I will never forget the news headline in Colorado papers the morning of 9/11/01; “Eddie McCaffery Breaks Leg.” We had watched the Denver Broncos play on Sunday 9/10/01 and saw that injury happen. As Monday morning newspapers were being read however, far bigger news began to consume us as the awful reality of terrorist attacks in New York City and beyond began unfolding. America was not ready. American churches were not ready for attacks in their places either and still far too many remain unprepared. On Sunday morning 11/5/2017 the title of this Think About It feature was “At The Bang.” It was focused on churches being ready for an attack. I had no idea that as the article would be read that day, a killer would come into the Sutherland Springs (TX) First Baptist Church and kill 26 defenseless worshippers in what would be the worst mass murder at…
2020 April
Before launching the Faith Based Security Network, was New Life Church (12/9/2007). Before New Life Church was Focus on the Family (5/2/1996). Our life journeys are marked by major milestones. Some were personal experiences (as those above were for me). Many were not personal, but still significant to us. Before Focus on the Family, there was the Oklahoma City bombing (4/19/1995). It changed my life and I didn’t even know it the time. That morning, the news was a distant story to me. I had a General Contractor working in Dr. Dobson’s private office. I am sorry that the first words I spoke of the OKC bombing were in complete insolence. The GC told me his glass sub-contractor was late. I joked, “maybe he got called to Oklahoma City.” The contractor chuckled; I knew immediately it was wrong. That night, as I watched the news, it began to sink in just…
1969 – 1979 were significant years to me. Unknowingly, I was experiencing things that shaped my life-views. Television was not casual in our home; it was scheduled. Aside from morning news while eating breakfast, the TV didn’t come on till the sun set; then only for specific things. Most significant was the nightly news. I’ve vivid memories of Mom & Dad on the couch silently watching to see if the DMZ area between North & South Vietnam would be listed as the heaviest fighting for that day. It often was. That’s where my brother was. Other regular programs were the Johnny Cash Show, Gunsmoke and Hee Haw. In one episode of Hee Haw, Minnie Pearl told Grandpa Jones, “A feller just told me I looked like a breath of fresh Spring air.” Skeptical, Jones asked if that was really what the man said. She admitted it wasn’t exactly what he…