I’m speaking of Charles James Kirk, dutiful son, beloved husband and father, committed Christian, co-founder (along with Bill Montgomery) and president of TURNING POINT USA.
The website has the position of leader currently listed as “vacant”. I am intently praying that GOD answers our plea and fills that position not with one, but several leaders – and spreads to leadership raised up in chapters all across America (would you agree with me in prayer in this regard?).
On a typical circuit around the Southwest, he and his team came to Orem, Utah where they put up their tent and accoutrements for yet another engagement with campus students, faculty and members of Turning Point USA numbering altogether around 3,000. As always Charlie was prepared to present, prove and persuade people on points concerning politics, government, conservative and Christian values – with a strong emphasis on GOD’s Word, the LORD Jesus Christ and well-reasoned logic and earnest compassion.
He consistently and persuasively spoke out against the Extreme Leftist, Marxist ideologies that have infiltrated our universities specifically, and in a general sense, our entire educational system (to say nothing of our news media). He stood against Woke Culture, against legal plunder (Socialist economic structures) and legal murder (abortion). He did so rationally, calmly, pointedly without compromise but also without arrogance.
On September 10th, 2025, shortly after 12 noon, an (unknown?) assailant whose location was undisclosed at the time but later discovered to be at a high vantage point, used a gun to seriously injure Charlie in the neck.
“Dispatchers described the suspect as someone wearing an all-black shirt, vest and jeans”. Pandemonium erupted, people scurried everywhere, Charlie’s team rushed to his side as he was thrown back, grabbed his neck, and then slumped over with his blood spilling everywhere. Meanwhile at the same time his team secured the safety of his wife Erika and children.
An elderly man (George Zinn) was immediately apprehended, then a second suspect (Zachariah Qureshi) – but neither of them proved to be the culprit. The shooter as of Wednesday night (9/10) is still unknown and at large (update: a suspect has been apprehended, and supposedly he’s been confirmed to be the shooter – we’ll see).
Considering that Provo Airport is just 7 miles away from the Utah Valley U. (a 14 minute trip), the assailant could easily have made their escape via a waiting car, especially if there was a team operating to get him away from the scene, drive him to a plane and make a clean get-away.
What I find uncanny is that the shot was fired off just as Charlie was answering a question about guns and Second Amendment rights.
I had just finished doing some reading when I hopped on social media and discovered what had happened (around 12:45pm) and I immediately went to prayer, asking GOD for His provision of grace and peace, protection and healing. About an hour later someone texted me that he was gone.
I can’t describe how I could feel so hollow and yet experience such pain at the same time. Tears flowed down and prayers rose up for his beloved wife Erika and their two small children – a three year old little daughter and a one year old baby boy.
While I expected a virulent response from the Left, nothing prepared me for the gleeful, jubilant, celebrative spirit of people who rejoiced over the death of a human being. I saw some videos on Tik Tok that I can’t bring myself to share (entirely bereft of compassion, filled with contemptible and malicious hate) and I realized then more than ever the irony of this situation:
Charlie Kirk died, but America has as well – at least it seems that facet of the extreme Left who, with no small encouragement from Democrats to “act up” have gleefully done so. They have no soul.
News outlets are calling this an assassination, and while technically that’s correct, I’m seeing this for what it really is – the martyrdom of an American Christian.
We’ve seen it before. On April 20th, 1999, certain young people at the Columbine High School were gunned down by a pair of assailants: Cassie Bernall, Rachel Scott and some others.
One of the assailants purportedly asked Cassie, “Do you believe in Jesus?” while pointing a gun at her. She meekly responded, “Yes,” and he shot her dead.
America, do you believe in Jesus the way that Cassie does? How Charlie does? When professing such will cost you your life? It can and it does! With a greater frequency among those of the Democratic persuasion AND America in general, the answer is a resounding “NO!”
I recall the last Presidential election where a rally held for Kamala Harris had an attendee shout out, “Jesus is Lord!” To which Kamala replied in snarky fashion, “I think you’re at the wrong rally. You want the one down the road (referring to Trump’s), where there are a lot less people!”
And it appears that where Democrats do profess a belief in Jesus, it’s “another Jesus” (2 COR 11:4) – the “good ol’ liberal, socialist, ‘I Get You’ Jesus” Who loves and accepts everyone just as they are, with no need to repent or surrender their lives to live in holiness (so, if He accepts everyone, then apparently no one is being sent to hell - contrary to MATT 7:13; REV 21:27).
