God Bless America! (re-post)

Originally posted on 9/11/08...

Difficult as it is to believe, today marks seven years since the September 11 attacks on the United States.

As I said in my sermon last night (Is Christ Divided?, Part II ), for a few days in America after 9/11/01, there seemed to be no democrats or republicans...conservatives or liberals...catholics or protestants...rich or poor...no one was black...no one was white...no one was latino...we were all simply broken-hearted Americans, united by a horrible tragedy that affected us all.

On this historic date, let us remember those in NY, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania who lost their lives, and also their families who are still dealing with the pain. But let us also remember to pray for the future of this great country...let us pray that we would all somehow find that unity again that we shared for a brief moment in time seven years ago...let us release our faith that that unity could be rediscovered, this time without tragedy, but rather through the movement and power of the Spirit of God.

Here is the first verse to one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I love the Star Spangled Banner, but I'm one of those who would vote to have this awesome hymn become our national anthem.

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!