Quote from Forum Archives on September 5, 2002, 9:54 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Here is this week's edition of Sowing Seeds of Faith. Believe it
or not, we are almost a year past the time when terrorists
slammed 3 airliners into targets in New York and Washington,
D.C., and had at least one other target thwarted by heroic and
selfless acts on the part of passengers. Larry Davies writss a
message in remembrance of those days, remembering still the
people who continue to live with the consequences and losses
incurred to loved ones that day.

I intended to send this out much earlier, but I lost a computer
network card on this system, and though I had other resources to
use, that set my schedule behind, so I waited until things got
back in line a bit.

God can use circumstances like that, too. I had an opportunity
to read a column from a writer in Wisconsin who mentioned that
his church had a prayer time, and someone mentioned praying for
Saddam Hussein. Not much else was said about it, but the writer
had to really take the matter to heart. Most people consider
Hussein to be a terrorist leader, yet someone thought enough to
pray for him.

It reminds me of what God can do to even the most wicked heart.
The apostle Paul considered himself the chief sinner, since he
once persecuted Christians, and I consider myself a chief sinner,
for my sins put Christ on the Cross of Calvary. But God, on more
than one occasion, did works of wonders in the hearts of evil
kings. The one that always touches me is King Manassah. He was
once a guy that sacrificed babies to burning flames in the name
of his god of fertility, but God changed his heart.

There is nothing that God cannot do... for me, for you. ... for
America, for the world. Not all will respond, for it is our
choice that enters in, too. But I think the writer was right to
pray... then let's leave the results to God, where they belong!

Let's remember our lost, and those who mourn... as we remember
the events of one year ago.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Where were you on September 11, 2001? How did you respond to news
of the terrorist attacks? What follows is a small sampling of the
hundreds of letters we received from our subscribers around the
world.

"Remembering September 11: Readers Respond" Larry Davies

It was a Tuesday morning much like any other: "A glorious morning
outside. Drop off my daughter at school. My mother-in-law has a
birthday. What will I make for dinner?" My husband shouts that a
plane crashed into one of the World Trade towers. "WHAT? Are you
sure?" I turn on the TV. One tower is on fire! "Oh God! It's a
second plane flying into the other tower!" I don't understand. I
call my church. Tears stream down my face as we pray for
thousands of people we don't know. I kneel in my room and pray
that no day will ever be like this again. Almost a year later, I
still pray that prayer. Kimberly

I was preparing for work and saw the first plane hit. A picture
of my stepson who worked on the second tower appeared before
me. Then the second tower was hit. I called his cell phone- no
answer. I lost it then and fell to my knees. I could not
breathe. All day we could not reach him. His cell phone kept
ringing. I received a call around 11:00 PM. It was my
stepson. Saundra

I called my mom. I just wanted to hear her voice. When she
answered, I said: "Mommy?" Melissa

I live in New York City and teach school. Parents were running in
to get their kids. Since we had no T.V. we weren't sure what was
happening. It was comforting to see how parents dropped
everything to be with their children. Rhonda

I met with students and told them of the tragedy. I invited them
to go to the chapel with me to pray. One student told me that
five members of his family were in the twin towers or at the
Pentagon. He was frantic. Later that day, many more of my
students called to say they had relatives missing either in the
Pentagon or in the twin towers. It was one of the hardest things
I've ever had to do. Sharon

Tragedy, pain, suffering, heartache, tears, anger, shock,
numbness, horrific, unimaginable: There aren't enough words in
the English language to describe this act of terror upon our
nation. This wasn't a movie, but real people. I just wanted to
pray. I wanted to be with other people. I wanted to call my
family and make sure they were safe. My heart ached for those who
were lost. It wasn't just about New York and Washington and
Pennsylvania. We all were under attack that day. Sue

Our church phone lines were jammed with calls. We were frantic,
praying with those who called. Cathy

I thought this must be the end of the world. That evening we
gathered at church for a prayer vigil and I saw people I don't
usually see on Sundays. Why does it take something so tragic to
get people together for prayer? I feel a strong need to pray for
our President and leaders. Rita

The days after September 11th were amazing; how one nation put
everything aside to come together as one. Everyone looked at each
other as equal. We were one nation under God! You thank God for
every breath you take, for every opportunity to ask "how are
you?" and wait to hear their response. A.

I wished so many times that I could tell everyone to slow
down. On this day people really slowed down. So many people
showed up at our church searching for hope, direction and
comfort. This was a wake up call. Theresa

As the day proceeded, I remember being outside with my father,
looking up and thinking "how clear the sky was. It was a
beautiful day! How could something so terrible and unspeakable be
happening just hours from here?" Over the years, I became numb to
the bombings and killings happening in the Mid-East on the
evening news. How arrogant of me! Now, I see the news
differently. Karen

I wanted to hate the terrorists at first but through prayer I was
able to learn about them and their concerns. If we could sit at a
table and talk, I think we could learn to live side by
side. Unknown

What is most important in my life? It is one thing to say you are
a Christian but another to live the life Christ has given us. I
want to be more and more like Jesus in all I say and do. Have I
done that this year? God is with us in our pain and our
sorrow. May we all surrender everything to Him! Sue

If you like this devotion you will love the book: "Breaking the
Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a Better Life"
now on sale only through this website. Click here for more
information: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm

Join our prayer ministry by clicking here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world-like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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