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Why We Really Can’t Forget 9/11

Grief will set in a little longer. Hope will rise a little higher. And the world will seem a little smaller. Time does that, blending a billion emotions into one tick of the clock ... and then moving on to the next tick, whether we’re ready or not.

For this reason, we pause, even as time shifts. We remember. We reflect. We honor. And we see from a different perspective.

The world has drastically changed since Sept. 11, 2001. Nations, governments, economies and leaders have all risen and fallen in dramatic fashion. Perhaps nothing has been more sweeping in the past 10 years than the Islamic surge that’s changed the global spiritual climate and literally transformed nations. While radical Muslims grabbed headlines with terrorist plots, the Islamic world continued to expand via sheer wealth and numbers. Europe’s Muslim makeover—in both population and influence—showcases not only how fast things can change, but also how prime the U.S. is for similar transformation. read more

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Is Your Fleece Wet?

Gideon is one of my favorite Bible characters because I relate to his struggle with inferiority. God pulled this runt of a guy out of a hole in the ground and called him to deliver Israel. Gideon’s classic “Who, me?” response reminds me of conversations I’ve had with the Lord. None of us feels qualified to do God’s work, but we know from Gideon’s example that wimps can be transformed into warriors.

I’ve heard people criticize Gideon because he laid a fleece of wool on the ground and asked the Lord—not once, but twice—to confirm His promise (see Judg. 6:36-40). But the Bible doesn’t say God was mad at Gideon for seeking assurance. In fact, God answered Gideon both times with moisture from heaven. The dew was a sign of God’s favor and blessing.

You know how the story ended. Gideon’s impressive army of 22,000 was downsized to a ragtag band of 300. Through their supernatural victory over Midian, God made it clear that His anointing has nothing to do with human ability. read more

1:00AM EDT 9/1/2011