History is really HIS STORY. Memorable dates have a way to be ingrained in our minds like a hot iron branding a cow. At age five on August 16, 1977, I remember hearing that Elvis Presley had died. In my house that was not only horrible news but BIG NEWS! I took off running up the street like Carl Lewis going for gold shouting (not the “British are Coming)” but “Elvis is dead! Elvis is dead!” Five years later, I was at our beach condo in Ocean City, MD on a cold January night in 1982, when it was fourth down and the Redskins were a few yards shy of a first down in the Super Bowl. My entire family was on “pins and needles” sitting on our pull out couch and I recall as if it were just ten minutes ago and I said a silent prayer that God would help Redskins running back, John Riggins (44) get a first down. God did more than that and the Diesel on that next play ran more like a Ferrari than a Dump Truck and ran over two defenders and sprinted down the sidelines like a gazelle to beat the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl! Go Riggo and thanks God!!

Some may recall watching the Space Shuttle Challenger explode before your very eyes and hearing one of the greatest orators of our time – President Ronald Reagan repeat on national television the words that White House speechwriter Peggy Noonan so eloquently penned: “The crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them — this morning, as they prepared for their journey, and waved goodbye, and “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” to “Touch the Face of God.” Memorable moments of magnificent magnitude tend to make time stand still or at least suspend for a short while.

It is hard to believe but it was nine years ago this week (September 11, 2001) that America was knocked to her knees. God answers KNEE MAIL and it has been said: “You will never loose your footing when you have been on your knees.” Over the years, I have found a POWER in PRAYER that is more powerful than the Pentagon. It is more mighty than our military and satisfies and secures more than the savings of federally insured banks around the Globe. It is a privilege to petition God Almighty anytime, anyplace and anywhere.

Some want to forget the past, pretend like certain events didn’t happen or even re-write history. Pertaining to 9-11, I had just flown back to Capitol Hill, the day before the attacks from preaching in Florida. While being a bi-vocational minister I was also on staff (full-time) at the Republican National Committee raising funds for the GOP. That morning, I was on the phone with a donor trying to promote President George W Bush’s message on September 11, 2001, when a senior citizen told me a plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers in New York.

Less than 20 minutes later, another donor on the phone told me that another plane hit the tower and I thought that they may have got the story wrong and it was the same plane. In fact (as the world knows now) it was a second plane and then I knew that we were at war. My office was one block from the United States Capitol Building and we were evacuated. Staff were running for shelter, policemen were directing traffic and Members of Congress were being transported to an “unspecified location” for safety. That is one day I will not soon forget because we literally thought planes were falling out of the sky (especially, now that the Pentagon was on fire). First New York and now Washington, D.C.

A year later, I was flown to Sullivan, Indiana at the invite of a couple pastors and churches of various denominations and was given the privilege to preach to a packed crowd at the one year anniversary on 9-11. It was  aired LIVE on radio all over the state and when I finished they gave God a standing ovation. The roar from the crowd was almost defeaning and even on tape it sounds like thunder. You can LISTEN to that sermon “9/11 – Attack on America” to the top right under MESSAGE OF THE MONTH (above the videos). We are in the process of re-ordering that OUT OF STOCK sermon and will make it available on CD in the near future.  Several told me that during those dark days, that message that God gave me was “pound for pound” one of the most powerful messages that they ever heard. Praise the Lord! As a former speechwriter to a Member of Congress in the House Leadership words since childhood came easy to me. Those that have a way with words often enjoy spending time in The Word. God gets all the glory but one of the privileges I have enjoyed as a preacher of the Gospel and my background with politics is that when society is hurting; God has allowed me to offer comfort and peace in the midst of confusion and pain.

My message was entitled: “ATTACK ON AMERICA: Fear vs Faith.” The terrorists when they hit the Twin Towers were sending a symbolic message that they were out to destroy us financially. When they initially considered hitting The White House or U.S. Capitol – they were trying to relay a message to destroy us politically. When the plane hit the Pentagon that was to embarrass our military. However, what they really wanted to do was run a plane at a local church or National Cathedral because what they despised most is our faith in Jesus Christ and were trying to destory us SPIRITUALLY.

Evangelist Billy Graham eloquently shared with the world: “The terrorists may have torn down our walls but our foundation is in tact. Our faith in Christ allows us to build and re-build.” We were down but not out. That day we saw some in society act at their very worst. However, countless Christians and concerned citizens around the Globe also came together showing acts of kindness in the very best spirit of mankind. Only God can bring triumph out of tragedy.

