[quote author="Enkidu Jones"][quote author="Pete Murphy"]I was just wondering about the recent high-school shootings in your area.  Have they found any evidence for what motivated the shooter?  e.g. was he involved in the occult, was he just a depressed attention seeker etc.

I’m just wondering in a case like this how much of it is the demon’s fault.

How do you know there was a demon involved?

I don’t.  That’s why I asked.

Does anyone else find this a beautiful irony? ;)

[quote author="Joseph Smith"]
However 2,3,4 really are great including funny Mormon film moments…

You know, the other Joseph Smith being the founder of Mormonism and all…

I don’t get get it Jason?

craig

Huh
Where is the quote from Jason?

The quote’s from page 1 of this thread (second response). The irony - a person named Joseph Smith thinking that John Safran’s show having a go at Mormonism (whose original founder is also named “Joseph Smith") was fun. :)

J.

Aha Yep I missed that, very ironic indeed, I actually checked to see if Joseph was a one off post, but he is legit.

Sorry about not getting it the first time Jason.

craig

Got the J Smith bit, just not where it came from
Dunno how I missed it. I am a big fan of the prophet and martyr Joseph Smith (gets tongue caught in cheek, ouch!)

Back at the bottom of page 5, this comment struck me

[quote author="Craig Bennett"]You can find a website that will speak against any Christian you want to, by simply “Googling” I have found websites that promoted a Christian conference in debunking C.S.Lewis as being a Christian and that he clearly was not and therefore those he preached to were not converted.
I have also found sites Debunking Billy Graham as being a Christian, instead making him to be a high placed Freemason and that because of his Arminian beliefs non of his converts were truly converted. Hmmm lucky I don’t agree with this as Moore College would be in trouble now wouldn’t they?

While reading the rest of this thread, no one seemed to challenge it.

My reading of Phillipians 1 and other parts of the bible seem to show that God does work through circumstances and motives we may wish to not attribute to God’s work.

12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

This does not however mean that the motives used are appropriate or not, and often they are not.
It rather challenges us to keep looking at our own motives and to check to see that they are within the bounds of Paul’s. (It is also probably true that we place individuals up on a “Super-Christian” alter and then wonder why they have slipped into temptations we face too).

We should be learning from the things Googled that we should pray for our brothers and sisters in ministry, that they not fall into the temptations which are applicable here, and we should be watching further for these things in our own lives, to not distract from attention from the great message we proclaim, that Jesus has saved us.