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Monday, September 11, 2006

Risk, Faith, and September 11

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26, NIV)

James oft-repeated words about the linkage between works and faith should have a corollary in this season of remembrance as we approach the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. That corollary would read: “faith without risk is dead.”

In a sense, risk defines faith. Without the risk of failure, disease, trials, tribulations, and temptation—or the chance that we could perish apart from Christ—there is no need for faith. The two exist hand in hand, risk and faith.

Do you remember what you were doing on September 11, 2001? Were you there in person, or was your heart in your throat as you learned of the devastation early that morning? Now take yourself back to Monday, September 10, 2001. What were your prayers that day, your concerns and your dreams? I can’t remember September 10th. You probably have the same response. Yet the risk of Tuesday, September 11th, defines much of my faith walk during that period of my life. I lost three friends at the Pentagon that day, and I landed in Washington in the midst of the attack.

On Sunday September 10th take the time to reflect on how you would respond if you knew that a repeat of September 11th was imminent the next day. Would that risk of devastation challenge and inspire your faith? Would it bring you to your knees? For many of us, the answer is “yes.”

Risk brings us to the foot of the Cross every day, seeking God’s guidance, His ministering spirit, His forgiveness and His strength. Don’t run away from risk. Put on the full armor of God, take up the shield of faith, and wade into each day’s battle smiling . . . with absolute confidence that God has you in His hand.

Austin Boyd



Austin Boyd is a decorated Navy pilot, spacecraft engineer and an astronaut candidate finalist. He lives with with his wife and four children in Huntsville, Alabama where he directs business development for a NASA and defense contractor. His latest novel, THE PROOF, is in stores now.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks Austin for that. I don't think I'll ever forget what I was doing that day. I was a school nurse and watching the horror live on the tv in my principal's office. I thought it was world war III and wondered if our town would be next. It was utter confusion.

    Thanks for the encouraging words.

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  2. Hi Austin, so good to see you again! I hope all is well with you.

    I posted a poem I wrote today about 9-11 entitled "Freedom" at www.relevantblog.blogspot.com.

    I was at home, in front of the TV. Utterly shocked.

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  3. Thanks Gina an Austin. As we watched the memorial broadcast today on FOX, I remembered exactly how I felt. I was at work when the Christian radio station I listened to announced it. We prayed along with the nation, and sat in horror as the events and the truth unfolded.

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  4. I'll never forget it either. We were living in Switzerland at the time. Hubby called me and said to turn the TV on. There'd been a plane crash, an accident. As I watched he filled me in. Then I said, "What's that other plane doing?" He said they were replaying it. I said, "No, look again, another plane hit the other tower. This is no accident." We lived in front of the TV for days.

    Our neighbors rallied around us, telling us how sorry they were that such a thing had happened. We got cards and notes, and we weren't even directly affected! I was amazed. Then we were told to lay low by the U.S. embassey and the American Women's Club in Zurich closed down until further notice. That's when we felt the far reaching effects. Shopping became a whole new endeavor in such a crowded city--running into a group of muslim women, who made it clear they didn't like us "Americans." What a time.

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  5. I was in front of the TV watching it live...

    I pray that we never forget.

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