Fw: Preparing Our Families for This Present Crisis

#1 · September 12, 2001, 1:35 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on September 12, 2001, 1:35 pm
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest friends,

The following says it better than I possibly could. ~~ Virginia

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Vision Forum" <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 20:07:50 -0500
Subject: Preparing Our Families for This Present Crisis

================================================
A SPECIAL UPDATE from DOUG PHILLIPS
and THE VISION FORUM, INC.
================================================
PREPARING OUR FAMILIES FOR THIS PRESENT CRISIS
================================================

Dear Friends:

This morning, enemies of the United States of America launched the
largest successful coordinated attack within our national boundaries
since
Pearl Harbor. September 11, 2001, will prove to be America's second day
that will go down in infamy. The day we had hoped would never come has
finally arrived.

It is one thing to fight a war on foreign soil; it is another to die
in your backyard or place of business. For more than a century, Americans
have been essentially shielded from such warfare. The events of today
indicate that we would be presumptuous to assume our children will enjoy
such a shield during their lifetime.

At this point, it seems clear that the individuals or groups behind
this attack were highly organized, well funded and systematic in their
efforts. The most recent reports indicate that the diabolical schemes of
the enemies of this nation have caused the horrific loss of four
passenger
planes, the destruction of at least three great buildings, which
collectively house more than 30,000 workers and visitors, and the loss of
life or injury of an untold multitude.

We do not yet know the numbers of the dead and wounded, but it seems
reasonable to believe it will be in the thousands. Certainly hundreds of
thousands of Americans will feel the pangs of anguish associated with the
loss of a loved one or friend. Perhaps it will be you. Perhaps it will be
me. I am confident that every true American, regardless of creed or
station, mourns and grieves and suffers. For we are all Americans, and
our
family has been attacked.

Only the Lord knows the hundreds of tales, both of horror and of
heroism, which were surely played out today. I want to say for the record
that I do not believe for one moment that any of these commercial pilots
would fly a plane into a building, even with a gun to their heads. I am
confident they would have lost their lives rather than be willing tools
in
such a vicious act.

We dare not even speculate at this time about the final moments
aboard those planes for the many children, teenagers and adults. Nor can
we imagine the unspeakably terrible choices facing those individuals
caught high above the ground, trapped by the flames, and forced to jump
from the heights of the World Trade Towers. We can only turn humbly to
God, in prayer and in supplication, and beg for mercy for the many
families who lost loved ones.

Earlier today I received a report from my good friend, Pastor Steve
Schlissel, whose congregation is in Brooklyn, just miles from the
epicenter of today's violence. His co-elder in the church was in the
second tower when the first was destroyed. He made it to safety. Many of
those he left behind did not. Steve shared that this dear brother had to
look away as dozens of people fell or jumped from the 70th story of the
building. (Thankfully, all but one member of Steve's congregation has
been
accounted for; that brother, Mr. Valery, worked in the building next to
the Trade Center. Let us remember him in prayer.)

Tomorrow, the world will wake up, and it will be looking for
answers.
It is our responsibility to offer words of truth. What then should be the
response of the Christian Community? What is our course of action? What
should we say to our children at this grave moment? Please permit me to
humbly offer the following thoughts for your consideration:

1. We must never forget that God is in control of all things, even
devastation caused by a terrorist attack. The events of this day came as
no surprise to Him. It may be difficult for finite man to understand His
infinite counsel and decrees, but we can be assured of the goodness and
wisdom of His plan. Furthermore, we can be confident that even this
disaster will ultimately bring glory to Him. He is the sovereign God.

2. We must also remember that even wickedness will "work together
for good for them that love God, to them who are called," (Romans 8:28).
If you are a child of the King, then all things work together for your
ultimate good. Note, however, that all things do not work together for
good for everyone. If you are not a Christian, you can find no ultimate
hope or solace in a tragedy like the one we have just experienced.

3. Yet to be revealed are the many mercies of God which He extended
today. The media has given multiple reports of individuals who found
themselves in the World Trade Towers at the time of the crashes, but who
inexplicably made it to safety. Thanks to a stray camera flash in the
midst of the dust and ashes, one man was able to find an exit door and
escape to safety. My own family has friends who work at the Pentagon in
the precise region of the plane crash, but who, mercifully, were not
there
today.

