Why Should We Remember 9/11?

Firemen at 9/11

Why Should We Remember 9/11?

By Stephen on Sep 11, 2015 01:00 am

Today is 9/11.

Read that sentence again.  It is very short.  But, It is a sentence filled with intense emotion and pain.  I hope you never forget where you were on September 11th, 2001.  I was in chapel at Bob Jones University when an announcement was made informing us all of what was happening.  I still remember seeing a girl clutching her cell phone and crying.  It was as if she was desperately trying to reach someone just so that she could hear their voice.

It has been 14 years since our country was attacked.  Today we must pause and remember what happened on 9/11. There are certain events in the history of America that every American must remember.  9/11 is one of those events.  Countless events have long been forgotten.  9/11 must never be forgotten.  Today, I want to give you four reasons why we must remember 9/11.

  1. The truth must not be re-written.  On 9/11, our country was attacked.  Islamic extremists murdered thousands of people.  These attackers were not Christian.  They were not Catholic.  They were not Mormon.  They were not Jehovah’s Witnesses.  They were not atheists.  They were Muslim.  They believed they were obeying Allah by murdering thousands of people.  They believed their actions were a holy act of worship.  We must remember 9/11 so that the truth is not changed.  It is possible that others will attempt to re-write the story of 9/11.  They may twist or alter the truth.  We must remember so that the truth will survive.
  2. The truth must be re-told.  The only reason I know about the attack on Pearl Harbor is because someone told me.  I was not there.  I was not alive in 1941.  But, I have been taught.  I have seen the pictures.  I have read the stories.  We must remember 9/11 so that we can tell the generations to come.  My children need to learn about 9/11.  They need to hear the stories.  They need to see pictures and watch the videos.  It is important for future generations to know what happened on 9/11.
  3. We must honor those who died.  Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11.  Most were civilians – just like me.  Many were firefighters, policemen, and other emergency responders who were trying to help.  If we forget, we will fail to honor them.  We must remember that thousands of men, women, and children were murdered.  Their lives matter.  Every life matters.  We must honor their memory by remembering what happened.
  4. Our turn may come.  Remembering 9/11 will help us prepare for the future.  You may find yourself on a hijacked airplane one day.  If that’s me, I hope I will have the courage (like the men on Flight 93) to stand up to the hijackers.  Perhaps one day, the terrorist attack will come to your neighborhood.  If so, I hope you will jump into action to help the injured and the hurting.  Thousands of Americans responded on 9/11 and on the days immediately following.  They disregarded their own personal safety to run to the aid of others.  There may come a day when it is our turn.  When that day comes, we must remember 9/11.  We must respond.  We must help.

Today is 9/11.  Always remember.  Never forget.

Stephen


Lee’s Addition:

“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you: (Deuteronomy 32:7 NKJV)

(Re-posted from the Window from Faith Baptist Church.) http://www.faithbaptistwh.org/2015/09/11/why-should-we-remember-911/

Twin Towers As Second Plane Hit

Twin Towers As Second Plane Hit

Twin Tower as it Collapsed

Twin Tower as it Collapsed

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Observations from an Outsider ~ by Stephen Simpson

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) at Bok Tower By Dan'sPix

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) at Bok Tower By Dan’sPix

Observations from an Outsider

I am an outsider.  I do not consider myself to be an avid birdwatcher.  I am an ignorant birdwatcher.  I like to look at birds, but most of the time, I have absolutely no idea what I’m looking at.  My ability to identify birds does not extend much past Blue Jays and Bald Eagles.

That being said, I have learned much from Lee.  Through her writing, my understanding of birds has grown and deepened.  She has broadened my ‘birding skills.’  I have come to better appreciate the wide variety of birds that God has created.

When Lee asked me to write an article for this blog, I was stumped.  What can I contribute to a birdwatching blog?  I finally decided to write to people like me – outsiders.  So, if you are like me – an ignorant birdwatcher – then this post is for you.

Mallard Mom and Baby at Lake Hollingsworth

Here are some observations from the outside.

Be Still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

  1. You and I need to Stop, Look, and Listen more.  We need to slow down and pay more attention.  It is so easy to go through life and totally miss the ‘birds.’  It is so easy to race from one activity to the next.  Let us take time to stop, close our eyes, and simply listen to the birds.  Let us take time to stand still and observe the rich diversity of birds all around us.
  2. You and I need to recognize that it is all about God.  God needs to be recognized more.  Every bird we see should direct our thoughts to God.  When you see a dove, think of the peace of God.  When you watch a Bald Eagle soar through the sky, think of the majesty and grandeur of God.  When you see a mother duck shelter and protect her babies, think of God how He shelters and protects His children.  Fortunately, we have Lee’s blog as a great resource to help us recognize God.
  3. You and I need to admit that God is not boring.  As we begin to recognize God more, we must admit that He is not dry or stale.  His creativity is infinite.  Which one of us could have dreamed up ‘sword-billed hummingbirds’ or ‘birds that drink seawater’ or ‘kakapos?’  Imagine, if the God of the universe put this much creativity into the birds of the air, how much more creativity must He have put into you and me.  We are of far more value to Him than the birds.  We bear His image.  God not only exquisitely designed the birds; He also designed each one of us.  Our God is not boring!  He is infinitely interesting!
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 ESV)
Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) by Robert Scanlon

Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) by Robert Scanlon


Lee’s Addition:

This blog owes very much to Stephen, our Assistant to the Pastor. When I was trying to find an outlet for my desire to use my Birds of the Bible lessons, it was Stephen who suggested that I write an article each Friday on our church blog. I said yes, but not knowing exactly what a “blog” was, I started one of my own, to learn how to lay out the articles for the “Fountain.” What you are reading, has been from that small beginning. Praise the Lord for letting Stephen make that suggestion.

Here are links to the first two articles on the Fountain in February 2008:
Birds of the Bible – Introduction and The Birds of the Bible ~ Eagles

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