Today marks the anniversary of the attack on America by Islamic terrorists in 2001. As with the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, we should always remember the ones whose lives were destroyed by this act of violent cowardice. As followers of Jesus Christ, this event should remind us all of the sinful hearts and minds of mankind, serve as a clarion call to repentance and spreading the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ, and to never take for granted one single day the Lord has given each one of us. Remember those who lost loved ones in this senseless tragedy.
Embraced Forevermore
by Jimmy Phillips
“As we remember our thoughts of eight years ago
sadness still lurks in the solemn shadows below.
As those towering inferno’s fell to their death
the hero’s within them drew their last breath.
It was a very sad ending to such a beautiful day
all of those people had died in such a horrible way.
The story’s now history as we try to move forward
a hard thing to do when you think of the martyred.
As we remembered our thoughts of eight years ago
those people who jumped from a sky high window.
The ones in the buildings who were trapped by the fire,
the ones on the planes who never knew what transpired.
Police and firemen who climbed those stairs to rescue
anyone who had survived, no matter how few.
Their day had just started and little did they know,
they were the victims of a cowards evil deathblow.
In honor of those hero’s who went in our place
we will never forget you, you’re forevermore embraced
by all of the Americans and the whole human race
as we try to move forward at a slow steady pace.
Each one of you died as a hero on that infamous day,
rest assured that your memories will never fade away.
In the land of a free democracy and in honor of our brave,
we fly Old Glory today and forevermore she’ll wave!”
Here are some great Bible verses to meditate upon
Isaiah 33:2
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Deuteronomy 4:7
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”
Psalm 33:12
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”
Proverbs 14:34
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Isaiah 60:12
“For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, And the nations will be utterly ruined.”
Isaiah 41:10-13
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ”Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish. ”You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent. ”For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
Isaiah 40:1
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”
Great thoughts from others
“There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free–if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!” -Patrick Henry
“Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” -Patrick Henry
“Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? … I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” -Patrick Henry
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
-John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States)
“Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.”-Harry Emerson Fosdick
“You are free to do whatever you like. You need only face the consequences.”-Sheldon Kopp
“Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.” -Dwight Eisenhower (34th President of the United States)
“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.” -Ulysses S. Grant
“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.” -John Adams (2nd President of the United States)
“It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism.”-J. Horace McFarland
“Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the conquest of it.” -Anonymous
“He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses courage loses all.” -Cervantes
“Brave men are all vertebrates; they have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle.” -Lewis Carroll
“Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.” -Billy Graham
“Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” -Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind” – Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
“As the union between spiritual freedom and political liberty seems nearly inseparable, it is our duty to defend both.” “Our enemies have mistaken our peace for cowardice, and supposing us unarmed have begun the attack.”
Thoughts on Defensive War, Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
Almost a year ago, a friend and co-worker lost a son, Captain Mark R. McDowell, (USAF) who was killed in Afghanistan on July 18, 2009. Captain Mark R. McDowell’s service required the ultimate sacrifice from him and he gave it freely. Mark gave his life for a cause he believed in and he lived his life for the Master he so willingly worshipped and served. Mark ran his race well and he ran his race to the fullest of his capabilities. He is a child of God and now he resides with his Father above. There is a saying that fits the way Mark lived, “Take care of your body as if you will live forever, Take care of your soul as if you will die tomorrow”. That is the way Mark lived each and every day.
A Call to Service
people who have been brought together to accomplish big tasks. What many may not know is that we are in the midst of people, who by their sacrifice and service, have allowed us, as Americans, to pursue a life of freedom, choice, peace and prosperity. In my organization, our population is approximately 200 people and 15% of those individuals have truly served many of us and we, at times, fail to realize or acknowledge their sacrifice.
The above article was originally written in January 2009. We are reprinting here in honor and memory of Barbara and Bill Thomas’s son, Captain Mark R. McDowell, a member of the 336 Fighter Squadron based in Goldsboro,NC. Captain McDowell was killed in action on July 17, 2009 in Afghanistan. He answered his country’s call, defending his country with his life.
afraid to fail, always willing to trust God to lead him and show him where he could serve. God gave Mark amazing talents and capabilities. Mark’s wife Katie said of Mark –no matter what he tried to do – he worked hard and mastered it quickly. That is the way Mark was in his walk with God. He attacked the scriptures with a desire to learn more about the Lord and to understand everything he could about the God that he loved and served.
“We tied a yellow ribbon around our mailbox in May