Dear Friends and Family, Again, the outpouring of notes and articles in response to events of this week and our last edition have been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. Here are just of few of the many we've received. I wish I could share them all. Thanks to all of you for sharing your hearts and for being understanding of the way we have shared ours. Your brother, Steve ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From a member of Max Lucado's church (Wayne Rowe) sent this to my sister Bluegrass and she passed it on to us. "I heard such a wonderful thing at church today that I knew I would have to share it with you all. Most of you already know that our pastor is Max Lucado, a Christian author who is very popular for his many wonderful books about the Lord. This week, Max was invited (along with several other preachers) to have lunch at the White House with President Bush. Their meeting took place on Thursday and Max shared with us this morning how it had gone. As the ministers sat down to lunch and waited for President Bush to appear, Max said that he was expecting G.W. to walk in the room looking tired, serious and depressed. When the President came in, Max said he looked totally the opposite of tired, he was energetic, joyful and very focused on his talk with the ministers. Max asked President Bush how he could seem so calm and peaceful in the midst of all the tragedy. The President's reply was, "I'm feeling stronger now than I've ever been in my life. And the reason is because every person in America is praying for me. When I stay on my knees, that's when I have power." The ministers then asked the President how he would like them to pray for him, and how their congregations back home should be praying, Mr. Bush asked, first for clarity of mind so that he could make wise decisions and then he asked that we pray specifically for his wife and two daughters, as he is very concerned about their safety. I knew that you would be as encouraged as I was to hear about this meeting. We must thank God that we have a President who loves and fears the Lord. No human leader is perfect, but God is perfect, so let's keep President Bush lifted up in prayer before the Father. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil." May the Holy Ghost make us skillful in using the weapons of this warfare. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, . . . against the rulers of the darkness of this world." Steve, Here is a quote from an elderly saint who coordinates prayer requests from numerous missionaries around the world. It came with a special prayer request today for missionaries and missionary children around the world during this present crisis. The thoughts are worth sharing. Florence There has been a deep caution in my soul in recent days of the need of depending solely, completely, entirely on the Lord. Any bit of over-confidence (many times unnoticed unless we are very watchful) is an invitation for the enemy to slip in. When things are going well, even exceptionally well, is a time for extra watchfulness. This applies to individuals, churches, institutions. "Vigilance is the price of liberty." Nowhere is that more true than in the spiritual realm. "My soul, be on thy guard, ten thousand foes arise." "Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man," Anita K. Brechbill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: Dear God, Protect Our Troops! (http://www.dobhran.com/greetings/GRprayer4.htm) Dear Steve and Cathy.... As "awful" as all of this is, I, like you, know that this terrorism must be quelled... and soon!! Let's not forget that "they" perform atrocities within their own culture and imprison Christians as well... I don't envision any of us as "warmongers"...... but we do, in God's name, deserve justice... I find that I am having to look away from letters that express otherwise.. must be my age, but I feel so hurt by our own..... I don't suppose many remember Pearl Harbor ( I barely do)... But wonder what would have happened if we had "turned the other cheek" at that time. With respect and love for you two..and, God Bless America!! Love, Linda Shared by Linda from a friend of her's in Cape Cod "The Power of Your Prayer", by Roy Lessin You live an amazing life! In a moment's time, you can be in any country in the world. No place is above or beyond your reach. You can bring comfort to a family who just lost a loved one unexpectedly and tragically. You can influence kings and kingdoms and help bring about change in the hearts of world leaders. You can help bring protection to those who are in danger, wisdom to those who are looking for answers, strength to those who feel they can't go on, and encouragement to those who don't know where to turn. You can help stay the hand of evil and release the hand of blessing and goodness. There are no limits to what you can do. This is possible not because you have great wealth, power or influence. You can do it because you are simply an ordinary person who believes that Almighty God, in the name of Jesus Christ His son, will, through the power of the Holy Spirit, answer your prayers. "The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." James 5:16 MSG "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And this came from Linda just today: Received from a friend, British,. worthy of repetition... Hope you enjoy it as much as we did... An expression of why we should be "proud to be an American." Subject: Editorial from a Romanian newspaper An Ode to America Why are Americans so united? They don't resemble one another even if you paint them! