On Tuesday, September 11, America was knocked to its knees. When the first plane hit the World Trade Center tower we thought that it was a horrible tragedy. How could a pilot make such a gross error in judgment? Did he have a heart attack? How could you not see the building? When the second plane came crashing into the World Trade Center everyone who was watching the horrific explosion knew that there was more to the incident than an accident. He was no misguided pilot. He was a misguided maniac bent on destruction. People began to wonder what would come next. I heard a lady scream, “Oh my God!” What building would be attacked next. How do you prepare for planes roaring out of the sky at their human targets? Shrieks of horror filled the air in New York City and in our nation’s capital.
Archive for October, 2001
Don’t Get Up!
Psalm 33
Sunday, October 21st, 2001
Will We Return To The One We Have Forgotten?
Hosea 4
Sunday, October 14th, 2001
A strange, but refreshing phenomenon is taking place in our country. If you watch the news, read the newspaper, or pick up copies of your favorite magazine at the grocery store then you are being bombarded with stories about faith, God, and prayer. We’re not talking about writers and speakers like Rev. Billy Graham, Bishop T.D. Jakes, or Pastor Chuck Swindoll talking about God. People like Peter Jennings, Katie Couric on the NBC Morning Show, and columnists like Kathleen Parker are sharing their own thoughts as they reflect on the tragedy that has struck our land. They are interviewing men and women from across our country who are seeking God in these desperate times. They are reflecting on how this tragedy has caused them to think about what truly matters in life. Kathleen Parker wrote a piece for USA Today this week that sounds more like a Sunday sermon than it does a column from a national newspaper. She writes, in her article, God, Country Gain Fragile New Toehold,
The Lion Has Roared…Are We Listening?
Luke4:18-19
Sunday, October 7th, 2001
Many years ago there was a small time, insignificant farmer and rancher who was busy taking care of his sycamore fig trees and tending to his sheep while the big world around him was carrying on business as usual. Amos never thought of himself as a man of the cloth. He had never been to seminary. Never sat at the feet of one of the great religious teachers of his day. He was content doing what he had always done and had never thought of a career change, but something happened. Amos found himself in the grip of God and God filled his mouth with words that were not his own. He could not hold them in no matter how hard he tried. He could not go back to tending sheep no matter how bad they needed him. The sycamore figs would have to wait for someone else to tend their fruit. There was a message that had been given to Amos that had to be declared to the nations. The Lion had roared and the nations were standing at attention. The Word of the Lord had to be spoken.