On the other hand, we’re seeing a ground swell of youth who are stepping forward and professing faith in Christ, many of which are the fruit of TURNING POINT USA’s labors. Even in my own little fellowship we’re having six young people (teens and pre-teens) baptized in the name of Christ this weekend.
There is a spiritual polarity taking place in our nation. The gray area of ambivalence and polite dismissal of Christ and His claims is getting more and more narrow, as both extremes are becoming more defined, emphatic and outspoken.
It’s very much like:
REVELATION 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
DANIEL 12:10
"Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
2 TIMOTHY 3:12-13
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
We’ve watched in horror as Iryna Zarutska was repeatedly, brutally, ruthlessly stabbed from behind by DeCarlos Brown Jr. It’s such tragic irony that she and her mother fled the Ukraine to what they believed would be a place of safety. Brown, a convicted criminal, guilty of armed robbery, felony, larceny, breaking-and-entering and yet somehow was roaming free to wreak havoc on an innocent young woman.
“North Carolina Representative Brenden Jones wrote on X that Ms. Zarutska’s death ‘is the result of decades of Democrat DA’s and Sheriffs putting their Woke Agendas above public safety. Violent criminals commit crimes with impunity, while families live in fear.”
About this same time, two children were shot and killed in a Minneapolis Catholic School, injuring seventeen others. Armed with a rifle, shotgun and a pistol, the 23 year old man who identified as a trans named “Robin” shot up the church windows from outside, injuring and killing people before turning his gun on himself in a suicide.
This litany of lethal intent goes on and on, aimed primarily (not exclusively) at Christian churches, schools, and gatherings.
In a sinister and spiritual climate change of souls, it was after a flashflood disaster along the Guadelupe River in Texas on July 4, 2025, killing seventy seven campers (many of them were children) and counselors, that the Left blamed on Trump (for supposedly cutting budgets on the National Weather Service – which wouldn’t go into effect another four months) as well as Trump supporters, claiming that “they got what they deserved”.
The madness is unrelenting, and it’s the fruit of what Scripture addresses in ROMANS 1:
ROMANS 1:19-32
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Note the sequence here:
“God also gave them up to uncleanness”; then “God gave them up to vile passions” and then finally “God gave them over to a debased mind”.
Quite literally in the Greek: a mind entirely void of any moral worth. This is where human sexuality is determined by feeling instead of chromosomes and bodies are then butchered to fit a social-media fueled narrative; where a baby is “a lifeless clump of cells” and seen as a “punishment” to be gotten rid of with no more remorse than one would excise a wart.
Where a nation’s own citizens would struggle to make ends meet while their government rolls out the red carpet for illegal aliens rewarded for breaking the law. And politicians of the Democratic sort fight tooth and nail to keep these criminals who rape, pillage and murder in our nation, to subject the American people, like Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray to even greater atrocities. Where guns are banned, and more gun legislation is demanded by Democrats who want to see the public disarmed* making citizens easy prey for those who find breaking the law a non-problem.
*- It’s a matter of historical record that when governments disarm their citizenry, it inevitably leads to some form of oppression that too often increases until people are threatened by perilous agendas and too many die.This is what happens when a society negates the concept of absolute, objective, ontological truth (which is truth that corresponds to reality) and everything becomes relative in a subjective, touchy-feely way and open to interpretation.
Listen – you can’t have justice without truth! And when truth is sacrificed on the altar of relativism, justice will become its next victim!
This is what happens when here in America, the laws are on the books, but not in our neighborhoods – and Constitutional Rights are ignored. Where the Bible is relegated to mere myth and fable, instead of revered as the Word of GOD.
It’s an indicator of a societal break-down:
JUDGES 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
PROVERBS 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Charlie Kirk was “a voice in the wilderness” crying out not just for political and social reform, but for the spiritual transformation of our nation. And many of our youth heard that call and responded. Some of them perhaps were simply intent on regaining “a better America” with financial and fiscal prosperity and a resurgence of “the American Dream” but others delved deeper – much deeper, “hungering and thirsting for righteousness” and found themselves “filled” (MATT 5:6).
While his death is indeed tragic, it’s my prayer that from this seed who has “died” and been “planted” that much fruit will come, and that seed known as Charlie won’t remain solitary (JOHN 12:24-25) – but a vast crop of spiritual fruit in the way of saves souls rises up – perhaps in a final harvest prior to the coming again of Jesus Christ for His bride!
There have been others who died “before their time” when in reality, their days that were numbered of GOD fulfilled their tally, and they simply went Home to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”!
