Sunday, September 11

This coming Sunday presents an unique opportunity for us.  It is the 10 year anniversary of a horrific day in our history.  Most of us can remember the details of where we were, what we were doing and can remember the days on end of non-stop news coverage of the attack on America and the massive loss of life.  It is, as President Roosevelt said of the Pearl Harbor attack, another date that will live in infamy.  We are planning to have a time, at the end of both services, to pause for prayer and to remember those who lost their lives, those who gave their lives in rescue efforts, and their families.

This Sunday will conclude the 10 week series of messages on “Values that Build Strong Families.”  We will walk through the 10 Commandments together, sings worshipful songs of praise and thanksgiving, then we will observe communion together.  It will be “The Lord’s Supper: As Memorial.”  A very appropriate time to focus on Jesus’ death and the Father’s love to willingly send His only Son to die for the sins of the world.  We will remember.

Let us never forget the amazing difference between the two events we will remember.  These radical, terrorist Muslims send other people’s sons and daughters to kill themselves and others.  (We should also remember that Muslim terrorists are not acting on behalf of all Muslims nor do all Muslims approve of such horrific actions.)  This is quite different from the God of the Bible, Yahweh, who gave His only Son to die so that others would not have to die.  That is radical love at its finest.

So, this Sunday, September 11 we will remember.  We will remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  And we will remember those brave men and women, who put themselves in great harms way, many sacrificing themselves, in valiant attempts to save lives.  We will remember.  We will remember the thousands who lost their lives and the families and communities forever affected.  We will remember that freedom is not free.  Our spiritual freedom was not free…it cost our Father in Heaven.  Our political freedom as Americans is not free…men and women served at great cost to ensure our freedom.  We will remember.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing,
Pastor Tom