2. IT ALL STARTED ON THE PLAYGROUND

5. For “…the spirit of this world has blinded the minds of [many resulting in many not believing]…the glorious Gospel of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

6. Why since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, there have been 74 school shootings, in 31 different states, a shocking average of 1.37 shootings per school week.

7. “…Live in harmony with one another…Do not pay anyone evil for evil…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with one another…” (Romans 12:16; 17-18).

8. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. - Gandhi.

9. Don’t Do What Comes Intuitively, But Counter-Intuitively.

10. And so it’s not a coincidence that right after the story of the Garden of Eden is the bible’s first story of violence as an insecure guy by the name of Cain tries to resolve his insecurity by “…[attacking] his brother Abel and [killing] him…” (Genesis 4:8).

12. “Madam” – an officer said to a Shaker sister. “I fear [you’ve just killed] us with good vittles. “Better that” – the sister replied “Than with a bullet…”

13. “The choice is not between violence and nonviolence but between nonviolence and nonexistence.” — Martin Luther King Jr

14. Realize: It’s God’s Job To ‘Settle The Score’; Our Job Is To Multiply Love.

15. “Do not take revenge…but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord…” (Romans 12:19).

17. “Do not be overcome by evil [including the evil of school shootings] – but overcome evil with good…” (Romans 12:21).

18. Emulate The Prince Of Peace, Jesus, Who Absorbed Pain, Rather Than Inflict Pain.

19. Jesus “....was a man of sorrows…familiar with suffering…he was…crushed for our iniquities… [and] by his wounds we are healed…” (Isaiah 53:3-5).

20. You’ve been taught: “…“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek…If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. (Matthew 5:38-41, CEV).

21. “…live in harmony with one another…[not being] proud…[or] conceited…” (Romans 12:16). For as “…Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” -- to quote 1 John 3:16 -- “…we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16).

23. Don’t live blow by blow, bite for bite. Rather “…Live in harmony with one another…Do not pay anyone evil for evil…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with one another…” (Romans 12:16; 17-18).

24. “…Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16).