In Loving Memory of Cassie Bernall

In Loving Memory of Cassie Bernall After you have read this page, please sign the guestbook.

"Many are asking, 'Who can show us any good?' Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD."
--Psalm 4:6

This page is dedicated to the memory of Cassie Bernall.

In the aftermath of the horrific massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, it is difficult to look beyond the pain. It seems almost disrespectful to the victims to try to see any good coming from this awful crime, but God has a way of mining jewels of hope out of the depths of even the most senseless tragedy. The testimony of Cassie Bernall is one such jewel.

Cassie was only seventeen, but even at that tender age, she had become a source of inspiration to her peers. Classmates say she was well-known for always bringing her Bible with her to school. The "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet she wore was more than mere ornamentation for Cassie--it was her way of life. In a video shown at Cassie's funeral, she can be heard to say that her goal was to get rid of all hypocrisy, and truly live out her faith. Cassie achieved her goal--in a way that none of us can truly comprehend.

Two teen gunmen stormed Cassie's school, showing no mercy. Many have speculated as to the killers' motives and methods. Many victims were atheletes, but some were not. We will never really know why Cassie was chosen to die. Perhaps they knew of her reputation. Perhaps her bracelet caught their attention. What we do know is that when they came to her, they found her hiding beneath a table, praying. She was saying, "God, why is this happening? I just want to go home." A widely circulated story tells that one of the murderers asked her "Do you believe in God?" Reportedly she replied, "There is a God...and you should follow his path."*

In a way, Cassie's prayer was answered in an instant, for now she is truly home. But she did not die in vain.

As news of her faith reached the media, the true impact of her passing began to materialize. As a result of her death, the story of her faith was bounced off satellites and broadcast around the globe. Countless newspapers and magazines have reprinted her story, and literally
hundreds of millions of people have heard of her courage and faith in God.

I praise God for Cassie Bernall. Whether or not the story of her proclamation is accurate, I still believe she truly embodied the words of the Apostle Paul, "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."(Phil.1:21) But along with Cassie there were many others, I'm convinced, who would have made that declaration. The pages of history are punctuated with the blood of courageous thousands who boldly professed their faith in God in the face of great danger and even certain death. Why? Are Cassie and the others just "fanatics?" The explanation is simple: Jesus is real. Cassie knew it in her heart. And I know it too.

Cassie was prepared to go, and today she rests in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Are you ready? If you had been staring down the barrel of the shotgun instead of Cassie, what would your response have been? When Cassie went to school that morning, she could not have imagined that she was living her last day on earth. Give your life to Jesus today. There may be no tomorrow.

"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'"
--Revelation 21:2-4

"Now I have given up on everything else

I have found it to be the only way

To really know Christ and to experience

The mighty power that brought

Him back to life again, and to find

Out what it means to suffer and to

Die with him. So, whatever it takes

I will be the one who lives in the fresh

Newness of life of those who are

Alive from the dead"

--a paraphrase of Philippians 3:8-ll, found
among Cassie's papers.

Please visit the other sites dedicated to the Columbine victims. I hope you will not infer my tribute to Cassie as a minimization of the others who died. I pray that God's peace will be with the families of all who lost their lives, as well as those who were injured. May this tragedy be a wake-up call to all of us, and may we strive to reach out to our troubled youth. History that is not learned from is often doomed to be repeated. May this not be said of Columbine.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (North American Edition), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

To talk more about Jesus,
or comment on this page, please email me.

*I have no desire to debate whether or not the popular legend about Cassie's death is accurate. We may never know for sure, and I prefer not to disrespect her memory with such useless speculation. Two things I do know with reasonable certainty: Cassie believed in Jesus, and now she rests in His holy arms. Goodbye, Cassie, and godspeed. I'll see you on the other side.

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