"Thunder on the Mountain
Tread gently on our hills, be aware of where you are. You are welcome here among us. We were quiet once, secluded and alone. These mountains and our checkered fields are not much changed. Their appearance endures in much the same way as it has been for a very long time. Something is different now. It cannot be explained or defined. Our world is shattered and we have been touched even as the entire world has been shaken. From the terrible events of that September morning have emerged Giants who are specially honored here. Strangers to us all, they have become the Heroes of our towns, our people, of our nation and the world. In the final moments of their lives, they demonstrated courage, strength, purpose and commitment. Their message is clear: to be free, completely free, let no one, let no thing take control. We are Captains of our Destiny, Masters of our soul. We can make a difference in our own lives, we can make a difference in the destiny of the world.
These Heroes of Flight 93 have hallowed our land. We honor them and hold in our hearts a special gratitude for what they have done for us all. Their relatives and friends have walked among us, and for awhile we shared their grief. Our lingering grief is the sadness of the Nation and it will make us stronger and more determined to adhere to the principles that have made our Nation great. These are the very principles guiding the Heroic Passengers of Flight 93. Theirs is the Spirit of America, the spirit of human nature to be free.
There is a sanctity here. Be aware of the silence in your heart. Remember what they have done. Treasure the gift they have given, together with so many others who have demonstrated bravery, so many of whom will never be known to us. Honor the sacrifice they have made, and take from here the memories of your life. Honor this land and this place. It is sacred to us now. We see our sky in a different way, we travel our countryside in awe. There are tears in our hearts. We will remember the Thunder that has shaken our mountains. They traveled our sky for a moment, they have touched our land forever.
Tread gently on our hills, Welcome Visitor, tread gently. You are on hallowed ground."
The beautiful words you have just been blessed by were written by my friend, fellow patriot, and unknowing evangelist, Fr. Alphonse Mascherino, aka Fr. Al. They are found on the Flight 93 memorial website, an invitation to all to visit the vision God gave him after 9/11. A humble man, devoting himself to Jesus, who using the vision God has given him has allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to untold thousands over the years. A man with a similar vision of Billy Graham and Greg Laurie, but on a very humble level. Providing an arena for people to come and be blessed, while remembering the miracle of Flight 93.
I first met Fr. Al in 2005 when on Torches Across America I contacted him. He asked, not knowing me, to speak at the services, as many bikers were showing up, and he wanted them to be welcomed and feel welcome. As one of them, would I help to minister? And I became part of the vision, and was able to be blessed, and bless others at the chapel. A place I encourage all to visit. A place described better than I could by the opening paragraphs.
Over the years most of our communication was via e-mail, and staying at the cottage God had also provided via a miracle. Licensed as a bed and breakfast, he obtained it for his friends to stay at while visiting the chapel, and we have stayed many times. No charge, again God would provide, as He did so many times for this man who drew no salary, but truly depended on God for all his needs. A man who trusted God quietly, and was always marveling at the love of Jesus, and the miracles. He had been healed of three individual cancers miraculously, and last year opened the chapel on Sunday afternoons to all churches-bring your worship team and worship, then a time for prayer and healing afterwards. A man who had run against the tide as a Catholic priest, and was asked to leave his post when he served communion to believers who weren't Catholic. Who with another Catholic rebel were planning on buying up old churches, and letting all denominations use them during the week, in depressed areas where the churches had folded due to no money, and the people still needed a place to worship. A man who often wrote asking me for prayer, and who when wrote asking me to pray for him, he was offered the position as bishop in another Catholic group, wanted me to pray because I encouraged him. He once told me he marveled at how well I shared Jesus without pressure to others a the chapel. And who encouraged me by his answer-"the same God who offered me the position, will be the same God who will see me fulfill it." How many enter into ministry so humble? And are so successful A rebel among rebels, and last night when I found out hospice had been called, I felt sad. I will miss my friend, but will see him again. A long line in heaven to see him no doubt, as so many lives were touched through him. His will be a humble place, still pointing them to Jesus, with Jesus getting all the attention, just as it should be.
