Make an example of him and people should learn that it is not right to kill your fellow human being. Maybe this way parents will try harder to teach their children to respect life and other people’s rights.

Tell that to Gwen Araujo’s mother.

I’m not disagreeing that he should be tried as a juvenile, but why is it we think that only kids can turn their lives around with help? Are adults not capable of this same kind of transformation? And when does one cross that invisible line from changeable to unchangeable?

The person who opens up his heart and home and invites everyone in, regardless of their background, just like Jesus did, and demonstrates what Jesus taught without wanting recognition for it in terms of a label, will reach more hearts and minds than we could ever imagine

Amen to that sister!!

My experience has been that if individuals or groups of people are talked over with terms and words they do not understand, and if it is done in an assumptive manner as though they should understand, then feelings of separation and exclusion take hold. Jesus taught in the most simple of words so that everyone, regardless of their background or current belief, could understand Him. These people gravitated to Him because they felt included rather than excluded, and because of that, wanted to learn more about Him. He never referred to himself as a Christian or mandated it as the only way to be kind and ethical or understand each other – rather, He said “come, follow me”. I sincerely believe if Christians would identify themselves more with their actions and words towards others based on what Jesus taught, rather than continually using a term that has too many meanings for those who do not understand, then more people would gravitate to them and want to know more about their beliefs. This is how Jesus brought people to him and it is good enough for me to “follow”. The same for all people with differering beliefs – if the identities are center stage, the assumptions will follow. Assumptions separate and cause defenses that will always cause mis-understanding. If the words and actions come first, then perhaps that will be all the knowledge that is needed to identify the person. There is a very big divide right now that has manifested into so much anger, mis-understanding, and exclusion. It is almost like someone who has a big home and continually tells everyone that he is rich and makes it sound like those who are not can and never will have the same privilege because it is an exclusive club. The person who opens up his heart and home and invites everyone in, regardless of their background, just like Jesus did, and demonstrates what Jesus taught without wanting recognition for it in terms of a label, will reach more hearts and minds than we could ever imagine.