September 11, 2001: Let Us Never Forget

       September 11, 2001: Let Us Never Forget

September 11, 2001 no matter where you where or what you were doing when you heard of the horrific events of that morning, I am certain that your world, like my world stopped turning for at least a few minutes.

This was the day that thousands of American lives were lost on our own soil by a terrorist attack. 

I was in the United States District Court House in Baltimore with a client for a hearing. The Judge was called from the bench, when he returned he announced all cases would be continued and told us to leave the courthouse with no further explanation.

As I left the courthouse I saw armed U.S. Marshals surrounding the building.  It was then I heard of the attack on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers.  My first thoughts went to my brother who is a firefighter on Long Island.  I tried to reach him on my cell phone and all lines were busy.  I kept trying while I walked back to my office. 

When I arrived at my office, my secretary informed me the Pentagon had been hit.  I responded with a very solemn "we're at war" and walked quietly to my office. 

I closed my doors and prayed the most sincere prayer of my life to let me get through and speak to my brother. I picked up my phone and tried one more time.  Miraculously he picked up on the first ring.  He was on an engine responding to Ground Zero. When he arrived at the scene his company was assigned to work as a rescue and recovery team.  He was one of the lucky ones, he survived without physical injury.  Many others were not so lucky on that day.  God blessed me and my family.  He kept a hedge of angels around us and I am forever grateful for that protection.

I remember leaving my office going to be with my daughter and former wife, whose husband worked for the airlines and was flying that day.  He was safe.  I remember speaking to my son who was in college.  All of a sudden I realized how important family was.  How blessed my family was and how thankful I was that God answered my prayer and let me speak to my brother while he was responding to this tragedy. 

What I also remember is what happened in the hours, days, weeks and months following the attacks.  Neighbors were helping neighbors, many families were proudly flying their flags, people flocked to churches to pray together.   

I remember many of the people I worked with going to church together on the National Day of Prayer.  No matter our faith we all went together in solidarity to the Basilica in Baltimore.  The events of September 11, 2001 brought out a unity and love I have never seen before or since.  An attack that was meant to divide us, united us.

Sadly, a mere thirteen years later many have forgotten that day.  It saddened me to read of a Fire Chief suspending firefighters for refusing to remove American flag decals from their lockers; to read of a Lt. Colonel who was not allowed in his daughter’s High School because his uniform might offend students.  Both of these situations have been corrected but how, just 13 years after our country was so united could they have occurred in the first place.   It’s not only our flag and our military that  are no longer being respected but efforts are being made to remove God from every component of our society.  Just 13 years after most Americans flocked to churches in unity.  Please today join me in prayer to remember those touched by 9/11 and for the restoration of faith and patriotism in our country.  For me there is nothing more important than God, Family and Country.  May God Bless America and all of our families.

A Heroine of the Bible: Abigail, 1 Samuel 25

A Heroine of the Bible: Abigail, 1 Samuel 25

Read: 1 Samuel 25

My small group just recently completed a study on 1 Samuel.  During the course of this study I was struck with the humility Abigail demonstrated in 1 Samuel 25. Before we discuss the humility exhibited by Abigail I will provide some background for those not familiar with first Samuel.

1 Samuel is a narrative of the transition from the period of Judges in Israel to Kings.  Samuel was the last of the Judges and a Prophet.  The narrative documents the rise of Saul as Israel’s first King, his falling into disfavor with God and the surprising selection of a young shepherd boy named David to eventually succeed him as King.

The most famous story in first Samuel can be found in1 Samuel 17  which tells how David, armed only with a sling shot and 5 stones, killed Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior. This accomplishment brings young David great acclaim and fame.

There are three major characters in 1 Samuel 25.  They are David, the future King, Nabal, a wealthy man known for his evil & wicked nature and Nabal’s wife, Abigail.   Abigail is an intelligent yet humble woman.

While Nabal’s shepherds were tending his flock, David’s men protected them and treated them fairly.  When David learned that Nabal was shearing his sheep he asked his men to approach him politely and in David’s name ask for what Nabal thought would be fair compensation.  David’s men went and did as they were asked and when they reached Nabal said “Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.  I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.  Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.”

Instead of being grateful to David and his men, Nabal responded by hurling insults at them.  When David heard this he and four hundred of his men took up swords with the intent of killing Nabal and his men.

One of Nabal’s servants fearing David’s reaction told Abigail what had transpired.  She immediately realized their fate if she did not act quickly.

She took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys and headed to meet David.  When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.  She fell at his feet took responsibility, presented the offering and asked forgiveness.

David was gracious.  He accepted the offering and did not kill Nabal and his men.

Here we see a heroine.  Abigail took responsibility for something she did not do, made an offering and sought forgiveness.  She put others above herself.  Because of her actions the lives of many innocent were saved. Shortly, thereafter Nabal died. 

