With
every intention, I attempted to publish this to my blog on the day of, instead
of several days later. Due to personal
time constraints hindering that publication date and a continual flow of
thoughts of regarding the subject matter for this blog, I am truly sorry that I
was unable to post until now.
I
truly hope you will read and re-read what follows and think both politically
and spiritually regarding what you find here.
May we all be inspired, yet warned that we are at a crossroads in the
life of America. The choice we make will
determine the direction.
JWF September 13, 2013
Twelve Years Ago Today
Can you remember where you were twelve years ago today? Some were hurrying about the daily activities
of getting kids to day care and school; others running late for work; still
others sat at the table savoring the last cup of coffee before planning the
day’s activities. You may have been
driving along the expressway listening to the latest morning talk show or sitting
in a terminal waiting on a plane to take you to some faraway place. Wherever you may have been you will never,
ever forget this day.
Today, twelve years ago, America became a punching bag for
the evil and heart filled hate of a group of people who perpetrated the most despicable
of acts ever committed on our soil, in our own backyard. We had read about, and watched as images
raced across the television screen of the suicide bombers of third world
countries. We had been told of those who
believed it was their call-a holy mission-to kill others along with themselves
for the cause of some religious thoughts, mandates of some religious leader.
Yet, on this day in history the religious practice of a band
of fanatical and deceived individuals, carried out an act of war on American
soil, aimed at the American people and in hopes of destroying the faith of the
American people. These fanatics took
over four planes filled with passengers, diverted them from the intended
destination in hopes of taking out the center of government, the military headquarters
and the financial centers of the American people. Even if they were unable to take out the
aforementioned places, they desired to at the least cripple these bastions of
leadership, thus wreaking havoc and making weak what is the pride of the American
people.
Bringing pain, sorrow, shame and despair upon the American
people was accomplished in a matter of several hours on the morning of
September 11, 2001. As two planes
collided with the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and another plane crashed
through the western wall of the Pentagon, American people stood with total
dismay as war was declared against America on American soil.
The fourth plane was not as successful in its plot and
mission as the three others were. The
fanatics who hijacked that plane and the passengers aboard United Airlines 93
crashed in a field outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The religious fanatics had hoped to take this
plane and crash it into the Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C. The passengers of Flight 93 said, “Let’s Roll,”
and became American heroes that day, taking a proactive stance attempting to
overcome the hijackers.
In all, almost 3,000 people lost their lives on that
gruesome day. Included in that number
are 227 civilians, 19 hijackers, and 9/11 is known as the deadliest incident
for firefighters in the history of the United States. On that day in history, children lost
parents, parents lost children, husbands lost wives, wives lost husbands and on
and on it goes. Fire Departments, Rescue
Units, Police Departments, and the Port Authority lost members to the senseless
and inexcusable actions of a small group of Islamic terrorist who had such a
deep seated hatred of the American people they would give their life to cripple
and maim the targeted nation.
That day in history is forever engraved into the mind of the
pure, hot blooded American. We are
grateful for the lives of those who aided and assisted in the day of and the
days following this horrendous event in the life of American history. We are also still very raw when it comes to
any thought of someone planning or even thinking about bringing some action
against our brothers and sisters of the Red, White, and Blue.
The immediate effects the 9/11 attacks had on the American
people is seen in the Police and rescue workers who took leaves of absences
from their jobs around the country to go to Ground Zero in New York City. These people in large part knew no one who
had been in involved in the event, but went to that place, traveling at their
own expense to recover bodies from the twisted remnants of the Twin
Towers. During the days following the
attacks, blood donations across the United States surged and continued so for
weeks to follow.
As these fanatical Islamist Terrorist perpetrated their evil
plan, taking the lives of many, and disrupting the peace and tranquility of the
American people, there were some important steps taken immediately which
demonstrated the resilience of this nation and the faith and belief which was
deeper and more firmly planted than some expected.
