To use a phrase from our nation’s history, yesterday marked “a shot heard around the world”.
This phrase refers to the military engagement that began the American Revolutionary War.
The day was April 19, 1775.
Today, September 11, 2025, is a personal day of remembering three events.
My mother was born September 11, 1920. She is with the Lord. That is a pleasant memory.
Today, is the tragic memory that took place in our nation on September 11, 2001.
And today, is the memory of the assassination of Charlie Kirk that occurred yesterday on September 10, 2025.
These three memories are the good (mom’s birthday on 9/11/1920); the bad ( the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack on the United States); and the ugly ( the (9/10/2025 killing of Charlie Kirk).
My Mother’s passing was expected.
The terrorist attacks on 9/11 were not expected.
{However, their investigation shows they may have been preventable. The pros and cons of that investigation are not for this post}
The assignation of Charlie Kirk was evil.
Was it expected or unexpected?
{That is already being analyzed.}
In short, yesterday, 9/10/2025, Charlie Kirk was killed.
The words ‘murdered’, ‘assassinated’, the target of a ‘political hate crime’, a ‘terrorist’ act are all being used by those reporting on his death.
These words express the truth when Charlie Kirk was ‘shot down’ in broad daylight; at a political free speech event; on a college campus, a typical venue that he used to converse with an audience about political and cultural issues that college students face in their daily lives.
It was on a college campus where Charlie Kirk was individually singled out and slain.
In 2001, a nation was taken by surprise by the horrific terrorist acts, came together in an expression of ‘unity’and moved forward as best as possible.
Since 2001, the pros and cons of the political maneuvering during the past 24 years has deteriorated into what I identify as, ‘a chasm of deep political divide’.
It should be noted that ‘finger pointing blame’ has been done on each side of the political isle.
Inserting the names of the Presidents for the past administrations does not improve or remedy the political divide; it only exasperates the division.
Unfortunately, what does stand out glaringly, regarding the killing of Charlie Kirk, is that he purposed to reach the youth of this nation with a conservative message, that expressed a wholesome approach, verbally articulating, refuting, and answering anyone’s questions without yelling, shouting, being irrational, or violent.
Charlie Kirk was not naive.
Charlie Kirk was courageous.
Charlie Kirk used truth to expose false thought, irrational logic, and foolish arguments.
Charlie Kirk was a formidable intellectual ‘opposition’ to those espousing the left ideology.
I conclude that he was a threat to many that did not adhere to his conservative political ideology and they were intimidated by the growing impact he was having on the youth of this nation.
Therefore, is it possible, even probable, that the motivation for his murder was to silence him?
I know that such a question can be inflammatory in people’s thinking; but is it the reality to where we have fallen in this nation because we are so politically divided?
It will be interesting to wait, observe, and listen to how the events surrounding his life, his mission for Turning Point, and an analysis of the words he has spoken and advocated are used to characterize him as he spoke and related to the nation.
Is it possible that Charlie Kirk’s death could be used to awaken and heal the political division in our nation? in our families? and in our one-to-one relationships?
I believe it can.
Selah.
How do we as believers in Jesus Christ move forward?
I have been reminded of this: being ‘commissioned by Christ is costly’.
Do you believe that?
That is at the heart of the Gospel message.
I would like to share with you some personal thoughts regarding Charlie Kirk’s murder.
I found myself, asking the Lord, if what happened to Charlie was similar to what happened to Stephen in Acts 6,7?
Please do not over react to what I am saying.
Consider this: In Acts chapter 6, Stephen was one of seven men chosen with the following qualifications as outlined by the Apostles.
Acts 6:3 NKJV, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (emphasis mine)
Stephen was one of the seven chosen.
I submit that the Lord chose Charlie because he was a man with a ‘good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom’, that He could appoint over this business of reaching the youth of this nation that the Church was failing to do. (emphasis mine)
Acts 6:8, 10 NKJV, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people…And they (those who opposed him) were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” (emphasis mine) (insert mine)
I am not advocating that he performed ‘signs and wonders’ as described in the ministry of Jesus or in the book of Acts.
Stephen was articulate about speaking the truth. He was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Those who heard him recognized it and were troubled because it did not align with their belief.
Acts 6:11-14, tells us that those who disagreed with him sought out others to be false witnesses, and they also stirred up the people against him.
What I am reflecting upon is that his words greatly disturbed others to be against him.
In Acts 7, Stephen articulated the history of Israel from Abraham to Joseph to Moses to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and then confronted his audience with their rebellion against God in the wilderness.
Stephen did stop there; he tells them how they treated their prophets; and then transfers that conduct to how they treated the “….Just One, whom you now have become betrayers and murders, who have received the law by the direct of angels and have not kept it.” (Acts 7:51-53, NKJV context)
Acts 7:54, 57,58, NKJV Luke records, “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart (see Acts 2:37) and they gnashed at him with their teeth…Then they cried out with a loud voice , stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.”
