25 Years After 9/11: A Conversation with Edward Graham

0:00After the towers, the Pentagon and that Pennsylvania field, my career in life, my testimony changed. Welcome back to another episode of All in the Ground with Smirchensperce, where we take you to the front lines and behind the scenes of our work around the world. I'm your host Christy Graham and it has been 25 years since the tragedy of 9-11 and so today I want to share a conversation I had with my husband Edward. He's the chief operating officer of Smirchensperce and last week I had breast and perished on the show and he was there on the ground in New York City shortly after the tragic events of 9-11. If you didn't listen to that episode I encourage you to go back and confine it by going to smirchensperce.org and today I want to emphasize that we need to remember what happened on September

1:0011th 2001. I hope you take time today to observe and remember and teach the next generation about this historical tragedy. But as believers we do not remember without hope. I think we respond differently to tragedy and as humans we can either respond inward outward or upward. It's up to us. And Edward and I talked about how even in hard times with the Lord's help we can be fruitful in affliction. We talk about surrendering to the Lord especially when we don't understand. Here's our conversation. Today we want to talk about 9-11. I can't even believe it's some 25 years and so we just wanted to have an episode where we talked about the importance of remembering the way that it changed our nation and as believers how it should you know make us remember spiritually freedom isn't free. There's a cost. So first of all where were you on 9-11?

2:02I was at West Point and I was in my junior year which we call our Cal year there and I was walking to physics class and someone just said as we were walking down the hay a plane just hit the World Trade Center for the listeners I was an academic powerhouse so at West Point so they had something they had involved me in something called rock math so it was a lot of athletes so you were a semester behind everyone else but you took an extra semester of math and science and when everyone else just took two years I had to take two and a half years so I was walking to my physics class and I remember going into the teacher we turned the TV on there was some lacrosse players and they're from Long Island so they had families that worked in the World Trade Center and so we had it turned on and then that's when the other plane struck and so we knew this was not an accident that there was something going on and I remember we had a civilian teacher usually you had military kernels and majors that had

3:05gone off and gotten their doctorates and that would teach but we actually had a civilian teaching this class and I remember he went and flipped the TV off and he said and this was his quote now on to more important things meaning he wanted the lesson to go on and you had kids glued that screen because I remember they had family members that worked in there and we turned the TV back on and the course director the kernel came and say thing he just sat with us and at the end he just looked at us and goes you know cadets you'll be training for war that kernel came in and basically re glued the whole room knowing that our careers had just changed and a little did I know and the big thing that was my birthday I was born September 11th 1979 so you're doing your years really your first year you can go on selling we were we all had plans and we were going out matter of fact I'd just been on I 95 the night before picking up a class classmates girlfriend from the airport she was coming to visit and I was just

4:06was staring at the towers I was stuck in traffic staring at the towers the night before but after the towers the Pentagon and that Pennsylvania field my career in life my testimony changed was when I I mean I had known of you before for people who don't know my brother was one of your best friends at West Point and but that night he said it's my friends birthday and we can't go out anymore and for people who don't know West Point is close to the city so you could see the smoke you could smoke him right up the Hudson River and it it covered West Point in the soot in the ash and so they were gonna actually alert us and send us down there to work ground zero but they ended up sending the National Garden instead so it was very real for us you know the security situation used to West Point was a semi open and permissive campus military base but it we locked down for the next two years and I mean we we were locked down for like months after that we couldn't even leave but yeah it is very real

5:07for us it changed our nation but changed the military well so at that time at West Point you got to remember the the Clintons had been in Bush just got an elected president but during the Clintons time was all about like Bosnia and Europe and so is peacekeeping operation so all the examples that we had at West Point about lieutenant's going off and doing their job and between leaders were peacekeeping operations and Kosovo and Bosnia and in all of our scenarios where everything you know they made up this fake government called the Krasnovians you know it sounds like a European name so everything was peace peace peed and we weren't training for war which is a mistake like I pray for peace but we should train for war if you're gonna wear Kim Flavg uniform and that changed in our cadences that we saying at West Point what we ran our scenarios everything began training for war and I can remember company mates of mine that graduated for two years in front of us you know we finally did going to

