September 11, 2001: A Day of Terror

Sowing Seeds | 9/12/01 | Larry Davies

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Sowing Seeds of Faith

September 11, 2001: A Day of Terror,

Larry Davies

* Linda hurriedly left the Boston hotel room for her morning flight to Los Angeles. It had been a long weekend for the young flight attendant but soon she would be home. Her fiancé called on the cell phone to confirm their dinner date. “I’ll be there to pick you up. What flight are you on?” A little impatiently, she reminded him… “Flight 11! Flight 11.”

* David wolfed down a bagel and scanned the baseball scores before grabbing his brief case and heading out. It was dark as he drove to New York. “This could be my biggest sale ever,” he thought as he checked off the features for a new line of copy machines he was presenting to the insurance agency… located on floor 104 in building two of the World Trade Center.

* Connie paused at the front door of her teenage sons bedroom. For a moment she thought of waking him. Last night’s argument had been worse than usual. She didn’t mean to get so angry. “It’s too early to wake him,” she thought. “I’ll apologize after school and we can go out for pizza.” Feeling reassured, she wrote him a note and went to work… at the Pentagon.

Linda, David and Connie represent thousands of ordinary Americans. For them, September 11, 2001 started normally enough but soon, everything would change… forever.

At 8:45 AM, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 en route from Boston to Los Angeles with ninety-two people aboard slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center and initiated a day of terror such as the United States has not seen since Pearl Harbor. Approximately eighteen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 also en route from Boston to Los Angeles with sixty-five people aboard hit the south tower of the world trade center. Thirty minutes later a third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. A fourth passenger jet would crash just outside of Pittsburgh.

All four planes were hijacked by a well-coordinated band of terrorists. Based on cell phone calls from frightened passengers we know many of the crew members were stabbed to death, while at least one terrorist, who must have received pilot training took over flying the plane, disabled safety equipment and turned an ordinary passenger airliner into a weapon of terror and destruction.

President Bush addressed the nation: “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.”

Jesus warned his disciples: “…and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I am telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember I warned you.” (John 16:2-4)

As Christians and Americans: How should we respond to this despicable act of terror?

1.Pray: Around the country, millions have joined together to pray for the victims.

2.Maintain our Schedule: We must not be stopped or the terrorists can claim victory.

3.Support our Leadership: We rally behind those we elected to serve and guide us.

4.Sacrifice Freely: Money and volunteerism is desperately needed. We give generously.

5.Seek Justice not Revenge: We put our ultimate trust in our government and God.

6.Reexamine our Priorities: Life is a precious gift from God. How are you using it?

7.Pray: We pray that somehow these events will draw us closer to God.

Donna and Tony Scurlock from our email ministry offered the following prayer: “In light of today's terrorist attacks, let us pray for wisdom for our leaders especially President Bush; let us pray for the families of the dead and injured; let us pray for the safety of fireman, police, and recovery crews; let us pray for the peace, protection and safety of our nation; let us pray for the safety of our airlines and all transportation centers; let us pray that God's peace will rule our hearts, not fear; let us pray that these events will draw our entire nation close to God; let us pray that these events create a greater dependency upon our Lord; let us pray for the repentance and salvation of all; let us pray that God would be glorified above all things.”