From “Discipleship and Discipline”, by William H. Hicks, copyright March, 2005:

“In Hebrews 11, we find God’s “Faith Hall of Fame”, wherein we are given a partial list of that Hall’s inhabitants. We tend to concentrate and focus on the “conquering heroes” among those listed there: Abraham, Noah, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. We oftentimes forget the unnamed ones who “trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. 36Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. 37Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. 38They were too good for this world.” Hebrews 11: 35b – 38a. We disciples should know that we are more likely to be unnamed than named as “conquering heroes”, even though we, as they, are “more than conquerors””

“No one in America alive today will ever forget September 11, 2001.”

“”One of the initial phenomena coming out of the tragedy was an unretouched CNN photograph of the South World Trade Tower showing the “image” of Satan in the smoke billowing from the place on the tower where the second plane impacted the building. Everyone I spoke with reacted to the picture by saying, “this confirms that this was a supremely evil act! See! The face of Satan! This tells us that these people are wrong to attack us, to take innocent lives! Their cause cannot be just!!” While these are all credible conclusions, is there not more? Was there a message for America in that God allowed us to be subjected to such horror, terror and despair? Was this allowed to occur merely to call us to heroism, sacrifice and circumspection? I think not. We as a nation- “one nation, under God, indivisible”, must reflect on how far we have wandered from the faith of our fathers. Jerry Falwell was vilified for suggesting that we as a people might have lost our way, what with banning prayer in schools, legalization of abortion and other policies and laws that run counter to God’s word. Maybe it was the way he said it. Will a just God long tolerate institutionalized racism? Will He not call us, “who are called by My name” to repentance- individually and corporately? Will He not demand discipline from His disciples? I think so.””

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