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We offer the following items as small supplements to what you will have picked up from the various media since that fateful day. The items do not constitute a comprehensive or even an integrated understanding of those terrible events and their aftermath, nor are they to be taken as OASIS' views. Rather, we just offer them to shed further light on our understanding of "Hell Tuesday", developments since then, and some of the background.

May God continue to comfort those who mourn. May God grant wisdom, justice and peace. May we all play our small part in helping our world recover some of its poise.

1. Spiritual developments in America:

Leaders urge Christians to repent for national sins:

Senior church leaders have called American Christians to repent in the light of the deadly terrorist attacks. They say the tragedy is a reflection of the country's "crumbling foundation," and that "we need to plead with God to forgive us." The appeal has gone out to pastors and leaders from a wide-ranging group of ministries and denominations. The group's 'Biblical Response to America's National Emergency' was read out in many churches. It says that Christians need to "repent of our past path of sin, remember our present problems and reach out to those in need, and reclaim our precious promises of revival."

The statement says that America has stubbornly rejected God and His Word, forcing prayer and the Ten Commandments out of schools, flooding the world with "unimaginable perversion" through films and television, and allowing millions of abortions. Trusting more in money than God has also "brought shame and disgrace upon our nation." Prayer is needed "that God will restore the walls of his protection around our nation." Meanwhile, the tragedy provides a "golden opportunity" to serve people. "Seldom, in the history of our country, have people been so open to the gospel," say the co-signatories. "This is a defining moment for the Church." They urge prayer and fasting that God will "turn this tragedy into a triumph and will send healing revival to our land."

Public prayers spread in wake of terrorist attacks.

'Nation's spiritual landscape changed by terrorist acts':
America's spiritual landscape has been changed as markedly as the New York skyline by the September 11 terrorist attacks, say church leaders who believe people will be looking for answers long after the searches of the rubble at the World Trade Center (WTC) and the Pentagon are over.

Presidential Prayer Team mobilises 2.8 million Americans:
Launched a week after the terrorist attack on America, the Presidential Prayer Team is experiencing phenomenal response from around the world. Originally planned for starting in November, the need for the grass-roots effort was accelerated by the terrorist attacks on September 11. On September 18 100,000 Americans had already registered to pray daily for the President, his Cabinet and the Nation. That number is now rising by over 2,000 new members per hour. News of The Presidential Prayer Team is spreading quickly and energetically via the Internet and by word of mouth, in places of worship and in the workplace. The goal is to enlist at least 2.8 million participants or 1% of the American population.

News of the President of the United States received from an American friend here in Scotland, who got it from a friend back home in October:

Dear Friends

I heard such a wonderful thing at churchtoday that I knew I would have to share it with you all.

Most of you already know that our pastor is Max Lucado, a Christian author who is very popular for his many wonderful books about the Lord.

This week, Max was invited (along with several other famous preachers) to have lunch at the White House with President Bush. Their meeting took place on Thursday and Max shared with us this morning how it had gone.

As the ministers sat down to lunch and waited for President Bush to appear, Max said that he was expecting G.W. to walk in the room looking tired, serious, and depressed.

When the President came in, Max said he looked totally the opposite of tired: he was energetic, joyful, and very focused on his talk with the ministers.

Max asked President Bush how he could seem so calm and peaceful in the midst of all the tragedy. The President's reply was, "I'm feeling stronger now than I've ever been in my life. And the reason is because every person in America is praying for me. When I stay on my knees, that's when I have power."

The ministers then asked the President how he would like them to pray for him, and how their congregations back home should be praying. Mr. Bush asked, first, for clarity of mind so that he could make wise decisions, and then he asked that we pray specifically for his wife and two daughters, as he is very concerned about their safety.

I knew that you would be as encouraged as I was to hear about this meeting. We must thank God that we have a President who loves and fears the Lord. No human leader is perfect, but God is perfect, so let's keep President Bush lifted up in prayer before the Father.

