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whasssuuuppp
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 210
| Posted 9/11/2001 8:41 AM (GMT -6) |   | I'm kind of in shock right now. I tried to go to classes this morning, but that was futile, so I've been watching the news all morning (thankfully, they cancelled my classes for the afternoon at the U of M). I know people suffer incredibly each day, around the world. This is America now. It's not like we didn't know it would happen, at some point. But what happened today, the magnitude of it, was just crazy. As I watched the news, it was one thing after another. Watching the towers collapse, live, was shocking. Seeing the video of people hanging out of the WTC windows. Watching the 2nd plane crash into the building. Seeing the pentagon just gutted out. Watching all the people running through the streets as the second tower collpsed. Technology has really changed things, hasn't it?
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Lespwa fe viv.
Hope makes us live.
A Haitian proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Triskal
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 198
| Posted 9/11/2001 8:53 AM (GMT -6) | | As I watched the news on this event and saw the towers collapse, realizing that many had just died, I got this picture of Satan sitting back and laughing. We need to be in prayer right now that God would bring peace to this suffering and tragedy. I've already had 10 phone calls today from friends and family who were very nervous as a result of this. They felt fear now because of the reality that has been shown to them, the reality that we are not safe from things like this. This is an opportunity to pray for God to give peace to this country, to show us that we can look to Him for strength when we are weak. I'm praying, I hope all of you are too.
In His Grip,
Matt
"In Him we live and move and have our being" - Acts 17:28 | | Back to Top | | |
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whasssuuuppp
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 210
| Posted 9/11/2001 9:01 AM (GMT -6) | | Thanks Triskal.
I think it's also a time, even though I (everyone) is in shock, to reach out (with compassion and humility) to people who are feeling that the world is so fragile, possibly showing that the Lord is a God of peace and a God of hope, and that our security isn't in this world.
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Lespwa fe viv.
Hope makes us live.
A Haitian proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Modes of Thought
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 817
| Posted 9/11/2001 10:16 AM (GMT -6) | | Good thoughts. Yes. Pray.
I to am shocked. I have nothing constructive to say until I deal with the immediacy and sheer intensity of this.
Here comes the understatement of the year.
"Things will be different."
"Christianly understood, truth is obviously not to know the truth but to be the truth. Despite all modern philosophy, there is an infinite difference here..." SK | | Back to Top | | |
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pia†desideria
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 301
| Posted 9/11/2001 10:20 AM (GMT -6) | | I am shocked also. My class on “God, Evil, and Suffering” was quite sober this morning. Many tears and prayers.
Does anyone know if Woodland Hills Church planning a prayer service? I assume we will pray about it tomorrow everning at the prayer service, but I was wondering if there was anything else going on. pia
“An exploration of reality is no place to lose touch with reality.” — Magneton | | Back to Top | | |
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trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 9/11/2001 10:22 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Modes: Good thoughts. Yes. Pray.
I to am shocked. I have nothing constructive to say until I deal with the immediacy and sheer intensity of this.
I am TOTALLY with you. I am still in shock!
trosie
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Wislawa
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 83
| Posted 9/11/2001 10:24 AM (GMT -6) | | I'm fearful for our future. Perhaps my fear is unfounded but i'm afraid it is very realistic. I'm afraid because of how the media and government officals are reacting so far. I remember the Olymic city bombing that they scapegoated on that guard. i remeber the Oklahoma City bombing that for the first full day thay pointed the fingure at Arabs, only latter coming to grips with the truth.
All morning long i've heard this phrase being used, "Muslim-led extreamsists" and "Muslim fundamentalists." i'm worried that this effent is going to be drawn up along racial and religious lines.
I'm worried for people of colour in the next few days. After Pearl Harbor Japanise Americans were beaten or killed without anyone batting an eye. They were the scapegoat for the hour, and the war.
I'm worried about Muslims is America on this day. Will Mosques be attacked by angry mobs? We are not innocent and we do not accept violence innocently. Our history is to scapegoat and shift violence on others, on the "other" in this case the Muslim.
-Wislawa
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame [shalhevet-Yah = the very fire of Yah(weh)].
Canticles 8:6
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trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 9/11/2001 10:25 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Pia: Does anyone know if Woodland Hills Church planning a prayer service?
YES. The prayer time tonight is at 7:00!
There is power in numbers when we stand together and pray.
trosie
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might-be-don
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830
| Posted 9/11/2001 12:48 PM (GMT -6) | | I'd like to offer this prayer, "Father, forgive us" .
don
A quote from Rev. Gregory A. Boyd, PhD ... " Has anyone seen my keys? " | | Back to Top | | |
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geej
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 93
| Posted 9/11/2001 4:17 PM (GMT -6) | | This has been an incredibly frightening day. Imagine trying to put on a good face for your class of junior highers when you are more terrified than they are.
How can all those people and those buildings just be gone??? How can you be watching this unfold on tv and not be able to do a thing to make it stop? Here is when our little theories of explaining the problem of evil STINK!
