We say God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

But how does that relate to suffering and the pain of this life?

With the opening of the new 9-11 Museum in Manhattan, which opened back in May, we're

once again reminded of the permanent pain of September 11, 2001.

But can the Gospel really offer joy to us in the uncertain times of a post 9-11 world?

This was the question at hand in 2005 on the 4th anniversary of 9-11, which happened

to land on a Sunday.

Pastor John took up this question in the pulpit at Bethlehem Baptist Church, and here's

a clip of what he said.

One of the truths that we embrace with trembling joy at Bethlehem is the truth of God's supremacy

and all things.

The mission of this church is we exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all

things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

And when we say that, we do not mean except in calamities or except in war or except

when Al-Qaeda blows up a building or train or except when cancer takes a mom or a child

is born with profound disabilities.

There are no accept causes in our mission statement.

We did not formulate this mission statement in 1995 in a rosy world and then get surprised

by the reality of suffering, oops, we forgot.

We didn't formulate this statement of mission for this church with our head in the sand,

as though we didn't know people in this church die and agonize with suffering.

We have seen many people die in 25 years.

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