“Somebody Call 911” Psalm 80; Habakkuk 3:16-19; Phil 4:4,11
     It is an interesting phenomenon that the Lord protects us in times of disaster by almost freezing us.  We go into shock.  So most of us who were alive ten years ago can vividly remember where we were and what we were doing—it was like time stood still.  Someone told me a small plane hit the twin towers- and I thought it was similar to when a B-25 hit the Empire State Building by accident (7/28/1945). 
    The Psalmist we are reading was living in a 9-11 moment.   It was probably worse, for he describes their country was wide-open for marauding armies- who were going through their land tearing it up. 
     How do you react to the events of life that shake your foundation?  “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”  Sometimes, that is wishful thinking.  Some get weaker.  Some give up on God in their anger. 
Some get angry; Some- relish in it, for they are already angry.  One lady said she still believes in God, but God is no longer her friend and she doesn’t trust Him
Some act afraid.  One lady whose husband died in the towers said she hasn’t slept well for ten years.  She lives in fear that another attack will come.
Some say God is irrelevant- He had nothing to do with that attack or anything else.  For them, they have lost touch with a God that they may relate to.
Some are a mixture of all this.
But there are many whose faith was strengthened.  If you have a listening ear, I believe in the greatest joys and greatest sadnesses in life, we experience the presence of God. 
Today, I will do what I call a Guideposts sermon.  Maybe you’ve seen that magazine that emphasizes the human experience of God and the positive side of life.  They often tell stories of how others were helped.  Such things are helpful. 
One person on 9/11 said, "I can tell you that I have a substantial amount of money in the market, but I don't care. I'm here. I'm alive. I have my family, my kids, my wife. Money is irrelevant,"  Another said as she walked into a local church, "I don't know where to go, but I thought this would be a good place to start this morning."
     Brian Clark was vice president of Eurobank.  He was one of only four people on the South Tower who survived on a floor above where the plane hit. Clark was the fire warden for his floor, and he tried to lead seven colleagues down, but they ran into two people coming up and they followed them up to a locked roof.  Clark stopped to help Stanley Praimnath, pulling him through a hole they had made.  Stanley’s words to Brian were “alleluia! I’m saved!”  Both men give God credit for helping them, and both have established a lasting friendship with each other.  Stanley went on to be a part time banker and a part time minister.  Both men feel like they rescued each other- for if Brian hadn’t stopped to help Stanley, he might have gone up with his friends instead of down. 
     Genelle McMillan was a secretary for the Port Authority.  She was one of 25,000 in the buildings that day. That only just over 10% died is a miracle in itself. McMillan was the last survivor to be pulled from the rubble.  She was pulled out 27 hours later.  A hand reached down to her.  He said, “My name is Paul, and I will not leave you.”  He did not until she got to the hospital, and then he disappeared forever- she claims he was an angel.  She had no special training about how to survive under the 110 story rubble.  No one can say why she did not slip into unconsciousness and die.  She says she prayed and waited on help.  She says it was a miracle.  Today people come up to her on their way to Atlantic City or to buy lottery tickets wanting to touch her.  She doesn’t like that much.
     People ask why? But there is no easy answer.  But I believe that there is an answer.  It is found further along.  I do not think I nor any of you can understand it here. However, the answer is not found apart from God.   For those who do not believe there is never an answer.  The answer is not found in anger, or running away or doubt.  For now the answer of peace is found not even in just surviving and taking one step forward. 
People ask where was God on 911?  The answer is He was in the same place where he was when the world flooded in the time of Noah- certainly a terrible disaster.  He was in the same place He was when Job lost everything he had.  He was in the same place He was when Jesus hung on the cross.  God did not disappear.       
A better question is how should we react.  There are two things everyone can do- love your neighbor and pray. 
WE NEED TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AND HELP OTHERS-  Not just Xpn; Not just those we trust or who deserve it.  Paul who said “Rejoice” –writing from jail to the Philippians- reached out to the Philippian jailer after the earthquake.  And the jailer was baptized with his whole family.