Already mentioned, but bearing to be pointed out with some
explanation were the individuals who answered the call. The call was something which was borne deep
within them, something only heard by those who understand.
Today, a dear friend posted on Facebook, what he termed as a
“rant” but I find noteworthy. Todd
Sassono is a talented musician who has played bass for several Nashville
country stars, including Craig Campbell (www.CraigCampbell.TV). While still playing in various venues, both
in Alabama and Nashville, for the last few years he has been employed by the
Alexander City Fire Department, as a certified fire fighter and paramedic. His post which follows was a “WOW” moment for
me as it brought tears to my eyes and a knot in my throat.
Today is a
day that is always full of emotion for everyone, but especially for anybody
that puts on a badge. It doesn't make us bulletproof or invincible. I can't
lift a mountain or an 18 wheeler. We don't even consider ourselves "the
brave". Many of us just realize that we are the ones stupid enough to be
running towards the danger where everybody is running from. We run towards the
gunshots, the fully involved house fire, just doing a job and hoping to clock
out. I've had a man see me out at a restaurant and pay for my dinner, then give
my son a $5 bill to buy a toy because I saved his life one night (he obviously
had me mistaken for a good paramedic. Lol). I had my calling 9/11/2001 and
joined the fire service as a volunteer shortly after. Anyway, I'm saying all
this to say thank you to all my brothers and sisters in red and in blue for
being there behind me, next to me, or in front of me, heading into the unknown
and hoping to just get home after 730.
There are other stories like his, stories of valor as men
and woman have taken up the call to defend, protect and serve our country. The following is a story I saw today related
to a firefighter turned actor, who spent several weeks following 9/11 at his
old post.
Few
people know that actor Steve Buscemi was a New York City firefighter. Fewer
people know that he rejoined his Engine crew in the aftermath of September 11,
2001. The Reservoir Dogs
star anonymously searched for fallen firefighters and other survivors for
several days following the attacks. He reportedly worked 12 hour shifts as a
volunteer with FDNY Engine 55, his old firehouse. “He put in 60 hours on top of the pile,
pulling out victims,” a retired FDNY battalion chief Richard Ardisson, 56, said
to People magazine. “Not delivering
coffee or giving moral support. He was exhausted and covered in soot.” Buscemi served FDNY for four years in the little
Italy section of New York City. He continues to stay involved with FDNY.
Even in the days and months that followed it appeared there
had been a renewal of faith. Churches
around the nation reported a new desire of people for worship and the study of
scriptures. Attendance in churches was
at an all-time high.
It escalated from there as men and woman have taken up arms
and fought the evil empire of Al Qaida in places too numerous to mention. Our service personnel in all branches of the
military have answered the call of duty, serving with honor and dignity,
fighting a war that cannot be won. My
humble opinion is that the leadership at the time performed as best they knew
how under the circumstances and made great strides in showing the world that we
would not stand idly by while terrorist killed our people on our own soil. We are American through and through and will
not allow “the least of these” to be slaughtered in the name of some religious
philosophy by some fanatical zealot who declares a holy war.
Therefore the heroes of our country marched off to war under
the banner of revenging the blood spilled and with the Red, White and Blue
waving proudly. These individuals saw
things that some will never, ever talk about.
On patrol, they would encounter woman locked arm and arm approaching
them, with the enemy hiding behind their skirts, shooting our American troops. Ultimately, the only way to survive was to
take aim, pull the trigger and watch the woman fall lifeless to the ground,
along with the enemy soldiers. They
endured the hardships of the desert, the warfare of the mind, the dangers of
IED’s, and the hopelessness of the situation many live in, in places some still
cannot pronounce, much less spell. Some
of these have returned home without limbs, with severe and debilitating
injuries, and with psychological issues.
Yet, they are the heroes of our time; they fought the battle with pride
and with a deep sense of humanity. I salute
the military personnel and realize I am indebted to them, and able to celebrate
my freedoms as an American because of their sacrifice.
