Where Were You On September 11, 2001?

I can remember exactly where I was when the Twin Towers in New York went down on 9/11/2001, and I bet you can remember where you were too. 

I was walking down the street in St. Petersburg, Russia at the time it happened.  Unknown to me and my two companions, the news of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon had been broadcast by radio and television as we were sightseeing around the area of our hotel.  As we were returning to our hotel, a car with four men slowed down near us and said something like “God Bless America!” (in English).  I have never figured out how people there knew that we were Americans by just looking at us for just a moment. 

Our lives were changed because of 9/11, in ways that our friends and loved one’s at home were not.  My traveling companions were Kep & Carolyn Stone, Jenni Bales, Don Clendenin, and Jim and Priscilla Kankel.  Initially, it was terrifying to be away from home in a foreign country (especially Russia!) when we heard about the terrorist attack upon our country.  When we all gathered in Kep and Carolyn’s hotel room and watched in disbelief as the Towers crumbled on the TV screen (even though we didn’t  understand the Russian commentator) we cried and prayed for our families at home and for our country, and as we did a peace that passes understanding came. 

The life changing impact for us came as a result of the compassion and sorrow that was displayed by the people we met in Russia, not only for us as Americans who had experienced a horrible attack upon our country (which they had endured for years), but for our country.  A number of times men and women personally spoke to me, with tears in their eyes, about how sorry they were for the loss of life and property in our country.

One man particularly stands out in my memory.  I don’t remember his name, but I remember the Soviet uniform that he wore, his chest adorned with medals awarded in another era, and I remember that he told me (through a translator) that he was in the army that had fought Hitler and held his army back from invading Moscow…and he told me that he was praying for my country, that God would grant us peace, and protection….and I remember the tears in both our eyes as we looked into each other’s souls.

The change that occurred in me because of 9/11 might not be the same that occurred in you, because of where I was, and the people who surrounded me.  I had grown up being taught to fear the Soviets, now called Russians.  But I saw that not only are they people with passions much like ours, but those I met (and I met many) were very kind and very gentle, and very giving to the point of hurt.  We had been there to minister to them on a missions trip, but we were the ones ministered to.

Ground Zero

What About The Muslim?

All day long Saturday I sat in a seminar listening to a Lebanese born man talking about something that many may find quite controversial.  His subject was Christian, but it is something that the tiniest percentages of Christians ever consider engaging….much less actually moving out into…and that is making an effort to bridge a friendship to Muslims so that they might hear the gospel of salvation according to the Bible. 

I loved this seminar.  If you had been there you would have loved it too.  I could have listened to the speaker for days, but the day-long seminar was over much too quickly.  Here’s a few things I learned:

·         Most of us Christians are afraid to engage a Muslim in conversation about God.

·         Most Muslim people are open to a conversation with us about God, and would welcome it.

·         Many Muslim people are searching for God, and desire a personal relationship with Him.

·         Muslim people believe in the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, and believe Jesus is the Word of God.  (therefore, the opportunity to build a bridge to them)

·         Muslim people are not hard to engage in conversation and welcome friendship with Americans, even Christians.

·         There are approximately 7 million Muslims in the United States.

·         Most Muslims have never read the New Testament or heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

·         Muslims are making decisions to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in record numbers.

So what does it take for you to be equipped to engage a Muslim in a friendship that would potentially allow you to share Christ with him/her?  The first thing is a genuine heart for the lost.  Do you have that?  If not, ask God, and He will give it to you.   I guarantee it!

Then, you need training.  If you have a heart for the lost, you will want to be trained.   If you are going to a church that doesn’t offer training that equips people to be an effective witness, I might ask, why are you going to that church?

Come on.  Get on God’s program, and let’s be about what’s on His heart:  people who need to be reconciled to the Father God.  (1 Timothy 2:4)

At 10,000 Ft. Elevation

Last weekend my son-in-law, Cody, and I took a back-pack trip in the Twenty Lakes Wilderness area, way over on the other side of the Sierras, just twenty minutes West of Highway 395.  We drove over on Friday, moteled it in Lee Vining, and then drove back up to Saddlebag Lake Saturday morning.  We took the water taxi to the far end of the lake and then began our hike into the Inyo Wilderness Area.  (They should have called it the Mosquito Wilderness Area.) 

We had no destination in mind…we were simply looking for trout.  We had our fly-rods with us, along with plenty of food, some clothing, and our sleeping bags and tents.  What we found up there at 10,000 feet is what I mentioned to Cody as being what the Garden of Eden must have looked like.  I took lots of pictures, and I’ve shown a couple here, but a one-dimensional photo barely gives a glimpse of the awesome beauty of God’s creation in this mountainous lake-filled terrain.

We found lots of fish, and we could tell that they weren’t pressured by lots of fishermen.  (That’s what you get when you are willing to hike for the fish.)  They were actually pretty easy to catch, and the breath-taking color of these brook trout is only found in wild fish…along with their fight.  Hatchery fish are dull in color by comparison, and they lack the fight.  There were times that I was sure I had a twelve-inch brookie on, and I pulled in a 3-incher!  We caught and released over 50 fish on Saturday.

But the highlight of the trip was really the stars.  Have you ever seen the stars on a moonless night, from 10,000 feet elevation?  The word “breathless” is simply too trite to use for the magnificence of the glory of the heavenlies that were shown above.  It seemed that I could simply reach up to touch them; they were so close….and so many!  If only my little camera could have taken a worthwhile picture!