6:07Afghanistan and I knew one that was a ranger you know that was going into what they called objective Rino to start Afghanistan I was mad because I thought we missed it you know I was the wrong generation we'd missed the war and boy it was I wrong and mistaken you know the next 16 years I was spent deploying overseas with my classmates and friends and was the rangers yeah I just is everything that got it prepared me for I believe and he had a purpose in my life you know but 9 11 my birthday always brings up memories and so mad that we all wanted to do something like we were all mad we were stuck at West Point as students we all wanted to be someone that would be on the first wave of the response so that's why I wanted to go to the ranger regiment because they were the first ones in and we watched that later and that was my goal as a kid and dream I had two posters on my wall I had West Point and an army ranger poster some the kid that lived as dream so always wanted to go the rangers but that solidified it when I

7:10was like if you want to do something about evil like right away that's the unit you go to and so and I just remember that feeling and it's probably anger and I misplaced it incorrectly at the time but just sitting there watching the TV I wanted to do something about evil and I had a surrender a lot of that to Lord later on I want to talk about that I want to talk about anger I actually read this morning I saw him 54 it says God is my helper the Lord is a sustainer of my life he will repay my adversities for their evil because of your faithfulness and I like them and David has so many prayers as a warrior of you know Lord this is your judgment so I'm talking about that in a minute how you've dealt with anger and because I think it our nation everyone was affected especially those that lost family members and friends especially those that had to see the bodies and you know being the midst of the rubble and the the first responders that were helping I mean there's just so many people that have prostitutes stress and but it changed everybody whether you know it just

8:14changed the airport or the security or it just changed us but I do want to talk about those early days as a believer I think we respond to tragedy differently right you we all respond either inward outward or upward and I think inwards terrible we get depressed if we go outward and say I'm just gonna go fix this we can't or finite but if we go upward to the Lord like David just did so how did you in those early days and you said you were thinking you're gonna miss the war were it was their panic were there some that got out of out of West Point where there's some that were afraid how did you watch people deal with this tragedy as I look back and how I felt that day and later I think what I'm I'm a church more into and my prayers or I was like Lord how we deal with evil is up to you I pray that I am your vessel in that your instrument and however you see fit I am not the judge I am not the jury and I'm not the executioner I am just an instrument that I believe against evil and I saw a lot

9:15of evil the stuff that we saw and that my men and Rangers were part of it's some of that's hard to surrender and to put away but I think back on 9-11 that day not so much you know what the military is about to go through but I think of the first responders I think often think about that first person that pulled up to that Pennsylvania field and what they were going through and that first this first responders as firemen those police officers what they still think about the smells I think of you know those firemen that were running the stairs in New York City and not knowing what they were going up to but when the first tower fell I think the rest knew what was going probably having with the second tower but those men their men chose to stay the get people out and so I think of those firefighters and those police officers that knew they were going to die I think about the Pentagon you know your uncle was there that was

10:17his office that was hit and he just happened to be across the street out of the Pentagon the day but he had he lost people that work for him and were severely injured and burned but I think of those first people that walked into that and we're covering and taking people and I've heard stories from people that were dragging people out of the Pentagon and so yeah I was angry and hurt that day but I still pray for those people and for those memories some of them are good that they never go away maybe it's a reminder but we have a whole generation of kids today that have no idea what 9-11 is and what it means I haven't forgotten and I choose not to forget I remember I remember watching live on TV the bodies coming down from the tower people jumping to get away from the heat and the smoke I haven't forgotten that means I don't miss place that just get angry and burn towards the terrace that did that that day that's where I'll talk what you surrender to the Lord and you look at those memories and it's good not to forget and it means you pray for those families

11:20that lost there's so many families that still have lost loved ones their immediate family members during that day and because of everything that happened after it how many arrangers and military service members that I've lost and friends I think of those family members all the time so at 9-11 yeah that's my birthday but it's a prayer day so I was gonna ask you how we can remember and I think for you in the military you know so many men and women join the military because of 9-11 they weren't going through West Point they weren't intending to do that they were in school or they were had a profession and you met so many people I had enlisted Rangers that were working their Ivy League train they were working on Wall Street you know I'm a Southern boy and so I'd take I'm very thankful I grew up in Boonworth Carolina it's easy for me to make front of New York but I'd say what New York showed up New York City showed up near 9-11 New Yorkers will come together the the world came together during that time and this is where how to