In the days of 9/11 and that followed the American people
assumed a greater degree of patriotism than witnessed in the past. More flags were posted, more pride was shown,
and more love of country was rooted deeply in the landscape of society. We witnessed a great surge in the embrace of
freedom. It was truly a new day of love
for country.
I guess this would be something which would come when you
witness the world you have known as a place of freedom and liberty come to a
standstill before your very eyes. We
wept as we viewed the images of the Twin Towers billowing with smoke, bodies
and debris falling to the earth, and then the collapse of the icons into a pile
of rubble. We were stunned to hear the
reports of the potential that this was a suicide bombing, perpetrated by
terrorist, strategically planned and executed.
We were aghast when the word came that our nation’s leaders were
targeted in that place we hold dear, the seat of government-Washington,
D.C. Our blood was chilled when we are
informed that terrorist had plotted to destroy America.
All of these things led to an immediate call on the God of
heaven; crying out to the Author of Creation, the one true God of the
Universe. In a time of trouble, pain and
greatest time of sorrow, the people of the United States turned to God. Yes, some came with deep and condemning
questions, but the most came for comfort, relieve and solace. Churches filled with people, around the
nation, as doors were unlocked and lights were turned on. Altars were crowded, as mourners knelt before
the railings to plead and cry, talking to the all-knowing God. Sound bytes recorded speeches laced with all
manner of references to our only help and hope comes from the one true God. It appeared that this may have awakened the
spiritual hunger and thirst for the Living God.
National calamity results in a search for meaning and
purpose in life. The search happens on
the national front because of the strong flow away from God and God’s
ways. America had experienced times of
renewal and revival in times past, when there was conflict or chaos. We only need to search history and see this
as the case. But more times than not,
the fire only intensifies to be snuffed out by the same ones who appear to be
holding the torch. These things are
nothing more than a flash in the pan, a use of the correct terminology at the
appointed time.
I think today of those many times that we-and I do hold all
of us responsible even though it might be offensive-for the Bible being removed
from the classroom, prayer being tampered down, and the prohibition of a
monument of the Ten Commandments. I
think of the many, many children which have been aborted, the suicide-assisted
deaths, and the senseless killing of children in our schools. I am reminded that there are corporations
which have time and again fought for religious rights, only to be condemned by
some activist group proclaiming the separation clause. How very far we remove ourselves from the God
of Creation to reinvent ourselves, only to find ourselves in bondage.
Amazingly we have people who wish to rewrite the history of
our great land, to take away any of the references to God, to divine
providence, and to a search for freedom of worship. Our country was established upon the
principles of the Word of God and by Godly, God-fearing individuals who desired
to worship God, serve God, and share the Gospel of Christ. The pilgrims came to the shores of the new
land with the hopes and dreams, with a deep seated faith that they had been
charged as missionaries of the message of God.
Due to these types of situations, it seems we as a nation
move further and further away from God, having a form of godliness, but denying
the power of it; appearing to be God fearing, but acting as if it matters not
what God thinks.
With the tragedy which came upon us on 9/11 and the loss of
lives you would think that it would cause us to be closer than ever before 12
years later. In the wake of the events
of 9/11 the people of America demonstrated such an outpouring of love, care,
compassion with hearts that were broken for the pain of the situation, but
hearts overflowing with the need to do something, anything to help the fellow
man. One should suspect that this alone
would make us more like Christ, examples of the power and presence of the Holy
Spirit.
Yet, the appearance of a renewal on the day and in the wake
of 9/11, the human interest which surged, the falling into a time of prayer,
and the attendance in church services was only a passing fancy and a flash in
the pan of what could have, should have been.
For as the time came which distanced us from the tragedy and the
rhetoric of the moment that we were “One Nation Under God” and singing “God
Bless America,” so came the falling away from the moment which could have
defined us and proven that we were what we said we were.
