I was in a staff meeting at First Pres of Macon, GA.  The conference table was surrounded by several pastors, secretaries, and other support staff.  Suddenly, the receptionist barged in.  We had just received a call from the distraught wife of one of our members.  A plane had hit one of the World Trade Center buildings and he was there for some training for his new job.  A plane?  Probably a Cessna veered off course, I thought. After all, those are really big buildings. I had seen them in person only three days before when I flew out of JFK back to Atlanta on my way home from a missions trip to Odessa, Ukraine.   The meeting broke up.  Maybe someone ought to go see the wife.  I’ll go.  I know the husband fairly well.

One of the secretaries turned on a radio. It was no Cessna that hit the tower. It was a passenger jet. Then, as I stood in her office doorway the radio announcer said another plane had hit the other tower.  My knees felt weak.  I drove to the home of the woman who called the church.  What would I do?  What would I say?  What was going on?  Were we at war?

I arrived to find the wife, her Mom, and her husband’s Mom there as well.  Oh boy.  Still no word from the husband.   I prayed with them- still can’t remember anything I mumbled in that prayer.  We all then watched the TV in mute shock as the towers fell.  I felt helpless and useless.  What do you say?  Did we just watch this husband and son die?

Within moments the phone rang.  It was him.  He was alive and well.  Praise God!  He had evacuated the building under the watchful supervision of New York Policemen and firemen- many of whom undoubtedly died that day.

A day we’ll never forget.

Russia invades Georgia (thankfully for me, not the state) on a pretext.  Apparently, Georgia’s pro-western stance has Russia irritated to say the least.  Ukraine is not on Russia’s list of favorite nations for the same reason.  They may have been behind the attempted poisoning of the Ukrainian president that occurred a few years ago.

These are troubled times.  My thoughts and attention have been drawn to that part of the world quite often.  Having visited Ukraine twice, I have a special interest in the work of the gospel there.  Our church supports a missionary couple in Odessa with whom we are good friends.  I keep a picture in my office of the Reformed church in Odessa that was given back to the church after the fall of communism.  My prayer is for peace for Georgia and that region and the ceasing of violence.  I pray our nation will take the appropriate posture towards Russia that communicates our deep dissatisfaction at this aggression.

Russia and China- two nations (like our own) that need our prayers.  May God protect His people in Georgia, Ukraine, and in China.

I read a heartwrenching article in the most recent issue of World Magazine (subscription required).  What caught my attention was the author’s quotation and reference throughout from the book of Habakkuk- a book we just recently considered as a sermon series entitled, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense”.  These are very difficult times for the people and for the church in that country under “President” Mugabe who has stolen the recent election and allows thugs to roam free.  God has been so good to us who live in this country.

Those of us who live in Houston County, particularly the Warner Robins area, are especially grateful that the I-75 landmark that unfortunately has been most associated with this area for some time is soon going to be leveled to the ground.  I’m speaking of the strip club known as Cafe Erotica that sits- for the moment- at the Warner Robins/Centerville exit on the interstate.  This establishment, along with its “we bare all” billboards, will soon be a thing of the past.  Since opening in the early ’90s it’s been the sad way to point people to Warner Robins as in, “well, you take the exit where the nudie cafe is…”.

Today I read this editorial in the local paper cleverly titled “When No Nudes is Good News”.  While the author was glad that this business is history in that the “tackiness” factor has been eliminated, he basically argues that this was a legitimate business that harmed no one.  He was glad that this was pure economics at work-persons of means simply bought out the place for a different use- rather than the county passing an ordinance banning such a business.  After all no one was dragged into this business kicking and screaming and, of course says the author, you “can’t legislate morality”.  The author’s father once owned a lucrative pool hall that was closed down years ago in true “Music Man” fashion- “we have trouble that starts with ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for POOL!”   In his opinion, the “church ladies” won that battle.

While I share the author’s enthusiasm that the clothing optional restaurant is now a thing of the past, his logic escapes me.

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I think these kids need a lesson in contentment and real sacrifice. Two sisters in Salt Lake City, Utah, ages 9 and 7 went on a protest walk against high gas prices. They don’t even drive, so what gives? It seems Mom had to cancel cable TV to help with the family budget as the price of gasoline hits record levels. Oh the pain, the pain! No more countless hours of “Hannah Montana”! What will these poor children do? I doubt they’ll miss a meal.  I doubt they’ll have to start using candles to light the home anytime soon.  Apparently, Mom and Dad thought their 60’s era protest tactics all due to the loss of a luxury were something of which to be proud.

Let the record show that I love cable TV- especially during the college football season when there are a boatload of games to view. Let the record also show, I’m frustrated too with gas prices that seem to do nothing but climb.  But reading this article affirmed how blessed are here in the States.  I think Mom and Dad needed to have a conversation with these two about what REAL sacrifice looks like. I think my Depression era grandparents would have had a few thoughts.

1) The same-sex marriage celebration in California. There’s been overwhelming positive press coverage of the new court ordered “right” in that state.  We are getting closer and closer to an accepted popular view that if you hold to the Biblical definition of marriage being a covenant between one man and one woman then you are a bigot.  The rapid change in our culture is astonishing even for a young 44 year old like me.

2) Oil/gas prices I know we still don’t pay as much for gas as they do in Europe, but Europe is much smaller and much more adept at mass transportation.  If we had more of it (buses, trains, etc.), I’d use it.  I rode the DART in Dallas!  My wife says a big “no” to a motorcycle.  Sigh.  Where’s that skateboard I used to have?

Pray for Myanmar. We all are well aware of the staggering death tolls left by the cyclone in that nation, governed by a military junta. What makes this situation even more distressing is the arrogance and callousness of the government as it refuses aid from other nations, especially the U.S. One news network reported that they are refusing aid in an effort to “save face.” Saving face means doubling or tripling the death toll as disease and starvation take their toll. It’s amazing to think that there are individuals whose pride takes such priority over compassion for their own people.

This from World Magazine (AP story):

All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated,” U.N. World Food Program spokesman Risley said.

“For the time being, we have no choice but to end further efforts to bring critical needed food aid into Myanmar at this time,” he said.

At least 62,000 people are dead or missing in Myanmar, entire villages are submerged in the Irrawaddy delta and aid groups warned that the area is on the verge of a medical disaster.

The U.N. has grown increasingly critical of Myanmar’s military rulers’ refusal to let foreign aid workers into the country while the junta appeared overwhelmed and more than 1 million homeless people waited for food, medicine and shelter.

“The frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts,” Risley said. “It’s astonishing.”

Let’s pray for the suffering people of Myanmar and that aid will be provided. Pray that somehow God could use this to advance the gospel in that nation.