
Mid-Week Challenge
For some of us it is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since the terrorists attacked our country on September 11, 2001. The attack on the World Trade Center left 2,753 people killed. At the Pentagon, 184 people were killed. Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, forty passengers and crew aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the airplane crashed into a field. According to reports, as of July 2019, only 60 percent of the WTC victims’ remains have been positively identified. The loss of life did not end on that day. Twenty-three New York Police Department first responders were killed in the attack on the World Trade Center, but 241 members of the NYPD so far have died of 9/11-related illnesses. While 343 members of the Fire Department of New York died in the attack, 202 FDNY members so far have died of illnesses related to their service on September 11 or in the immediate aftermath.
Eighteen years and we continue to be impacted by the events of that day. It changed the way we travel, how we think about the world and how we relate to our government leaders. What lessons did we learn? What have we been able to teach to the next generation? We experienced a tremendous rise in church attendance but it wasn’t but a few months later that we saw those numbers return to their previous place. I suppose the greatest lesson we should have learned is that life is unpredictable. Even with all the planning in the world, life can be snatched from us in a moment. We think we have it all planned out, every angle covered and then the unexpected happens. When we see September 11on the calendar we should be reminded that we have very little control of the events in our life. With the awareness of this reality we should be living our lives with a greater awareness and purpose for the Lord. Jim Denison does a great job explaining this in his article 9/11 and the Illusion of Control: Living for What Matters Most. https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/denison-forum/9-11-and-the-illusion-of-control-living-for-what-matters-most.html
The Bible tells us “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Today we honor those who lost their life on that day. We remember those who continue to battle health issues due to their heroic work to save others 18 years ago. It should not take another world changing event to remind us of who is in control. Instead, we should live our life with the knowledge we have gained. Serve the Lord with gladness and seek to bring as many as possible to Jesus with the time we have remaining. We might not know what tomorrow holds, but we do know who holds the future.
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:14-15
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
Comments (0)
No one has commented on this page yet.
Recent Posts
-
11 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
We have not heard much about the “War on Christmas”... -
4 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
If you turned on the television or picked up print... -
27 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
What is your idea of the perfect Thanksgiving? Time with
the... -
20 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
If you follow any news outlet it has been impossible... -
13 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
With all of the negative news we hear in the... -
6 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
Agree with them or not, you have to admire someone... -
30 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Over the past fifty years we have become more aware... -
23 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Over the past fifty years we have become more aware... -
16 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
When was the last time you visited a fast food... -
9 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
What’s this world coming to? Did you see George W.... -
2 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Most Christians agree that Christian persecution is a
problem. Not being... -
25 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
Last Friday, students from around the world celebrated as
hundreds of... -
18 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
As a kid I enjoyed playing connect-the-dots. You remember
these puzzles. ... -
11 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
For some of us it is hard to believe that... -
4 Sep
Min-Week Challenge
A 14-years-old young man who was considered a “fussy
eater,” told... -
28 Aug
Mid- Week Challenge
“Do as I say, not as I do!” Did you... -
21 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
I love to read positive stories. Especially if it about
Christians... -
14 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
All too often the headlines lead us to believe that... -
7 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
With the most recent shootings occurring this week and each
political... -
31 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
It’s pretty easy to ruin your career in Hollywood now
days. ... -
24 Jul
MId-Week Challenge
Here’s what’s next in the war against progressive
culture in our... -
17 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
My verse of the day app is Psalm 19:1 – The heavens
declare the... -
10 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
People watching at a distance at the airport is one... -
3 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
In anticipation of the 4th of July holiday tomorrow I
have been thinking a... -
26 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
Looking for a little travel excitement this Fall? Well I
have... -
19 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
One of the highlights of high school was the time... -
12 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
My sister and I are spending this week with a... -
5 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
In 1 Timothy 2 Paul instructs the church to pray... -
29 May
Mid-Week Challenge
I have never been much of a rock and roll... -
22 May
Mid-Week Challenge
Did you grow up with a grandmother or parent who... -
15 May
Mid-Week Challenge
How spiritually shallow but hungry for spiritual truth have
we become... -
8 May
Mid-Week Challenge
I never thought we would live in a day where... -
1 May
Mid-Week Challenge
When we were younger, we were always told that upon... -
24 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
"Suggestion" is
the psychological[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological] process
by which one person guides the thoughts, feelings, or
behavior of... -
17 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
For 44 years researchers have tracked the level of religious
involvement... -
10 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
“This is why we can’t have nice things!” That’s the
first thing... -
3 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
Where do we come from? No, I’m not asking about... -
27 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
A “double standard” is a set of principles that applies
differently and... -
20 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
Today is the first day of spring, but it sure... -
13 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
We have heard some pretty harsh critiques of our spiritual
and... -
6 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
If you watched the morning news today you saw the... -
27 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
Looking out the windshield of my car this morning and... -
20 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
Any parent who has had a heated argument with their... -
13 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
What does Matthew 10:34 say? Which things are forbidden
according to... -
6 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
If you have followed the news over the past few... -
30 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
