Monthly Archives: September 2021

9-11 Twenty Years Later

I was up this morning at 6 AM with coffee pondering the fact that it’s been twenty years since the fateful events of 9/11, 2001 impacted New York City and shocked the world. I rode the four wheeler to the end of the mountain to watch the sunrise and to continue to ponder these things.

It seems even twenty years later there are more questions than answers? But plenty of answers for those who can see, whose eyes are open, spiritually open to the puzzle before us and around us.

A prayer just came to my mind, and I jotted it down in my journal. “Help us Jesus to see, and deliver us from evil. Rescue us, and have mercy on us. Amen.” “Rescue” was the central theme of the theatrical production “Jesus” that we saw in Branson with my sister and her husband Thursday afternoon. We need his rescue like never before. And we need his power for living in this day and hour.

“The walls are broken down, the gates are burned with fire, and the people are in great distress.” Those words are recorded in the book of Nehemiah after Nehemiah, cup bearer to the king of Persia, inquired of his relative who had just come from Jerusalem about the status of his home city and country. Twenty years later, this seems like an accurate description of the church in America, and of America itself, since 9/11/2001.

But to those who fear His name, these are only harbingers and signs that the Holy, the Almighty, is on the move. These are signs that his grace abounds more and we can expect it, because sin is abounding more. These are calls to paths of power, calls to light and living, calls to rebuild, while facing spiritual enemies all around, and very near.

Do you see it? Do you hear it? I hope you do, and are preparing to act in obedience to whatever he tells you to do. Godspeed! And enjoy the adventure of the times He has given you to live, with Him.

An eclectic group of books laying beside me as I journal this morning…

“They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3 NIV

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” Romans 5:20 NLT

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

Happy New Year!

Sundown this evening begins Rosh Hashanah 2021 or 5782 on the Hebrew calendar, the new year. It also begins the Feast of Trumpets, ten days called “The Days of Awe,” “Days of Repentance,” days of restoration of relationships.

According to Wikipedia, traditionally Rosh Hashanah is the “anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman according to the Hebrew Bible, and the inauguration of humanity’s role in God’s world.”

There is only one commandment regarding Rosh Hashanah, “Blow the shofar.” “The sound of the trumpet lets us know something is happening — something wonderful. It is an invitation to once again give our attention to the Lord and usher in His presence.” (268chruch.org)

Also the year 5782 is right on the threshold of the 6000 year mark the ancient Jewish sages and early church fathers thought would end man’s rule in the earth and usher in the 1000 year reign of the Messiah, King of the Jews. “Lactanius wrote: As there has been 2000 years from Adam to Abraham, and 2000 years from Abraham to Christ, so there will be 2000 years for the Christian Era and then would come the Millennium (the remaining 1000 year reign of Christ on earth)!” 2 Peter 3:8 CEV (thenational.com)

If the date of Jesus crucifixion was April 3, 33 AD, as I’ve come to believe after researching the matter,(some hold to an earlier date), then add 2000 years and you get 2033 as a possible starting time frame for the Millennium, probably in the fall, if the Feasts of Israel are God’s prophetic time piece as many suppose, around the Feast of Trumpets. Subtract 7 years for the seventieth week of Daniel or the great tribulation and you get 2026. Thus the rapture of the church could come at anytime prior or during these years according to many prophecy and eschatology scholars of the Bible. At any rate, 2000 years since Christ appearing is coming quickly!

Take up your trumpet! And blow it. Sound out the message of truth. Sound out the alarm.

When you hear the trumpet, react, awaken, repent, draw near, and welcome your King! He is coming. He is near…

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” I Tim 1:17 NIV