Our Alabaster Cities

undimmed by human tears

      Well the city lights are burning brightly and people are running here and there chasing their dreams. We have just passed through the ninth anniversary of that terrible day in September that we refer to as 911.  Maybe that great old song, "America the Beautiful" is right about the cities lights not being dimmed by human tears, but when I think and talk and listen to others talk about that dreadful day the lights get blurry, maybe not dimmed but definitely blurry.
     On Saturday our pastor Gary Hargrave brought an open and honest sermon on standing up and being an influence on this age. It was an awesome word about how our nation's leaders and even the common folks stood down the preacher in Florida who wanted to burn the Koran. Gary declare that this was a great example to the world how to denounce those who do not represent  Americans  and what we believe in. The few misguided souls should not be the spokesmen for our "God Blessed" country. He pointed out how leaders of the military, religious leaders of different faiths, across the isle politicians and even our President stood up and "sanctioned" (using the legal form of the word) the preacher.
     Simply and tastefully Gary said he is waiting for the day when leaders of other nations, both political and religious, take a stand publicly against what happened on 911, adding "today would have been a good day for it to happen." And I agree. Why haven't they? The quiet is deafening if not incriminating.
     This is a good time for Christians to continue to stand up and be counted for what we believe and not let those less honest and more misguided try to represent Christ and His Kingdom. And a good way for us to never forget and never let it happen again.

You can hear the complete messages on CD entitled "911- Never Forget - Never Again"  and  "Lord Make Us Your Kingdom"