10 September 2011

By Patrick Butler | ResonateNews.com 
GARDEN VALLEY — Americans have two basic choices on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, a Texas pastor said. “I can hate the enemy, or specifically I can hate Muslims for what happened,” said the Rev. David Hickey, of the 1,000-plus member church Community Christian Fellowship in Texas. “Or I can choose to love God and humble myself to him. I think loving God is much better choice.”

     The 10th anniversary of the toppling of the World Trade Center Twin Towers in Manhattan, and the destruction of part of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., is on Sunday.

      The entire nation will pause at different points to honor, recall, remember, bless, pray or otherwise pay homage to those who died in the attacks and those who died trying to save others at risk.

    Hickey, whose church will have a special commemoration event Sunday morning, said he hope people will take time for “personal reflection and self-evaluation.”

     “On the personal level, each of us should apply (the Old Testament Scripture) 2 Chronicles 7 :14,” he said. “When (the attacks) first happened churches were filled with people afterwards. People were seeking God and seeking answers. I think it's good for us, reflecting on those 10 years, to once again humble ourselves and turn to the God of our fathers. I think it's very appropriate for us to look at our lifestyles, look at what we emphasize and look at the values we display among our families.”

     The passage in 2 Chronicles reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

     Let good come out of the tragedy and temporary terror the downing of the Twin Towers caused, Hickey said.

     “It's always appropriate to make life changes,” he said, “but I think in particular this 10th anniversary of 9/11 is a wonderful time to look on the individual level and see where we are, as a person, a family or community leader to humble ourselves once again to the Lord and say, “God, how can you take this event and cause good to come in our lives.”

     It is a necessary step to “humble ourselves,” Hickey said.

     “That's because our pride gets in the way every time,” he said. “It's an arrogant position to think we can 'do life' without God. God wants to see us humble ourselves so he heal us from our disorders, confusion, lack of values, restore his principals and his ways in our lives. And his ways always bless people.”

     The country has been in a “spiritual malaise” for years, he said.

     “The nation is definitely in a crisis,” he said. “It is a spiritual crisis, a spiritual void. We are afraid of prayer, afraid of allowing it into schools and meetings. We restrict the use of God's name anywhere and we're wondering if there might be any consequences anywhere.”

     The blessings of God creates understanding and relationship, Hickey said.

     “God creates good relationships; he will bring understanding between a husband and wife and good communication between parents and children,” he said. “He brings understanding in a neighborhood, an extended family, or in a work-related situation. When God is there, blessings are there too. People hear each other, care for each and understand each other. He wants us to understand and enjoy life.”

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