Comments on: Five Years http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:15:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Elphie http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14928 Elphie Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:57:27 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14928 I remember being in 8th grade, in gym class, and our gym teacher just came out to the field, his face completely white, telling us planes had hit the WTC, had hit the Pentagon. Being kids, we laughed-we thought it was a joke, planes just hitting the towers, yeah right...there was a kid in our class whose father worked at the Pentagon, and I remember the coach asking him if he wanted to call his father... It wasn't until after lunch that any of us knew. We weren't "supposed" to be told...but then we all got to our next class, and they handed us, of all things, a letter, explaining what had happened. I remember that one boy just turning completely white, the look of absolute horror in his, in all of our eyes, as we realized this had actually happened. I remember watching that boy run from the classroom, and no one stopped him-no one told him to sit down or to behave...and none of us moved. It was a half-day, and I was supposed to go out to lunch with my dad. Instead, we just sat in front of the television, staring at the screen. Finally my father turned it off, and I just remember sobbing, only 14 years old, asking my father how this could have happened-how anyone could be so heartless, how God could let so many people-so many children-die. Now as a college student, I look back on that day, and I realize that it will be in history books-that my children will one day realize that I was one of millions to witness this tragedy, and one day they will ask me the same questions I asked my father...and see the same pictures, the same videos, watch people jumping from the towers, and in their eyes, some of the same horror I saw that day, 5 years ago, will be reflected there... Thank God there is salvation, that there is hope, and that there is Heaven... I remember being in 8th grade, in gym class, and our gym teacher just came out to the field, his face completely white, telling us planes had hit the WTC, had hit the Pentagon. Being kids, we laughed-we thought it was a joke, planes just hitting the towers, yeah right…there was a kid in our class whose father worked at the Pentagon, and I remember the coach asking him if he wanted to call his father…

It wasn’t until after lunch that any of us knew. We weren’t “supposed” to be told…but then we all got to our next class, and they handed us, of all things, a letter, explaining what had happened. I remember that one boy just turning completely white, the look of absolute horror in his, in all of our eyes, as we realized this had actually happened. I remember watching that boy run from the classroom, and no one stopped him-no one told him to sit down or to behave…and none of us moved. It was a half-day, and I was supposed to go out to lunch with my dad. Instead, we just sat in front of the television, staring at the screen. Finally my father turned it off, and I just remember sobbing, only 14 years old, asking my father how this could have happened-how anyone could be so heartless, how God could let so many people-so many children-die.

Now as a college student, I look back on that day, and I realize that it will be in history books-that my children will one day realize that I was one of millions to witness this tragedy, and one day they will ask me the same questions I asked my father…and see the same pictures, the same videos, watch people jumping from the towers, and in their eyes, some of the same horror I saw that day, 5 years ago, will be reflected there…

Thank God there is salvation, that there is hope, and that there is Heaven…

]]> By: Katie http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14789 Katie Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:23:44 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14789 I was a senior in high school, four days away from turning 18. I hadn't had the radio on that morning as I drove to school, and because I was in a private lesson I missed the announcement in first-period band. On my way to second period, I ran into my friend Chance, who blurted out the news. I just stared at him in shock. When I made it upstairs to my Spanish class, my teacher had the TV on, and we watched in disbelief...and kept watching for days. My eyeballs felt like they'd been stretched from opening wide enough to take it all in. In November 2001, I flew to D.C. with a student diplomacy group for a national conference. We visited the monuments, the Republican National Committee headquarters, the State Department, and were given a private tour of the Pentagon by an Air Force brigadier general. At the end of the tour, we walked outside to view the spot where the plane had hit. They'd cleaned it up by then, but there was still a massive chunk of building gone. I stood under a dark sky sprinkled with stars (the few you could see, past the glow of city lights) and huddled close to my friends not for warmth, but for support. There was a lit Christmas tree on the roof right next to the spot that was hit. General Stein talked to us about freedom, family, and living and enjoying life. I don't remember his exact words, but I will never forget standing there. Made me even more determined to LIVE - that is the only way the terrorists won't win. I was a senior in high school, four days away from turning 18. I hadn’t had the radio on that morning as I drove to school, and because I was in a private lesson I missed the announcement in first-period band. On my way to second period, I ran into my friend Chance, who blurted out the news. I just stared at him in shock. When I made it upstairs to my Spanish class, my teacher had the TV on, and we watched in disbelief…and kept watching for days. My eyeballs felt like they’d been stretched from opening wide enough to take it all in.

In November 2001, I flew to D.C. with a student diplomacy group for a national conference. We visited the monuments, the Republican National Committee headquarters, the State Department, and were given a private tour of the Pentagon by an Air Force brigadier general. At the end of the tour, we walked outside to view the spot where the plane had hit. They’d cleaned it up by then, but there was still a massive chunk of building gone. I stood under a dark sky sprinkled with stars (the few you could see, past the glow of city lights) and huddled close to my friends not for warmth, but for support. There was a lit Christmas tree on the roof right next to the spot that was hit. General Stein talked to us about freedom, family, and living and enjoying life. I don’t remember his exact words, but I will never forget standing there. Made me even more determined to LIVE - that is the only way the terrorists won’t win.

]]> By: Katherine http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14763 Katherine Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:42:04 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14763 I was a Senior at Lubbock Christian University, and I remember by alarm clock going off at about 9:00 am, and since it is tuned to the radio on Air1-I remember the DJ saying something about praying for all of the people in New York and Washington DC...I was not sure what he was talking about and then I turned on the TV-and just sat their shocked as I watched everything unfold, including watching the towers collapse on live TV. It was just so surreal-then I realized that my mom had not called and I knew she would have if she knew what was going on, so I called her and told her to turn on the TV-she had been in the WTC just a few years before since she worked at Dean Witter and commented on how she knew so many people in there and just could not believe what was happening. Luckily, because of a brave man named Rick Rescorla who helped his colleagues escapr (he did die in the attacks) only 6 of the around 3500 people that worked at Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter got out on that day :) I remember that I skipped chapel that day and just continued to sit there in shock watching what was going on-they were showing the news feed in chapel anyway and were praying for everyone involved. I remember that we never knew where President Bush was, we worried about the oil refineries that were nearby in West Texas, and everyone was just a little more fearful...and knew we were at war. I remember that everyone seemed to have this stunned look on their face all day and the days that followed-then I remember us having blood drives, food/water bottle drives, and anything else we could do to help in the days that followed... I remember being glued to the TV the following days and everytime I would watch the events of that day-it just felt like a really really bad dream, and maybe we would wake up from it soon-but we did not... Then I remember going to NY 2 years later and just seeing this massive pit where the towers once stood, and seeing the cross that was left from the rubble, and all of the many signs and messages that were all over the place-it is hard to describe... I was a Senior at Lubbock Christian University, and I remember by alarm clock going off at about 9:00 am, and since it is tuned to the radio on Air1-I remember the DJ saying something about praying for all of the people in New York and Washington DC…I was not sure what he was talking about and then I turned on the TV-and just sat their shocked as I watched everything unfold, including watching the towers collapse on live TV.

It was just so surreal-then I realized that my mom had not called and I knew she would have if she knew what was going on, so I called her and told her to turn on the TV-she had been in the WTC just a few years before since she worked at Dean Witter and commented on how she knew so many people in there and just could not believe what was happening. Luckily, because of a brave man named Rick Rescorla who helped his colleagues escapr (he did die in the attacks) only 6 of the around 3500 people that worked at Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter got out on that day :)

I remember that I skipped chapel that day and just continued to sit there in shock watching what was going on-they were showing the news feed in chapel anyway and were praying for everyone involved. I remember that we never knew where President Bush was, we worried about the oil refineries that were nearby in West Texas, and everyone was just a little more fearful…and knew we were at war. I remember that everyone seemed to have this stunned look on their face all day and the days that followed-then I remember us having blood drives, food/water bottle drives, and anything else we could do to help in the days that followed…

I remember being glued to the TV the following days and everytime I would watch the events of that day-it just felt like a really really bad dream, and maybe we would wake up from it soon-but we did not…

Then I remember going to NY 2 years later and just seeing this massive pit where the towers once stood, and seeing the cross that was left from the rubble, and all of the many signs and messages that were all over the place-it is hard to describe…

]]> By: Terry http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14756 Terry Tue, 12 Sep 2006 23:06:04 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14756 If you really believe that you must of missed something along the line. Everyone wants to come here, but their governments have not stood with us for over 15 to 25 years. It has nothing to do with the current administration. My goodness the Arabs hold the crusades against us because we love Christ. If you really believe that you must of missed something along the line. Everyone wants to come here, but their governments have not stood with us for over 15 to 25 years. It has nothing to do with the current administration. My goodness the Arabs hold the crusades against us because we love Christ.

]]> By: Belinda http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14752 Belinda Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:02:37 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14752 Yes, we were indeed the "UNITED" States . . . what has happened? The current administration has brought division to this country like never before. And all the countries of the world that were "united" with us . . . also managed to alienate them. Very sad indeed. Yes, we were indeed the “UNITED” States . . . what has happened? The current administration has brought division to this country like never before. And all the countries of the world that were “united” with us . . . also managed to alienate them. Very sad indeed.

]]> By: Joel Maners http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14736 Joel Maners Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:40:34 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14736 I remeber I had gone to a pryer group that morning. Those prayes served to sustain me that day as the tragedy unfolded. I remeber I had gone to a pryer group that morning. Those prayes served to sustain me that day as the tragedy unfolded.

]]> By: JOhn Dobbs http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14709 JOhn Dobbs Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:24:56 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14709 I was sitting in Dr. Denny Petrillo's class at Bear Valley (Denver) in the graduate program there. John Alan Turner was sitting beside me. Someone stuck their head in the door and said, 'a plane just hit one of the WTC towers.' Like everyone, we assumed a small plane had gotten off course. Not long after, he came back and told us of another plane. The nearest television was in the dorm house, so we all went there and stood around in shock. There were some veterans in that group and they were especially touched by this. We joined hands and stood in a circle praying for our country and all of the families that were affected. I wondered how I would fly home in a few days. And I wished that I was at home during such a scary time. One of the students said that if my flight was cancelled, he would drive me home. I thought he had a wonderful heart to offer such. It's a long drive from Denver to Mississippi Coast. One more thing... although you cannot compare the two disasters ... having survived the aftermath of Katrina ... I am more thankful for those who ran TO help than I used to be. I was sitting in Dr. Denny Petrillo’s class at Bear Valley (Denver) in the graduate program there. John Alan Turner was sitting beside me. Someone stuck their head in the door and said, ‘a plane just hit one of the WTC towers.’ Like everyone, we assumed a small plane had gotten off course. Not long after, he came back and told us of another plane. The nearest television was in the dorm house, so we all went there and stood around in shock. There were some veterans in that group and they were especially touched by this. We joined hands and stood in a circle praying for our country and all of the families that were affected.

I wondered how I would fly home in a few days. And I wished that I was at home during such a scary time.

One of the students said that if my flight was cancelled, he would drive me home. I thought he had a wonderful heart to offer such. It’s a long drive from Denver to Mississippi Coast.

One more thing… although you cannot compare the two disasters … having survived the aftermath of Katrina … I am more thankful for those who ran TO help than I used to be.

]]> By: Leland http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14708 Leland Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:13:18 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14708 I fully agree Justin. The wolf should never be allowed to devour the sheep. No one ever said the the wolf only came to America. The wolf is running loose in Iraq, suicide bombers. The wolf is loose in Palestine, suicide bombers. The wolf is loose in Sudan..... The wolf is loose..... People were praying then and people are praying now. Apparently either God or the wolf is not listening. Take your pick, but be able to defend to a critical audience. I fully agree Justin. The wolf should never be allowed to devour the sheep. No one ever said the the wolf only came to America.

The wolf is running loose in Iraq, suicide bombers.
The wolf is loose in Palestine, suicide bombers.
The wolf is loose in Sudan…..
The wolf is loose…..

People were praying then and people are praying now. Apparently either God or the wolf is not listening. Take your pick, but be able to defend to a critical audience.

]]> By: justin http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14707 justin Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:55:06 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14707 While its quite important that we remember and grieve on this day, we should remember that we aren't the only nation that God loves... he loves his children that are murdered in sudan, those in iraq, lebanon, palestine and israel, children who are starving in africa and those still affected by the tsunami. We should use this day to pray that the kingdom come... not that america power is re asserted. Patriotism has become idolotry for so many in christendom... let us pray that once again the earth will be what God wants it to be... While its quite important that we remember and grieve on this day, we should remember that we aren’t the only nation that God loves… he loves his children that are murdered in sudan, those in iraq, lebanon, palestine and israel, children who are starving in africa and those still affected by the tsunami.

We should use this day to pray that the kingdom come… not that america power is re asserted. Patriotism has become idolotry for so many in christendom… let us pray that once again the earth will be what God wants it to be…

]]> By: Leland http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14706 Leland Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:52:42 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14706 I remember anger and hatred not fueled by religous conviction. I remember crying. Weeks later I remember Alan Jackson's song "Remember When" capturing every emotion I felt that day. 5 years later I am astonished how much we have forgotten about who destroyed the WTC. I remember anger and hatred not fueled by religous conviction. I remember crying.

Weeks later I remember Alan Jackson’s song “Remember When” capturing every emotion I felt that day.

5 years later I am astonished how much we have forgotten about who destroyed the WTC.

]]> By: Amy http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14703 Amy Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:57:01 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14703 I've had such a long day that after I posted the above comment I remembered that my oldest daughter must have just turned six and my 3 month old baby must have also been with me. How could I leave out such an important detail? :) I’ve had such a long day that after I posted the above comment I remembered that my oldest daughter must have just turned six and my 3 month old baby must have also been with me. How could I leave out such an important detail? :)

]]> By: Amy http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14702 Amy Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:48:54 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14702 I had just dropped my 4 year old off at preschool. This was just after the first plane hit the WTC, but drop off went as usual. The teachers must have been getting ready for the day with no tv's on. I had not heard yet either. My 5 year old was with me since she was in afternoon kindergarten. We left the preschool and went to Wal Mart. As we walked in, the greeter asked me if I had heard what was going on. I had not heard so she was trying to explain it to me. It was just so surreal. So I stood there in the entry of Wal Mart watching this little tv hanging from the ceiling with some other people. Then Rachel and I just turned around and left. I called John and another friend on my way home trying to make sense of it. The rest of the day I was glued to the tv and we just skipped kindergarten. So I guess my story for my grandkids will be that I heard about 9/11 from the Wal Mart greeter. As unfortunate as that is because I really do not like to shop at that store! Why couldn't it have been Target? I had just dropped my 4 year old off at preschool. This was just after the first plane hit the WTC, but drop off went as usual. The teachers must have been getting ready for the day with no tv’s on. I had not heard yet either. My 5 year old was with me since she was in afternoon kindergarten.

We left the preschool and went to Wal Mart. As we walked in, the greeter asked me if I had heard what was going on. I had not heard so she was trying to explain it to me. It was just so surreal. So I stood there in the entry of Wal Mart watching this little tv hanging from the ceiling with some other people. Then Rachel and I just turned around and left. I called John and another friend on my way home trying to make sense of it. The rest of the day I was glued to the tv and we just skipped kindergarten.

So I guess my story for my grandkids will be that I heard about 9/11 from the Wal Mart greeter. As unfortunate as that is because I really do not like to shop at that store! Why couldn’t it have been Target?

]]> By: cindy http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14701 cindy Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:41:48 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14701 I was teaching a tenth grade class in Huntsville, Alabama. Some of my students' parents were at the Pentagon , but they remained stoically quiet. One fellow teacher's son was in the air flying at the time, and she was frantic not knowing if he were on a hijacked plane or not. Because we are the Space City, many of us were worried that we might be targeted for something too. Later, one of my Russian students asked me why we carried on so much about the event because, he said, "These things happen all the time where I come from." That's sad that one can become almost complacent about such tragedies! I was teaching a tenth grade class in Huntsville, Alabama. Some of my students’ parents were at the Pentagon , but they remained stoically quiet. One fellow teacher’s son was in the air flying at the time, and she was frantic not knowing if he were on a hijacked plane or not. Because we are the Space City, many of us were worried that we might be targeted for something too.

Later, one of my Russian students asked me why we carried on so much about the event because, he said, “These things happen all the time where I come from.” That’s sad that one can become almost complacent about such tragedies!

]]> By: Clint http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14700 Clint Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:15:50 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14700 I was sitting in 5:00 rush hour traffic with Mark Moore and Casey Smith in Kampala, Uganda. We were on our way home to Jinja when we got the call. I remember feeling very connected with other Americans living in Uganda. I remember watching CNN with crowds of people at the local hotels. I especially remember how the Ugandans reacted though. They truly mourned with us as everywhere I went they just said, "Sorry, sorry" for several days to follow. I was sitting in 5:00 rush hour traffic with Mark Moore and Casey Smith in Kampala, Uganda. We were on our way home to Jinja when we got the call.

I remember feeling very connected with other Americans living in Uganda. I remember watching CNN with crowds of people at the local hotels. I especially remember how the Ugandans reacted though. They truly mourned with us as everywhere I went they just said, “Sorry, sorry” for several days to follow.

]]> By: T. Sherwood http://preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14698 T. Sherwood Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:28:14 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/09/11/five-years#comment-14698 My dad had just come to Ohio to visit us from Tennessee the night before. We were sitting around drinking coffee when my husband ran in and told us to turn on the TV. My dad is from a rural town with hardly any media reception. We have it all, satelite, internet, etc. I remember that we were glued to the TV, and my dad who doesn't even like TV just kept switching channels to every news channel there was. He just couldn't believe it. None of us could. Where our house is located we are about 35 miles from an airport and in the flight path for in-coming planes. I love being out in the yard and hearing the planes fly over in their approach wondering where the plane has come from. That first week after 9/11 there were no planes, and it felt so weird to not hear that familiar sound in the air. My dad had just come to Ohio to visit us from Tennessee the night before. We were sitting around drinking coffee when my husband ran in and told us to turn on the TV. My dad is from a rural town with hardly any media reception. We have it all, satelite, internet, etc. I remember that we were glued to the TV, and my dad who doesn’t even like TV just kept switching channels to every news channel there was. He just couldn’t believe it. None of us could.

Where our house is located we are about 35 miles from an airport and in the flight path for in-coming planes. I love being out in the yard and hearing the planes fly over in their approach wondering where the plane has come from. That first week after 9/11 there were no planes, and it felt so weird to not hear that familiar sound in the air.

]]>