Tag: 9/11

We Remember

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment
I would love to give proper credit for this picture.

Where were you 21 years ago today?

As we remember the horrific scenes, and as we mourn the lives lost, from the attacks on our nation 21 years ago, can we also remember that in the days that followed we didn’t identify as White, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, male, female, straight, gay, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, rich, poor, Republican, Democrat, and whatever other ways we have become divided. No, in spite of our differences, we came together as Americans.

Can we do that again? Can we tell the politicians, the media, and the rest who continue to work to divide us, to take a long walk off a short pier? Can we once again reach out to our neighbors, look past our differences and work together?
Can we admit that just maybe it begins with each of us. Maybe it begins with me.

Lately I have been continually reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will HUMBLE THEMSELVES and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

This is just one verse of a longer passage where the Israelites have been warned of the cost of turning away from God. May I be so bold as to point out that it doesn’t say that everyone should pray. It doesn’t call on politicians to turn away from their wicked ways. This is a command for GOD’S PEOPLE, those of us who profess to believe in and worship the living God. WE are called to humble ourselves. WE are commanded to pray. WE are commanded to seek the face of our Creator. WE are commanded to turn from our wickedness.

It starts with us. It starts with me.

Let’s Roll

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

As I drove yesterday, September, 11, I noticed that along most of my drive through Illinois, on I-64, most overpasses had police, fire, EMS and others standing, and waving flags. And what kept repeating, over and over, through my head was the phrase “Let’s roll.” The following is just some of the random thoughts I had, as this phrase repeated over, and over, and over in my head.

“Let’s Roll.” These are some of the final words uttered by Todd Beamer, on flight 93, as he and other passengers decided that they were going to take action against terrorists who had hijacked their plane, and who had plans of attacking our nation, just as three other planes had already done that day, 17 years ago.

“Let’s roll.” Probably means something a little different to each person. To me, it means the time for talk, debate, and planning is over. It’s now time to act. In my job as a truck driver, it means I’ve done my pre-trip, planned my route, and it is now time to roll out, and get to my destination.

I’m amazed, and saddened, at how divided our country has become over the last 17 years. Though, to be honest, it’s been happening a lot longer. Our politicians and our news media give sound bites. They keep talking about what should be done, but they fail to actually do anything.

Let’s take immigration as an example. For the past 40 years our elected officials in both major political parties have given a lot of lip service to tell us something needs to be done. But that’s all they do, is pay lip service.

Of course immigration isn’t the only issue they do this with. But it’s the one I’m going to take on right now. You see, I can’t help but wonder if, just maybe, we had done our due diligence, and actually checked out the individuals who carried out the attacks, if maybe they might have been noticed, and stopped before they actually entered the country. You see, every nation wants to know the background of anyone entering their country.

Yet we have people here who think we should just open our borders and let people come on in. However, on the flip side, we also have people who think everyone should be stopped, and turned away, or treated as criminals.

I really don’t like either option. Yet our elected officials are too busy arguing for their own way that they refuse to see a middle option. An option that demands that those who wish to come into our country are welcome and able to do so, while also requiring that they pass a background check. That children are verified to actually be with family members, to help ensure their safety.

There should be an option for those who are already here, even if they didn’t come in the right way, to turn themselves in, plead guilty to a misdemeanor, pay a fine, and obtain legal status.

For those who have been brought in as children, and who have grown up here, this is their home. This is their culture. They should be permitted to have a path to becoming citizens.

Finally, the laws need to be changed to encourage people to come in legally. It should not take 20 years for an application for residency to be approved, yet the reality is just that. There is no excuse in this day of information being instantly accessible for this.

It is past time for Congress to shut up, and do their jobs.

There are obviously so many other issues that our government needs to address. Yet to be honest, I wonder if it also isn’t up to us to address some of them ourselves

Minimum wage. You know what, I’ve survived working for minimum wage. I also busted my butt to get something better. In other words, if your tired of being broke, then figure out what you need to change.

You don’t like the people who were elected? Get registered and actually do your research and get out and vote.