4. Many Christians will be wondering whether they should shield
their young children from the events of the day. I want to firmly
advocate
that we do not hide them from our children. Wisdom may dictate great
discretion in how we discuss today's tragedy with our children, but it is
imperative that we do discuss it. Our children must see us praying for
our
country. They must see us lifting up the families of the dead. They must
hear us crying out that the Lord would be merciful to us and future
generations. They must know that there are many people around the world
who hate God, and that all those who hate God love death.

It is our role to stand against the hatred of God and to preach and
live a message of life. This is an opportunity for every father to
exercise his spiritual leadership in the home by demonstrating the right
way for Christians to respond to tragedy and national judgment. It is an
opportunity to begin to prepare our children for the awesome leadership
and wisdom they must demonstrate as future leaders of the 21st century.

5. The Bible teaches that there is a clear connection between
national judgment and national sin. Count on the fact that when a nation
experiences calamities of this magnitude, the events are meant to get its
attention. We should be examining ourselves as a people to see if we have
been faithful to the God of our spiritual fathers who forged this nation.
If we hope to enjoy the protection of God against our enemies, we must
seek His favor by turning from our materialistic idolatries, our
perversions and our child sacrifice.

Today thousands may have died, but every day thousands of innocent
children die grizzly and horrible deaths in the State-blessed abortuaries
of our nation. Surely this grieves God. Surely he hates this. Let us
remember the words of the King of Ninevah: "Let man and beast be covered
with sackcloth and cry mightily to God: Yea let them turn every one from
His evil way and from the violence which is in their hands. Who can tell
if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we
perish not?" (Jonah 3:8-9) The book of Jonah offers us hope: "And God saw
their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the
evil that He had said He would do unto them; and He did it not." (Jonah
3:10)

6. We exist at the mercy of God and only by His mercy. Peace is a
blessing, not a right. We must gather as families, as friends and as
congregations to seek the Lord for this blessing.

7. Success breeds a spirit of invincibility. Americans live in a
dream world of false security. But all earthly security is illusory. The
amazing thing is not that this tragedy happened today, but that it has
not
happened before. America has long been vulnerable, not only from
terrorist
bombings, but also from technological and biological attack. It only
takes
one terrorist and a couple of vials of Anthrax to kill an entire
community. We can and must prepare for such terrorism, and we must be
thorough in our approach to such defenses. But we must proclaim with
every
fiber in our bodies, that absent the blessing of God, our defenses are
useless. There are no unsinkable ships, and there are no invulnerable
nations. The only absolute security is eternal security in Jesus Christ.
We must flee to Him and beg Him to be our strong defense, our shield and
buckler.

8. We must recognize the fact that we do have enemies and that
objective evil does exist in this world. We must give up the "we are the
world" philosophy that all nations, groups and individuals act with the
best intentions toward us. There are groups and individuals who hate God
and who hate America and who perceive themselves to be in a state of war
against us. Terrorism tends to breed terrorism. We should not be
surprised
if other groups will be encouraged in their efforts by the events of the
day. We must cry out to God and seek His protection and mercy against the
agents of Satan.

If you were alive when Pearl Harbor was bombed, you remember. If you
were alive when President Kennedy was shot, you remember. We owe it to
our
children and their posterity that this day be remembered. Our children
will only remember this day if we allow them to experience it with us.
There is a time for weeping, and this is such a time. Future generations
may conclude that this was the most horrible day in our history. But God
has allowed you and I to live through it for an important reason.

Let us give thanks to Jehovah for His mercies and the opportunity
for
a bold Gospel witness facilitated by the darkness of the deed done today.
Perhaps the Lord is offering America a wake-up call. Perhaps there is a
window of time in which we can seek His mercy.

Your Friend,
Doug Phillips
President, The Vision Forum, Inc.

================================================
Visit Us Online - www.visionforum.com
Feedback - [email protected]
================================================
1-800-440-0022 | (210) 340-8525 | Fax: (210) 340-8577
4719 Blanco Rd., San Antonio, TX 78212
================================================

Copyright (c) 2001 The Vision Forum, Inc. This e-mail has been sent
as a special service of The Vision Forum, Inc. Please feel free to
forward
this e-mail to your friends and family! Please note that this message was
sent to [email protected].

How to Subscribe - To subscribe to this newsletter, visit Vision
Forum online at:

www.visionforum.com

How to Unsubscribe - To remove your name from our list, or to change
your subscription settings, please visit us online at:

www.visionforum.com/email/[email protected]

Or, to unsubscribe via e-mail, please send a blank e-mail to
[email protected].

