We Remember...

by Roger @http://ateam.blogware.com

It's easy to acknowledge this day and say "we remember," without really reflecting on the events that transpired six years ago that ended the lives of almost 3,000 people. There were 2,974 fatalities, not including the 19 hijackers: 246 on the four planes (no one on board any of the hijacked aircraft survived), 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. Among the fatalities were 343 firefighters, 23 New York City Police Department officers, and 37 Port Authority Police Department officers. An additional 24 people remain listed as missing.

What's not easy is taking the time to stop and remember. To look back at the images, the stories, and relive the emotions of that awful day. But if we do not remember, we will likely lack the resolve to keep it from happening again. We are proud to be Americans, and we will not forget. Remember with us... see the time lines and images here, view videos here.

Trusting God and 9/11.

by Scott Hill @ http://fide-o.blogspot.com

It was six years ago today when I received an early morning phone call telling me to go turn on my television. “What channel?” I asked. “It doesn’t matter! Any of them!” was the short reply before the phone clicked dead on the other end. My wife asked who it was and I relayed the message as I searched for the remote among too many couch pillows. It took me a couple of minutes to recognize what I was seeing and grasp the magnitude of the situation. The information overload from taking heads, bobbing cameras, and scrolling text was overwhelming to my partially awake body. That is when the second plane flew into tower two. That part I understood.

I don’t know if the word surreal can even begin to describe my feelings as the first tower collapsed. I realized it was only a matter of time before tower two followed. How many people are in there? What caused this? Is this happening anywhere else? All these question and many more raced through my mind as I sat fixated on my 25 inch television. Surely this was a mistake of some kind. An air traffic control fiasco. However, the real truth was scrolling across the bottom of the screen in bright white against the red background. Terrorists have attacked.

The pastor in me began to mentally answer the questions that were inevitably going to be asked over the next few weeks. How could God allow this to happen? Why didn’t he stop it? Did this happen because of America’s wicked living? All the while watching the reality of people jumping from buildings and pictures of ash covered New Yorkers moved across the screen. In light of this my answers didn’t even seem to satisfy my own creeping questions.

It was in the midst of this tragedy that I was finally able to admit that God not only allowed these Muslim pagans to fly planes into the Twin Towers, He ordained it. For whatever reason, that I may never know, it was in the purpose of God for September 11^th, to be forever marked in the history of America. Many people searched for answers on that day, and on many days since as public or personal tragedies raise the inevitable questions. Yet, I take solace in the reality that whether I understand the reasons or not God has ordained all things whatsoever that come to pass. So ultimately I made a decision to trust that God is righteous. What he does is right.

There will be many who have far more vivid memories of September 11^th, 2001 commemorating the day. Those who lost friends, family, and co-workers have more attached to this day that my morning of television watching. Some, I am sure will even today ask the question, how could a good God allow this to happen. They may listen to heretics like Tony Campolo, or lunatics like Depak Chopra. They may turn to science or philosophy for answers. They may even believe there is no hope. Either way the day will go down in memory as more than just a day of national tragedy. As for me, I will always remember it as a day God once again proved He is sovereign. He is righteous. And He is faithful.

Trusting God after 9/11

By John MacArthur @ http://www.sfpulpit.com

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on September 11, the following Q&A article was placed on the Grace to You resource page. Six years after the original events, this reminder is still as timely as ever.

Question: Since the attacks on September 11, I’ve been anxious — even afraid. How can I be content when I’m worried the terrorists will strike again, perhaps where I live?

Response: Government officials warn another attack on the United States appears likely and despite their best efforts to protect, none of us is guaranteed safety. And so you’re certainly not alone in how you feel. All of us have felt unsettled since the terrorists assaulted our nation.

With the media giving alerts on anything remotely related to terrorist activity, some tremble, fearing the frontline may lurk anywhere—around the corner, at work, at home, or even in the atmosphere or drinking water. Others are more worried their business or retirement fund won’t survive the blow to an already over-burdened economy.

Doubtless, these are fearful times for many. Yet there is good news to report. But you won’t find the headline tracking across the screen of any news broadcast. The good news is found in God’s Word. It declares that though we are weak, vulnerable humans, God’s children can find strength and grace in Him even in debilitating circumstances. In fact, His resources are so abundant that He often displays His power through our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In a world that fears death, lives in complete emptiness, and has no hope or peace, God’s people can stand as testimonies that He is alive and gloriously at work, ministering in the hearts of His own.

Here are a few biblical principles we trust will quiet your heart in contentment, even when all you may sense right now is weakness or worry.

Face Death Confidently

The first principle is this: death is inevitable for everyone. At first glance, that doesn’t appear a helpful cure for anxiety at all, does it? But unless you come to grips with that reality, none of the other principles listed below will provide you with any contentment at all.

There are many ways to die, whether by terrorist attacks or “natural causes,” but each one ushers the dead before God in judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Are you prepared for that judgment? Do you have confidence God will spare you? On what basis do you hope to have God’s eternal acceptance? We urge you to examine your spiritual state before God. Click here to read an article that can guide you through that examination.

Once you’ve settled the matter of your eternal destiny after death, Scripture says you can have confidence in the face of danger. You’ve learned the comfort Jesus delivered when He said:

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31)

Face Tomorrow Hopefully

At times you can lose focus on your security after death and tremble over tomorrow. God, in His fatherly compassion for our child-like weaknesses, has given us biblical instruction on how to deal with that kind of worry and anxiety. Matthew 6:25-34 contains tailor-made instruction for peace and contentment. In that passage, Jesus gives us three reasons for not worrying about this life: Worry is unnecessary because of our Father, uncharacteristic because of our faith, and unwise because of our future.

Unnecessary Because of Our Father. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they (vv. 25-26)?

Uncharacteristic Because of Our Faith. And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith (vv. 27-30)!

Unwise Because of Our Future. Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (vv.31-34)

Face Today Actively

Just as Matthew 6 is Jesus’ great statement on worry, Philippians 4 is the apostle Paul’s charter on how to avoid anxiety. The teaching is clear, compelling, and direct. In Philippians 4:6–9, Paul says not to worry, but he doesn’t leave you there. He helps you fill the vacuum by directing you toward positive steps: right praying, right thinking, and right action.

Right Praying. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [vv. 6-7].

Right Thinking. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things [v. 8].

Right Living. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you [v. 9].

Reflect on God’s truth expressed in those verses, meditate on the Bible — especially the Psalms — and you will find your heart settled by a kind of peace that abides no matter what circumstances or uncertainties come your way.