This week I have been listening to the CD Audio book titled, The
Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America's Future by author Jonathan Cahn. Here is a synopsis of
the book from Amazon:
Is it possible...
That there exists an ancient mystery that holds the secret of America s
future?
That this mystery lies behind everything from 9/11 to the collapse of the
global economy?
That ancient harbingers of judgment are now manifesting in America?
That God is sending America a prophetic message of what is yet to come?
Before its destruction as a nation, ancient Israel received nine harbingers,
prophetic omens of warning. The same nine harbingers are now manifesting in
America with immediate ramifications for end-time prophecy.
Hidden in an ancient biblical prophecy from Isaiah, the mysteries revealed in
The Harbinger are so precise that they foretold recent American events down to
the exact days. The revelations are so specific that even the most hardened
skeptics will find it hard to dismiss or put down. It sounds like the plot of a
Hollywood thriller with one exception... IT’S REAL.
While listening I was drawn to a scripture which was
prominent in Part of his explanation of the events and the results which came manifest
themselves in it. It is a verse from
Isaiah:
“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild
with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will
replace them with cedars.”
Isaiah 9:10 (HCSB)
A most obscure verse which in its contextual meaning related to Israel, is
almost uncanny how it appeals to and relates to where we are 12 years later.
I've been attending Beth Israel
under Jonathan Cahn's leadership for over two decades. I have never seen or
read anyone that can unpack information with the facility he does. Having been
familiar with much of the information and facts contained in The Harbinger
through Rabbi Cahn's sermons over the years, I am still blown away by the
amount of seemingly new information in this book as well as the method and
order of its revealing. He brilliantly unfolds this message that needs to be
(and is) as resoundingly clear as can be: God is warning this country to turn
back to Him. As anyone with ears to hear and eyes to see can tell, we are
living in perilous times. This narrative and the true, checkable facts it is
built around demonstrate that even in chaos, there is order ... and that
nothing happens (or will happen) apart from God's allowance. He is in control.
If you doubt His being in control - or if you doubt the parallels between God's
dealings with ancient Israel and the events in America since and including
9/11, reading The Harbinger with an open mind will change that. Reading it with
an open heart might just change your life.
The verse is said in defiance, a revealing of a spirit of
rebellion within the heart, over the attack by the Assyrian nation on the
people of Israel. God sent the enemy to
bring the people back to God. He desired
they walk with Him in obedience, but they turned away. They vowed they would remember, they would rebuild,
and they would be stronger. Please make
note of the “They would;” the vow is that nothing would keep them from the task
to which they have set their minds and hearts.
Nothing would stop them; no, nothing, not even God.
As God uses things to draw people back to Him, people
continue to dream up their own plans to counter the acts against them. Even though our money may say, “In God We
Trust,” our heart and the actions of our hands says that we trust in nothing less
than ourselves and what we can do.
…Two former Democratic U.S.
senators both cited an obscure Bible verse in their efforts to comfort and
embolden Americans after the 9/11 attacks – both apparently misunderstanding
the context of Isaiah 9:10, which represents a repudiation of the role of God
in the affairs of men.
The speeches by former Senate
Minority Leader Tom Daschle in a joint session of Congress the day after 9/11
and one by Sen. John Edwards, a vice presidential candidate on the third
anniversary of the attack in 2004, represent two of the more dramatic elements
of The Harbinger.
Both Daschle and Edwards later
fell into disgrace and no longer hold any public office. Daschle was nominated
to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by Barack
Obama, but was forced to withdraw his nomination after revelations he failed to
accurately report and pay his income taxes. Edwards ran for the Democratic
presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008, but he was later indicted by a North
Carolina grand jury on six felony charges of violating multiple federal
campaign contribution laws to cover up an extramarital affair he admitted to
following his 2008 campaign. Ultimately Edwards was found not guilty on one
count, and the judge declared a mistrial on the remaining five charges, as the
jury was unable to come to an agreement. The Obama Justice Department dropped the
charges and would not attempt to retry him.
