5 Jan, 2007
Williams dies after limo is sprayed with bullets
DENVER -- Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed early Monday when his white stretch Hummer was sprayed by bullets after a nightclub dispute following a New Year's Eve party.
Police have no motive and no indication the 24-year-old Williams, a former Oklahoma State star, was targeted in the drive-by shooting of the limousine. The burst of violence occurred hours after the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention.
A little after 2 a.m., the limousine was fired on from a vehicle that pulled up along its side, hitting three people, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. He stated that there was a dispute at a nightclub several blocks from the shooting where Williams and his group had attended a party.
The club -- variously called Shelter or Safari -- is on the second floor of a building in a once-seedy stretch south of downtown that has a growing number of trendy bars, clubs and restaurants.
Anthony Criss, Williams' high school football coach in Fort Worth, Texas, said: "When he was younger, he always gravitated to the wrong crowd. I remember he went to church and the minister was talking to him about needing to pray and stop hanging around with the wrong people, and he started straightening up and doing the right thing."
In December, Williams spoke of returning to his hometown this offseason to talk to youngsters about staying out of gangs. Williams, who has two young children in the Fort Worth area, recently talked to Criss about establishing a free football camp for youth players.
"He wanted to be a good parent, a good father, a good example for his kids," Criss said. "He will be missed."
photo & story courtesy espn.go.com, 01/02/07
Be careful where you hang out!
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about hanging out with the wrong crowd?
My heart goes out to the family of Darrent Williams. I don't know where his heart was at spiritually the night of his murder, but it's pretty obvious that Darrent Williams would still be alive if he had not been partying at that club in Denver on New Year's Eve. The wrong crowd, wrong place, and wrong time, all led to a wrong ending to a young man's life. If Darrent Williams had read today's scripture and applied it on December 31, the rest of his story would be very different.
Read carefully the study notes from Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:
4:13-17 Even friends can make you fall. It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances may lure them to do wrong. Young people want to be accepted, so they would never confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. Many other people can't see how their friends' actions could lead to trouble. While we should be accepting of others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution. Don't let your friends cause you to fall into sin.
If you go to the wrong places with the wrong people to do the wrong things, you may not get killed, but you will be missing God's best.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the simple, but practical Truth of His Word. Confess any way in which you have been straying down the wrong path with the wrong crowd. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask His Spirit to give you the courage to walk with Him every day rather than giving in to wrong influences.
- Memorize Proverbs 4:14-15 to help you remember and apply today's important truth from God's Word.
- In your journal, keep a written weekly evaluation of whether you are being more influenced by friends, or if you are having a Godly influence on them?
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray for the family (especially his two little children) of Darrent Williams to experience God's love and comfort and hope for the future.
- Pray that God will use this tragic story to affect the many teenagers whose life stories are at a dangerous edge.
- Use this story of Darrent Williams to talk with your friends about making good choices. This may lead to them asking you why? Let Jesus help you make the 3 story connection.
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a topic for study and discussion with your youth group or small group.
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