Pastor Bruce’s blog

It’s hard not to remember where I was on that day in 2001.  I had just gotten to the church office and Ellen called me in to listen to the radio regarding reports that a commercial airliner had crashed into the World Trade Center.  What followed was what followed for all of us.  We turned on a television to see the second crash.  Then the fires.  Then the collapse.  Our hearts sunk.  And for the first time in a while we all knew we had real enemies that hated our country and our way of life.  It was dark and frightening and we wanted to get our kids home and talk among our closest friends and watch the unfolding aftermath, even if we felt we could watch no longer. 

A lot has happened since then.  War in the Middle East, troops sent but not all come home, sorrowful families and determined Americans.  And the amazing thing; we’ve forgotten to some degree.  Forgotten that many innocent Americans died in an attack from a foreign force bent on ruining something of our freedoms.  And that this enemy still is at large.  How important it was to remember on Monday, at least, and to pay our respects to those who have given to the point of not being able to give any longer.  And to remember that there are those that hurt from their direct losses associated with that enemy attack….

And then we have to remember that as Christians, we’re always at war.  We have an enemy that wants so badly to ruin our way of life and see us taken out.  Wants to separate us in any way he can from our Lord’s calling, His nearness, His image in our lives and homes.  We ought to remember that each day our needed response is to resist him, having put on our armor and taken up our sword.  And defend our families, our community from his lies and trickery. 

Fight well and don’t let your defenses down.  The Lord has already beaten him, but he’s still around, seeking whom he may devour.  PB