STAND FIRM

PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

In the six years since September 11, 2001 I have become greatly concerned that our faith and stance has been weakened by forces that want to take our freedom and put further control over our lives. Not only by the terrorists who seek to destroy us at any cost, but by those who want to lead our country and will try, and have tried, to destroy anything in their path to do so.

Below is the IQ letter I wrote to the Sr. Hi. youth group I worked with, the week after 911.


INNER QUEST #62 FIND THE COST OF FREEDOM Sept. 18, 2001

My dear friends,
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did for the congregation this past Sunday. When you were asked to join the choir for the singing of the introit, you honored that request and in doing so, showed the congregation what it needed most, in this time of mourning and uncertainty. UNITY!

When you sang together with the choir, you brought with you many different schools, different families, different heritages, different ages and eras, and became as one voice. We were united in song, united in patriotism, and united in God. It is that type of unity that is the backbone of our country.

There are too many ways in which to share my thoughts with you this week. Right now, I cannot find the right words to express what I am feeling, so I will try to keep it simple.

God gave us freedom. God gave us freedom to think for ourselves and to choose how we live. God also gave us laws to go by so that we know where right and wrong are separated. Our country is based on that freedom and those laws. We are not perfect, but we must defend that freedom from those who try to take it away. We will defend other nations that have their freedom threatened. That is what God calls us to do, to help each other.

Last night the David Letterman Show returned to the airwaves from New York City. This is a show that many people rely on for laughs. Monday night, the laughs were missing.

CBS News anchor Dan Rather was Dave’s guest. Dan said that after last weeks attack, singing “America the Beautiful” would never be the same to him, and then started to cry. As Dan felt the embarrassment of not holding his composure, David looked at him and said, “Good Christ! You are only human!”

Yes, we are only human and we have the right to cry, the right to laugh, the right to be mad, the right to enjoy peace and we have the right to defend our freedom when it is threatened.

Those rights and our freedom, not just as a nation, but as a global family, have now been threatened. How we respond will be dependant on the strength of our unity. Put faith in our leaders and pray for them. Ask God for guidance, understanding and strength.

No challenge is without sacrifice and that will be hard to handle at times. If the 300 firemen
who lost their lives were given a second chance I believe they would have gone right back in there. Back there to help those get their freedom back.

“Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground.
Mother earth will swallow you, lay your body down.”
-Steven Stills (Crosby, Stills and Nash)

Your friend and defender, John


Can we still STAND FIRM?