GJ
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whasssuuuppp
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 210
| Posted 9/11/2001 5:19 PM (GMT -6) | | A whole day of watching the images, many times over and over and over and over again, and it's still so raw. The grief of those who have lost parents, friends, kids, other relatives, must be unbearable, especially because there is so much still not known. Watching some of the people hanging out the windows, seeing some of them jump, watching that 2nd plane fly into the building, disappear, and then a huge fireball exits out the other side. All those cell phone calls that were made right before the planes went down. The video footage, from the ground, as the buildings collapsed. Unreal.
*************************
Lespwa fe viv.
Hope makes us live.
A Haitian proverb | | Back to Top | | |
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Rx Mom
Registered Member
Date Joined Sep 2001
Total Posts : 7
| Posted 9/11/2001 7:29 PM (GMT -6) | | | This tragedy is a prime example of why I can no longer accept the "classical philosophical view" of theodicy. It simply isn't existentially viable. The U.S. my go to war, but the war against Satan and his army is of greater magnitude. | | Back to Top | | |
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MrIndifference
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 144
| Posted 9/11/2001 7:39 PM (GMT -6) | | Here are some of my ranting and ravings from earlier today.
quote:
Well it happened. We were attacked today. Four planes were hijacked, two were flown into the world trade towers, one into the pentagon, and one was flown “nose-dive fashion” straight into the ground. For most of the day, I watched CNN and was thoroughly amused at the event. It was appalling, but it was more novel than anything.
All of the sudden, I was hit in the back of the head with a brick. The brick came in the form of a news clip of what I believe to be a bunch of Israelis jumping and dancing around, cheering on this act of terrorism. I understand how the United States is hated by much of the world and how we represent materialism at its worst. Yes we sit around gorging ourselves while the a good portion of the rest of the world is starving, but it is just sadistic and wrong to be cheering in support of this massive act of cold blooded murder.
Over the course of the day, I have been hearing people talk about how we need to find out who is responsible for all of this and plain and simply annihilate them. Everyone seems to be gearing up for an all out war.
Someone once said that the best thing for a falling economy is a good war. Yes, I would probably have to agree with that statement, and if it comes down to that, I am sure that it will. Something else that I already see happening is how the nation has come across a newfound unity that we haven’t had for quite a while. But what are we going to do with this unity that we have?
I know how we have little to no choice but to retaliate against these acts of terrorism, but I am very much afraid that we may be looking at this situation through the eyes of revenge. We have every right to be angry. We have every right to want to retaliate, but we have to be careful not to be seeking revenge.
I remember reading in the bible somewhere about loving your neighbor as yourself, and something about turning the other cheek. retaliation may be inevitable, but as the “Christian Nation” we claim to be, or at did at one point in time, shouldn’t we be thinking about forgiving whoever it is that is responsible for this? Isn’t that what Jesus was trying to teach us to do?
I remember back, shortly after my divorce. I had been pretty well devastated by the event. When I thought about my ex-wife, all I could think about was how angry and how I hated her for all the pain and suffering that I had gone through. I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. One day I was reading my bible and praying, and I believe that God spoke to me. It was as if he were asking me “What would you do if I asked you to witness to your ex-wife? Would she listen to a word you said if there was no forgiveness involve? Could you even tell her about Me if there was all this hatred in your heart?”
That day I learned for the first time about the importance of forgiveness. God cannot and will not work through you when you are harboring unforgiveness, anger, and hatred. As a vessel, you are totally worthless to him.
So, I guess the question that I have is what are we going to do next as a nation? Are we going to go out and annihilate everyone that had anything to do with this act of terrorism, or are we going to forgive them and do what we have to do. Isn’t one of the big messages that the New Testament teaches how our actions are not nearly as important as the heart behind them?
I think that we need to start by praying, fasting, and repenting of our own sins and making ourselves usable to God. We need to forgive no matter how hard it may be. If we don’t, first and foremost, we are just hurting ourselves.
Mr I. | | Back to Top | | |
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faith
Registered Member
Date Joined Sep 2001
Total Posts : 34
| Posted 9/12/2001 4:23 AM (GMT -6) | | I was very struck by the images of those cheering at another's pain, as well. However, they weren't Israelis, they were Palestinians. Israel is having a national day of mourning for their "American friends."
Thank you for your comments focusing on our own personal relationships to God and on prayer -- He is so needed for healing at this time.
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trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 9/12/2001 4:32 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
I think that we need to start by praying, fasting, and repenting of our own sins and making ourselves usable to God. We need to forgive no matter how hard it may be. If we don’t, first and foremost, we are just hurting ourselves
We do need to forgive but we also need to discipline whoever is behind this tragedy. God forgives us for our sins if we ask but we often have to pay the consequence nonetheless of our own action. I don't think annihilating is the answer though. This is just so raw and stunning that it makes it difficult to even think of forgiveness right now. I keep thinking about ALL the people (especially the children) who are directly effected by this tragedy and I feel paralyzed with such a sadness inside. I keep having to tell myself that this is not a tragic movie because the shock of this tragedy makes it feel almost unreal at times.
quote:
RxMom: This tragedy is a prime example of why I can no longer accept the "classical philosophical view" of theodicy
I totally agree! God did NOT predestine this act for some "greater good".
