WHERE WERE YOU?

SERMON STARTER

          Starting Friday of last week, the networks began interviewing New Yorkers and family members of those lost in 9/11. They had one question they kept asking over and over,

"Where were you when 9/11 happened?"  Their responses were interesting.

          We could ask people of any era or age, where they were when significant events occurred. Where were you when the pyramids were being built? Where were you when the shot was fired that started WWI? Franz Ferdinad, Archduke of Austria was assassinated while touring Sarajevo, Bosnia. He and his wife Sophie were shot and killed by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo who belonged to an organization called "The Black Hand."

          Where were you when the US decided to enter WWII? Starting this sermon I asked listeners to recount special memories of events and share them. Their replies were significant. This sermon title, however, could take you in several directions.

1) Where were you when Jesus was nailed to His Cross?

          a. Part of the crowd that yelled "Crucify Him?"

          b. One of His disciples that ran and hid?

          c. One of Peter's group that openly denied Him?

          d. One of the many spectators that simply watched and                        were glad it wasn't them?

          e. A member of the Roman military that were simply                                       carrying our orders, business as usual?

2) Where were you when God parted the Red Sea?

You get the idea. . .

Hope the material is helpful, I chose the comfort of Psalm 27.

 

Agape,

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

 

A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF 9/11

 

A LION was prowling the earth one day,

          seeking someone to devour.
His attention was caught as he passed our way,

           in the shadow of the twin towers.

THOSE TOWERS, he thought, represent the nation,

          that was founded on the law of God.
So I’ll bring them down, on all the people around,

          and they’ll know where Satan has trod.

THE 737 was his weapon of choice,

          and those that flew them, were filled with hate.
Their targets were the towers that stood so tall,

          and the crash, would seal their fate.

THERE WAS fire and smoke and blood and tears

          when the towers hit the ground.
And the devil danced in glee, and pranced,

          through the rubble of America’s town.

THEY WOUNDED us again, that very same day,

          as they struck the Pentagon.
And the devil screamed out his terrible hate,

          as he thought, that he had won.

BUT THERE was trouble on the next,737,

          that set the devil’s plans back.
“Let’s roll” was the cry in the passengers cabin,

          as American people struck back.

SATAN TREMBLED, when he saw the Sleeping Giant wake up,

          and he retreated in fury and fear.

When God’s people resisted, he could do no more,

          than turn and run away from here.

 

A TRIBUTE TO 9/11 HEROES, cont.

 

IN THE ten years since, that evil event,

          Al Qaeda has wondered; “What happened?”
They’re on the run and Osama is done,

          and their organization is flattened.

SO LOOK UP Church to the Head of yourself,

          and know that He’s still there.
Our commander in chief still calls the shots;

          He is beyond compare.

NO FEAR Christian, He’s in your corner,

          where He promised to be. . . always.
So trust in the Lord and know He loves you,

          and He will for all of your days.

 

Jim Crenshaw, 9/2011

Note: Jim writes his poems as “say a song” and plays along on his guitar. If you are a guitar player then say this poem and play along using (D) (A7) (Somewhere along (G) back to (D) (A7) chords....He thinks it would sound better playing in the minor chords but he doesn’t know how. If you remember Johnnie Cash and his style, you will get the hang of a “say a song!” Have fun and remember 9/11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 11, 2011 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

WHERE WERE YOU?

Psalm 27:1-14

 

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?"

C.S. Lewis said, "God whispers in our pleasure, but shouts in our pain."  

I.  WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OCCURED?

            A. Great Life-Changing Events

                        1. Marriage

                                    a. Birth of a Child

                                    b. Loss of a Child

                        2. Death of a Loved One - (Father's Death, April 20, 1956)

                                    a. Political Assassinations

                                    b. John F. Kennedy

                                    c. Robert (Bobbie) Kennedy

                                    d. Significant persons in Your Life

                        3. Across the Country Move

                                    a. Fired from Job

                                    b. Housing Bubble Bursts

                        4. December 8, 1041 - Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor

                        5. 1999 - Columbine School Shooting Disaster

                        6. McVey's Oklahoma Bombing of the Murrow Federal Building

            B. Where were you on September 11, 2001?

                        1. I was fishing with a friend on the Shenango Reservoir

                                    a. Lois called and begged me to come home

                                    b. An Army Corps of Engineer ordered me off the lake

                        2. Lois was home and caught the early broadcasts

 

II.  CAN YOU REMEMBER LIFE BEFORE 9/11?

            A. A Life w/o Suspicion and Fear

                        1. When Islamic people felt like Americans

                        2. When we all felt equal and undivided

            B. Ease in Travel / No arriving at Airports 2+ hours early

                        1. No Patriot Act / No Terror Alerts

                        2. Entering Canada or Mexico w/o Passports

            C. Easy entry to a Sporting Event w/o Security and Inspections

            D. Twin Towers Stood Proud and Tall in New York

            E. 2,976 People still worked, lived and breathed in New York

                        1. They ate their Breakfasts, not knowing it was their Last

                        2. They kissed their spouses and children "Goodbye"

                        3. They did their daily commutes and read their am papers

 

