in the ditch, we should be in the middle of the narrow path walking with Jesus.
In this case the two extremes are:
1-Fight back in the physical.
2- Run scared.
Neither one of these is what Jesus has called us to do.
We then looked at the verse in Matthew where Jesus said:
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matthew 10:16-20
As sad as the night was, our oldest son found the mention of sheep and wolves somewhat amusing, as it reminded him of our sheep and "wolf" escapade from the morning.
As I pondered this interesting "coincidence".
I wondered what it all meant moving forward.
Now almost a week later I have finally found the time to sit down and actually ponder the things that have transpired. The conversations had. The tributes paid. The sad state of our country in the aftermath of such a tragic loss of human life.
Does this mean we just lay down and roll over allowing evil to run over us?
I don't believe that is the answer.
Do we stay quiet and try not to rock the boat?
I don't think that is the answer either.
Do we kick aimlessly about with all our strength and might, something like our little mini horse who was trying to save his friends?
This does not seem fruitful or beneficial.
If we had not stepped in, the situation with our livestock could have turned out very grave. If the mini had made the right contact with one of the dogs we could have lost a dog. If the sheep got to tired and weary and gave up we could have lost our sheep.
What does this mean for us after the sad loss of a Torch-lighter?
I think it can show us that we must not take on the rest of our lives in our own physical power.
We need to begin to, or continue to, rely on Jesus as our strength.
We must "Fight the good fight of faith... " 1 Timothy 6:12.
We must be "the salt of the earth.... " Matthew 5:13
We must be "the light of the world..." Matthew 5:14-16
We must share the love of Jesus.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We should always be seeking to share the gospel with those around us no matter the cost.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
If we only learn one thing from our Brother Charlie Kirk let it be this:
Share the good news of Jesus Christ in love no matter the cost! Listen to those who are talking to you so Holy Spirit can speak to them through you.
Pray for Erika and the kids. Pray for the rest of the Kirk family and the TPUSA family. And pray for each other.
Jesus is coming back soon. Let's "Make Heaven Crowded".
(Originally Posted on September 15th, 2025 on a previous blog I had started)