NIU...

It is still hard to believe what happened at NIU on Thursday. I have not followed all of the media focus personally, but I have heard from others. I guess I just needed time to spend with my family these last couple of days. Here are some random thoughts following the tragedy...

• There is an amazing sense of isolation when cell phones don't work and you cannot reach people you are trying to track down. It wasn't a good feeling. I hope I never experience it again.
  
• When I got home after being at the Christian Campus House for a while, I almost cried when I hugged Ethan & Morgan. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I lost them to a senseless act of violence.
• Obviously the entire community was talking about it the next day. At dinner on Friday night, our waiter heard us talking about it and shared with us that he was waiting outside of Cole Hall for his girlfriend who was in the class when it happened. She made it out safely thankfully. Five others were not so lucky.
• The official fatality count is six - including the gunmen - not seven as I posted earlier.
  
• People will inevitably talk about Virginia Tech and other school shootings. They will ask why more wasn't done. They will talk incessantly about campus security. Let's be honest...apart from posting armed guards at the entrance of every building and mandatory pat-downs as students come in, what are you going to do? The police responded in under 2 minutes after the first shot rang out- that's 120 seconds, folks. They had practiced for just such an emergency. Stop the talking...
• A great friend of mine - Jim Clark - has some powerful thoughts on his blog. He was out at our house for dinner on Thursday night after the tragedy, so we had some time to debrief together.
• I got calls, emails, and blog posts from all around the world (literally) asking how Russ & Brian - the two campus pastors I am connected with - are doing. Thanks for all of your prayers and concerns, friends. It is good to know there are people out there. I will make sure Russ & Brian know of your love.

Now, go hug your loved ones in case you never get another chance...

Tragedy at NIU

There have now been seven confirmed fatalities (including the shooter) from the shooting at Northern Illinois University. Please continue to pray for the students and their families. Thanks...

Shooting at NIU

In case you haven't heard, there was a campus shooting at Northern Illinois University earlier today. We live just a couple of miles from the campus, and we have some close friends who are campus pastors for the school. Here's a press release from the school's website...

"At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2008, a gunman, carrying one shotgun and two handguns, opened fire in Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. NIU Police officers were on the scene in less than two minutes and the gunman was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound a short time later. Police have not released the identity of the gunman. At this time, there is no known motive. Eighteen students were transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb."

I was doing some reading at a local coffee shop when Karen called to tell me the news. I immediately went over to the Christian Campus House to connect with the students and campus pastors we know. We were able to track down all of the students associated with the ministry as well as many of their friends.

Please keep the school and students in your prayers.