9/11: Molten Proof vs. Media Sideshows

I visited the World Trade Center site in December 2001 with a friend, Alex Jordan. We were shocked, to say the least, to see a fire truck there spraying water on open flames about three months after the buildings collapsed. What caused these flames to emanate from the bowels of the WTC for so long?

This month, the answer may have been clarified. A team based in the prestigious University of Copenhagen has shown that large amounts of nano-thermite, an advanced explosive, were found mingled within the dust of the WTC Towers, from four different locations of the area. This gives additional evidence that explosives were used to bring down the towers, as verified by film footage of the collapses, testimonies and molten steel discovered at the site. Danish chemist, Niels Harrit, and American, Stephen Jones were key contributors to the research project. "This 'nano-thermite' reacts very rapidly, even explosively, and is sometimes referred to as 'super-thermite',” the report explains (p23). Professor Harrit stated "Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have long known these three buildings were demolished. This has been crystal clear. Our research is just the last nail in the coffin." Details are at this link. For a copy of the technical report, see this link.

Entering the Promised Land

The book of Joshua is mainly about the Israelites entering the land of Canaan. Some believe the land of Canaan is mainly a picture of heaven, while I agree with other teachers that it represents mainly the Spirit-filled life. In heaven there are no battles to be won or giants to be faced, but the Spirit-filled life does entail such obstacles and conflicts. Though we are promised fruitful lives, we are not promised easy lives. Actually, we are promised “much tribulation” (Acts 14.22).

In the New Testament, Paul associates the Red Sea crossing with water baptism, a kind of death to self (I Cor 10.2). The filling of the Holy Spirit, however, was associated with a flowing river (Jn 7.38-39). There are many Christians who are saved, as the Israelites were saved from Egypt, and who have been baptized in water, but who are still not living in the “Promised Land.” God described Joshua’s Promised Land as a good and open land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3.8). Milk and honey symbolize the word of God in the scriptures. When does the word of God flow in and through a person’s life? It flows especially when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit (I Jn 2.27, I cor 2.13). The fruit in the land was so extreme that it took two men to carry one cluster of grapes (Nu 13.23). That unique picture portrays the supernatural fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” (Gal 5.22) The New Testament defines love as the greatest of the gifts, the “more excellent way” (I Cor 12.31, Rom 5.5). When a person has this fruit, it really stands out and is noticeable, just like the massive cluster of grapes (Tit 2.14).

The Art of Obedience

This may seem like an unlikely title, the Art of Obedience. The word "art" evokes ideas about developing skills and creating what is beautiful, appealing and meaningful. As we'll see, all of these things apply to our walk with God and and our obedience to Him.

In the scriptures, God's perspective on what is beautiful is interesting. We tend to see mountains and nature scenes as beautiful, and they are. But even more beautiful than the mountains are the feet on the mountains bringing the good news of the gospel: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation..." (Isaiah 52.7 AKJV) It is implied that obedience to God's will is a beautiful thing. The artwork displayed with this article, "Pierced Hands 1" by Chris Sayburn graphically shows the beauty of Christ's obedience. His love for the Father was revealed by His obedience to Him.

As we have been studying through Deuteronomy, two points have stood out to me. Firstly, I believe we all struggle with obedience to God more than we want to admit, due to our human nature. This was emphasized in Deuteronomy by the fact that the second generation of Israelites that left Egypt complained and murmured, just as much as their parents did, even after they saw their parent’s generation perish in the desert for that very same reason.

The Makings of a Violent Society

The murder of three police officers on Saturday in Pittsburgh was a tragedy immediately known and talked about around the world, highlighting our increasingly violent society. Unfortunately, it is being used to push a political agenda and to try and invalidate credible and valuable news sources.

High profile stories emphasize that the gunman, Richard Poplawski, was into conspiracy theories and say he was “lying in wait” prepared for “an ambush” without even mentioning the real cause for the tragedy. According to the actual police complaint and affidavit filed, there was an argument between Margaret Poplawski and her son Richard about their dog urinating in the house. The fight escalated until the mother called 911 and the police to have her son taken away. When the police arrived, that is when the deranged killer started to kill the police officers.

Wrongful Jailing

While sitting in a Birmingham jail--after being imprisoned on Good Friday in 1963 for breaking the law because it violated his moral conscience--a great man wrote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." That man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As we approach Good Friday 2009, another man sits in prison in Oakland, California for standing outside an inner-city abortion facility with a sign reading, "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you." That man is Rev. Walter B. Hoye.