Monday, September 5, 2011

Mayor Bloomberg: Was God too busy?

Mayor Bloomberg:  How tragic to read about your decision to exclude prayer from the 9/11 memorial ceremony.  I read that your reason is "the memorial schedule is too busy to allow prayer."

As I sit here at my desk, my mind wanders back to September 11,2001.  I was not far away from that site.  I was actually asleep at the time.  Having spent many hours working (as a RN), I was resting comfortably in my bed.  I awoke to find my answering machine blinking and the message was from my friends over a thousand miles away saying something like "hey, turn on your TV, something has happened, some plane accident or something, looks pretty bad, call us."  I turned on my TV only to see the horror of a city in shock, in disbelief at what was going on.  I wanted to call my friends, but I had no phone service by this time.  I had no  friends in New York since I was only there for the summer months and into early fall.  The thought of not being able to reach out to my friends put my stomach in knots......but there was God.  As He has always been, He was faithful to comfort me and remind me that He was still in control, He was still God.  No terrorist could terrorize the King of Kings.

  PSALM 46-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:  God shall help her and that right early.  The heathen raged the kingdoms were moved: he uttereth his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Come behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire,  Be still and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

I was not the only one with that feeling in my stomach.  Thousands of others felt that way also and for many different reasons.  For some, they knew they had loved ones in those towers, for some they passed by the towers every day in their commute to and from work.  Some were supposed to be in the towers that morning but through some "twist of fate" they were not.  New York City was a city in shock and America was a nation in shock.  Who do we turn to?  What can we do?

The Creator of this world was there.  Unshaken by the horrific events, His arms were open, His ears were open.  He was the One we could turn to to find peace in the midst of chaos, to find comfort in the midst of pain and heartache, to find security in the midst of terror....God was not too busy.

Churches all over this country understood that.  They opened their doors for those who needed a shoulder to cry on, for those who needed prayer, for those who had questions and were looking for answers, the churches were not too busy.

Organizations such as Samaritan's Purse (founded by Franklin Graham) and other Christian organizations flooded the area and sat up make shift counseling areas and were there....why?  Because they understood God was not too busy.

I know of at least 1 clergyman who died because He was a vessel used by God to extend the love of God to those who were in the midst of the horror-

In the days ahead, God was not too busy to provide strength to those whose strength was zapped  from them.  He was not too busy to provide for the needs of those affected by the tragedy.  Ten years have passed and God is still comforting those folks affected by the tragedy.  True to His Word, He is a God that never slumbers or sleeps.

PSALM 121: 1-4- I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made the heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Mr. Mayor, God has never been "too busy" to intervene in the lives of those who call upon Him.  His love for us is so vast that He was not "too busy" to make a way so that we could have our sins forgiven and spend eternity with Him- He did this through sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the weight of our sins as He was crucified on a cross 2000 years ago.

JOHN 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

To all who read this blog- Take Comfort!  Mayor Bloomberg doesn't dictate God's agenda and no one has the power or the authority to restrain God.  While Mayor Bloomberg may have excluded Him, we do not have to do the same.  We can invite Him into every activity of every moment of every day.

I have read various articles where angered people plan on booing Mayor Bloomberg off stage during the ceremony remembering 9/11.  Please, my dear Christian brothers and sisters, do not involve yourself in such behavior.


  ISAIAH 53:7  He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth:  He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not His mouth.

I PETER 2:21- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

I PETER 2:22-23- Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

I PETER 3:9- Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Instead, use your energy and time to pray for Mayor Bloomberg and others who have demonstrated very poor judgement in their decision making.  Pray that they would seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.

ISAIAH 55: 6-7  Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

God has called us to show respect to our government leaders.  While we certainly are not called to agree with  the decision Mayor Bloomberg has made, we must show respect in our disagreements!  May our behavior be one that honors God and silences those who would attempt to lash out at us.

I TIMOTHY 2:1-4  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth.

I PETER 2:15-16- For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God.  Honour all men,  Love the brotherhood,  Fear God.  Honour the king.

God bless America and God have mercy on America