12:22vided we are as a country right now I remember when George W. Bush walked out there on the baseball field at Yankee Stadium in body armor that was under because the Seagrard Service didn't want to do it and he threw out a pitch and he threw a heater I mean right down the middle I couldn't have done that in my prime I remember thinking how proud I was to be an American and thankful to be an American I know I I mean it was such a tragedy but you're right I can I can remember clearly American flags were everywhere I mean our nation was so unified Joseph and I know we've talked about this a lot he's one of our favorites but when he tells his brothers what man meant for evil God will use for his purposes and I want to bring up something to you and this touches on what you were just saying but I've told you this before too you know what he named his sons was important and one he named him Ephraim that meant fruitful inflection and then one he named Manasseh that said the

13:24Lord let me forget and what you were just saying we don't want to forget and we never forget but we don't want to be bitter and I think that's what he meant by that name the guy that allowed me to not be bitter because he never forgot he longed for his family he never got to go back to Israel even when he was reunited with this family he was he his bones had to be carried and buried you know he always lived in exile in Egypt but he made it fruitful and so I want to talk about that we all have our personal 9-11s our personal tragedies they're coming where people listening have lost once somebody have cancer I mean we are all dealing with crises on a daily basis but how and even seeing the evil that you've seen in the military and how like Joseph I think you're a lot like him in that the Lord has allowed you to forget the bad like in bitterness wise you haven't forgotten it changes the way you live but it makes you fruitful so how would you encourage people because I do I think of all the family members and all the people that there are some that are still angry and you have some military that are still angry for the for the evil that's been done how do you surrender that to God well I knew it was going to be part of things that were bigger than me and

14:26that if I let it shape or dictate it would it would break me and it would make me a better person it's very easy to become better if you focus on the evil I tried to focus on the light and the truth and part of my reason even getting out of the army I was not running away from that you and I loved the military and we wanted to stay so I wasn't running I was reluctant to go in a way I mean it I knew it was a calling to come to Samarins purse but for me I think of Bob Pierce and I've told this story a lot and I tell it all the time to new hires that come to Samarins purse but Bob Pierce has several tenants on how the ministry is built off for those are listening Bob Pierce if you didn't know was our founder and Samarins purse one of his tenants that he built it off was let your heart be pierced and broken by the things that break the heart of Jesus Christ there's a certain tenderness to be able to respond it said that in the story of the good Samaritan why Bob named it Samaritan's purse was based off the story of the good Samaritan but he said first in scripture says he was moved with

15:30compassion and the book of look that he felt compassion so this was someone that the Jews despised the Samaritan had no reason to go to the Jews they don't like each other Samaritan despised the Jews and vice versa but he saw a man that was broken and beaten and dying and he had compassion and so now I think of the story you know I fought in Mosul most of my experience was Afghanistan but during the clearance of ISIS in Mosul later on in my career Samarins purse put a hospital there now outside in my office there's a picture of a nurse that's caring for a little baby that has shrapnel burns down her back now I have shrapnel in my body to this day and for those that don't know what shrapnel is those are chunks of metal usually from a grenade or an ID explosion or mortar shell and those metal fragments go into your skin but that shrapnel when it goes into your body it just sit there and slowly cools it cooks and sizzles in your skin and it's excruciating it hurts worst pain

16:33I've ever had and you're waiting for it to go away well now I think of this little girl that has shrapnel burns down her back and that nurse is holding that baby you and I would fight the hold that baby into kiss it until it's loved but you would have to gently stroke the back of its head inside because of the shrapnel where you couldn't rub the baby's back but that nurse in that photo would lay that baby down on its stomach leave that tent and then there's a conax a shipping container and inside that shipping container where ISIS fighters chain to their bed and that nurse with the same care and with those same love and with the same tenderness that she gave to that child she would care for the ISIS fighters that were wounded and brought to her hospital she would dress their wounds and clean their clean their wounds can I love that child the same and that ISIS fighter the same I had to ask myself that question before I came and I watched that evil and I watched what they did to children and I had to answer yes I want that ISIS fighter to know the hope and

