Remembering 9-11

Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of one of the most tragic events in American history. I was asked to give a small message at an all campus memorial service last night. It was a moving ceremony that received much attention around Northwest Ohio. Below is a link to an article about the ceremony and a portion of what I shared.

B.G. News Atricle

"...The events that unfolded on September 11th certainly brought out the worst in humanity. We saw evil first hand. Recently, I saw an interview with a New York fire fighter that was in tower 1 when tower 2 collapsed. He was speaking of 9-11 and he said, “the events of that day confirmed a fact that I have been trying to deny my whole, evil exist and people can take part terrible acts of evil.” On September 11th many of us had that realization. We could not escape the reality of sin.

But, in the middle of that amazing tragic event in the horror of that day we also found good and hope. The response of our country of the brave men and women was overwhelming. And even now as I watch the stories and hear the accounts of Americans and others around the world, I see hope.

Because of the tragic events of that day some lost hope in God, some could not believe in a creator in a God that would allow something so horrific to happen. For now their pain is too deep to even try to have faith again.

But, for many more the tragic events of that day somehow gave them hope in God. When many in this nation and around the world were at their lowest emotionally and spiritually they turned to the only place they could think of. They embraced the God of love, who comforts and heals. They found hope they even found life.

I personally do not believe that 9-11 was as event that God caused that God desired to happen. Yet it happened, somehow he allowed, for some reason it happened. Why? As long as we are on this earth we will never know.

The prophet Issiah tells us about God, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. We serve a God who is beyond our comprehension.

But, even though we can not know why we can still trust. We can still have faith. Because the Bible tells us, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see..."