It was a cool September morning on the Oregon coast. I stepped out of the room on my way to get some coffee before breakfast. My wife and I were at the yearly pastors and wives retreat. It was something that we all looked forward to throughout the year, a fun time full of encouraging conversations, smiles, and laughter. However, just a few steps after leaving our room I had a strange sensation. No one was looking up, no one was smiling and almost no one was talking. It was like I had accidentally come across a funeral procession. Then I came saw a friend who was listening to a handheld radio, he could tell from my expression that I still didn\u2019t know what had happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNew York has been attacked, Washington D.C. too, it\u2019s bad\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My mind struggled to understand what was going on. \u201cWhat does he mean attacked?\u201d I thought. \u201cWho is attacking, how are they attacking?\u201d I made my way to the office of the retreat center. There I found a dozen or so people gathered around the television. Scenes of black smoke, people covered with debri, and an airplane flying into a building. No one talked much, we just watched too shocked to make any kind of worthwhile comments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything changed that day. Many store owners decided not to open their stores for business. Our pastor\u2019s retreat changed the schedule and we took time to pray for the country. It was the final day of our retreat and many of us now wanted to go home more than anything to check our families. What if they attacked the West Coast, what if this is just the start, what if this is World War III? There were many questions and much worry and fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That evening we gathered with all the pastors and their wives and listened as one of the senior pastors comforted us, encouraged us, and gave us wise counsel. I remember clearly that night when Dr. Jennings Senior got up to speak. He said, \u201cOur country will never be the same again, your church will never be the same again.\u201d He went on to tell us, \u201cThis Sunday you will have people in your church who have not been there for years, you will have people in your churches who may have never been to church before.\u201d He told us how important it would be for us talk about these events in our sermons the following Sunday. \u201cWhatever you planned to preach about, put it aside, this Sunday you must address the tragedy that is on everyone\u2019s minds.\u201d Furthermore he exhorted us, \u201cDon\u2019t be too quick to draw conclusions about why it happened or what the government could have done to stop it. Now is not the time for it and that is not your job, instead grieve with the people. Come beside them in their tears and simply point them to Christ, this is the best thing you can do for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Jennings was right. We came back to our church and that Sunday it was fuller than it had ever been. There was fear, anger, and pain in the eyes of all. More than anything people just wanted to pray. Before 9\/11 getting people to a prayer meeting was an impossible feat. In the weeks after 9\/11 people came in droves to the prayer meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
20 years later, what can we say about the events of September 11, 2001? They really did change America, the church, and millions of souls. Nevertheless, as we look at America, sadly we do not see a country that is closer to God but rather farther from him. 20 years ago none of us would have dreamed that we would be dealing with a far greater tragedy than the one fueled by terrorist from the Middle East. Today’s tragedy is for a large part created by anti-christian humanists from America\u2019s educational institutions. In one day 20 years ago nearly 3,000 souls were lost to Islam Terrorists, however, in the two decades millions upon millions of souls have lost their way because of \u201cwoke\u201d propaganda, the LGBTQ agenda, and radical tolerance that leaves no room for the Christian idea of One God and one way through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It can be disheartening for Christians to look at the spiritual regress and degeneration of morality over the past 20 years in America. However, we must put our faith firmly in a God who can and will overcome terrorist and humanist. The truth is there were many who gave their lives to God after that fateful day 20 years ago and God did answer the fervent prayers that were given in the weeks afterwards. Why not go to our knees now and pray like we did then, but this time let our prayer be against humanism, against the evils it brings through its opposition to the Gospel. Let us pray that God would give us the spiritual fortitude to rise against the wave of anti christian philosophy that is pouring into our country through the doors and windows of every classroom and through the screens of every computer, tablet, and telephone.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20 years, later may our prayers for the country be no less fervent than they were on that tragic day 2 decades ago!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It was a cool September morning on the Oregon coast. I stepped out of the room on my way to get some coffee before breakfast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[405,171],"class_list":["post-13607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-lgbt","tag-usa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Black-Geometric-Building-Music-YouTube-Thumbnail.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-3xt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15802,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/russias-blood-day-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":0},"title":"Russia’s Blood Day in Ukraine","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"October 13, 2022","format":"video","excerpt":"October 10, 2022 Russian forces launched over 80 missiles as well as kamikaze drones to strike many civilian targets in Ukraine. This is the largest single missile attack since the war between Russia and Ukraine began on February 24th 2022. Some of the cities attacked today include: Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ukraine"","block_context":{"text":"Ukraine","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ukraine-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17615,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/russian-drone-targets-civilians-in-odesa-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":1},"title":"Russian Drone Targets Civilians in Odesa, Ukraine","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"March 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/u1GncWiSUt0 In the early hours of March 2nd, we were attacked by several Russian Shahed drones. The peaceful night was shattered by their terrifying buzz.One of the drones targeted our end of town, which is densely populated with high rise apartment buildings. The drone hit an apartment building not far\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ukraine"","block_context":{"text":"Ukraine","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ukraine-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/430489637_10225663588998369_4423717779968818518_n.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3907,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/27-the-problem-with-american-worldview\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":2},"title":"#27 The Problem with American Worldview","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"America's worldview is changing quickly and moving further from a Biblical understanding. In this episode of Now is the Time\u00a0I take a look at one of the most popular aspects of the new American worldview -Tolerance! Ukraine Update Unfortunately the situation is getting worse in Eastern Ukraine. On Monday a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/photo-us-flag1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/photo-us-flag1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/photo-us-flag1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3716,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/ukraines-deadliest-week\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":3},"title":"Ukraine’s Deadliest Week","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"February 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This is Ukraine's deadliest week of fighting probably since WWII! The week isn't even over and the reports range from 70 to 100 dead! I'm not sure how to put into words what is happening in Ukraine. Every morning I wake up and immediately check the news praying that the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dead-in-kyiv.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dead-in-kyiv.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/dead-in-kyiv.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5774,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/seventeen-reasons-why-i-will-not-stop-praying-for-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":4},"title":"Seventeen Reasons Why I Will Not Stop Praying For Ukraine!","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"September 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Warning, what I'm about to write is personal, which means you may not agree with it and if you don't you're certainly not alone! I write this not because it's a middle ground that everyone can agree upon but because it's not. I'm taking a position, it's my position and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New"","block_context":{"text":"New","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/new\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC05385.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC05385.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC05385.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8756,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/what-is-solus-christus\/","url_meta":{"origin":13607,"position":5},"title":"What Is Solus Christus?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 12, 2017","format":"video","excerpt":"Note: This Christmas we are bringing the gospel to Ukrainian soldiers. Learn more about this project and how you can help here. Sermon notes: Introduction: The 5 Solae of the Reformation were not created by the Reformers but rather rediscovered as they returned to the text of God\u2019s Word and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermons"","block_context":{"text":"Sermons","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Copy-of-Sola-fide-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Copy-of-Sola-fide-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Copy-of-Sola-fide-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Copy-of-Sola-fide-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Copy-of-Sola-fide-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13607"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13609,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13607\/revisions\/13609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}