Light of the World
I remember driving to church that Sunday, September 16, 2001. My church, at the time, was 24 miles from my front door... that drive took me through part of Durham, onto I-85, and into the countryside through to Cedar Grove. I passed many other churches along the way... one thing they had in common this day was that each church appeared to be experiencing an overflow condition known as SRO... Standing Room Only. Americans were responding to events of the previous week, now known as 9/11. They were looking for answers.
I know without doubt that some of those churches had little to no answer to 9-11, other than to make poor attempts to sooth and console those in attendance. I know because that also occurred at my church. In the ensuing weeks, those SRO numbers tapered back to 'normal' conditions... the crowds obviously didn't find the answer they were hoping for. With their 'repentance' taken care of, they might return at Christmas, or Easter... or not.
The 2nd chapter of Revelation opens with a description of the Church of Ephesus, a church not unlike many others, even today, busy about the things that Christians do, which is a good thing, right? Jesus took issue with that in verse 4: "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first." Just exactly who is that first love? Why does it matter? There's a whole lot to be said for that statement, especially concerning the condition of this world 17 years after 9/11... it also means the answer so many were looking for then is the same as it is now. If folks understood the depth of that answer, Sundays would still see SRO conditions at every church.
On September 11, 2001, 19 Islamic terrorists gave their lives in Jihad as they turned four large commercial aircraft into guided missiles. 2977 innocent people became victims that day in their unholy war... to have the world bow to their vision of what is just before their god. Around 33 AD, another man gave His life so that all may be justified through Him and live. There's an answer in there somewhere.
John 3:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This is the 1000-watt light shining through the restored Fresnel lens of the Bodie Island Lighthouse on North Carolina's Outer banks... historically, its light has reached out over the Atlantic as a navigational aid, and has saved lives, which seems more than analogous to Jesus' statement concerning Himself. It's just beginning to rain as this shot was made, just the dynamic conditions that made this light necessary.
Light of the World
I remember driving to church that Sunday, September 16, 2001. My church, at the time, was 24 miles from my front door... that drive took me through part of Durham, onto I-85, and into the countryside through to Cedar Grove. I passed many other churches along the way... one thing they had in common this day was that each church appeared to be experiencing an overflow condition known as SRO... Standing Room Only. Americans were responding to events of the previous week, now known as 9/11. They were looking for answers.
I know without doubt that some of those churches had little to no answer to 9-11, other than to make poor attempts to sooth and console those in attendance. I know because that also occurred at my church. In the ensuing weeks, those SRO numbers tapered back to 'normal' conditions... the crowds obviously didn't find the answer they were hoping for. With their 'repentance' taken care of, they might return at Christmas, or Easter... or not.
The 2nd chapter of Revelation opens with a description of the Church of Ephesus, a church not unlike many others, even today, busy about the things that Christians do, which is a good thing, right? Jesus took issue with that in verse 4: "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first." Just exactly who is that first love? Why does it matter? There's a whole lot to be said for that statement, especially concerning the condition of this world 17 years after 9/11... it also means the answer so many were looking for then is the same as it is now. If folks understood the depth of that answer, Sundays would still see SRO conditions at every church.
On September 11, 2001, 19 Islamic terrorists gave their lives in Jihad as they turned four large commercial aircraft into guided missiles. 2977 innocent people became victims that day in their unholy war... to have the world bow to their vision of what is just before their god. Around 33 AD, another man gave His life so that all may be justified through Him and live. There's an answer in there somewhere.
John 3:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This is the 1000-watt light shining through the restored Fresnel lens of the Bodie Island Lighthouse on North Carolina's Outer banks... historically, its light has reached out over the Atlantic as a navigational aid, and has saved lives, which seems more than analogous to Jesus' statement concerning Himself. It's just beginning to rain as this shot was made, just the dynamic conditions that made this light necessary.