Read, and learn what our constitution says. Do some research and find out exactly why the founding fathers set up our government, and our system of electing the president, like they did.

Worried about those who are homeless, and poor? Stop saying the government should do something, and reach out and give of yourself.

Worried about violence, or your safety? Do something to take responsibility for your safety, as well as your family’s.

In other words, regardless of the issue, stop the lip service. Do the research, do you due diligence, and get busy.

You want our nation united? Do something to reach out to your neighbor, even if you disagree with him or her on a few things.

Immigration, homosexuality, abortion, race relations, police relations, and whatever else, these are issues. But affected by those issues are individuals: neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers.

Pray for our leaders, neighbors, co-workers, families, friends, and even our enemies.

The time to talk, and debate has to stop sometime. At some point, it’s time to take action. We can disagree, and still love each other. If we learn to move toward each other, I’m willing to bet that we can safely find our way to middle ground. But, we have to take the first step. Are you ready to roll?

Where were you? Where will you be?

/ CD Hamman / 1 Comment

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Where were you on the following dates: January 20, 1981; March 30, 1981; January 28, 1986; January 16/17, 1991; April 19, 1995; September 11, 2001?

There are several days in our lives during which events occur that are so dramatic that the moment is forever etched into our minds. The earliest such event that I recall is January 20, 1981 when Americans who had been held hostage in Iran were released from captivity, shortly after President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. Then came March 30, 1981. That is the day that an assassination attempt was made on President Reagan’s life. I was in the sixth grade, in art class at Heritage Christian School, in Canton, Ohio, when the principal announced that our president had been shot, and had a moment of silence followed by a brief prayer.

Then on January 28, 1986 came the first space shuttle disaster when the shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff. I was a junior at Kenmore High School, in my American literature class when I heard the news.

The next major event that comes to my mind is the day President George H.W. Bush began the first Desert Storm. January 17, 1991 local time, January 16, 7pm Eastern time in the U.S. I was in church, attending midweek service when someone came in and announced that we had begun bombing Iraqi forces in response to their invasion of Kuwait.

Then, on April 19, 1995, I was just beginning to wake up in my apartment on the campus of Southern Nazarene University when I was jolted fully awake by what I at first thought was thunder but just a minute later found had been a terrorist attack several miles away on the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Ironically, six years later, on September 11, 2001, I was working as a detention officer at the Oklahoma County jail, and my assignment that day was guarding Terry Nichols, one of the conspirators of the Oklahoma City bombing. I had just completed a sight check of Mr. Nichols when I heard the news of the attack against our nation on the radio.

Today, is a day when we, as Americans, remember the attack, twelve years ago, by terrorist cowards. We honor the memories of those who gave their lives responding to those attacks, from the Twin Towers in New York City, to the Pentagon, and the passengers United Flight 93 that went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We also honor the survivors and the family members of those whose lives were lost.

To be sure there are other important and memorable events: April 12, 1981 – the first space shuttle mission, and November 9, 1989 – the fall of the Berlin wall are just two.

As I reflect on the events of twelve years ago, as well as the other events listed above, I am also reminded of two events that have not yet occurred, but will eventually take place.

First, there will eventually be the rapture of those who have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Those who have already died will be raised from the grave, followed by those who are still alive. Regardless of when this takes place, well you be one of those raptured, our will you be one of those left behind?

Second, there will also be a day of judgement, where we will all stand before God and he will divide us according to whether or not we have accepted His Son as our Saviour. Those who have accepted Christ will be welcomed in to eternal life, in the New Jerusalem. Those who have rejected Christ, or who have only paid him lip service will be condemned to eternal death.

As we reflect today on the events of twelve years ago, I also ask you to reflect on your future. We don’t know where we will be when the next earth shaking event takes place. But you can know where you will be after the final event takes place.

If you have not already accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, I beg you to do so now. If, at one time, you had accepted Him, but have allowed yourself to slip away, or even if you walked away, it’s not too late to return to Him. Today is the day of salvation. Those who died twelve years ago most likely had no idea it was to be their last day on earth. Are you ready for eternity?