Where Were You?, cont., p.2

 

III.  WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR US SINCE 9/11?

            A. An Initial National Unifying Experience of Grief

                        1. Humanity needs Words and Tears to Heal

                        2. We need God and One Another to Heal

                                    a. God has made us for Himself

                                    b. God has made us for One Another

            B. Inability to find a U.S. Flag Anywhere: Sold Out

                        1. A Refreshing New Birth of Patriotism

                        2. People Unashamedly Loving their Country

            C. Fear has become a Daily Part of American Life

                        1. Anger Covers Fear, so Reactive Anger is present

                        2. Secondary Emotions of Hostility and Frustration

            D. Retribution has cost us Half a Trillion $$

                        1. More than 5,000 US Military Deaths

                        2. Well over 50,000 w/"Concussive Brain Disorder"

                        3. Side effects from IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices)

            E. Temporarily Full Churches / People Seeking God's Peace

                        1. All Americans Praying and talking God-Talk

                        2. Now, 10-years later, Memorial Services w/o God

                        3. Not one Public Prayer will be offered today in New York

            F. Air Travel Nightmares

                        1. Security Cameras and Security People Everywhere

                        2. No Shoes, Belts, Suspenders, Liquids or Nail Scissors

                        3. Full Body Groping or X-Rays

            G. Thousands of Victim Families' Lives forever changed

            H. Hardships of Ten Years of War

                        1. Housing Market Bubble Bursts

                        2. Thousands losing their jobs to overseas job markets

 

III.  WHAT DOES THE PSALMIST SAY ABOUT OUR CHANGES?

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

            A. David reminds us of our True Priorities

                        1. Seek First the Lord and His Kingdom - Matt. 6:33

                        "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all                              these things shall be added to you."

                        2. David made the Lord his Top Priority

            B. God isn't just "On our Side," we have Him in our Heart

                        1. God's Presence within Banishes Fear - Ps. 27:2,3        

                        "When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies                          and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp

                        against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against

                        me, In this I will be confident."
                        2. Our Confidence is in Him

 

Where Were You?, cont., p.3

 

          C. David has Hid Himself in His Love for God - Psalm 27:4

            "One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in                the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the                      LORD, And to inquire in His temple."
                        1. David's challenge: To Love God thu ALL of Life's Difficulties

                        2. Stay Focused / Hide Yourself in Him - Ps. 27:5

                        "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the                                secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me                                  high upon a rock."

            D. Remember Psalm 91:1?

            "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the

             shadow of the Almighty."

                1. Hide yourself in the Secret Place of the Most High God

                        2. Have Confidence in God's Secret Place - Ps. 27:13

                         "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the                             goodness of the LORD In the land of the living."
            E. Wait on the Lord - Psalm 27: 14

            "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your

             heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!"

                        1. Hebrew = QUA-VAH = Wait, Hope, Ernest Expectation

                To Bind Together By Twisting Several Materials Together

                        Taking one or more strands of material and binding them together                            with stronger material to make a rope.

                        2. Same word as in Isaiah 40:31

                        “. . .but those who hope in the LORD (wait on the Lord)  will renew                             their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and

                         not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

 

 

 

 

 

WHERE WERE YOU?

Psalm 27:1-14 (NKJV)
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."
9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

 

STATISTICAL CHANGES SINCE 9/11

Have people tell us where they were when 9/11 happened.

(RNS) One-third of Americans say the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were a "life-altering experience" that caused them to change their priorities, according to a new Gallup poll.

Nearly half of conservative Christians -- 46 percent -- say the attacks caused them to change their lives, according to the poll of 1,019 adults. Non-whites and women under the age of 50 were the most likely to report a change after the attacks.

While 66 percent of Americans say the attacks have not changed their lives, more than half of those who have shifted priorities say they are spending more time with their families and friends.

And despite a surge in worship attendance immediately after the attacks, another Gallup poll shows no longstanding change in the religious observance of most Americans. Most Gallup polls show that around 40 percent of Americans recently attended a church or synagogue within the last week. That figure rose to 47 percent after the attacks, but has since fallen back to 42 percent.

Pollster George Gallup Jr. said the terrorist attacks have had a "powerful but short-lived impact on the spirituality of the U.S. populace." Still, Gallup found a slight rise in the personal importance of religion for most Americans. A May 2001 poll found that 57 percent said personal religion was "very important," and that number rose to 64 percent a week after the attacks. The Dec. 14-16 poll saw that number fall back to 60 percent.

 

FEAR ILLUSTRATIONS:

Julius Caesar once remarked that even the shouts of his enemies were music to his ears, but he was terribly afraid of thunder. When it vaguely looked like a storm was brewing, he began to shiver and shake.

Peter the Great, considered by many to have been the greatest czar of Russia was terrified to cross a bridge. He would tremble in his boots whenever he stepped onto a bridge.

King Louis the XV, of France, was so afraid of death the he ordered the subject off limits in his presence.

Stalin was constantly in fear of being poisoned or killed. He had 8 bedrooms which could be locked up like safes in a bank. Nobody ever knew in which of these bedrooms he slept on any given night.