Ex-COG Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I received another email from a relative, pertaining to 9/11 and how God is in control. This relative is ALWAYS sending me cut-and-paste emails that have been forwarded multiple times; I rarely receive one that was personally written by him or his wife with any real family info in it. Normally I'd just delete it, but I thought I'd post it here to give you all the "heads up" on what might be floating your way from Christian family and friends. Subject: A Very Profound Story About 911 and a NYFD Fighter-Awesome! A man from Norfolk, VAcalled a local radio station to share this on Sept 11th, 2005. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words: "A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to Californiato visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that GOD would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'Amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home. I received a call from my Father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight. My Father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak! My Father also had more news for me; he was going to help. This is not something I can just sit by for; I have to do something.' I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never given his life to JESUS CHRIST. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'Take good care of my grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my Father say; he died while helping in the rescue effort. My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became anger. I was angry at GOD, at my Father, and at myself! I had gone for nearly two years blaming GOD for taking my Father away. My son would never know his Grandfather, my Father had never accepted JESUS CHRIST, and I never got to say goodbye. Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife, but I could tell she wasn 't exp ecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple with a small child. The man looked at me and asked if my Father's name was Jake Matthews. I told him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to meet your Father, but it is an honor to meet his son. He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been caught under debris. He then explained that my Father had been the one to find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my Father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'There is something e lse you need to know.....' His wife then told me that as my Father worked to free her, she talked to him and lead him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news. Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my Father will be standing beside JESUS to welcome me, and that this family wo uld be able to thank him themselves. When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew in honor of the man who gave his life so Mother and baby could live." This story should help us to realize two things: First - that though it has been several years since the attacks, we should never let it become a mere tragic memory. And Second - But Most Important GOD IS Always In Control!!! We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of Heaven, but GOD IS ALWAYS In Control!!! Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love. You may never know the impact it may have on someone. GOD doesn't call the qualified, HE qualifies the called! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markkasan Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 This is an example of what I call the "cause and effect" syndrome. It's where something random happens, and people seek a cause for that event. Something random like a cancer going into remission turns into a testimonial case if the happy patient "remembers" that she prayed for her to be healed. And what is this bullshit about GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL!!!!! (apparently devout people need all those exclamation points) If he's in control of this fucked up world, he needs to be fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonHorn Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 What disturbs me most about that is that he wasn't concerned for his father living or dying, he was concerned that he hadn't "accepted Christ". And this story has what almost every "look what God did for me" story has - no way to validate. Sure, the guy might have called the radio station. But that doesn't prove the story happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostOrFound Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 My BS meter is spinning like a top. This email has all the earmarks of the typical urban legend. Even when I was a believer, I hated these kinds of LIES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piprus Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 My BS meter is spinning like a top. This email has all the earmarks of the typical urban legend. Even when I was a believer, I hated these kinds of LIES. Pious Fraud is alive and well. Fundies eat this stuff up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godlessgrrl Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Of course nobody ever circulates emails about the negligence of God in not preventing the attacks from ever happening in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franciscan Monkey Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 It's fake. Snopes, of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostOrFound Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 It's fake. Snopes, of course But you can bet your life that won't stop xtians from retelling it over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkside Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 Ugh. I've seen that story recycled in various formats for years. Of course, Christians are used to seeing the same story retold in a slightly different manner and believing both to be true recollections of independant events, so of course they'll believe the exact same thing could happen to one person's father in 9/11, another person's brother in the Gulf War, another person's son on the police force... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrayman7040 Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 That story is so fucking Cliche' and complete and total bullshit. If that story were true, we'd have seen it in People Magazine, and seen it on Dateline NBC. That feel good strory could have never escaped the mainstream media. I should copy and paste it and send it to my dear mother in law(whom I adore). She would love it and forward it to all he friends and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgnosticBob AtheistPants Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 It's so obviously hokey fundy BULLSHIT. But now what if by some off chance it weren't? What exactly should Christians get from the story? I'll tell ya what. The knowledge that if indeed their God actually exists, he is a sadistic BASTARD. Would this couple have been the ONLY Christians who would have been on this flight? No. There were many. Would they have been the ONLY ones who prayed for a safe journey before the flight? No. Christians pray over shit at the drop of a hat. They're delusional and think it actually DOES something. So IF this story was true and their god did exist, he would be one sick, sadistic son of a bitch choosing to let this one woman miss the plane and live while all the rest were on time and died. Hell, you don't need this story to see that, but it should make it all the more clear to the Christians. But it never does. Instead, they try to turn it into a feel good story about the benefits of prayer. What a crock. ONE prayer is worth more than those of the hundreds of others who also prayed for safety that day? "The Lawd works in mysterious ways," they say. "Who can know the mind of Gawd," they ask. Why can't they open their ignorant eyes and see that they are just looking for ways to explain away the things they can't understand about this world? Why can't they simply accept that sometimes bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad just like good things happen to good people and bad people get what they deserve. And it all happens without the intervention of an omniscient creator. It's all a crap shoot people. Sometimes you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time, the right place at the right time, the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time. Wise up. Get a grip on reality. Stop making up stupid shit like this story to make you feel better about choosing to keep your head in the sand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookums Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I received another email from a relative, pertaining to 9/11 and how God is in control. This relative is ALWAYS sending me cut-and-paste emails that have been forwarded multiple times; I rarely receive one that was personally written by him or his wife with any real family info in it. Normally I'd just delete it, That's so fucking sad.......but typical. Having a 'relationship' with fundy/chrisitian is like having cold-leftover's straight out of the fridge. - Very Suspect! Fancy USING family like that! They should be ashamed of themselves & their fuckedup family values. Peaceout.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwc Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Well, I for one, think this story sounds just like YHWH's handywork. I mean just think about for a second. YHWH takes out literally thousands of people in the towers and planes (not to mention the tower buildings themselves and surrounding area) resulting in two wars and thousands of others lives. Who knows how much collateral damage has been done as well? It's simply too much to begin to imagine. Okay, now that you have all that in mind now weigh that against this one man's father coming to christ before he died in the tower...and there could be tens of others we don't even know about. Worth it? Who wouldn't think so. YHWH IS obviously in control. mwc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Neil Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 I got that email too. I simply replied with the phrase: "Post hoc ergo proctor hoc". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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