Stephen was called, chosen, and commissioned by Christ.
That is costly.
It cost Stephen his life.
My thoughts regarding Charlie Kirk are these.
Charlie Kirk was called, chosen, and commissioned by Christ to reach the youth of this nation; and I assume, to influence the youth throughout the nations of this world.
Charlie Kirk was a good man, well respected, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom.
He knew his subject matter. He was articulate. He spoke with clarity, conviction and truth.
His message ‘cut to the heart’ of those who heard him speak.
He did not speak maliciously or vindictively.
He challenged those who would listen; he wanted them to ask questions; he wanted to dialogue with people; to hear them and for them to hear his responses; and to contemplate the validity of his words compared to the words of those who opposed him.
What is wrong with that?
Q: How many individuals throughout history have had their lives taken because what they say does not align with what others wanted to be the truth?
The history of mankind is full of such stories.
The thinking of this world, and its wisdom, will not bring together those who are at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.
I don’t believe that Charlie focused on polarization; he focused on what is the truth.
There is an antichrist spirit in our world.
We, the Body of Christ are wrestling against that spirit.
This is not an irrational statement. (See I John 4:1-6)
The spirit of antichrist is vocal, violent, shameless, and proud; it is brazen, audacious, flagrant, and unprincipled.
Over the past decade, this nation has witnessed, experienced, and tolerated ‘unprecedented unrest’ that has become more openly unprincipled.
The unprincipled spirit is lawlessness; and it is the spirit of antichrist.
An ‘unprincipled’ lawlessness is capable of murder.
See Matthew 24.
It happened yesterday (September 10, 2025)
We as a nation are becoming blatantly lawless; and many are not ashamed of it in many areas of their daily lives.
I am not saying this is true of all the people who live in this nation.
See 2 Timothy 3:1-17.
What I am saying is that this malignancy is growing and becoming a deadly cancer.
On September 11, 1920 my mother was born into this world. Her death was an expected pleasant event. She loved the Lord, and is now with Him in His presence.
On September 11, 2021, an unexpected event happened in this nation.
Many were shocked.
How so?
This is America.
This can’t happen here.
It did.
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk’s life was taken by an assassin.
Why?
That will be revealed over time.
Was it an unexpected or expected event?
I believe, Charlie Kirk’s life was taken for the same reason that Stephen’s was.
There were those who heard him speak and did not like what he said, and there were those who wanted to silence him.
Yesterday, September 10,2025 an individual silenced Charlie Kirk.
I am not sure where to put the following thoughts on this nation’s historical time line; therefore, I will present to you three pictures regarding what has taken place.
For me personally, as well as, for many others, Charlie Kirk’s death was not unexpected.
Why?
1. Our nation has been like a pot of water sitting over a flame that has been warming it up ; that has now reached its boiling point.
2. Our nation is like a pressure cooker, with its lid closed; when it reaches its boiling point, it lets out its steam.
3. Our nation is like a volcano, whose molten rock has been rising because of gas pressure; it exploded and erupted violently killing Charlie Kirk.
I have listened to many who have warned us that something like what happened yesterday would take place in our nation because of the great political division in our nation.
The source of this political division is because of the virulent rhetoric that has been spewing forth from both political parties.
Please understand that understanding was being voiced prior to the assassination attempts on President Trump.
What many thought could happen, has happened , in the United States of America.
And we know, only too well, that it has happened previously in our own nation; both attempted assassinations and fatal assassinations.
On September 10, 2025, the United States of America experienced what many other people throughout the world are exposed to everyday of their lives.
People speak up for what is true.
They are told to be silent.
They choose not to be silent.
Some end up in jail for a short time.
Some end up in prison for a long time.
Some are tortured.
Some are killed.
Some go missing and are never seen or heard of again.
I contend that Charlie Kirk’s death could be an article in the Voice of Martyr’s magazine; and that his picture could be on their cover.
What happened yesterday, September 10, 2025, is an ‘up close and personal’ example of what Jesus told His followers could happen following Him.
We, as a nation, witnessed that reality yesterday, September 10, 2025.
What many have wondered about regarding our safety in America based upon our personal beliefs has been graphically etched upon our minds, and seared into our hearts and souls, because Charlie Kirk was murdered.
Remember, commissioned by Christ is costly.
It could cost you your life.
That is Gospel truth.
Revelation 12:11 NKJV, “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 )
Charlie Kirk followed Christ.
Yesterday, September 10,2025 was a sobering moment for the Body of Christ,
Standing in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ,
a brother in Christ, Deo
Living Words of Encouragement 