Prayer is such a comfort right now. Knowing that one thing we have control over is that we can give this situation over to the Lord. When I dropped my children off for school yesterday and then immediately heard of the tragedies on the radio I felt sick and scared. I wanted my children to be safe with me but they were at school. It was at that point I realized how much I need to depend and trust in God's love and care. We do not have any control over this tragedy but we can feel comforted resting in God's care. In this warfare, prayer (totally trusting this whole thing over to God), is the most powerful weapon we have.
This ultimately not a physical war but a spiritual battle that we are up against.
trosie
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Lee Merrill
booted
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 723
| Posted 9/12/2001 1:28 PM (GMT -6) | | Here is an excerpt from "Voices in the Night," edited by Edwin Robertson.
(written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the Gestapo cellar of Prince Albrecht Strasse, where conditions were harsh, "It's hell in here," Canaris said to Bonhoeffer when they met there)
By kindly powers surrounded, peaceful and true,
wonderfully protected with consolation dear,
safely, I dwell with all of you this whole day through,
and surely to another year.
Though from the old our hearts are still in pain,
while evil days oppress with burdens still,
Lord, send our fearing souls again
salvation, and thy promises fulfil.
And should you offer us the bitter cup, resembling
sorrow, filled brimful and overflowing,
we will receive it thankfully, without trembling,
from thy hand, so good and ever-loving.
But if it be thy will again to give
joy of this world and bright sunshine,
then in our minds we will past times relive
and all our days be wholly thine.
Let candles burn, both warm and bright,
which to our darkness thou hast brought,
and, if that can be, gather us within the light,
thy light that shines within the night unsought.
When we are wrapped in silence most profound,
may we then hear that song most fully raised
from all the unseen world that lies around
and thou art by all thy children praised.
By kindly powers protected wonderfully,
confident, we wait for come what may.
Night and morning, God is by us, faithfully
and surely at each newborn day.
Fabian von Schlabrendorff spoke to Bonhoeffer on February 7 for the last time. Fabian wrote afterwards, "When after several months I returned to my home, at first I saw nothing but rubble. Anything that the bombs had spared had been stolen. Only one book lay undamaged among the bricks and mortar: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Cost of Discipleship."
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"Even now we seem to have dim glimpses into regions
from which we receive no word to bring away" (George MacDonald) | | Back to Top | | |
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graygirl
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 78
| Posted 9/13/2001 8:32 AM (GMT -6) | | This whole thing has been incredibly heartbreaking. The stories have been so absolutley horrific that they are hard to believe. My God.
I pray that believer everywhere would show the Lord's great compassion and tenderness to those around them. I am tired of hearing talk about judgement, etc. I don't know what NY was, whether or not it was judgement and frankly at this time, I don't care. Non-believers already have a jadded view of God as a vengeful God armed with a clipboard lookin' to zap somebody. what an enourmous responsibility to reflect God's true character and heart in light of such evil.
oh well...this is me venting.
God bless
GG | | Back to Top | | |
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writerdad
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 448
| Posted 9/13/2001 9:44 AM (GMT -6) | | I have spent the past couple of days near tears and trying to comprehend the evil that it takes to do such a thing. When your life matters less than the destruction you wish to bring about...
Anyway, I do not share Wislawa worries about Muslims because I am still griefing for those who had people die, not those who may or may not be persecuted for the act> I prefer to focus on what has happened, in the sense of where my sentiments lie.
I do think this can be a wake up call to american Christians to realize who they serve. While I love the country I was born in (as do most people), we are called to a greater kingdom and, as such, should take this call seriously. Each christian should pray as to how God is calling him to respond to the situation. Personally, i know very committed Christians who are pacifists and those who are in the military. I believe both are following God's heart.
I also do not share Wislawa worry about our leaders, but that is another debate. Regardless, we should pray for wisdom for them, whether or not we believe in them. There will be military action taken by our country against someone, make no mistake about that. We should pray that the action is taken against those who are responsible, because if they are not found, someone else will pay.
AS for me, it has made me realize that my life is a vapor and one day I will be sitting where the dead are now. How will my life be viewed...I hope well. John 17:3 Harold PS...I have been thinking a lot about Job and realizing that God does not promise protection from death, only the glory thereafter...
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trosie
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 550
| Posted 9/13/2001 10:50 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
writedad: AS for me, it has made me realize that my life is a vapor and one day I will be sitting where the dead are now.
Amen! This whole tragedy has put perspective on how fragile our lives are.
quote:
I have been thinking a lot about Job and realizing that God does not promise protection from death, only the glory thereafter...
AND to be with us ALWAYS, even in the darkest hours.
I am SO THANKFUL to have a friend in Jesus especially in turbulent times as these are!
trosie
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graygirl
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 78
| Posted 9/13/2001 10:59 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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