International Day of Prayer for Christians in Muslim world November 4, 2001
Over the past weeks, everyone has been well-informed about radical Islamic cells scattered throughout the world. However, perhaps less well known are the scattered small "cells of light" in these same regions - Christians in Pakistan, Indonesia and other countries who are following Christ despite the continuous threats of discrimination, imprisonment and even murder. According to US Newswire, the board and partner ministries of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, asked the public to join with thousands of churches in 130 countries, to observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) on November 4, 2001.

Source of all above information: Joel News International http://www.joelnews.org

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2. For considered commentary on these events:
Christianitytoday: http://christianitytoday.com

3. For Billy Graham's sermon on Friday 14 September:
http://www.billygraham.org

4. A comment made by American pastor Rick Joyner in Edinburgh recently:

We have to address some of the moral and spiritual pollution that has been caused in and by the USA and exported. That war within is as important as the war against terrorism without.

5. A Word To Leaders from American pastor Francis Frangipane, who also visited Edinburgh recently:

LET THE FAINTHEARTED GO

A number of ministries have submitted to the oppression caused by the terrorist attacks. As a result, they are speaking to their constituencies from a position of fear and trepidation... Leaders, please hear me: The people who are listening to you are already praying, fasting and repenting... The fact is, people are already afraid. It is time for faith to arise, where we put our trust in God's goodness and power.

Jesus said all things were possible for him who believes. He specifically warned, "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately" (Lk 21:9). He said specifically, "Do not be terrified." Do not submit to the spirit of terror -- have no part in it! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. You say, "It's not possible. God cannot use America." God says, "All things are possible." You say, "America has sinned against the Lord." So had Israel under King Saul. Yet, when the Philistines sent forth Goliath to terrorize Israel, the Lord did not say, "Too bad, but I have sent this giant to defeat you because you are sinners." No. He raised up a deliverer, a young man named David, who loved and knew the Lord. David challenged his adversary, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam 17:26)

The rest of Israel was sinful; one soldier was righteous. God used the righteous to deliver the unrighteous. The Lord allows enemies to smite a nation when everyone in the nation is mired in sin. If there are righteous people, He makes them deliverers, warriors. He increases their strength and influence. He assures us that, where sin abounds, grace abounds the more so. Today God is giving grace to those who have loved Him. It's time not to fear, but to stand before the Lord prepared, spiritually clean and ready for spiritual war...

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6. Scotland on Sunday In Business section September 16: Keith Skeoch CIO of Standard Life Investments:
The world's financial market is a global village.

7. Scotland on Sunday In Business section September 16: Antonia Swinson:
The message of this week, behind the politics and hyperbole, must be that the human spirit transcends money.

8. Sunday Times September 16: What the children saw, by India Knight:
One lone good thing has, I think, come out of this week (...). It is that my children's understanding of compassion has been broadened in a way that can only benefit them, and us.

9. Sunday Times Business Section September 16: Inside the City, by Kirstie Hamilton:
Most people keep their workmates at a decent distance, but as a banker put it last week, trudging down 58 floors through inches of water believing you are going to die makes you see your colleagues in a different light.

It also puts the famous New York obsession with work in perspective. Many are now determined not to subordinate their home lives to spending evenings and weekends in the office.

10. Sunday Times Business Section September 16: AGENDA, by Rory Godson:
America and the rest of the civilised world have been united in grief and, during this period of reflection, have been questioning their priorities. Those victims of Tuesday's atrocity who were fortunate enough to make communication with the outside world before they perished had only one thing on their minds: they were aching with the thought that never again would they see the people they loved.

11. An excellent, balanced, informative short resource to read, published earlier this year:
A Christian's Pocket Guide to Islam, by Patrick Sookhdeo; £2.60 counting p & p.
Ring the Barnabas Fund on 01672 564 938, or email info@barnabasfund.org

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