Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sunday Faith Post

First responders were digging for fellow firemen and policemen and all the others who'd lost their lives, of course, devastated, horrified, trying to take what had happened in, and starting to ask "Where's God in all of this?"   The rescue people were exhausted, scared, sick at heart as they found friends, or parts of them.  But, they kept working, seeing things they'd never thought they'd ever have to see in their whole lives.
On the third day of trying to take what had happened in, one worker went down into an area of Building 6 and saw a kind of amphitheater created by the blasts...iron beams had fallen horizontally and looked like outdoor seating..........the top of the building had been blown off and shafts of light flooded the area and then he saw four crosses formed by steal.  He said he knew then that God was there.  That hope was there.
 
Word of this amazing find went around and someone sprayed "God's House" on a wall nearby, and more and more responders went to that area in the following days and months and prayed, and the cross was a huge solace to them.

They saved that cross that gave such hope to the responders so they'd continue to have hope and others might, too.  It now stands on West Street in NYC in spite of attempts to get it down  Long may it stand.

"When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge."  Proverbs 14:32

God bless America.

z

36 comments:

beakerkin said...

The same people who support the nearby Mosque cry about the cross.

sue hanes said...


Z - Have a blessed Sunday.

Ed Bonderenka said...

Beakerkin +1

Ed Bonderenka said...

Good accompanying music:
http://youtu.be/YQfesXC-gHQ

Brooke said...

Beak nailed it!

Sam Huntington said...

There was certainly tragedy in the numbers of people killed on 9-11, but a miracle in the number who did not die. The stories about why there were so many people “late for work” that day are simply amazing. Today we are learning of the prevalence among the survivors of cancers —so many, in fact, that the state of New York has begun a registry. Not just among the first responders, but also among those who were blocks away and inhaled the debris. The tragedy continues.

Chuck said...

Good post Z. Beakerkin did nail it.

I often wonder why people are uncomfortable with a public display of a cross. As an example, Atheist will raise hell about the cross on West Street and try to get it removed.

I think part of the reason is just general unhappiness with their own life.

I wonder though too if maybe they aren't truly committed to their cause. If they were comfortable in their decision of being a non-believer, the cross would be irrelevant to them.

One would even think they should not even see it actually.

Makes me wonder if there is a little voice inside of them telling them they could be wrong...

Bob said...

"even in death the righteous have a refuge."

It is sad that not everybody understands this.

Ducky's here said...

@Beak --- The same people who support the nearby Mosque cry about the cross.

----
Do you get tired of being wrong, Beak?

The court action was between an atheist and Christian group (I don't know if the girders were removed).
It had NOTHING to do with Muslims.

Do you check under your bed for Muslims before you retire?

Z said...

Beak, you are so right.
The leftwingers are all for any 'Islamic ANYTHING, reminding us of "freedom of religion" and "aren't we a big enough country?" but God forbid a cross is displayed anywhere on public ground. Yes, the mosque is private, but every BIT as upsetting to some Jews and Christians as a cross is to any atheist.

Have you seen any atheists fighting the mosque's architecture so it doesn't look like a mosque, so then they can't be as offended as they are from the very sight of a cross? Here's one description by an atheist:

“symptoms of depression, headaches, anxiety, and mental pain and anguish from the knowledge that they are made to feel officially excluded from the ranks of citizens who were directly injured by the 9/11 attack.”


I'm thinking there are a lot of 9/11 families who feel pretty much the same about the architecture of a mosque being in their faces, don't you?

ya. I think so.
Sad, but true.

Chuck (I just looked at your blog yesterday hoping you were back...or the day before? Anyway, wonderful to see you here!)...And, yes, I have always thought atheists have something deep inside troubling them so badly, a pull to faith, that this is why they suffer like they do above :-)

Sam, one could say God intervened with those who were 'late', couldn't one. But, of course, then some will ask "But why not for the others?" Faith is tough, and why we must study and learn and talk and hold on.

The cancers are a hideous part of that....what possible condolence can we say that's big enough to help these poor folks?

Liberalmann said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Z said...

Ed, perfect music for it; thanks.

Z said...

libmann, you're looking foolish again.
Obama's sequester just cut the cancer survivor benefits.
Oh, what the heck...I'll delete you because I promised you :-)

Z said...

SO much going on in our world, so much good, so much touching...so much we should all be thinking about.

I heard someone on the radio the other day say that "Not enough thinkers are worrying enough"..I think he was right.

In the meantime, Yahoo's top headlines on their homepage are "Bieber spotted with brunette" and "Aniston dares in blue dress"

And we wonder why we're in trouble...as we fight the cross and honor the mundane and even evil (and no, I am not including Bieber and Aniston in that 'evil').

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Chuck - "I often wonder why people are uncomfortable with a public display of a cross."

