11 Sep, 2009
"National Day of Service and Remembrance"
Eight years since the 'dark day'
Across the United States, the memory of 9/11 - that fateful Tuesday in 2001 when suicide attacks struck New York and Washington - is still very much alive.
This year the annual commemoration of the attacks in the US has been given a new name - the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have called on Americans to carry out community service as a way of honouring "the heroes of that dark day".
Story excerpt and Photo found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Matthew 27:45-54 (English Standard Version)
The Death of Jesus
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." 48And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
What does God's Story teach us about honoring and remembering a hero?
Where were you on 9/11/2001? Many reading this may have been too young to know what was going on that terrible day. Others may remember exactly where they were, what TV they were watching, who was in the room, maybe the fear and confusion they felt. Some reading this may have even been closely connected to families who lost a loved one on that day. As the stories from that day unfolded, in the midst of tragedy, stories of heroes began to ring out throughout the country.
Heroes on Flight 93.
Heroes on the streets of New York City.
Heroes in the stairwells of crumbling towers.
Heroes in the Petagon.
Heroes all around.
Today, as we honor and remember those heroes, as well as nearly 3000 others who died that day, the there is one Hero we must not forget. As Jesus shared the last supper with the disciples he told them to remember him! So as we honor many servants today, let's be sure to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and point others to him as well.
- Who do you consider a hero in your everyday life? Honor them today or over the weekend with a simple thank you note, text message, or phone call.
- Look around your community this weekend for a way to perform some community service. Only don't do it just to honor those heroes of 9/11, do it to allow the love of Jesus to overflow from you into the lives of others.
- Thank God for the greatest hero of all time in Jesus.
- Does anyone consider you a hero? Do something heroic for someone today by simply performing a random act of kindness. They don't even need to know it's you.
- When stories are told of those who risked and/or gave up their lives to save others on 9/11, begin a conversation about how Jesus gave up his life for us.
- As you look around your community for some ways to serve, ask some friends with whom you've been sharing your story and God's Story to join you. Serving together can spark some great conversations about Jesus.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