It may be that national leaders are right, we are a nation
that God has brought judgment upon. We
have really made a mess of this nation founded upon the principles of the Word
of God. Recounted earlier were the facts
of some of these actions which have brought about the judgment. Let us add to that the fact we have outspent
the government’s ability to meet the financial demands enacted by elected
officials which have no desire for the nation, only serving their own selfish
self-centered passions. There is the
desire of many who are more comfortable with appeasing gods, instead of obeying
and recognizing the One True God. Due to
pressures from the loud minority of individuals, the highest court system of
the land has now recognized the desires of the deviant sexually confused than
bow to the desires of the biblical and God fearing majority.
How far we have come in such a short time! Twelve years ago we were brought together,
united and seeking the God of heaven for help and strength. We were shaken to the core of our being, coming
together for worship of the One True God.
Then we as an American people fell back to the old ways of bending and
bow before our own gods of wisdom, intelligence, military power, and rational humanistic
thinking. We have come so far in such a
short time!
I am American like the rest of you! I am true and blue, through and through. I was moved by the prayers and the renewal
witnessed in the wake of 9/11. I salute
the men and woman who served faithfully in recovery efforts. Today I remember those who lost their lives
and the heroes who gave all they could give.
Yes, I will say and proclaim until the day I die, “God Bless America!”
Yet, I am saddened by the signs of the times. As people go about their business as usual
life style, living for themselves, selfishly and self-centered concerned about
not one else but themselves, I am reminded that this is truly the end of times. Some would ask why it makes me sad? The answer is simple and easy: They will miss
the blessings of eternity, because they have lifted their fist to God and said,
“I will remember, I will rebuild, and I will be stronger.” No thought of God, no willingness to bend and
bow before the one to whom they owe some much.
So sad, so very sad.
I am praying for America, because I have not given up and
still believe that God has not given up.
I believe there is time for a move of God that will usher in the
end. The church must preach and the
Christian must live and people must be willing to find Him.
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him
while He is near.”
Isaiah
55:6 (HCSB)
Alright so this year I
am being a Scrooge. There, at least I
admit it and for some reason some say that the first step in recovery is to
admit you have a problem. Some folks, besides
me, need to take that advice and apply it.
But I didn’t come to preach, I came to tell you about my Christmas.
First decorating here, I
put lights on everything that would not move and it looked so pretty. The next year I built a tree of lights and it
too added to the decorative theme. We
repeated that the next year, but the last two years we have not decorated the
yard. On the porch we put up blue lights
as a part of Project Blue Light (www.fallenofficersremembered.org) and a
wreath which is unique as it is made with love by my wonderful bride..jpg)
Oh we have a tree we are
going to retrieve and place in the den for Santa, hang Savannah’s stocking on
the mantel, and fill the floor with wrapped presents and Santa will add to our
little treasure trove; of this I’m pretty sure. But we are not going out of the way to
decorate.
I was quite puzzled with
this predicament. I ventured back into
the house shaking my head. Tina was
attempting to explain why someone would do such a thing. Then she and Savannah directed my attention
my truck. I’m funny about my truck; now
I was alarmed.
The next morning, in the
middle of my sermon I said something about it, for some reason. I informed the congregation that I was
investigating the matter and would figure it out.
Lastly, Christmas joy
cannot be manufactured. It may not shine
on the outside; but it will change the darkness of the inside. Christmas joy comes from a relationship with
the Joy of Christmas, Jesus Christ. He
came to give life. It might be enhanced
by the sights and sounds of the season, but the season can at times be
unforgiven and sad. Yet, with Jesus in
the heart every day of the year, even in spite of the time of the year and
memories it brings to cause sadness and sorrow, the joy is still there. He never leaves us alone. He brings joy and happiness in different
ways. 
