Ten Years Ago— What Have We Learned? Title Slide: Ten Years Ago—What Have We Learned?

National Tragedy— Whose to Blame? Jerry Falwell said on Pat Robertson's 700 Club: (9-13-2001) “This is probably miniscule if God lifts the curtain and allows the enemies of United States to give us what we probably deserve.” “ACLU shares in the blame for this…throwing God out of the school and the public square with the help of the government…abortionists have to share in the blame for this too…God will not be mocked when we destroyed 40 million little babies…”

National Tragedy— Whose to Blame? Jerry Falwell said on Pat Robertson's 700 Club: (9-13-2001) “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."

National Tragedy— Whose to Blame? Here is what God’s book says: “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.“ {Matthew 5:45} “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” {2 Corinthians 5:10}

Lesson: Brevity of Life Here is what God’s book says: “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.“ {James 4:14} “Because all flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away.” {1 Peter 1:24}

Lesson: Brevity of Life Here is what God’s book says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.“ {Hebrews 9:27} “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” {Ecclesiastes 9:5}

Men, women and children left for work, school, to do the things they do every day expecting to return that evening. Thousands never did…loved ones with memories and no way to say good-bye. Gone in an instant! Such are all our lives…

Lesson: Need to Be Prepared Here is what God’s book says: “For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.“ {2 Corinthians 6:2} “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” {Matthew 25:13}

Lesson: Need to Be Prepared Here is what God’s book says: “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!“ {Amos 4:12} “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.” {2 Kings 20:1}

*Every good intentions went to the grave with them. Some things every person who, went to their untimely death on that day ten years ago, have in common: *Every good intentions went to the grave with them. *No choice or decisions made in their lives could be changed or altered. *Their record of life was sealed to face them in the judgment day.

Lesson: Bad Things Happen to Good People Here is what God’s book says: “Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.“ {Jeremiah 37:21} “And the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.” {1 Samuel 22:18}

Lesson: Bad Things Happen to Good People Here is what God’s book says: “Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.“ {Acts 12:2} “Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” {Acts 7:57,58}

Lesson: Bad Things Happen to Good People Here is what God’s book says: “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!” {Matthew 26:54}

Many people who were “good people” died at the hands of evil men that day. Today many good people have “bad things” happen to them… Men abuse their spouse People abuse their children Adults kill small children Good people get cancer Good people get killed by drunk drivers Yet, that changes nothing about “choices” made in one’s life!

Conclusion World Events will continue to happen “unexpectedly.” Yet, it won’t matter if we would became one of the victims if: We make proper preparations Strive to always remain faithful Place our trust and hope in God