Oct. 5, 2006 — The oldest of the five Amish girls shot dead in a Pennsylvania schoolhouse is said to have stepped forward and asked her killer to "Shoot me first," in an apparent effort to buy time for her schoolmates.

And later:

What's more, Fisher's 11-year-old sister, Barbie, who survived the shooting, allegedly asked the gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, to "Shoot me second,"

Here is the link to the full article: http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2531138&page=1

Great American Hero

We have all been fed on hero movies. We have repeatedly watched people take a bullet for their friends. Perhaps this may prepare us to do the same. We may have seen Bruce Willis in Armageddon willing die for the planet and wondered if we could. Who knows? In over twenty five years of pastoral experience in the church as well as the community I have seen far more cowardice than courage. Usually when the heat is on people “chicken out”.

Amish children do not have television. They do not visit the cinema. It is likely that they don’t know who Bruce Willis or John Wayne is. From whence cometh their courage? Only someone who knows of the everlasting arms of their Lord and Savior would speak so freely at such a time.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

Forgiveness and Forgiven-Ness

The picture of pure Christianity does not end there. The Amish community had lost five of their girls. The killings were brutal and senseless. The killers’ paraphernalia revealed that he intended to inflict great evil on his victims. This did not transpire. The Amish community did not respond with rage. No riots. No repercussions. Instead they visited and comforted the killers’ widow and his family. They invited her to the funeral. They have invited her to stay in the community and promised to help her.

The one who is forgiven has received forgiveness. It is a nice word but weakened with overuse. “Oh, I can just live any way I want because I am forgiven.” It is a tragedy that we have minimized the power of this in our lives. Those who truly understand forgiveness live in forgiven-ness. They say, “If I am forgiven, my solemn duty is to do the same.” The one living in forgiven-ness has abandoned all sense of spiritual debt. No one owes him and he owes no one apart from the Lord Jesus.

We live in a revenge-sickened society. Getting even has become the engine of our economy and our entertainment. It is bringing nothing noble and nothing good. It would do us well to learn again the principles of a simple faith from a pure hearted people.