Today 10 years ago I stepped outside of my home on Benjamin Holt Drive in Stockton and noted a dark sky and thunder clouds. With an unsual stillness in the air I walked toward my car and a frantic neighbor ran out shouting something inaudible. As I was running late for work I dismissed the incident. No music was to be found on the radio, all channels were broadcasting the terror of a plane crashing into the Word Trade Center. When I arrived to work at Guaranty Bank on the Miracle Mile, as the assistant Manager I hurried to relocate the breakroom television to the teller line. As the entire staff prepared to open the bank, together we watched the second plane crash
into the 2nd tower. The shock of witnessing flames and people jumping from the tower held Hennie Tupas, Cecily Thrower and myself stilled by fear. Today during the 10th anniversary of 911, the entire cast of Congress stood on the steps of the memorial and sang God Bless America. At 10:28 AM Eastern time, as the clock struck the moment when the 2nd tower fell, a bell rang out to announce a time of Silence. Mayor Guiliani chose to read from God's Word from Ecclesiastics. "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck
what has been planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
Today I choose to DWELL on God's PROMISES for PEACE, for FAVOR, for BLESSING, for a LIFE of LOVE, JOY, HEALTH and HAPPINESS. Today I am in agreement with God! This is the DAY that the Lord hath made and I will rejoice and be GLAD in it! Today I choose to THRIVE and BLOSSOM in the TRUTH. Today I choose to release my FAITH in GOD, not in what the NEWS reports. Paul was shipwrecked, imprisoned and yet he said "Thanks be to God who made me more than a conqueror!" People and circumstances do not determine my destiny, GOD does. The victory is MINE as the room of my MIND is filled with what God says. I am strong, healthy, happy,
victorius as I have the FAVOR of GOD! On September 11, 2001 I was planning my 50th birthday party and I was blessed by all those family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who attended that red, white and blue celebration. On September 11, 2011 my plans for my 60th birthday party are in place. Doyle, Hennie, Diana, Sue, Nancy, Jobi, Debby, Steve, Cathy will all join me to celebrate what God has done in their lives over the last ten years!
Today 10 years ago I stepped outside of my home on Benjamin Holt Drive in Stockton and noted a dark sky and thunder clouds. With an unsual stillness in the air I walked toward my car and a frantic neighbor ran out shouting something inaudible. As I was running late for work I dismissed the incident. No music was to be found on the radio, all channels were broadcasting the terror of a plane crashing into the Word Trade Center. When I arrived to work at Guaranty Bank on the Miracle Mile, as the assistant Manager I hurried to relocate the breakroom television to the teller line. As the entire staff prepared to open the bank, together we watched the second plane crash 
into the 2nd tower. The shock of witnessing flames and people jumping from the tower held Hennie Tupas, Cecily Thrower and myself stilled by fear. Today during the 10th anniversary of 911, the entire cast of Congress stood on the steps of the memorial and sang God Bless America. At 10:28 AM Eastern time, as the clock struck the moment when the 2nd tower fell, a bell rang out to announce a time of Silence. Mayor Guiliani chose to read from God's Word from Ecclesiastics. "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck 
what has been planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." 
Today I choose to DWELL on God's PROMISES for PEACE, for FAVOR, for BLESSING, for a LIFE of LOVE, JOY, HEALTH and HAPPINESS. Today I am in agreement with God! This is the DAY that the Lord hath made and I will rejoice and be GLAD in it! Today I choose to THRIVE and BLOSSOM in the TRUTH. Today I choose to release my FAITH in GOD, not in what the NEWS reports. Paul was shipwrecked, imprisoned and yet he said "Thanks be to God who made me more than a conqueror!" People and circumstances do not determine my destiny, GOD does. The victory is MINE as the room of my MIND is filled with what God says. I am strong, healthy, happy, 
victorius as I have the FAVOR of GOD! On September 11, 2001 I was planning my 50th birthday party and I was blessed by all those family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who attended that red, white and blue celebration. On September 11, 2011 my plans for my 60th birthday party are in place. Doyle, Hennie, Diana, Sue, Nancy, Jobi, Debby, Steve, Cathy will all join me to celebrate what God has done in their lives over the last ten years!
JOEL OSTEEN SPOKE about the power of God's word when we drench our minds with the TRUTH of His promises. It is easy to rent rooms at the hotel of our minds to one negative tenant. Just like an apartment complex in downtown Stockton, when the negative riff raff move in, they force the postive folks out. WE MUST POST a NO VACANCY SIGN on the DOOR of our MIND - NO NEGATIVE TENANTS allowed. TODAY is going to be a great day because I have the favor of GOD! Today I decide what kind of day I will have because my mind is fixed, focused and refreshed by the living word of God. Paul Simon's lyrics, hello darkness my old friend ---- you are NOT WELCOME to stay!
ReplyDeleteWhere were you on 9/11/01?
ReplyDeleteMy tenant in Chapala wrote:
"I was in Mexico visiting friends and we watched everything on TV." Greg Chernoff
Paul Simon with his guitar sang:
ReplyDeleteHello darkness, my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left it’s seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains . . .
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
’neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.
"fools" said i, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out it’s warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whisper’d in the sounds of silence.