Every generation has their landmark event that places them in history as a generation. My parents both spoke of where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan. For my grandparents, it was the sinking of the Titanic and then the Lusitania which drew us into World War 1. For my generation it was the assassination of President Kennedy. I was in Mr. Borland’s 7th grade civics class. I remember it as if it was yesterday. For the generation that are now young adults in college, the military or the working world, it’s the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers 15 years ago, otherwise referred to as simply 9/11. Who can forget when we as a nation watched in horror the footage of those planes being deliberately flown into the towers, people jumping to their death and the breathless moment when each of those towers went crashing to the ground. We all knew what that meant for those still inside. I remember the eerie lack of air flight for several days until the government gave the all clear. They call it terror for good reason. When people are attacked by surprise on their own turf, it is in fact terrorizing. As Christ followers, though, we have no reason to fear what man can do to us (Proverbs 24:19; Psalm 118:6) but rather are called upon by our Savior to see those who would hurt us, through His eyes (2 Cor. 5:14-16). God’s Word tells us 150 times to “fear not!” We are to rejoice in our infirmities and to love and pray for those who hate us (Matt 5:44). Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to do that. But the Holy Spirit, who dwells in me and in all true believers, does love them. If we are truly surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, He will empower us to love our enemies and be at peace in our spirit no matter what happens to us while we’re still here on this earth (Ps 23). Fear disables us. God’s peace empowers us! Our heartfelt prayers go out for all those families who lost loved ones that day and for our country as we remember 9/11.
Our thanks to Captain Michael Hartranft and the four member honor guard from the Egypt division of the Whitehall Fire Department who helped us honor the memory of those souls lost in the attacks fifteen years ago with a bell ringing ceremony on Sunday 9/11.
