Ring the Bells

Today's Daily Encounter

Ring the Bells

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests.'"1

"On Sept. 14th, 2001--just after the tragic events of
9-11--President George W. Bush called for a national
day of prayer and the ringing of bells in houses of
worship across our land. Rector Daniel Paul Matthews
contacted the churches in his Manhattan parish to let
them know of President Bush's initiative. Matthews
especially wanted to hear the bells ring out from St.
Paul's Chapel on Broadway, the oldest public building
in the city. St. Paul's is also an historic church.
President George Washington prayed there during times
of war. But the engineers at St. Paul's said it would
be impossible to ring the Chapel's bells. They were
too near the chaos of Ground Zero, and the Chapel had
been shut off from normal activity.

"But one of the engineers, Mike Borrero, wouldn't take
'no' for an answer. He climbed up into the Chapel's
bell tower and banged on the bell with an iron bar.
Twelve times the bell pealed out through the streets
of Manhattan. On the ground below, fire fighters and
police officers paused in their work to take off their
hats and bow their heads in reverence. One brave
engineer determined that St. Paul's Chapel would not
remain silent in the midst of adversity."2

May we, who call ourselves Christ followers, never
have to wait 'till Christmas to hear the bells of
peace ring out--or allow the purveyors of political
correctness to silence the bells of peace--as
expressed in an old favorite Christmas carol:

I heard the bells on Christmas day / Their old
familiar carols play / And mild and sweet the words
repeat, / Of peace on earth, good will to men. / I
thought how as the day had come, / The belfries of all
Christendom Had roll'd along th' unbroken song / Of
peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head: / "There is no peace
on earth," I said, / "For hate is strong, and mocks
the song / Of peace on earth, good will to men." /
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: / "God is
not dead, nor doth He sleep; / The wrong shall fail,
the right prevail, / With peace on earth, good will to
men."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in this world where so
few wrongs are put right and where there is not yet
lasting peace, grant that Jesus, the Prince of Peace,
will hasten the day of his return to end forever all
wars, evil, sadness, sickness, and suffering, and that
there truly will be 'peace on earth, good will to men.'
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer.
Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: If you have never accepted God's remarkable
Christmas gift of forgiveness and eternal life, for
help go to www.actsweb.org/christian for the article,
"How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian--without
having to be religious."

1. Luke 2:13-14 (NIV).
2. "God Reigns" by Daniel Paul Matthews, from a sermon
preached on Sept. 23, 2001, quoted by Associated Church
Press wire news.

<)))><

* * * * * * *

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by
ACTS International, a non-profit organization,
and made possible through the donations of
interested friends. Donations can be sent at:
http://www.actscom.com

ACTS International
P.O. Box 73545
San Clemente, California 92673-0119
U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050
http://www.actsweb.org

Copyright (c) 2009 by ACTS International.

When copying or forwarding include the following:
"Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2009
ACTS International.