A Healing Miracle Thursday Night

I just got an email from one of the men in our Thursday night men’s group, where we’ve been on a track of studying and experiencing the Holy Spirit for 16 weeks now.  This is a great group of guys who are pressing in to the Lord, and want everything He has for them.  It’s a dangerous group!

The email I received testifies of a healing/deliverance (not sure which. Does it matter?) that one of the guys received from the Lord.  He wrote that he had a “catch in his throat” that made swallowing difficult since the previous Saturday.  He asked for prayer Thursday night, and we all gathered around him and prayed.  That evening his throat opened up, and has remained open.  Thank you Lord!  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  (Hebrews 13:8)

He Still Heals

I talked to my dad on the phone today, and he told me an interesting story that came from a friend of many years, George Thompson of Bakersfield, CA.  These two are old cronies from the days when George managed the Dunlaps Department Store in Bakersfield, and my dad leased the shoe department as a concession.  They became close friends, and I think George had a hand in my dad coming back to the Lord.  Now both of these guys are in their 80’s and they stay in touch, though miles apart.  They actually write handwritten letters back and forth.  Imagine that.

George’s 15 year old granddaughter was on vacation with her family in small town Nevada…when she went into a diabetic coma.  She was rushed to the hospital, but was transferred to Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas.  Apparently the medical team was unable to get her to respond to medical treatment, and her vitals worsened over a three day period as she remained in a coma. 

Well, old George got on the phone and called every praying Christian he knew, and got them to praying for his granddaughter.

Do you believe God heals today?  If you’re a Christ-follower, you should.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)  These signs shall follow those who believe. (Mark 16)  Healing is the children’s bread.

The prayers of the faithful were heard that day, and the granddaughter woke up, asked for a meal, and left the hospital that morning.  For those who were praying, the faithless word “coincidence” is only  found in the dictionary…but not in the Word of Faith.  (Romans 10:8,9) 

A good story

Everybody loves a good story, and I’ve got one for you.  This is a short testimony that was emailed to me by a friend that shows how sometimes it takes a near death experience for some of us to come to grips with our mortality and our inability to control our lives.  It also shows how Truth cuts through a hardened heart and mind, and how the power of God is supreme.  Enjoy!

“As a painfully shy 14 year old, new to town, school and puberty, I drifted towards a band of kindred misfits. Smoking ineffective marijuana was our cement. Before the first bell we met at the creek near school to smoke our seeds & stems. Bloodshot eyes proved we were cool. This was the beginning of my four decade grass habit.

College required a degree of focus my dope smoking wouldn't allow, so I was drafted into the Viet Nam war; 1969's draft number 13 -no joke.

Tropical grass is to the domestic weed as Wild Turkey is to beer. Because of that 'one hit wonder', the memories of my VN tour of duty are fragmented. I was spared an Infantry posting and was trained in Avionics -aviation electronics. I lost a couple of smoking buddies & gained a career. Shame from my shallow regard for their demise occasionally bubbles to the surface to this day.

Released for the Army, I began my manic scramble for satisfaction. But just as no amount of sugar replaces the need for a little salt, my chase for Possessions, Power & Prestige could not sate my hunger for peace of mind. I smoked and drank my pain killers to no avail.

Two auto accidents gradually turned me towards Christ. Back in 1975 I had a minor fender-bender, but it triggered my lifelong battle with epilepsy. Conceit over my mind's reliability vanished. Then in 1997, my one-car accident caused spinal damage. The minor crippling & residual pain made my Narcissism a farce.

Then my toddler daughter wanted to attend 'happy school'; her name for Sunday School. A neighbor suggested 1st Presbyterian, so I grudgingly attended. Great music & nothing like the sweat-outs I recalled from my Mormon upbringing. But it was still off the mark for me.

I even went to a Men's Retreat. A big perm for a bald woman in my case, but the music was even better, the food was very good, and the guys were real. Then came Hal.

I called myself an Orthodox Agnostic in hopes the oxymoronic title would keep the ethnologists at bay. Hal, a soft spoken man with a logical mind, took me to task at the retreat late one morning. Using one truth at a time, he shattered my layers of defense against Christ. By the time he was done with me, I morphed from a smug know-it-all needing no aid to a blubbering mess pleading in prayer.

As if flipping a switch, the salt of Christ filled my scarred & empty heart. Prayer even relieved me of my drug addiction! Every day of biblical study & prayer adds depth to my life. Now I long to give back some of this joy."

Here I Am To Worship

It was Tuesday morning, somewhere between 7 and 7:30am, and a few of us were gathered for our weekly prayer time, singing along with Chris Tomlin’s Here I Am To Worship.  If you don’t know the song, you might recognize it by the lyrics.  Take a minute or two to read through these lyrics and let them settle on you…or if you want to hear it performed live by Chris Tomlin, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaUTv1pXRyU&feature=related

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
All together worthy,
All together wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
All together worthy,
All together wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
All together worthy,
All together wonderful to me

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
All together worthy,
All together wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
to see my sins upon that cross—

As I was sitting there Tuesday morning, soaking in the presence of the Lord as this song washed over me, the Holy Spirit revealed something fresh to me.  The bridge of the song goes “I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross….”

 As I’ve sung that song in the past, countless times, the image in my head is of my sin costing so much that I’ll never understand how unbelievably costly it was for Him to bear it on the cross.  But for the first time, that Tuesday morning, I saw the image in my head was WRONG.

 NO…the song goes, I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross…because THERE IS NO RECORD OF THEM.  They are forgotten by the Lord Jesus…and cannot be resurrected!  And with that, all sense of shame and/or condemnation….gone. 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1)

Thank you Lord!