    In a disaster, love for neighbor is really important.  Last week our lights went out.  I met neighbors I never even knew lived on our street.  When Hurricane Hugo hit on the SC coast, people were checking on neighbors they didn’t know well, and sharing water, ice, and gas.  When the Shealy baby died, this church did some amazing things- people who did not know that family came out to help those in need.  That helped them so much. 
     Last Thursday I heard a tremendous talk by Eddy Morehead.  He was a SC colonel in the Pentagon.  He talked about praying there, and praying just to make his talk. But he set an example for us all in action. The plane that hit the Pentagon hit in the hall next to his office- the next wedge over from him.  He could have been killed if it hit in that hall a few minutes earlier.   Morehead won the Soldier’s Medal for going into a hole with burning jet fuel to try to put the flames out and try to rescue others. 
    That is the way of Jesus.  Jesus came down to us to save us.  Not because we deserve it, but because He loved us.  He embodied neighborly love.
 Because it is Jesus’ way, it is also our way- for we are His followers.  Ps. 80- pray for restoration- but also need to work for restoration.
     I was looking at a Hurricane relief trip to Vermont in the fall.  But, there is something we all can do immediately.  That is, we can make flood and clean up buckets.   CLEANUP BUCKET- 5 gallon- sponges, brushes, latex gloves, trash bags, dish soap (LIKE DAWN). CLOTHESLINE/PINS.       Maybe the most famous story of rescue is from 32 year old Oracle salesman, Todd Beamer, the determined Christian who on flight 93  used the plane phone to find out what was going on; prayed the Lord’s Prayer with his group on the plane- along with the operator, added, “Jesus help me” then said “Let’s roll”.  He and his fellow passengers sacrificed themselves rather than have the plane fly into the capitol building which was the apparent target.    Have you been in the place where there is nothing left?
Often to people who are grieving or depressed, I encourage them to not sit still, but reach out to neighbor.  (Sue Madden is an example)
WE HAVE A DEEP NEED TO LOOK TO GOD- 3x the Psalmist asks God to “restore us.”  Habakkuk says these amazing words, “Though He slays me, yet I will trust in Him.”  He says that his faith is not dependent on how many things God gives him.  He said though the fig tree withers and the crop fails, and there are no sheep in the pen, yet he will find a reason to rejoice in God.  Paul said the same thing in prison- “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again- rejoice!”  There is clearly exhibited in all these passages written hundreds of years apart- a will to find hope in God in a hopeless situation.  The baptism of a baby is a hopeful thing.  It is a sign of promise, a rejoicing in a new life- and it is a lifter of spirits- if you will let it.  The election of new officers, we take for granted- but it also is a sign of promise that we have a future and a hope. 
     We have been like the rookie painter who was painting the floor, and he painted himself into a corner and could not get out.  We have painted God into a corner.  We have taken away his space- restricting him to church- like God can only act here.  We have taken away his time.  Not only are Wednesday nights not his, but Sundays are not either.  We have shrunk the realm of God.  We also have very little respect for God- almost like we don’t believe He’ll do anything good or evil.Many are so scared that God may disappoint them  that they have restricted God.    It is time we let God out of the corner; uncage Him in your life; Look to Him to sustain you, to sustain your family; to sustain us; to sustain our country and world.  Do no tbe afraid to pray to God about anything.   
     As Ronald Reagan. a Presbyterian USA participant, stated so boldly, "to preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us. Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the Love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always. "
     Senator Lindsay Graham stated that the most memorable thing for him was not seeing the smoke rise from the Pentagon, or evacuating his staff from the capitol building to his house, but going back late that afternoon and singing with the Democrats and Republicans- impromptu- “God Bless America!  Land that I love stand beside her and guide her”  This afternoon, ten years later, we’ll hear more in-tune voices from the Palmetto Mastersingers, but the song is the same- we look to you God, to bless our native land, and look to you Lord, to preserve us. I invite you- when you have nothing left- to lend a hand and look to God.