ASSIST NEWS SERVICE
PO Box 2126
Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126
USA

e-mail: assistcomm@cs.com
www.assistnews.net

October 3, 2001

I CRIED AGAIN LAST NIGHT

Personal reflections from Steve Loopstra
Executive Director,
Prayer Transformation Ministries
Special to ASSIST News Service

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (ANS) -- I cried again last night. I cried as I watched Dateline NBC's program on the "No Greater Love: The Story of Flight 93."

I cried as I watched the faces of ordinary men and women who lost their lives in a senseless act of evil. I cried as I heard the stories of how these ordinary men and women were thrust into extraordinary circumstances through no choosing of their own.

I cried as I heard of the heroism from these people just like us who saved the lives of hundreds, and perhaps thousands of lives by preventing that jet from reaching its target.

I cried. I cried as I heard the words of Jane Pauley as she said that these people, "They understood the danger ahead, and they went out to meet it" I cried as I thought of the Church, and wondered if we really understand the danger ahead of us and were willing to go out to meet it.

We are so easily lulled back into our comfort when the "high" of circumstances passes by us. Are we ready to give our lives for the sake of the Gospel in our days? Are we ready to keep pressing in with our prayers until God breaks through in revival and transformation? Or will we weary of the effort and give up a the "two yard line."

Are we ready to rally together, and put aside our divisions for the sake of a society that needs to see John 17 fleshed out before their eyes? Will our churches and our lives go back to "business as usual" in a few short weeks? Will be continue to be absorbed in our own issues and not know how to die daily for the sake of others?

I did not know the answer, and I cried again last night.

Steve Loopstra
Prayer Transformation Ministries
Intercessors Email Prayer Network
e-mail: PTM@prayertransformation.com
website: http://www.prayertransformation.com/

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