In a move that has Christians and unbelievers alike shaking
their... -
23 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
By now you might have heard about The University of... -
16 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
If you are like many Americans you might find it... -
9 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
Some say we witnessed at miracle on Monday. In a... -
2 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
I would guess by now most of you are in... -
26 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
YouVersion is probably one of the most popular Bible Apps
available. ... -
19 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
Six days until Christmas and I hope you have your... -
12 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
The Lord’s Prayer recorded in Matthew 6 and Luke 11... -
5 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
PETA is the latest group to join in on the... -
28 Nov
Mid Week Challenge
I learned a new term today, “deadnaming.” A dead name
is... -
14 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
“Take two of these and call me in the morning.” ... -
7 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
As you are well aware, yesterday was election day in... -
31 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Halloween, love it or hate it, for most of us,... -
24 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
If you are reading this then I can assume you... -
17 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Some might argue that Jim Caviezel in the Mel Gibson The
Passion... -
3 Oct
MidWeek Challenge
At 2:18 p.m. ET (that’s 1:18 for West Haven folks)... -
26 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
In Matthew and Luke 4 we are given the account... -
19 Sep
Mid Week Challenge
Believe it or not it is time to get your... -
12 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
Did you ever think you would see the day when... -
5 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
With two teenagers in the house the routine of our... -
29 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
In Ecclesiastes 2, the wisest and richest man in the... -
22 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
The attack on Christianity in America continues this week as
a... -
15 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
Have you ever been cut off in traffic? For a... -
1 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
Do you find it increasingly difficult to discuss current
events with... -
25 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
It has happened again. A report out of Leesburg, Florida
states... -
18 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
You might have heard by now about this year's Miss... -
11 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten is the German proverb
that we get... -
4 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
On this 4th of July holiday symbols of American pride are
not... -
27 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
One of the beauties of great literature is that once... -
20 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
I love that old saying, “You are never too old…” ... -
13 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
How much sense would it make for McDonald’s to hire... -
6 Jun
Mid-Week Challenge
Have you heard about Henny Penny or maybe you grew... -
30 May
Mid-Week Challenge
How do you know if a church building is actually... -
23 May
Mid-Week Challenge
Were there dinosaurs on the Ark? How did the sun... -
16 May
Mid-Week Challenge
Celebrities, they are just like us, right? It is no... -
9 May
Mid-Week Challenge
When does a system of laws, created by people, trump... -
2 May
Mid-Week Challenge
The Battle of the Sexes seems to be very much... -
25 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
Most people hope to get a good liberal arts education... -
18 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
As if we needed another example of how intolerant the
“progressive... -
11 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
April the 16th will mark the famed running of the... -
4 Apr
Mid-Week Challenge
Have you ever felt guilty for being a Christian? As... -
28 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
We are in the middle of Holy Week. According to... -
21 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
This Sunday marks the first of two Sundays on the... -
14 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
This morning we awoke to the news that Professor Stephen
Hawking,... -
7 Mar
Mid-Week Challenge
When Oprah Winfrey still had her daytime talk show her
giveaway... -
28 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
My son and I are big fans of the Marvel... -
21 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
Today we mark the death of a Christian hero of... -
7 Feb
Mid-Week Challenge
Football fan or not, this past Sunday’s Super Bowl was... -
31 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
If history is any guide, most Americans will be watching... -
24 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
I have never understood why going into politics means you
have... -
17 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
Just when I thought the “progressives” could not
progress further, I... -
10 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
As kids we dream of making that last second shot... -
3 Jan
Mid-Week Challenge
If you have viewed the night sky over the past... -
27 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
Now that the presents are unwrapped and the guests have... -
20 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
How you access the Bible has changed a lot in... -
13 Dec
Mid-Week Challenge
As all major media outlets have reported, Democrat Doug
Jones defeated... -
29 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
Reading through the headlines today there is a lot in... -
22 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
The Thanksgiving countdown clock is officially ticking.
The airports are already... -
15 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
It is certainly not a new thing for celebrity singers... -
8 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
Watching the covering of the First Baptist Church,
Sutherland Springs, Texas... -
1 Nov
Mid-Week Challenge
If ever there was a time to put the “Golden... -
25 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
Young people exploring religion and spiritual issues is
nothing new. A... -
18 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
This Friday, October 20, 2017 is Openly Secular Day.
“What is... -
4 Oct
Mid-Week Challenge
We have all watched in disbelief as photos and videos... -
27 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
With all the symbolic gestures being thrown around by
athletes representing... -
20 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
"It's déjà vu all over again," Yogi Berra exclaimed when
he... -
13 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
If there is one thing that the events of the... -
6 Sep
Mid-Week Challenge
Like him or hate him Donald Trump has made a... -
30 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
We have been blessed with a baby boom at our... -
16 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
As you are well aware the first total solar eclipse... -
9 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
What’s in the Headlines today: “North Korea Gets at
Nuke, Hillary... -
2 Aug
Mid-Week Challenge
With all the chaos in Washington it seems like individuals
there... -
26 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
Does it seem to you that many of the people... -
19 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
The Christian florist known as the “Christian grandma
florist” Barronelle Stutzman... -
12 Jul
Mid-Week Challenge
When the Church looks and behaves just like the popular
culture,...
Leave a Comment
You cannot post comments until you have logged in. Login Here.