It's not the public display of a cross that Atheists oppose, it the display of a cross, or any religious symbolism, on government property or in government function. The government of We The People should not endorse the idea that a God exists anymore than it should endorse the idea that a God doesn't exist.

Religion and faith are part of a private, personal belief in a deity......not a function of the State.

Z - "Have you seen any atheists fighting the mosque's architecture so it doesn't look like a mosque, so then they can't be as offended as they are from the very sight of a cross?"

Have you seen an Atheist fighting against the architecture of a church?

Ed Bonderenka said...

Geez, CI.
I know you're smarter than me and better informed, but I can't get past Christianity (of some form or another) informing the founding of this nation.
The mention of a Creator giving us (We the People) inalienable rights posits the existence of God.
And if that God gave us those rights, man has no business taking them away.
Remove that prejudice and it's open season on our rights.
So even if they thought privately that God to be a fiction, He's a convenient fiction to be supported.
Also, Freedom of Religion was never freedom from religion (I don't know of any atheists jailed for their non-beliefs), only that there should not be a federal denomination.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Ed - "I know you're smarter than me and better informed...."

You're not really going to play that card you?

"Freedom of Religion was never freedom from religion"

Of course.....that doesn't equate to it being a function of the State.

"And if that God gave us those rights, man has no business taking them away."

That's why Atheists consider those rights to be the state of nature; Same protection of the rights.

It's easily arguable that since man throughout the ages has determined what God hath decreed, our rights still can come from man.

"He's a convenient fiction to be supported."

There's the million dollar sentiment.

Ed Bonderenka said...

CI:
What card?
You can't take a compliment?
Let's agree to disagree.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

"What card?
You can't take a compliment?"

I apologize if I misunderstood you. I sometimes get the sarcastic response that since I may disagree with a position, I simply must think I'm smarter than the average bear.

I shouldn't jump to conclusions based on past experiences.

If agreeing to disagree means parting amicably, I can certainly support that.

FreeThinke said...

"If they were comfortable in their decision of being a non-believer, the cross would be irrelevant to them."

Now that comment really DID "nail it."

BRAVO, Chuck!

Chuck it upon a Great Truth that applies to any and all persons or groups devoted to a particular belief or point of view. If they had REAL confidence in what they profess to believe, they would not waste their lives caring about -- or trying to change -- what OTHERS believe.

I'm much in favor of letting The Cross remain in public view -- in fact it it were up to ME, I'd have made it the CENTERPIECE of the new WTC-Memorial. Nevertheless, I often think we put entirely too much store in SYMBOLISM in ways that may work to the detriment of SUBSTANCE.

Ducky's here said...

The leftwingers are all for any 'Islamic ANYTHING, reminding us of "freedom of religion" and "aren't we a big enough country?" but God forbid a cross is displayed anywhere on public ground. Yes, the mosque is private, but every BIT as upsetting to some Jews and Christians as a cross is to any atheist.
-------------------------
Come on, z, the issue adjudicated is the use on public grounds not whether you are upset.

Remember when Muslim cabbies were "upset" about carrying guide dogs or people with alcohol?
Well, they can get upset but they lose their cab license for two years.

I don't know where you get the idea that any religious group is favored or exempt from being offended.

Z said...

CI...my point is pretty clear, I think. The visible statement of faith, the cross or the mosque.
I fully expect atheists to start on the exterior architecture of churches.

And, the cross meant a lot to many more people than atheism will ever mean to anyone. I think that having been founded on Christian tenets (and please let's not argue that again because it's pretty obvious and I won't go there anymore...), a cross, which hasn't offended before, shouldn't be SO UPSETTING that people get physically ILL, as described in the quotes in my comment above.

FT, Chuck made an excellent point, didn't he.
The documentary I saw on the cross and how it affected SO MANY responders really shook me up; and I watched it the night of 9/11 last week...I was so moved; beyond what I'd have expected, frankly.
I wouldn't make the cross be the centerpiece, but I sure do think it would do many more people good to see it than the few it ticks off!

Z said...

Ducky, I found it odd that muslim cabbies didn't get upset until after 9/11.

beakerkin said...

Duncy

You have a reading comprehension problem. I work in the area and was not pointing at Muslims. I was pointing at treasonous lefties like yourself.

Just because something is legal does not mean it is in good taste. I suppose you will fight the plans to have gay nights and pig roasts
at the bar next door. They have a faux road house bar next door.
Redneck music roast pork and a few gays will make things peachy.

The bar came before the mosque. Ir was Country Western themed.

beakerkin said...

Duncy

As a Jew, I don't get upset by the cross. Nor do I know any genuine Jew
who cares about crosses. The types of people who do this are actually Marxists like yourself claiming to be Jews. Marxism is like a cancer corroding faiths and institutions.

