Comments on: Newtown: Time to operate on a “need to know” basis

By: Monday Links and Bullets 12.24.12 – Christmas Edition! « pastorkevinb

Monday Links and Bullets 12.24.12 – Christmas Edition! « pastorkevinb — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 20:24:27 +0000

[...] it comes to tragedies, watching all the coverage is not a good thing. I agree with the general tone taken [...]

By: Irene

Irene — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:02:30 +0000

I agree!

By: RockyMtnPatriot

RockyMtnPatriot — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:03:14 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I was just talking with a friend about this long before this tragedy struck. Being an election year, I would spend hours a day reading about the Benghazi murders, Fast & Furious, etc. It’s so easy to get obsessed with wanting to know everything possible. Most of the time, there isn’t anything we can do about it but pray. More importantly, instead of spending all of this unproductive time reading about events over which we have no control, we should be staying in God’s word and praying.

By: Browse Worthy: More Meditative Thoughts on Tragedy | Gentle Reformation

Browse Worthy: More Meditative Thoughts on Tragedy | Gentle Reformation — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:37:38 +0000

[...] follow the advice of David Murray and stop the “Peeping Tom” syndrome news agencies encourage when situations like this [...]

By: The Briefing for Tuesday 12/18/2012 « Ponder Anew

The Briefing for Tuesday 12/18/2012 « Ponder Anew — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:59:58 +0000

[...] When to Pull the Plug on Frightful Media (Article) David Murray (Head, Heart, Hand) [...]

By: Art Costigan

Art Costigan — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:32:55 +0000

David

Thanks for the this. It’s a good caution not to get caught up in media-driven hype that can lead to sinful curiosity and responses.

By: Lynda Hickman

Lynda Hickman — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:11:00 +0000

David,
All of the media coverage of this horrible incident has not stopped. It is everywhere. And you are absolutely correct to say that all people, especially Christians need to know where to draw the line at what is the “need-to-know” and what is just spirit, soul and mind clutter.
I have found myself crying many times since the news first broke on Friday. And as often as I have cried, I have prayed for the families and friends of all those who died, especially the parents of the children. I know from personal experience how death of a loved one, no matter how it happens seems to become a memory benchmark on a particular day. And having that death occur near a holiday, it seems that the holiday can be forever marred by that memory.

David, you said, “Within seconds we know not only what happened in general but all the horrific specifics.” And that is very true, however, as the hours and days have past, those “specifics” have proved less than specific. In nearly every report, the so called facts have changed. So the first reports were so skewed that other than the basic fact that the murders had taken place, all the other “specifics” were added by over zealous reporters and witnesses who wanted their minutes of fame.

The LORD reminds me all the time of His Word about what’s going on in my brain. And when He does, I immediately think of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church. He said, “Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Here is a last piece of advice. If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good. Model your conduct on what you have learned from me, on what I have told you and shown you, and you will find the God of peace will be with you.”

That’s Philippians 4:6-9 in the JB Phillips version. I love the gentle way that it is worded, as words from one who is lavishly filled with the loving Spirit of God.

We all need to step back and think on those things…..and while we think on the good, the holy and right, pray that the peace of God will guard the hearts of those who lost someone they loved on Friday.

By: Jonathan Engelsma

Jonathan Engelsma — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:57:37 +0000

Very well said David. I can’t help but think that the almost instant world-wide notoriety the perpetrators of these horrific crimes receive as a consequence of the media coverage somehow incentivizes their sick minds as they plan their deeds. At minimal, keeping the criminal anonymous in the media coverage that follows may help eliminate some of the motivation.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:45:43 +0000

I agree that this is a terrible tragedy for those directly involved, the loss of almost 30 lives, and that prayers should be offered up on behalf of those who survived. It is unusual (almost 30 innocent people were killed in one place at one time and most of them were children who “died before their time” and, for that reason, it is also “sensational” ["arousing or tending to arouse (as by lurid details) a quick, intense, and usually superficial interest, curiosity, or emotional reaction"-Merriam Webster]. A Google search finds that, around the world, 20,000 children die every day and, by definition, their deaths are also “premature”. I don’t know the number of unborn babies who also die daily at the hands of abortionists. This outpouring of emotion, flags at half staff and so forth for this event seems to be a mostly emotional response that is lacking in any sense of proportionality.

By: Ryan Huguley

Ryan Huguley — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:27:14 +0000

Thank you for this David. Very wise and very helpful!