Teenager Shot His School Principal To Death

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22)

Earlier today, in a rural school (preK to 12th grade) in Wisconsin, a 15-year-old teenager shot his principal to death after a struggle with adults and other students. The teen was taken into custody and charged as an adult with murder.

The teen was described as a high school freshman with few friends. We don't know the whole story but the teen apparently had complained about being teased by other students. He was given a disciplinary warning for having tobacco recently.

What is going on?

Copyright © 2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC

Mourning a Slain High School Student Hostage

"A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

A gunman took a class hostage Wednesday afternoon at Platte Canyon High School, in Bailey, southwest of Denver. Wanted to take only girls hostage, Duane Morrison (aged 53) forced the male students to leave the classroom. He held as many as six girls hostage and had released four, one at a time.

After a 3-hour standoff, Morrison fatally shot 16-year-old Emily Keyes and then killed himself before police stormed the classroom.

The community is in mourning. Emily is remembered as "a great kid", "a friendly, sweet girl" who "always welcomed people." She worked in a cafe three or four days a week when not busy with volleyball or speech and debate.

Morrison got into the High School by carrying a backpack and wearing a hooded sweatshirt to look like a student. Bailey is not far from Columbine, where two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher before killing themselves in 1999. What sad stories!

Copyright © 2005-2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC

Missing Girl Escaped from Captor's Hole

"His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine men further, that they should come before him for judgment." (Job 34:21-23)

A girl missing for 10 days was found by police in a 15-foot-deep plywood-covered hole in the side of a hill in South Carolina, only about a mile from her house. What is amazing is that the girl sort of rescue herself. While her captor was sleeping, the girl used his cell phone to send a text message to her mom. She described being kept in a hole close to home and detailed how to find her.

Her mom said the hole was only one mile down the road. Her captor was very calculating. Posed as a police officer, he lured the girl into the woods. Although the teenager was suspicious, she went with him because he said her little brother would be harmed if she did not go with him.

You may read the full report from CNN.

He probably thought nobody would ever find him and the girl. But evil cannot hide forever.

Copyright © 2005-2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC

Singing with CCCMIW

"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." (Psalm 63:4-5)

Do you love to sing? I do. However, I was discouraged years ago when I tried singing out loud. It could be really scary singing in front of people, and any criticism might cause us to back off. That's why we left singing in public to professional musicians.

We have the freedom to be who we really are in Christ, and there is no fear in love. So, as a one-year old beliver, I joined our church choir. We practiced early every Sunday morning before adult Sunday School and worship, and we stayed after lunch to practice the songs for the following weeks. Singing in a choir taught me what it meant to be a faithful servant and member of the church! We do our parts, harmonize our voices, and follow the conductor.

In September 2001, I started singing across churches in the Bay area with the Chinese Christian Church Music Institute for Worship (CCCMIW). It was a time of emotinal ups and down for me since our son just left for college. Empty nest was more difficult than I thought, especially right after the 911 Twin Towers attack. With Dr. Richard Lin as our conductor, I found joy in our weekly practice, it was actually a worship, fellowship, and learning experience. Music heals our souls.

In August 2003, the CCCMIW choir (with over 100 singers and musicians) sang Messiah by Handel at the St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Just five weeks after a major surgery, I was driven to and from the music camp for Messiah rehearsal by our son (who was back from college for the summer). The Lord strengthened me as I continued to sing everyday. Imagine my joy to sing in a choir with my own son. Not only that, he and another college student sang in Mandarin even thougth they were born in the United States!

For various reasons, I could not sing with Dr. Lin and his choir the last few years but I yearned to go back. Tonight, I resumed. Even though I am still extremely busy, even though I live much further away, it is absolutely worthwhile. Why would some brothers and sisters drove 1.5 hours one-way to sing with the CCCMIW choir on a week night? Because we are inspired!

Dr. Lin passes on his love for God, people and music to young (and not so young) people. His life and his ministry touch the lives of many. He is a servant of God who is truly Christlike. Watch this SOBEM video interview by Showers of Blessing Evangelistic Ministry.

Copyright © 2005-2006 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC