20 Years Later

It's Friday night, September 10, 2021.  Tomorrow morning we wake up to 9/11 and for many of us the incredible reminder of a day we will never forget.  It was 2001.  I had gone to the church to my office for what I would expect to be a typical day.  It was anything but that very quickly.  My wife called to let me know that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers in NYC.  I was thinking a small plane off course.  Soon we would all learn this was a horrific planned attack on our country.  I quickly headed home.  I wanted to be with my family.  I watched as the towers fell on live TV.  Soon, knowing my family was ok, I headed back to the church trying to get my head around how to shepherd God’s people in a time like this.  The Twin Towers had fallen, the Pentagon had been attacked, and another plane had gone done in Pennsylvania diverted from its target by some very brave passengers.  

 

Now back at the church wee put a small tv in the foyer near the old sanctuary (this was before our expansion was complete).  We kept up with the news while answering phone calls and thinking about the day.  People began to ask if we were going to gather to pray as a church perhaps even that night.  I hate to admit but will honestly say I was a bit frustrated by that at first thinking to myself - do we only pray because of trouble?  But I quickly decided to go for it and we had a sign with interchangeable letters and announced on it that there would be a prayer meeting at 7pm.  As I recall the church was packed for that prayer meeting.  We prayed for one another, for our state, for our nation, and comforted one another.  We had no idea what the future held.  

 

Crises have a way of drawing us together, and it happened 20 years ago.  Now fast forward to today.  Our world is in a mess.  Our nation is in a mess.  We need answers.  We still don’t know what the future holds.  However, I’ve got good news.  The same good news I had 20 years ago.  As you wake in the morning, pray for your own life, your family, Northside, our community, this nation and God at work all around the world.  Many things have changed, but He remains the same.  He is faithful and true.  

Pray for churches that preach the gospel and lift up Jesus to be empowered this weekend to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the answer.  In fact that’s the title of my message at Northside this weekend.  If you are looking for a church to attend, I invite you - Saturday night at 6pm, or Sunday morning at 9 and 11am or watch online through the Northside Church Liverpool app.  

 

I want to remind you of this invitation from the Lord.  Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.  Psalm 50:15  What a precious promise.  Call on Him, believe His promise, and live to glorify Him.  That was my goal 20 years ago.  That's my goal today.  That will be my goal tomorrow.  Join me in that journey.

 

A Rest Stop on the Thruway

About 56 miles from our home, there is a rest stop on the NYS Thruway.  On our way home from Ohio today we stopped there.  We did the same things two years ago.  Only two years ago, we got gas and I asked my wife - 'Do you mind driving?'  She did not, and we headed home.  We were bringing our daughter home from her sophomore year in college.  After we unloaded the rental van, we were going to take it back.  That plan soon changed.  I began to develop some stroke like symptoms, and soon we were in an ambulance headed to the hospital.  That began a journey over the next months unlike any we had ever known.  To keep the story short, I was diagnosed with a form of meningitis I should have never gotten - but I did.  My central nervous system was attacked.  I know now the first miracle was that we got home before the difficulties began.  I had been dealing with some mild headaches - but didn't think a lot of it - I know now my brain was swelling.  

On May 4, 2019, I thought I might die.  I knew instantly I didn't want to - for several reasons.  I'm not afraid to die, I just still wanted to live.  We had just spent 2 days with five grandchildren in Ohio, and we had just brought our youngest daughter home who had two more years of college.  Ministry was becoming a joy again and I believed God had more in store.  For everyone who has ever prayed for me - thank you from the bottom of my heart.  To my wife - Kathy you are one of the key reasons I'm still alive.  The Lord used you to offer so much support and hope.  I could never thank you enough.  Each of my kids were a blessing as was our incredible church family. The young lady who was in college was so strong as her Dad lost the ability to speak clearly and things were not looking good.  She would go on to finish her college degree in just a year and a half more (finishing a semester early).  Today I've been 100% cleared and I know it's the mercy of God.  To Him be all the glory.

So back to the rest stop.  As is often the case on long trips, Kathy and I rotate the driving.  She was driving today as we approached that rest stop.  We decided it was time for a short break and then it hit me (and she already knew) - this was the rest stop.  I drove home this time.  All is well.  God is faithful.  Two years later I got to watch that same daughter graduate yesterday - a day I wasn't sure I would ever see.  Tonight I'm one grateful man.