September 11, 2018 (Tuesday)
On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism.
September 11, 2001, as FDR said in 1941 after Pearl Harbor, is “a date which will live in infamy.” Know simply as “Nine-Eleven,” it will not be forgotten.
Since that day, we have become very well acquainted with the term, “terrorism.”
Immediately there sprang up across our country two great words: “Patriotism” and “Prayer.”
As seen above, surviving firemen raised the country’s flag and churches of the land welcomed those who came to grieve and pray. Suddenly people freely talked of heroism and God, subjects that had been maligned by many. The voices of the haters, destroyers and purveyors of darkness were silenced, at least for a while.
Those who were there cannot erase the sights and sounds of madness and death. Business people, workers, fire fighters and law enforcement officers died that day. Some are still ill and dying from the poisoned air they breathed, others are haunted by their nightmares as they try not to remember.
I found links to videos showing scenes from that day. But I will not show them. You can find them if you decide you can handle the emotions they elicit. Perhaps it was good for me to see it all again. Maybe not. You can judge for yourself.
The dangers that lie lurking in the dark shadowy places of this world disturb our peace and make us wonder what may lie ahead. Let us cling to the Lord.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:4-9 NIV).