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest friends,

The following says it better than I possibly could. ~~ Virginia

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Vision Forum" <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 20:07:50 -0500
Subject: Preparing Our Families for This Present Crisis

================================================
A SPECIAL UPDATE from DOUG PHILLIPS
and THE VISION FORUM, INC.
================================================
PREPARING OUR FAMILIES FOR THIS PRESENT CRISIS
================================================

Dear Friends:

This morning, enemies of the United States of America launched the
largest successful coordinated attack within our national boundaries
since
Pearl Harbor. September 11, 2001, will prove to be America's second day
that will go down in infamy. The day we had hoped would never come has
finally arrived.

It is one thing to fight a war on foreign soil; it is another to die
in your backyard or place of business. For more than a century, Americans
have been essentially shielded from such warfare. The events of today
indicate that we would be presumptuous to assume our children will enjoy
such a shield during their lifetime.

At this point, it seems clear that the individuals or groups behind
this attack were highly organized, well funded and systematic in their
efforts. The most recent reports indicate that the diabolical schemes of
the enemies of this nation have caused the horrific loss of four
passenger
planes, the destruction of at least three great buildings, which
collectively house more than 30,000 workers and visitors, and the loss of
life or injury of an untold multitude.

We do not yet know the numbers of the dead and wounded, but it seems
reasonable to believe it will be in the thousands. Certainly hundreds of
thousands of Americans will feel the pangs of anguish associated with the
loss of a loved one or friend. Perhaps it will be you. Perhaps it will be
me. I am confident that every true American, regardless of creed or
station, mourns and grieves and suffers. For we are all Americans, and
our
family has been attacked.

Only the Lord knows the hundreds of tales, both of horror and of
heroism, which were surely played out today. I want to say for the record
that I do not believe for one moment that any of these commercial pilots
would fly a plane into a building, even with a gun to their heads. I am
confident they would have lost their lives rather than be willing tools
in
such a vicious act.

We dare not even speculate at this time about the final moments
aboard those planes for the many children, teenagers and adults. Nor can
we imagine the unspeakably terrible choices facing those individuals
caught high above the ground, trapped by the flames, and forced to jump
from the heights of the World Trade Towers. We can only turn humbly to
God, in prayer and in supplication, and beg for mercy for the many
families who lost loved ones.

Earlier today I received a report from my good friend, Pastor Steve
Schlissel, whose congregation is in Brooklyn, just miles from the
epicenter of today's violence. His co-elder in the church was in the
second tower when the first was destroyed. He made it to safety. Many of
those he left behind did not. Steve shared that this dear brother had to
look away as dozens of people fell or jumped from the 70th story of the
building. (Thankfully, all but one member of Steve's congregation has
been
accounted for; that brother, Mr. Valery, worked in the building next to
the Trade Center. Let us remember him in prayer.)

Tomorrow, the world will wake up, and it will be looking for
answers.
It is our responsibility to offer words of truth. What then should be the
response of the Christian Community? What is our course of action? What
should we say to our children at this grave moment? Please permit me to
humbly offer the following thoughts for your consideration:

1. We must never forget that God is in control of all things, even
devastation caused by a terrorist attack. The events of this day came as
no surprise to Him. It may be difficult for finite man to understand His
infinite counsel and decrees, but we can be assured of the goodness and
wisdom of His plan. Furthermore, we can be confident that even this
disaster will ultimately bring glory to Him. He is the sovereign God.

2. We must also remember that even wickedness will "work together
for good for them that love God, to them who are called," (Romans 8:28).
If you are a child of the King, then all things work together for your
ultimate good. Note, however, that all things do not work together for
good for everyone. If you are not a Christian, you can find no ultimate
hope or solace in a tragedy like the one we have just experienced.

3. Yet to be revealed are the many mercies of God which He extended
today. The media has given multiple reports of individuals who found
themselves in the World Trade Towers at the time of the crashes, but who
inexplicably made it to safety. Thanks to a stray camera flash in the
midst of the dust and ashes, one man was able to find an exit door and
escape to safety. My own family has friends who work at the Pentagon in
the precise region of the plane crash, but who, mercifully, were not
there
today.