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them are nearly extinct, others are incompatible with one another, and in matters of religious beliefs, not even God can count how many they are. Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, the secret services that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed on the streets nearby to gape about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised the flag on the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a minister or the president was passing. On every occasion they started singing their traditional song: "God Bless America!". Silent as a rock, I watched the charity concert broadcast on Saturday once, twice, three times, on different TV channels. There were Clint Eastwood, Willie Nelson, Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts, Cassius Clay, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Silvester Stalone, James Wood, and many others whom no film or producers could ever bring together. The American's solidarity spirit turned them into a choir. Actually, choir is not the word. What you could hear was the heavy artillery of the American soul. What neither George W. Bush, nor Bill Clinton, nor Colin Powell could say without facing the risk of stumbling over words and sounds, was being heard in a great and unmistakable way in this charity concert. I don't know how it happened that all this obsessive singing of America didn't sound croaky, nationalist, or ostentatious! It made you green with envy because you weren't able to sing for your country without running the risk of being considered chauvinist, ridiculous, or suspected of who-knows-what mean interests. I watched the live broadcast and the rerun of its rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who fought with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that would have killed other hundreds or thousands of people. How on earth were they able to bow before a fellow human? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit which nothing can buy. What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their galloping history? Their economic power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases which risk of sounding like commonplaces. I thought things over, but I reached only one conclusion. Only freedom can work such miracles! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Steve and Cathy, The American military campaign has begun. U.S. and British forces have struck Taliban sites in Afghanistan. Now is the time for Christians to unite in prayer for our nation and our world. The latest reports indicate that our nation's security experts are bracing for an almost assured second round of terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, here on Capitol Hill, many staff members feel stretched to the breaking point and we are seeing people turn to the Lord like never before. Below are this week's Prayer Focus points. Thank you for your prayers for our leaders, and may God bless you. Dr. Frank Wright, Executive Director Center for Christian Statesmanship + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + RECEIVE REGULAR PRAYER UPDATES FROM CAPITOL HILL HERE: http://www.grassfire.net/prayer.asp?PID=417373 (AOL Users click the line below, all others use the above link: ) <a href="http://www.grassfire.net/prayer.asp?PID=417373">Click here</a> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + CAPITOL PRAYER FOCUS, 10/10/01 ++FOCUS #1 -- OUR NATION AT WAR Just a few weeks ago, some in Washington, D.C., were proposing a "Department of Peace" and a Peace Academy here in the U.S. to promote world peace. Now, war has begun. Pray for our military personnel who right now are risking their lives to defend this nation. ++FOCUS #2 -- PRESIDENT'S PROTECTION Pray specifically for the protection of President Bush, his family and Vice President Cheney and his family. A direct strike against our leaders would be a major victory for terrorist forces. Pray for the President's protection each and every day. ++FOCUS #3 -- PRAYER COVERING OVER AMERICAAsk God to protect this land from further terrorist attacks, which are expected to come now that the U.S. has launched its attack. Pray that the plans of those who seek to kill innocent Americans with acts of terror will be thwarted. ++FOCUS #4 -- PRESSURE ON CAPITOL HILL Lift up our leaders in Congress and the many personnel who are under extraordinary pressure on Capitol Hill. For example, the Capitol Hill Police are working 12-hour, six day a week shifts during this time of heightened security in Congress. Pray for the Lord to sustain these workers as they continue this heavy burden. ++FOCUS #5 -- REVIVAL ON THE HILL God is at work! Many are seeking the Lord, joining prayer groups and Bible studies, and seeking answers to the tough questions presented by this tragedy. Lift up these new Bible studies. Also, pray for the CENTER's staff, especially Barry Prevett who strained his back while helping with relief efforts at the Pentagon. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Established by Dr. D. James Kennedy, the Center for Christian Statesmanship is a non-partisan, inter-denominational ministry outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries to our nation's leaders. Our goals are spiritual outreach, ministry training, and restoring a vision for Christian statesmanship in our land. Questions on the prayer campaign? E-mail compass@.... Please specify "Capitol Prayer Focus" in the subject line. Or, visit our web site: http://www.statesman.org (AOL Users click the line below, all others use the above link: ) <a href="http://www.statesman.org">Click here</a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shared by Bluegrass Two Thousand One, Nine Eleven Two thousand one, nine eleven. Five thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait. A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds. A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did. The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray; Others in khaki and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear... " The Newcomer said, "We know the rest. "Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before. A Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores. A silence fell within the mist. Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons." "We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "don't talk like that! Look at your country! Look and see -- You died for freedom, just like me." Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams. Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must. Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell But not alone "Look! Blackman, whiteman, brownman, yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene. "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze. The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '44 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly: "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow - but I don't see fears." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone." "All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one." With that the man in the stovepipe hat said, "Take my hand," and from there he led five thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Steve, This link is for a message from Dr. Adrian Rogers of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. I think he explains this whole thing very well. http://www.fantrax.com/i.cfm?DID=121214&UID=46098110&MID=176612 Your fellow servant in the Valley, LuJean Pierce (Editor's Note: I've read the information at the site and invite all of you to check it out as well - my thanks to LuJean. As you can tell from all the posts contained in this edition, I've got the best sisters since I found Christ.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: Tim McGilvreay Subject: Re: Do We Forgive or Avenge Terrorism? Just a quick thought: What is the Biblical paradigm for forgiveness? Forgive as the Lord forgives? Doesn't the Lord forgive us when we repent? Or does He forgive those who are still absolutely loving what they have done? In other words, are we to forgive terrorists who aren't sorry? Tim ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 2001 (Received from InspiringWords) What is this strange sound, the song that I hear? Is it "God Bless America" that is filling my ears? It makes my heart wonder why is it that now We call out to God to tell us just how To heal all the hurting, to stop all the pain, To make us feel better, and forgive all our shame. My simple mind ponders again and again Why we removed God from life, and now ask Him back in. Was it not important to seek Him each day? When life was much simpler, just work and just play. Our nation was founded on truths that were strong. How'd we get so far off, were those truths really wrong? It was surely a plan to take us all down, To destroy our lives, our homes, and our towns. But I see a great miracle that soon will occur As a fire is rekindled in hearts that are stirred. A coming together of the young and the old A flag-waving nation, standing strong, standing bold. Our eyes have been opened, and now we can see, How much clearer a picture from down on our knees. Truth is still standing; He was there all along We understand freedom when we sing the old songs. Funny how things can lie dormant for years And come back to life when watered by tears. Our children will always remember the day When school doors swung open, and they were called in to pray. They will long hold the memory of this day of terror And know that God answers even when there's been error. Once again they will hear the stories of old Their hearts filled with Hope, to have and to hold. A call back to Love, to Truth, and to Right Is the thing they'll remember that brought back the Light. God is building new leaders among these young souls They are learning to build on a Foundation that holds. No longer will we, as a country sit back And lounge in our homes while the enemy attacks We will again bow our heads, and with humble hearts pray, "Oh Lord, please forgive us, and teach us Your ways. Raise up those among us who will answer the call To ring bells of freedom up and down every hall. May we not take for granted the lives that were lost. May we always remember the terrible cost. God please rest Your hand upon us again, Touch each little child, every woman and man. Give us eyes to see what Your eyes can see. Give us a voice to speak out and proclaim liberty. Give us boldness to act in the face of our fears Give us faith to believe that you are still near May our hearts overflow with brotherly love. May we entertain angels sent from above. May our eyes see one another in a new light today. May we understand that Grace is truly Your way. May we tune out this world and sit down together Once again to hold hands and hold tight forever. Yes, God bless America. Please bless us once more From the tops of the mountains to the edge of our shores But also, please Lord, I pray just the same That you bless all the nations who call on Your Name Bless their homes, bless their loved ones, give Peace and give Love Shower us all with the blessings that come from above." Tricia Cribbs Email: mailto:Tricia@...