Omaha

Please pray for the families of the victims of the mall shooting yesterday.

The FBI reported in September that violent crime in Omaha increased last year at four times the national rate — a 7.6 percent increase compared to 1.9 nationally. There were 601.1 violent crimes per 100,000 Omaha residents last year, compared with 564.6 in 2005.

Conservatives no doubt will blame immigrants
Liberals will attribute it to increased poverty
My Pentecostal friends, I imagine, might speculate about spiritual activity, trying to name sins that opened the doors to demonic intrigue.

I'm not a sociologist, an economist, or understand much about the true yet hidden metaphysical nature of our world, but I do know that Omaha needs our prayers.

So please, pray for the big O.