London: A Sunny Afternoon on 11th September

As I write, I am at the top floor staff room of the College where I teach in west London. Here, some six miles from Heathrow, I can see across London. I can see the Post Office Tower in central London and across, way across, into the country beyond Westminster and the Docklands. I can hear the gentle roar of a Boeing 747-400 banking hard as she climbs out of Heathrow Airport at around 8,000 feet. The weather is hot - most unusual for September here in Britain. A fairly average day at the beginning as a busy term - in this case, not. Because today is the afternoon of September 11th, 2006. Exactly at this time five years ago, a painstakingly-built Boeing aircraft was hurtling toward the second WTC tower, having been turned into a crude missile of mass destruction, laden with precious human cargo.

As did many others, I saw those surreal yet all too starkly real events unfold live on satellite television. I was in the hotel lobby, along with other fellow Full Gospel ministers who were attending our annual UK FGFCMI convention, where we had hastily abandoned an early afternoon business meeting when the first news came through.

How did I commemorate that bleak unfolding of evil five years on? As it happened, I've just come out of a class of foreign students - mostly Moslem - who are learning English. Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and many other countries besides represented. We had the students get to know each other; find out where they were from; their aspirations for the future; their dreams and hopes. We had fun. I only briefly drew one student's mind to remember five years ago. After all, no one present would have been over twelve years old when 9/11 happened, and some of them have their own all too real personal tales of trauma and battle-zones to tell. Strangely, five years on, and we had fun. Fun being human. Trusting that these students really will remain human, and not give themselves to a spiral of sub-human evil of hatred and religious rhetoric.

Today, having fun seemed to be the best strategy. I think those who perished five years ago - whether American or British, or from abroad, and whether their end came in a lonely field in Pennsylvania, or at the Pentagon or in New York - those who perished (and I trust, their grieving families today) would want us to move on and make the bravest, boldest positive contribution to the societies we find ourselves servants within.

We had no two minute silence here in Britain. I wished we did. Yet even so, I can never forget. My life has been deeply marked - all the more so since September 11th is very bitter-sweet for me; today we celebrate our teenage daughter's 17th birthday. But in that English class this afternoon, God used these foriegn students to help turn my pain into a positive experience. They unknowingly helped me make a turning point today. Before taking the class, I entered our college prayer room. Perhaps strangely, not to pray. But rather, to phone a dear friend, Janice. A flight attendant with American Airlines. US based, often flying out of Boston. Five years ago, it took five days for Annette and I to establish contact with her and find that she was safe. She had indeed been aloft as the flights crashed, but that particular day, she'd been taken off-line her normal duties and was at thirty-some thousand feet winging her way toward Dallas-fort Worth for her annual re-certification. Some she knew however, had not been so fortunate and perished.

Quiet and un-assuming by nature, Janice agreed to do an exclusive taped interview over the phone with London's Premier Radio. When Premier called her, it turned out her interview went out live in London's drive time. I listened, as a transformed woman shared her faith and her confidence in Jesus Christ, and her determination to stay flying; fearless in the face of anything the enemy of our souls could bring. Janice was speaking for many millions of brave Americans that day, I felt.

It was the day Christians began to man the spiritual battle stations. Alas, many have returned to slumber, or worse, veered off into all sorts of crazy doctrinal aberrations. Meanwhile, Christ continues faithful in his promise to build his Church. Not by human effort or ambition. But by His Holy Spirit. Today, long after the natural dust has settled, I wonder how many of us can stand up tall with Janice, that dear American Airlines flight attendant, and truly be a surrendered part of that which Christ is building through love, compassion, understanding mercy and.. perhaps hardest of all - forgiveness.

I cannot do it on my own power. I can only do it through fresh surrender to Him who so loved us, that - despite the pain, laid His life down that we may live. I still cannot look again at the images of those Twin Towers falling. Yet, together with you, I can respond to His love and see our world change. And starting from within is the only real place any of us can begin that journey.

Blessings

The Nimrod Crash, Islam, 9/11+5 and President Bush

Afghanistan:
Sad news of the Nimrod MR2 crash in Afghanistan a few days ago. Especially touching for me, as I was onboard an operational Nimrod from this same squadron, with some of our RAF Air Cadets earlier this summer. I was so fascinated with the Nimrod and its dedicated crew, and took loads of pictures (which are stuck on my digital camera right now- will post them later). The aircraft is based on the Comet, which was the 1st passenger jet aircraft ever to enter service.

We remember the families who are grieving at this moment, as they attempt to come to terms with their loss. May the comfort of the Holy Sprit enwrap them closely, and may they find grace to help in time of need. May sensitive counsellors be with them, who may lead them to drink from the Living Waters.

New York:
Also, as I write, my dear friend Dr. Bruce Porter from Littleton, Colorado is standing at Ground Zero, being interviewed by the 700 Club for a special they are airing on 11th. May God grant great wisdom to Bruce and the on-camera presenters and crew. We must remain resolute; but at the same time, remain full of compassion. This is the “battle of the ages” and we all are a part of it. May all of you be surrounded by God’s love as we remember, and may this short presentation bring comfort and help us reflect.

Israel:
Bruce arrived back in USA after 10 days working on the front lines with the bereaved and hurting in Israel. I’m sure Bruce would endorse this: Never be ashamed of your support for Israel. Unfortunately, some voices in the Churches are becoming very vocal in putting Israelis down. They are a downtrodden minority, with neighbours who have a declared and open intent to never rest until Israel is annihilated. My support for Israel does not mean a blanket condoning of every policy and every action. But it does need to mean compassionate care, concern, support and prayer. So, let’s re-affirm our prayers for "the peace of Jerusalem” – the City of Peace.

President Bush:
I’m already out on a limb with my pro-Israeli comments (above) so I may as well also lend support for President George W. Bush as well. On the 7th August 2006, he said:

“It is the great challenge of this century and it's this: As young democracies flourish, terrorists try to stop their progress. And it's the great challenge of the United States and others who are blessed with living in free countries. Not only do terrorists try to stop the advance of democracy through killing innocent people within those countries, they also try to shape the will of the western world by killing innocent westerners. They try to spread their jihadist message -- a message I call, it's totalitarian in nature -- Islamic radicalism, Islamic fascism, they try to spread it as well by taking the attack to those of us who love freedom.” (White House Press Office)

Plain speaking – and in my view, it needed to be said! In this instance, he did not call the Moslem people Islamic fascists; he was referring to the jihadist message (which is a part of Islamic faith) promoted by extremists. (I am aware he has used similar language on I believe 2 other occasions – I’m limiting my comment to this verifiable source.)

It is time we become clear on the threat we are facing, and in that respect, I am glad that Mr. Bush made these remarks. Some of us in Britain have been so back-peddling this that my support may come as a jolt of electricity to some of you reading this. I will qualify it only by re-affirming that which is known by those who know me personally – that we love the Islamic people and work with them every way we can. Most of all, we desire them to come lovingly to the arms of Jesus, who is mighty to save.

However, as a religious system of belief, let’s not ignore the clear facts that Islam is founded upon principles of violent conflict that originated with the practices of Mohammed himself, so “extremism” is at the core of its faith. Yes, Christianity as a religion has much to be repented of. Let's not make excuses for the excesess of the Crusades; or the Great Inquisition for instance. But there is a significant difference: these were aberrations to the true faith -- this is not at all a picture of the faith that Jesus taught or practiced.

In Britain, I’m glad we still have some freedom of speech, and therefore am thankful I'm allowed to speak my perceptions. I’ve stayed silent too long. I will still be tolerant, caring and supportive toward all. Closing thought: Christianity is not a religion but rather a transformation.