4. Many Christians will be wondering whether they should shield
their young children from the events of the day. I want to firmly
advocate
that we do not hide them from our children. Wisdom may dictate great
discretion in how we discuss today's tragedy with our children, but it is
imperative that we do discuss it. Our children must see us praying for
our
country. They must see us lifting up the families of the dead. They must
hear us crying out that the Lord would be merciful to us and future
generations. They must know that there are many people around the world
who hate God, and that all those who hate God love death.

It is our role to stand against the hatred of God and to preach and
live a message of life. This is an opportunity for every father to
exercise his spiritual leadership in the home by demonstrating the right
way for Christians to respond to tragedy and national judgment. It is an
opportunity to begin to prepare our children for the awesome leadership
and wisdom they must demonstrate as future leaders of the 21st century.

5. The Bible teaches that there is a clear connection between
national judgment and national sin. Count on the fact that when a nation
experiences calamities of this magnitude, the events are meant to get its
attention. We should be examining ourselves as a people to see if we have
been faithful to the God of our spiritual fathers who forged this nation.
If we hope to enjoy the protection of God against our enemies, we must
seek His favor by turning from our materialistic idolatries, our
perversions and our child sacrifice.

Today thousands may have died, but every day thousands of innocent
children die grizzly and horrible deaths in the State-blessed abortuaries
of our nation. Surely this grieves God. Surely he hates this. Let us
remember the words of the King of Ninevah: "Let man and beast be covered
with sackcloth and cry mightily to God: Yea let them turn every one from
His evil way and from the violence which is in their hands. Who can tell
if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we
perish not?" (Jonah 3:8-9) The book of Jonah offers us hope: "And God saw
their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the
evil that He had said He would do unto them; and He did it not." (Jonah
3:10)

6. We exist at the mercy of God and only by His mercy. Peace is a
blessing, not a right. We must gather as families, as friends and as
congregations to seek the Lord for this blessing.

7. Success breeds a spirit of invincibility. Americans live in a
dream world of false security. But all earthly security is illusory. The
amazing thing is not that this tragedy happened today, but that it has
not
happened before. America has long been vulnerable, not only from
terrorist
bombings, but also from technological and biological attack. It only
takes
one terrorist and a couple of vials of Anthrax to kill an entire
community. We can and must prepare for such terrorism, and we must be
thorough in our approach to such defenses. But we must proclaim with
every
fiber in our bodies, that absent the blessing of God, our defenses are
useless. There are no unsinkable ships, and there are no invulnerable
nations. The only absolute security is eternal security in Jesus Christ.
We must flee to Him and beg Him to be our strong defense, our shield and
buckler.

8. We must recognize the fact that we do have enemies and that
objective evil does exist in this world. We must give up the "we are the
world" philosophy that all nations, groups and individuals act with the
best intentions toward us. There are groups and individuals who hate God
and who hate America and who perceive themselves to be in a state of war
against us. Terrorism tends to breed terrorism. We should not be
surprised
if other groups will be encouraged in their efforts by the events of the
day. We must cry out to God and seek His protection and mercy against the
agents of Satan.

If you were alive when Pearl Harbor was bombed, you remember. If you
were alive when President Kennedy was shot, you remember. We owe it to
our
children and their posterity that this day be remembered. Our children
will only remember this day if we allow them to experience it with us.
There is a time for weeping, and this is such a time. Future generations
may conclude that this was the most horrible day in our history. But God
has allowed you and I to live through it for an important reason.

Let us give thanks to Jehovah for His mercies and the opportunity
for
a bold Gospel witness facilitated by the darkness of the deed done today.
Perhaps the Lord is offering America a wake-up call. Perhaps there is a
window of time in which we can seek His mercy.

Your Friend,
Doug Phillips
President, The Vision Forum, Inc.

================================================
Visit Us Online - http://www.visionforum.com
Feedback - [email protected]
================================================
1-800-440-0022 | (210) 340-8525 | Fax: (210) 340-8577
4719 Blanco Rd., San Antonio, TX 78212
================================================

Copyright (c) 2001 The Vision Forum, Inc. This e-mail has been sent
as a special service of The Vision Forum, Inc. Please feel free to
forward
this e-mail to your friends and family! Please note that this message was
sent to [email protected].

How to Subscribe - To subscribe to this newsletter, visit Vision
Forum online at:

http://www.visionforum.com

How to Unsubscribe - To remove your name from our list, or to change
your subscription settings, please visit us online at:

http://www.visionforum.com/email/[email protected]

Or, to unsubscribe via e-mail, please send a blank e-mail to
[email protected].