People like Keith Green of Last Days News Ministries, gifted evangelist and songwriter, who died at 28 years of age. Jim Elliot, committed missionary who, along with his band of fearless and godly men, died at 29, and who declared that oft quoted heart cry: “He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep, to keep what he cannot lose.” David Brainerd, American missionary to Native Indians in the Northeast, who also died at 29. Robert Murray M’Cheyne, Scottish pastor and missionary who had a heart for Jews in Palestine in the mid-1800’s, also died at 29. And so many others. Of course the greatest example is that of the LORD Jesus Christ Who was crucified, died at 33 – BUT GOD!!! then raised Him up from the dead!
And that is the hope – the hope of the resurrection that we all rejoice in, Charlie, Keith, Jim and all the saints! And these blessed saints who were all “sold out for Jesus” (as we used to say back in the 70’s and 80’s) lived as intensely as they did intentionally, their beliefs in fluent accord with their actions.
Which just goes to show, it’s not longevity of life we should all be striving for so much as vitality of life!
JOHN 15:8-10
8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
JOHN 10:10
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Speaking of Keith Green, I vividly recall his song,
Song by Keith Green
Make my life a prayer to You
I wanna do what You want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers, no compromise
I wanna shine the light You gave
Through Your Son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know
You're really there
Well, I wanna thank Ya now
For being patient with me
Oh, it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh, You're coming again
You're coming to take me away
I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope Ya gave to me,
the love that set me free
I wanna tell the world out there
You're not some fable or fairy tale
That I've made up inside my head
You're God, the Son, You've risen from the dead
Oh, I wanna thank Ya now
For being patient with me (with me)
Oh, it's so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I'll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh, You're coming again (coming again)
You're coming to take me away
I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me
I wanna share the love
That set me free
Another poignant song – a hymn:
by James Russell Lowell
[Verse 1]
Once to every man and nation,
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever,
‘Twixt that darkness and that light.
[Verse 2]
Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And ‘tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied.
[Verse 3]
By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calvaries ever
With the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.
[Verse 4]
Though the cause of evil prosper,
Yet ‘tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
And upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above His own.
I am also reminded of the famous opening line from Charles Dicken’s story, A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.
In this generation of American life (and all the world), we’re witnessing a wretchedly dark spiritual condition. It’s all too easy to crumble in despair – BUT if the church were to take 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 seriously... SAINTS!!! This could be our finest hour!!!
In that Dicken’s story, the character of Sidney Carton said what I’m sure Charlie and these others would say – and did say, not just with their words, but with their lives:
“It is a far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far better rest that I go to, then I have ever known.”
That “far better thing”? Being faithful with a heart of love and committed devotion to the LORD Jesus Christ by taking our discipleship seriously… that “far better resting place”? In the arms of the LORD Who offers commendation and honor for a life surrendered to Him!
Can I say that for myself? Can you?
Are we truly content to living a ho-hum, lackadaisical, middle of the road, passive, half-way committed, Sunday-Go-To-Meeting life as a Christian that isn’t Christian the other six days of the week?
Did Jesus hang on the Cross and bear all of our sins and take on all the punishment that rightfully should have been ours, and rise from the dead, imparting eternal life by the Spirit, infusing us saints with the same power that raised Him up from the dead – did Jesus go through all of that, just so that we can live a comfy, cozy life that’s all about self-indulgence rather than the self-denial that He calls us to (MATT 16:24-27)?
Please understand, it’s not my intention to heap condemnation on anyone – I’m scrutinizing my life and finding lack of commitment in myself, where I can certainly step it up some – if not more!
We don’t need to remind ourselves (do we??) that we go around this life just once. It’s “one and done” with no do-overs. There isn’t a chance to return to this life and do things differently. Our time is now. We aren’t promised tomorrow, but let’s make a decision that starting tomorrow, we’re going to change our course, draw closer to the LORD, offer up willing ears and hearts to hear His call, wherever, however that call may direct us!
PSALM 30:1-12
1 <A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David.>
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. 3 O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. 6 Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved."
7 LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: 9 "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Here are an assorted number of videos paying tribute and offering sobering commentary on Charlie Kirk and the affairs of state by such as Ray Comfort, Todd Friel, Ben Shapiro (warning: he drops an ‘F-bomb’ near the end), Jack Hibbs and my own pastor from SHINE BRIGHT Church, Sonny Islas.
BEN SHAPIRO - UNTHINKABLE
RAY COMFORT - "Processing the Deadly Shooting of Charlie Kirk"
JACK HIBBS - About Charlie Kirk “Well Done Charlie”
SONNY ISLAS - "A Special Message In Light of Current Events"
Please keep Erika Kirk and her family in prayer, as well as the leadership of TURNING POINT USA.
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