The images of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New
York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning,
September 11, 2001 have been so vividly burned into our minds and
has left a gaping hole in our hearts. Many have turned their tear-
streaked faces heavenward and cried out "Why, Oh God, why?"

It's the high cost of freedom.

Freedom. A patriotic word. Yes, it does refer to the freedoms we as
Americans hold dear and are guaranteed by our Constitution. Freedoms
we have fought and continue to fight for. Freedoms that have made ours
a great nation. Freedoms we often take for granted until they are
under attack or threatened to be taken away from us. Freedoms that are
expressed in symbols such as our flag, memorials, and now the shell of
the World Trade Towers. Our symbols can be rebuilt. It's our freedom that
the terrorists attack. It's our trust in the institutions that safeguard
freedom that terrorists want to replace with fear. Manmade institutions
are destined to fail. But our freedom is safeguarded by God Almighty!

It's the high cost of freedom.

Freedom. A theological word. God guarantees us freedom, not
in a constitution - not even in a covenant - but in Creation. God said,
"Let us make man in our image." That does not mean that you or I look
like God. It means you and I have been created with a free will.
We have the freedom to choose: Life or Death. Salvation or Damnation.
God places no limits on our freedom of will. Humans have been given
an unlimited freedom and capacity to commit acts of righteousness. Humans
have also been given unlimited freedom and capacity to commit acts of evil.
We witnessed both Tuesday, September 11th.

It's the high cost of freedom.

Freedom. A Godly word. Jesus made a free choice, "...not my will, but thy
will be done." Pilate made a free choice, "I wash my hands of him."
The crowd made a free choice, "Crucify him!" Freedom, oh blessed freedom,
it cost the life of God's only Son. Jesus died on a criminal's cross so
that you and I could someday freely believe and accept salvation. Yet
even in the agony of death Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them, they know
not what they do." Grace is a free gift; grace is a priceless gift.

It's the high cost of freedom.

Freedom. A personal word. We may imagine that we are standing at a crossroads
pondering which way to go. Already there are voices demanding swift retaliation
and other voices advocating pacifism; voices calling for intervention and other
voices pleading isolationism; voices clamoring for tough security and investigative
legislation and other voices warning that our government is already too intrusive;
voices blaming all Arabs or Muslims and other voices preaching love or forgiveness.

How much freedom do faithful Christians have in this matter?

Many will be responding by trying to help satisfy the many needs of the rescuers,
victims and survivors. We are called to charity.

We are called to confront evil. We bear witness to the result of a monstrous
evil done in the name of perverted Islam. Inert Christian "doormats" can not
confront evil. We are called to serve the God of Scripture who is identified therein
as the "God of Abraham". Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship
the "God of Abraham". Zealous Christians may be blinded to that truth.
Ours is a crusade against evil - not Muslims - and against terrorists - not Arabs.
Recall the terrorists of Oklahoma City? We are called to be a prophetic voice
in the collective moral conscience of our nation. We have an obligation
to caution our nation to resist the temptation to commit our own monstrous
evils done in the name of perverted Christianity, vengence, or the false
diety of patriotism, national honor or American "divine providence".
Injustice begets injustice.

We are called to pray. Pray that our nation's leaders will first obtain
a clear understanding of God's will before making decisions.
Pray that the response and actions of our nation and its
allies will be appropriate, just and righteous.
Pray that the hearts of terrorists who serve Satan or
individuals perverting Islam will be transformed by a jihad
within their souls and an epiphany of divine revelation.
Pray that evil schemes of humanity will be thwarted.
Pray for a blessing upon yourself to be the strong prophetic
voice of God within the swirling tides of chaotic emotions.
Pray for the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth.
Pray with great faith - expect a miracle.

I invite you to read Psalm 2, Isaiah 35, Romans 12 and Matthew 24.

Of course, you have the freedom to choose...but remember this:

It's the high cost of freedom.

Rev. Steve A. Holcomb

September 10, 2011

My mind is filled with many thoughts as our nation commemorates the decade since September 11, 2001. The span of time has failed to soften my sharp memories of those dark events. Its resulting national shock wave has proven to rank with Pearl Harbor and JFK.

So much has changed since yet so much remains to be done before we find some satisfactory measure of finality. That goal may be unattainable for there were so many innocent lives sacrificed upon an altar of hate. Atonement for the injustices inflicted upon so many is, I believe, beyond human capabilities.

Maybe it was more than lives, glass and steel that fell in the fiery cascades. Have you noticed how often eyewitness accounts remind us of the "clear blue sky" that morning. A morning sky overflowing with hope and promise of a bright new day ahead. Then it all came crashing down.

Recall the lyrics of the Irving Berlin's old song "Blue Skies":

"Never saw the sun shining so bright,
Never saw things going so right;
Noticing the days hurrying by,
When you're in love, my how they fly.
Blue days all of them gone.
Nothing but blue skies from now on."

In the decade since, I fear our country has lost faith in clear blue skies and hope in bright futures. Something of our national optimism came crashing down and awaits resurrection from Ground Zero.

In the darkest hour there is a ray of hope.
There are times hope may only be seen through the eyes of faith.
But even those who have faith that could move mountains, but have no love, would be empty and living in darkness.
I recall that it was love that placed the rainbow in skies.
The message to us seems clear: our collective love can restore the rainbow.
It will shine hope upon those who despair in the darkness of their own Ground Zeroes.

And together we can resurrect a confident optimism to faithfully journey together under clear blue skies toward a glorious tomorrow.

Steve Holcomb, Mountain Parson

9-11-11 Tribute
This famous photo of a cross from mangled metal beams was taken by Anne Bybee about
three weeks after 9/11 at Ground Zero. Spiel superimposed Scripture over the image.