The truth is our security as a Nation comes only from the salvation offered by Jesus. Our hope is in Him and not ourselves. Ironically, the numbers 911 are the same numbers we are taught as children to call in case of an emergency. That day our strength was not in ourselves because we were gasping for air. It was not in our communications because phone lines were shut down. It was not in our finances because the banking system came to a halt and the lives whom died that day reminded us all that the soul of man is more valuable than stocks and bonds. The Bible is clear: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

Our own President was diverted at the instruction of the U.S. Secret Service to fly away from Washington, DC. Our only hope then and now is only found in the Person and Power of Christ. No one would have ever bet that the massive Twin Towers would have crumbled to the ground before our very eyes. However, what we can see is temporal but what we cannot see is eternal.

My friend and fellow evangelist, Sujo John http://www.sujojohn.com/ was in Tower One in New York and by God’s grace both he and his wife (whom was in Tower Two) survived that fateful day. God spared them both and today Sujo is one of the most powerful preachers in America. Those who have seen war are often the very souls who help promote peace. Make no mistake, we are at war today on many fronts. We are bombarded to compromise our core values, take light our commitment to a Holy God, question that kindness is not the Golden Rule but only an option and tempted to be more politically correct than Biblically correct. Friends, mark my words:  If we neglect so great a salvation and fall asleep at the wheel opposed to be on the front lines in God’s Army being obedient to His Will than we will resemble those massive monuments made by man (Twin Towers) and will not only fail but fall. But when we build our lives on the foundation of a Forgiving Father “by faith” we will rise up, stand strong and live victorious in this life and the one to come. Come Lord Jesus and may we be found faithful.

Some religions promote if you kill in the name of their god you can gain entrance to Heaven. However, The Truth of God’s Word notes a relationship with Jesus grants Heaven because the God of the universe laid down His life that we might live for those embracing Him as the Lord and Savior of their lives. Religion is “man made” but a real relationship with the Lord is ordained by God “through faith” and a gift of grace.

Today, nearly nine years later I pause and pray for the victims families who suffered such loss then and today still learning to live without their loved one(s). My friend, Tammy Trent (who tours with WOMEN OF FAITH) also lost her husband that day on 9-11, but she was overseas on a missions trip when he died while snorkling. As America was crumbling back home, her world was also coming apart. In honor of her husband, Trent who also passed away nine years ago this week, I would like to encourage you to click the VIDEO below and listen to my past interview with Tammy sharing her amazing story of God’s grace in the midst of life’s storms.   As a BONUS is the American classic GOD BLESS THE USA by Lee Greenwood.

God spared America and He continues to bless us more than we deserve today. Regardless of your political background, race or gender I would encourage you to pray for our President, pray for our Congress, public servants, our soldiers fighting for freedom and celebrate with humility that we still live in the greatest Nation on Earth. Dates are important and memorable moments are not only part of our DNA as a whole but poignant pictures on display in the photo album of our lives. The most important moment in the history of humanity is when the Son of God (Jesus), The Christ climbed Calvary’s cruel cross and became the sacrificial lamb for a sin sick society. We are sinners and in need of a Savior. God didn’t just send a “back up” plan but His only begotten Son. Friend, that is not just LOVE but the LORD! The hymn is true: “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.” It is much more than “poetry in motion” but a Savior in action. At Calvary that day, He (Jesus) was more Hope than hype, more work than words because The Word became flesh, dwelt among us and died in our place and He arose on the third day and LIVES forevermore. WORD OF THE DAY – Why worship a dead god when you can talk daily with the Living Lord.

Sadly, some Christian churches are advocating burning the Koran this weekend. Personally, we need to pray for those misguided not malign or burn them. Bless yes but burn no. The Bible notes: “People will know you are my disciples by your love for one another.” Two wrongs don’t make a right and I am convinced praying on our knees and sharing the love of Jesus with Muslims and all of mankind would be the most Christ-like thing we can do. We will always go further with prayer more than protest.

This Sunday, September 12, 2010, I have the privilege to preach at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, VA http://www.immanuelbible.net/ and many Members of Congress attend their amazing church. They have a passion  for God & Country and literally just miles from the Pentagon. Their church also graciously booked me to preach four times in October (15-17) on a retreat for their students and we are praying that scores get “fired up” for Jesus on this mountain top experience. Please pray for these upcoming services.

This week may we remember more than just 9-11, but the 411 (information) that the world needs Jesus.
God bless America and as Americans may we live a life that blesses God.