I had a picture of a Native American with a Bible and the commies went nuts. You can show
pictures of Indians with knives or warpaint but not holding a Bible.
The same people say noting about local Church leaders Black and white on a pulpit.

An angry Black man or Indian suits
Commies fine. A true man of faith
who believes in Christ without Marxist class warfare garbage upsets you Commie clowns.

I would sooner live near a 700 Club member then a Marxist any day of the week. The true Christian is my brother and Marxists are my sworn foe.

Fred said...

Free Thinke said:
"I'm much in favor of letting The Cross remain in public view -- in fact it it were up to ME, I'd have made it the CENTERPIECE of the new WTC-Memorial. ."

But thank God, It's NOT up to you!

Z said...

Beak, your point about Native Americans (Indians) is an excellent one.
It's like the Bible is THE SCOURGE, isn't it...how ridiculous.
And ya...I have so many Jews who LOVE the Christmas season, and are never offended by the cross.

Of course, they're Conservatives (most of them) and understand freedom of religion and the underpinnings of our country, too.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Z - "....and please let's not argue that again because it's pretty obvious and I won't go there anymore..."

That's fine, but if you 'won't go there anymore'....why do you keep bringing it up?

If a cross hasn't offended anyone, then I would expect that the State NOT maintaining any judgement on unprovable religious faith, shouldn't offend anyone either.

Z said...

Why bring it up? Because, CI, if I hadn't said that, invariably, it would get brought up; it always does.
What is hilarious is those who constantly bring up JEFFERSON like the Golden Fleece "AHA! HERE's a guy who was just a DEIST" :-0
THEREFORE, America was NOT founded on Christian values ...
brother.
Not sure about your other point...we know they say they're offended. My question is WHAT IS SO OFFENSIVE? And does it matter a BIT that a huge majority of Americans are offended that others are offended at the cross??


beakerkin said...

Z

Any minority that runs a business or is a man of true faith is considered fake by commies like Duncy. One look at the bios of Herman Cain, Condi Rice, Thomas Sowell or Clarence Thomas vs Obama and Guinier makes this authenticity bit absurd. At least Jessie Jackson lived in a Black area in a Black family that was middle class.

Let an American Indian believe in the ideals of Christ and commies go nuts. Obviously, commies like Duncy fail to grasp intellectual freedom
is part of what is at the core of Americanism.

Kid said...

I've never heard anyone, and I mean ANYONE complaining about mosques being in their field of view, or of desiring muslim practices to be curtailed in public.

That's the point that Z makes abundantly clear.

Outside of protests to stop a muslim celebration center being built as close as possible to their latest mass murder event, which they do at Every mass murder even throughout history.

Plenty of stuff offends me, I don't sue people to have it taken down. Example? Pretty much 99% of popular culture. Billboards, adverts, political campaigns, 'news' stories. I look away. I change the channel. I don't expect to be able to mold the world around me. Only A*** do.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

"I've never heard anyone, and I mean ANYONE complaining about mosques being in their field of view, or of desiring muslim practices to be curtailed in public."

The Murfreesboro Mosque is one such example.

http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2011847,00.html

Chuck said...

CI, atheists have no standing to fight a cross on public/government property.

They use the fabricated "separation of church and state" doctrine as their defense.

This doctrine is and always will be an aberrant reading of the US Constitution.

The 1st Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

What in that statement prevents a cross on government property?

If read properly, it would prohibit a governmental entity from placing a religious symbol on their property but also prohibit them from banning the cross placed by someone else.

The kicker is then this:

or abridging the freedom of speech

It has always been my contention that separation laws are a bastardization of the Constitution for the left to prevent the public display of religion.

Chuck said...

Z it is great to be seen again and I do still miss the friends I made while blogging.

I have considered posting but I am still quite burnt out from politics.

My disgust for all things government has only gotten worse. I am at the point that I am feeling like dropping out and letting the country continue it's slide into the abyss without me.

I have found I have no use for Democrats or Republicans, left or what is passing for the right these days.

Add to that one other reason, I am baby-sitting him right now. As I said in the last post I put up, I am a grandfather and he is enough to keep me happy right now.

Glad to see you seem to be doing well though (I hope).

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Chuck - "It has always been my contention that separation laws are a bastardization of the Constitution for the left to prevent the public display of religion."

Fair enough. It has always been my contention that the endorsement or denial of a religious deity is not a proper function of the State.

Kid said...

CI, I don't believe the information in your linked story points to a case where someone/group is rejecting the mosque based on the same type objections that this post deals with. Atheists complaining about crosses and such.

These people are in a post 9-11 world and are saying they don't want jihadist islam building in their town. I'd do the same thing given the chance and my action would not be based on my having any problem with 'religion' on display. Though I'm also on record as saying islam is not a religion, it's a cult.