Today is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. For many of us, it is still a vivid memory.
Instead of our usual “Fun Friday,” it is appropriate to reflect on the sovereignty of God, who is never surprised by the wickedness of men, but still loves us and has provided for our redemption.
Take a moment and let this song sweep over you. It’s based on the oldest surviving Christian hymn ever found. Read the article about its origins at this link.
I would like to read a book about where people were on 9-11. One person who worked in the Twin Towers was late for work because he was dropping his son off on the first day of school.
That little coincidence saved the man’s life.
Here in Texas, a woman told me that her father died in Detroit on 9-10. She was on the phone with American Airlines trying to get a flight to the funeral when the planes hit the towers. She was still able to get as far as Cleveland and her brother-in-law picked her up from there.
I was in a school making green slime and red elixir with middle-grade student in Wichita Falls. We were making a mess. I apologized to the vice principle and he said, “No! We don’t mind the mess. We are glad to have the students distracted today.” (We were right across from an Air Force Base.)
I’d buy a book like this. I’d reread it every 9-11.
Here are a couple:
The Only Plane In The Sky: An Oral History Of 9/11 by Garrett Graff
https://www.amazon.com/dp/150118220X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Fall And Rise: The Story Of 9/11 by Mitchell Zuckoff
https://www.amazon.com/dp/006227564X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
I’ve read both, and highly recommend them.
Thanks, Andrew.
I was in NYC that day. I just posted a Substack describing my experiences on Faithful Syence.
It was a great piece, Sy.
For anyone interested, click here:
https://sygarte.substack.com/p/in-memoriam-twenty-five-years?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=4332007&post_id=215015397&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1j2to1&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Thanks, Dan. For the comment, and for everything else. It’s a very emotional day for me, so I will say no more. God bless you.
Trapped on Eternity’s lethal ledge,
between the long fall and the flame,
they could only make a pledge
to hold hands, and call His Name
as they leapt to hoped-for grace,
a door to the other side
where they’d find a gentle Face
and a Heart in which they might abide.
I watched them through that tumbling fall
and their hands did not let go.
I watched them as a kind of thrall,
and watching, was compelled to know
that the ground where they would land
was to them His Mighty Hand.
Oh, Andrew! *sob*
Thank you for this respectful message and invitation to worship with Chris and Ben. I appreciate this.
Am passing it along to friends today.
Such a day. As was yesterday, mourning for Charlie Kirk.
Great evil is at work among us, but our God is stirring.
Love in Christ,
Deborah
I am not a poet. But today is different.
We must write the books that must be read
And fight the fight that must be led
By those who know the power of words
Far beyond the guns and swords
To tell the world the truth we know
And let the Spirit through us show
The guiding light of Christ’s own way
The only thing that saves this day
And rescues us from deep despair
And leaves us joyous in His care.
So to all my writer friends
Your work is that which truly mends
The broken hearts and grieving souls
With words that heal us on the shoals
Of fear and heartbreak, grief and pain.
So write my friends, and we all gain
Hope, peace, and even joy to read
The words you craft to fill our need.
Amen, Sy!
Thank you so much, this is so encouraging! We are not alone, the LORD will always be with us to strengthen us!!!
Shana Tova!
Sister Georjean
A song sung years ago by Damaris Carbaugh always comes to mind on 9/11. Christ in Me.
Please indulge me as I paste the lyrics here.
Christ in Me
The hope of glory
Christ in me
My shelter from the storm
Should men of evil have their day
Or should the earth’s foundation sway
But none of these can take away
The living Christ in me.
The Desire of all nations
Is the Rock of my salvation
Jesus Christ, the King
Of Heaven stands with me.
Christ in me, the hope of glory
Christ in me, my shelter from the storm
Should men of evil have their day
Or should the earth’s foundation sway
None of these can take away the Living Christ in me.
The Hope of Glory
Christ in me, my shelter from the storm
Should men of evil have their day
Or should the earth’s foundation sway
None of these can take away the living
Christ in me, the hope of Glory
Christ in me, my shelter from the storm.
Should men of evil have their day
Or should the earth’s foundation sway
None of these can take away the living Christ in me.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.
None of these can take away,
The living Christ in me
The living Christ in me.
I was homeschooling my 8-year-old daughter. My dad called to tell me to turn on the news.
I called my husband at his school, and as we were talking, the second tower fell.
I watched it fall again last night during one of the specials, and I wept like I did 25 years ago.
My daughter asked me, “What if the bad men come here and drop a bomb on us?”
I asked her, “What would happen if they did?”
“We would die,” she said.
“And what happens when we die?”
“We go to be with Jesus.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No.”
“No matter if we live or if we die, we belong to Jesus,” I told her. “But we have cows and cornfields. The bad men don’t care about our area.”
Still, we couldn’t turn on the news when she was in the room for 2 solid weeks or she’d weep. All that trauma and we were 3 hours away from NYC. I can’t imagine being there.
Lord Jesus, come quickly!