editorials
Evil at Heart
by Peter B. Councell
On April 16,2007 Cho Seung-
hui, a Korean student at Virginia
Tech, brutally and maliciously
murdered 32 innocent people.
People everywhere are abso
lutely beside themselves; most
share the same “how could
someone do this” mentality. Yes,
Cho Seung-hui, without a second
thought, killed 32 people who
did not deserve to die.
However, what I do not
imderstand is the obvious fact
that people continue to say that
they are shocked that something
like this happened: “How could
someone kill 32 people? Isn’t
there some good left in the
world?”
Soulforce
Continued from Page 1
I like to think of myself as more
on the liberal side of Christian
ity, but at times I am the biggest
conservative hypocrite in the
world. Sometimes I see homo
sexuality as the ‘bigger’ sin than
others. I am so sorry for acting
like that towards the homosexual
community. Even though I still
don’t agree with it, it is not my
place to judge. All I can do is try
not to disrespect homosexuals.
Curtis opened my eyes to how
much persecution there was in
the homosexuality community.
I listened to the equality riders
and during their presentation I
was reminded that our greatest
commandment is love. All of us
are children of God when we are
I am shocked—no, flabber
gasted—that the majority just
do not seem to get it. The truth,
whether we like it or not, is that
every single person on this planet
is evil at heart. Every single one
of us is sinftxl by natiure. There
fore, every person reading this
is capable of committing the
most heinous of crimes. We
each have the potential to kill 32
people. The difference between
Cho Seung-hui and us is the very
fact that we have not and hope
fully will not make the choice
to take lives. However, we are
all equally guilty of committing
sinful acts that are just as evil
as Cho Seung-hui’s. Nobody
Summ
?dlH
ivities
Shindig on the Green
An enthusiastic celebration of traditional and old-time string bands,
bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers, and doggers on
summer Saturday evenings in downtown Asheville. June 30; July 7, 14,
21; August 11,18,25; and September 1,2007. Info: (828)258-6101 x.345
or www.folkheritage.org.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
The 80* annual edition of this three-day event showcases the best of the
region’s traditional and old-time musicians, ballad singers, doggers, etc.
Thursday through Saturday, August 2-4, 2007, 7:00p.m, nightly at Diana
Wortham Theatre at Pack Place box office. Regular: $15; Children 12 and
under: $8; 3-night package for Adults: $36; Children: $24. (828) 257-
4530 or www.dwtheatre.com. Info: www.folkheritage.org.
reading this has probably killed
someone, but each one of us has
lied, cheated, hated, etc. Sin is
sin. God is against all sin.
The point is this: The world is
an evil, fallen, and sinful place.
We choose to make the world an
evil place; we all have to make
the choice, each and every single
day, to do what is good or to do
what is evil. Cho Seung-hui
made a bad choice, but remem
ber that we have also made bad
decisions. Do not dare think that
we are not capable of sin or just
as culpably evil as Cho Seung-
hui.
Therefore, do not just pray
for the families that have lost
saved, and I am not defined by
my sins. I am defined through
Christ. I don’t care if people
are heterosexual, homosexual,
green, blue, or whatever, because
we are all children of God.”
“Love is patient, love is kind and
is not jealous; love does not brag
and is not arrogant, does not act
unbecomingly; it does not seek
its own, is not provoked, does
not take into account a wrong
suffered, does not rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices
with the truth; bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things. Love
never fails...” (1 Corinthians 13:
4-8)
sons and daughters, teachers and
friends. Do not just pray for the
students of Virginia Tech. Do not
just pray for others associated or
affected by this tragedy, but pray
also for Cho Seung-hui and his
family. Pray that, somehow, in
his last moments, Cho Seung-hui
would have known the everlast
ing grace of God. Pray for his
forgiveness.
Are we any better than Cho
Seung-hui? Honestly, are you?
Am I? No. I also ask that we
pray for others dealing with
the same issues Cho Seung-hui
did. How are we to love one
another through alienation? It
is quite impossible. Christ said.
“Love one another. As I have
loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will
know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another” (John
13:34-35). Love the people that
suffer, that make bad decisions,
and that do wrong. Love them
because God loves us in the same
manner.
Enough of the stereotypes.
Enough of the antiquated and
media-hyped “shock.” Enough
of the misconceptions. It is
time for some serious love and
prayer.
In Memorlam: Cliff Cunningham
by Hannah Fox
On November 15, 2006 the Black Mountain and
Montreat communities lost a wonderful servant, teacher,
and friend: Cliff Cunningham. Cliff served our Montreat
community for a year and a half in the Natural Sciences
department as the biology lab coordinator/instructor. His
passion for leading young adults was evident in his class
room and in his “Santa Claus” demeanor. Cliff would be
the first to admit that he was “new at this teaching thing,”
but he was absolutely thrilled to have a part in what God
what doing on our campus.
About Montreat he said, “I am stunned by the strength,
diversity, and compassion of our student body. This group of young people has
led in worship, teaching, and singing God’s word! They toil and practice not
only at their studies, but in the athletic and servanthood arenas as well. These
students build relationships with their peers, with children and babies, with older
folks, and race or origin isn’t getting in the way! These students volunteer their
precious free time, to serve those in need, feeding the hungry, helping with their
hands. My students realize that they are on a journey, and I try to help them along
their way, to get the most out of their lives, as I too am simply a joumeyer, who
has trod some of the same pathways which they are now exploring for the first
time...”
Cliff’s servanthood, patience, willingness, kindness, and gentleness made him
an easy tool for the Lord to minister to the members of this community. Many
can recount the faint sound from across campus of “Amazing Grace” or “How
Great Thou Art” from a distant ocarina, while others have memories of a startling
“bear hug” that made their face light up to know that he cared so much. The
students of Montreat College saw and experienced a rare and precious image of
Jesus Christ through Cliff Cunningham. Our community needs to make sure we
keep the Cunningham family in our prayers and continue to be servants to them
just as Cliff was to us. We are forever grateful to have had such a great blessing
to oxu college. We will never forget.
The Whetstone