I Will Be With You Always
"An officer and a gentleman" is a high military compliment. Outranking that in my opinion are the words "Officer and a Christian".
The Pentagon has its fair share of those. They comprise the Officer's Christian Fellowship. Major General Van Antwerp is their president. A little publicized aspect of 9/11 is that the fellowship lost nearly all its staff in the Pentagon attack.
Lieutenant Colonel Brian Birdwell was Antwerp's executive officer when he was almost burned to death on that fateful morning. He was exiting a bathroom when the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building.
His older brother Wade described how Brian crawled through the burning building until rescuers carried him out to an adjoining street. Terrible burns were inflicted in the initial fireball but the impact flung Lt. Col. Bird under a roof sprinkler.
Brian testifies that this spared his life.
Months of hospital treatment followed. Did any of this suffering dent his faith in God? Consider this: Brian requested permission to leave the hospital to attend Thanksgiving Day services at his church in Springfield, Virginia.
He is only in his early 40s. His body will always carry the scars but nothing has changed his ardent relationship with God. Our Heavenly Father has accompanied Brian through every moment of this terrible ordeal.
An incident happened in those early days in hospital that has now passed into the legends of the George W. Bush era. The President and his wife were visiting the injured soldiers on Friday September 14. Mrs. Bush entered Col. Birdÿs room, hugged his wife and told Brian "there's someone here to see you". The president approached Brian,inquired as to his progress and spoke of his admiration.
President Bush then saluted Brian. That is never done except for the winner of a Congressional Medal of Honor. It was a moment of profound emotion.
Yet there's more. The junior salutes the senior and must hold the salute until acknowledged. Very slowly, taking almost 20 seconds the bandaged hands struggled to salute. When he could not quite reach his forehead, he tried to bend his body toward his hand. The president respectfully held his salute as his eyes filled with tears.
He left the room after giving Brian's wife Mel a huge hug.
Reader you have been permitted entry into a very private moment. I have described it to allow you a glimpse of what kind of people were touched by 9/11.
Perhaps in a far less newsgathering way your life has come under attack.
There were areas that you thought of as a stronghold that fell victim as easily as the Pentagon. Your memory might include mundane moments that suddenly erupted in a
firestorm of attack. The car wreck that changed everything. The doctor's phone call. The Kid who left home without so much as a farewell note. The pink slip.
Each of us can have our flimsy defenses overturned in a moment. You are not immune.
I don't have a message about a God who keeps you from attacks. My word is about a God,who in His Son has experienced every kind of suffering and Who promises to walk through it with you. The flames might burn your body or your bank account but He promises they cannot touch the real you.
You are utterly safe in His care if you hand your life over to Him.
Let Lt. Col. Birdwell's faith encourage your own. A life committed to Christ is constantly affirmed by God's promises. Pray this simple prayer right now:
Dear God, I acknowledge that I need you. Only You give meaning to life both in prosperity and in adversity. Please forgive my rebellious ways and send your Spirit into my heart. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ your Son and my Savior. Amen.
Find a Bible and read the very last verse of Matthew's gospel. If you meant that prayer the verse will come true for you. You never have to face life alone again.
The Pentagon has its fair share of those. They comprise the Officer's Christian Fellowship. Major General Van Antwerp is their president. A little publicized aspect of 9/11 is that the fellowship lost nearly all its staff in the Pentagon attack.
Lieutenant Colonel Brian Birdwell was Antwerp's executive officer when he was almost burned to death on that fateful morning. He was exiting a bathroom when the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the building.
His older brother Wade described how Brian crawled through the burning building until rescuers carried him out to an adjoining street. Terrible burns were inflicted in the initial fireball but the impact flung Lt. Col. Bird under a roof sprinkler.
Brian testifies that this spared his life.
Months of hospital treatment followed. Did any of this suffering dent his faith in God? Consider this: Brian requested permission to leave the hospital to attend Thanksgiving Day services at his church in Springfield, Virginia.
He is only in his early 40s. His body will always carry the scars but nothing has changed his ardent relationship with God. Our Heavenly Father has accompanied Brian through every moment of this terrible ordeal.
An incident happened in those early days in hospital that has now passed into the legends of the George W. Bush era. The President and his wife were visiting the injured soldiers on Friday September 14. Mrs. Bush entered Col. Birdÿs room, hugged his wife and told Brian "there's someone here to see you". The president approached Brian,inquired as to his progress and spoke of his admiration.
President Bush then saluted Brian. That is never done except for the winner of a Congressional Medal of Honor. It was a moment of profound emotion.
Yet there's more. The junior salutes the senior and must hold the salute until acknowledged. Very slowly, taking almost 20 seconds the bandaged hands struggled to salute. When he could not quite reach his forehead, he tried to bend his body toward his hand. The president respectfully held his salute as his eyes filled with tears.
He left the room after giving Brian's wife Mel a huge hug.
Reader you have been permitted entry into a very private moment. I have described it to allow you a glimpse of what kind of people were touched by 9/11.
Perhaps in a far less newsgathering way your life has come under attack.
There were areas that you thought of as a stronghold that fell victim as easily as the Pentagon. Your memory might include mundane moments that suddenly erupted in a
firestorm of attack. The car wreck that changed everything. The doctor's phone call. The Kid who left home without so much as a farewell note. The pink slip.
Each of us can have our flimsy defenses overturned in a moment. You are not immune.
I don't have a message about a God who keeps you from attacks. My word is about a God,who in His Son has experienced every kind of suffering and Who promises to walk through it with you. The flames might burn your body or your bank account but He promises they cannot touch the real you.
You are utterly safe in His care if you hand your life over to Him.
Let Lt. Col. Birdwell's faith encourage your own. A life committed to Christ is constantly affirmed by God's promises. Pray this simple prayer right now:
Dear God, I acknowledge that I need you. Only You give meaning to life both in prosperity and in adversity. Please forgive my rebellious ways and send your Spirit into my heart. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ your Son and my Savior. Amen.
Find a Bible and read the very last verse of Matthew's gospel. If you meant that prayer the verse will come true for you. You never have to face life alone again.
posted by Rose at 6:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home