So please pray for my friend, who loved the Lord and liberty. Who when a young man visiting the Liberty Bell was told not to touch it, but did anyway, scraping a piece of its wood under his fingernail. A rebel for freedom from the start, who was able show true freedom in Christ. Please pray for the Chapel to continue, operated solely by donations. He never asked for money, if you do it wouldn't be a donation, just like you can't take an offering. And visit it soon, and often. I will miss my friend, but will just take the time until I do to minister as he encouraged me, until the next e-mail or phone call, this time from heaven. Reread the lovely words, and tread lightly-just as the Holy spirit does. Like 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, that love does not demand its own way. But after spending time with it in the person of Jesus, you see why it doesn't have to. Love will do that. Now can we?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
flight93chapel.com
Tread gently on our hills, be aware of where you are. You are welcome here among us. We were quiet once, secluded and alone. These mountains and our checkered fields are not much changed. Their appearance endures in much the same way as it has been for a very long time. Something is different now. It cannot be explained or defined. Our world is shattered and we have been touched even as the entire world has been shaken. From the terrible events of that September morning have emerged Giants who are specially honored here. Strangers to us all, they have become the Heroes of our towns, our people, of our nation and the world. In the final moments of their lives, they demonstrated courage, strength, purpose and commitment. Their message is clear: to be free, completely free, let no one, let no thing take control. We are Captains of our Destiny, Masters of our soul. We can make a difference in our own lives, we can make a difference in the destiny of the world.
These Heroes of Flight 93 have hallowed our land. We honor them and hold in our hearts a special gratitude for what they have done for us all. Their relatives and friends have walked among us, and for awhile we shared their grief. Our lingering grief is the sadness of the Nation and it will make us stronger and more determined to adhere to the principles that have made our Nation great. These are the very principles guiding the Heroic Passengers of Flight 93. Theirs is the Spirit of America, the spirit of human nature to be free.
There is a sanctity here. Be aware of the silence in your heart. Remember what they have done. Treasure the gift they have given, together with so many others who have demonstrated bravery, so many of whom will never be known to us. Honor the sacrifice they have made, and take from here the memories of your life. Honor this land and this place. It is sacred to us now. We see our sky in a different way, we travel our countryside in awe. There are tears in our hearts. We will remember the Thunder that has shaken our mountains. They traveled our sky for a moment, they have touched our land forever.
Tread gently on our hills, Welcome Visitor, tread gently. You are on hallowed ground."
The beautiful words you have just been blessed by were written by my friend, fellow patriot, and unknowing evangelist, Fr. Alphonse Mascherino, aka Fr. Al. They are found on the Flight 93 memorial website, an invitation to all to visit the vision God gave him after 9/11. A humble man, devoting himself to Jesus, who using the vision God has given him has allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to untold thousands over the years. A man with a similar vision of Billy Graham and Greg Laurie, but on a very humble level. Providing an arena for people to come and be blessed, while remembering the miracle of Flight 93.
I first met Fr. Al in 2005 when on Torches Across America I contacted him. He asked, not knowing me, to speak at the services, as many bikers were showing up, and he wanted them to be welcomed and feel welcome. As one of them, would I help to minister? And I became part of the vision, and was able to be blessed, and bless others at the chapel. A place I encourage all to visit. A place described better than I could by the opening paragraphs.
Over the years most of our communication was via e-mail, and staying at the cottage God had also provided via a miracle. Licensed as a bed and breakfast, he obtained it for his friends to stay at while visiting the chapel, and we have stayed many times. No charge, again God would provide, as He did so many times for this man who drew no salary, but truly depended on God for all his needs. A man who trusted God quietly, and was always marveling at the love of Jesus, and the miracles. He had been healed of three individual cancers miraculously, and last year opened the chapel on Sunday afternoons to all churches-bring your worship team and worship, then a time for prayer and healing afterwards. A man who had run against the tide as a Catholic priest, and was asked to leave his post when he served communion to believers who weren't Catholic. Who with another Catholic rebel were planning on buying up old churches, and letting all denominations use them during the week, in depressed areas where the churches had folded due to no money, and the people still needed a place to worship. A man who often wrote asking me for prayer, and who when wrote asking me to pray for him, he was offered the position as bishop in another Catholic group, wanted me to pray because I encouraged him. He once told me he marveled at how well I shared Jesus without pressure to others a the chapel. And who encouraged me by his answer-"the same God who offered me the position, will be the same God who will see me fulfill it." How many enter into ministry so humble? And are so successful A rebel among rebels, and last night when I found out hospice had been called, I felt sad. I will miss my friend, but will see him again. A long line in heaven to see him no doubt, as so many lives were touched through him. His will be a humble place, still pointing them to Jesus, with Jesus getting all the attention, just as it should be.
So please pray for my friend, who loved the Lord and liberty. Who when a young man visiting the Liberty Bell was told not to touch it, but did anyway, scraping a piece of its wood under his fingernail. A rebel for freedom from the start, who was able show true freedom in Christ. Please pray for the Chapel to continue, operated solely by donations. He never asked for money, if you do it wouldn't be a donation, just like you can't take an offering. And visit it soon, and often. I will miss my friend, but will just take the time until I do to minister as he encouraged me, until the next e-mail or phone call, this time from heaven. Reread the lovely words, and tread lightly-just as the Holy spirit does. Like 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, that love does not demand its own way. But after spending time with it in the person of Jesus, you see why it doesn't have to. Love will do that. Now can we?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
flight93chapel.com
