Remembering September 11, 2001 And It's Aftermath

11 years ago today, America was viciously attacked by terrorists and many people died.

Afterwards a lot of people acknowledged God’s existence and flocked to churches for answers.

Sadly for most of these people their interest was short-lived, and they forgot the feelings they had and did not repent and trust in Christ. We now see how far away people have turned when we hear just as many if not more people at a Democratic convention yell to keep God’s name out of their platform.

The Republican party acknowledges God, but what god are many of them acknowledging?

There is only one true God, and the Word of God the Bible explains Him to us.

What about those who do not acknowledge His existence? What does the Bible say about them?

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.Psalm 14:1-3 NASB

How should people think about the bad things that happen?

I know from the Bible that God works through even the evil and bad things to bring about His purposes.

Genesis 50:20 -  Joseph tells his brothers who sold him into slavery that what they meant for evil God meant for good.

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?

“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

“Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?

“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5 NASB

The Bible mentions that even His enemies will give feigned obedience or worship in certain circumstances:

Psalm 66:3

Philippians 1:9-11
When people persecute Christians, what can I find in the Bible that encourages me with that kind of suffering?

2 Timothy 3:12 lets me know that I will be persecuted.

Matthew 10:28-39 - Nothing can separate me from God’s love.

Romans 8:28 - All things work together for my good, and persecution won’t change my standing/calling before God.

James 1:2-3 - Tells me that I should consider it joy when I have trials, because it produces endurance and perfects me.

If you are an unbeliever and are curious to learn more, please download the booklet “For Your Joy” at the following link:

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/for-your-joy

 

Christian Conveyor of Constructive Communication Connections

How To Start at Your New Church - Kevin DeYoung  This article is worth reading, although for some of us it's not so simple.  When you live far away or are disabled or limited, it's not so easy to be able to get involved the same way. 

The Big Deal About Profanity - Randy Alcorn / Craig Groeschel  Do you watch movies or TV?  This article is for you.  I can definitely relate as being someone who didn't have a TV in the home for most of my growing up years.  I can relate to what Randy Alcorn said especially. This is something that most Christians ignore it seems.

Bible Reliability: M-A-P-S to Guide You through Bible Reliability - Hank Hanegraaff  Years ago I used to listen regularly to the Bible Answerman radio broadcast.  While I didn't always agree with everything said, I learned a lot of things that have been useful to me as a Christian throughout the years.  I recently have used some from this acronym that I learned back then.

The Church and Homosexuality: Ten Commitments - Kevin DeYoung  If you are communicating with people who are homosexuals or with others about homosexuality, these are things that Christians should try to remember in the way that we respond.

39 Major ProChoice Arguments and Their Refutations - Randy Alcorn  This is excellent information that you can use as a reference when responding to people about abortion.  I have used the information to help me when people give these types of arguments online.

Kirk Cameron, Homosexuality and the Bible

Kirk Cameron has been attacked a lot recently for stating his views on homosexuality. 
I'm going to share his video here and then some Bible verses that talk about homosexuality. At the end I have put one more video you may want to check out.

 Now, there are some Christians who want to accept homosexuality and homosexual rights to "marry." If you read the Bible verses, you will see that those ideas do not match at all with what the Scriptures say.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 
Romans 1:24-27 NASB

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,  realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,  according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 
1 Timothy 1:8-11

See Genesis 19 here

In the law of Moses, you will find out how seriously homosexuality was viewed as one of the many types of sin.

If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
Leviticus 20:13

This is the description of marriage that the Bible gives:

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24

Here is a video that includes some of the verses and explains how Christians are to respond to homosexuals.