Healing: Mark Bradley Morrow, Post Abortive Father

Healing:  Mark Bradley Morrow

 Mark's  story includes  4 Abortions in 20 months, 1 Vasectomy, 1 Adoption, 2 Reversals, 1 Miscarriage & 2 Beautiful Babies

Now I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine.  He is a father.  Some of you may have heard of him before.  He is not only a licensed professional counselor; he is also a professional stand-up comedian and was a popular morning drive time radio personality for a Christian radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania.  His name is Mark Bradley Morrow.  His story includes  4 Abortions in 20 months, 1 Vasectomy, 1 Adoption, 2 Reversals, 1 Miscarriage & 2 Beautiful Babies To find out more about Mark please visit his web site www.markbradleymorrow.com

Mark accepted Christ into his life when he was 19 and still a virgin.  During his college years he filled his time with bible study, prayer and fellowship. It was after college that sexual temptation became too much for him.  This temptation led to sexual relationships, four pregnancies and four abortions. It was a secret he kept and struggled with for 18 years fearing that disclosure would ruin his career and family. 

Mark’s first abortion experience came after a lustful night in which he did not use a condom.  His girlfriend informed him of the pregnancy.  He told her he would support the child financially but would not marry her nor would he be a father to the child.  That was unacceptable to her.  He then suggested adoption.  Instead of embracing the adoption alternative she brought up abortion, Mark did not resist.  He even drove her to the clinic, waited in the waiting room and paid for half the abortion.  The middle two abortions he did not learn about until after the fact.  The women knew he did not want to be a father so they went and had abortions on their own and informed him later.  The fourth one he knew what the mother was going through but did not actively participate in the abortion process. 

After the final abortion, he met his future wife.  At the time, she was an unwed mother.  He led her to Christ.  Mark agreed to marry her and adopt her daughter but told her he did not want children of his own.  She reluctantly agreed to this condition and he had a vasectomy before the wedding day.  After several years of being a father to his adopted daughter he realized the joys and rewards fatherhood had to offer.  He decided he wanted to have children of his own.  He went through a painful reversal procedure only to have it fail.  He then went to the Cleveland Clinic for another reversal procedure.  This one was successful.  In a short time, he and his wife announced on his morning radio show that she was pregnant.  A few days later she miscarried.  Mark wondered if he would ever be blessed with biological children.  Eventually, he received the gift of a biological daughter and son.  Mark still grieves for over the loss of his other five children.  He lost four because of abortion and one as a result of a miscarriage.

Eventually, Mark decided to share the story with a friend, his wife, his pastor and finally with his teenage daughter.  The reaction he got from his daughter was exactly the affirmation he needed to tell his story to the world.  She looked at him and said softly “Dad, there is nothing you could have said that would have made me love you any less.”  With that reassurance and support Mark went public with his story and his ministry of reaching out to other dads who have experienced abortion.

This might also be a good time to remind everyone that the sentiments expressed by Mark’s daughter are the same sentiments God expresses to us. No matter what we have done or said God cannot and will not love us any less.  God is a forgiving and loving God.

What God has done with Mark’s life since he shared his past is an example of how God will use our bad decisions for good.   Mark, now counsels’ fathers who have had children aborted, shares his story with others as a keynote speaker for crisis pregnancy center fundraisers, special church services, Right to Life Banquets, abstinence programs, men's events and Christian/Catholic school assemblies.  Mark can be reached at morrow@velocity.net  

Forgiveness: Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

Forgiveness: Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

"The God I loved forgave me of all my mistakes.  I know if God could forgive me I could forgive my mom.  I think the feeling of peace is just a bonus God gives.  A huge burden was lifted off of me.”  Biggest Loser winner, Michelle Aguilar

Faith does teach us that God has a high standard for us, a standard none of us can possibility attain.  In Romans 3:23 Paul reminds us that “…we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  The good news is that God is full of love, grace and mercy.  He will forgive us if we accept His gift of grace. If God has the grace to forgive us, we should find it in our hearts to forgive each other.  We all require God’s forgiveness.  Throughout our lives we are always making withdrawals from God’s Bank of Grace.  Just as God has generously shared His grace with us we need to extend that same grace to others when they fail us.

Christians are taught that God not only wants us to forgive others, He requires us to.  When Jesus was asked to teach His followers how to pray He gave us a prayer.  This prayer is taught to us in Matthew 6:9-13.  In 6:12 the prayer specifically addresses forgiveness with the words “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” 

In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus expands on how important forgiveness is when he taught us that “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Biggest Loser winner, Michelle Aguilar, while explaining how she was able to forgive her mother for leaving her father, provides a great explanation as to why we should forgive and the gift God gives us when we forgive.  “Unforgiveness made me sick on the inside, but when I let go, there was a peace God gave.  The God I loved forgave me of all my mistakes.  I know if God could forgive me I could forgive my mom.  I think the feeling of peace is just a bonus God gives.  A huge burden was lifted off of me.”

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