17:35truth of Jesus Christ so I left the military I realized death isn't permanent and I wanted to be part of something that lasted forever so when you talk about surrender a surrender to the kingdom of Jesus Christ because that lasts forever I want to be about sharing the truth and the light so instead of focusing on the darkness I focus on the light and the truth of Jesus Christ says in John 1717 I repeat it's one of my favorite verses the award is the truth sanctifying with the truth so I focus on the truth I go around sharing the word of Jesus Christ that's the point of Samarins purse it's not good work it's not charity it's to share the gospel so those that are listening to my friends that are still struggling it's the darkness it's the hate it's the evil that you're focusing on focus on the truth so you have to get into the word you have to pray for it you have to ask for surrender you have to ask to give it up but then where do your eyes go to and where's your heart focused on and if it's on the word and on the truth I think that helps you when you surrender I read

18:38Jonah this morning and as you were talking I just I thought of that is you know that was Jonah I mean when God asked him to go to Nineveh he ran and he ran because the Ninevehites were evil but what struck me today was and this is why I want to talk about the importance of remembrance you know he ran because he knew how loving and compassionate God was and as you were talking because he said at the end he said he was greatly displeased after he gave that you know what one of the biggest evangelical you know so many came to Christ that nation was spared and he was mad because he said he was he was displeased he became furious and he prayed to the Lord and that's why he didn't want to go because he knew God and I love this first he said I know you are compassionate slow to anger and forgiving and what you were just saying God is compassionate God he's gracious and he's slow to anger and if anyone will turn and I know that the thief on the cross is one of your favorites if you will turn from your ways and confess your sin he is faithful and just and Jonah knew that and he

19:41didn't want to tell these people because he didn't think they were worthy and we are not called to judge we're called to share the gospel when I left the army I didn't skip a beat it doesn't need me didn't need me there's so many great people there but God used that to shape me and mold my heart to be honest I think I am more tender now some people may think that may hurt or make you cold or callous now it didn't especially for the children when I watch operation Christmas child man I love that to watch kids excited and joy for once and jumping up and down with their new toy but the most important when you watch kids give their life to Christ and then there's a church planted in a community where there was no church oh man there's nothing better like that's just how do you not get excited about that I get to see the building of a church and there's hope where there was no hope before and so after a look after the falling of those towers and the burning of that field and the crumbling of the side of the

20:44Pentagon there's hope and I see hope it's just my prayer is that the world would come to know where hope comes from and it always says always be prepared to give a reason for the hope inside you on 9-11 we're we need to remember what happened to our nation but but then as believers we need to remember what Jesus did in our life and coming back to Jonah after a ranny fled he was in the belly of the fish and it said Jonah prayed to the Lord from the belly I called to the Lord in my distress and he answered me and other versions of version I read this morning it says I remember but this one says I cry out but I remember and you heard my voice so I think there's an importance in remembering what God's done he remembered what God had done in his life he remembered the call that God gave him and he was running from it so maybe what would you say to people I just want to encourage people remember what happened to our nation but believers remember what God's done in your life and you have a hope to offer people as you read the scriptures it's all about hope and

21:47there's about hope and it was hope and death the destruction of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be risen up and he's alive and he's in heaven and so those towers as playing they're not coming back America one day will burn my hope is not in America it's not in politics it's a no political leader my hope is in Jesus Christ because every word of it's true and so my hope after 9-11 is that it wakes a sleeping giant in the church church wake up read the word get in a Bible believing church as we close I just I've rewatched your grandfather's you know what he gave at the cathedral and I think what he said that could be given today because he spoke so much scripture and God's word doesn't change the grass withers and the flowers played but the word the Lord stands forever I I remember watching at West Point and of course all my friends are glued to the screen and we're watching it and everyone's looking at me but I had a lot of friends that weren't believers and I think it was a way it was a very healing moment

22:48for this country as silly as a baseball pitch from the president reassured the country because he threw that strike we looked like we had strengths and so I look back but my grandfather he shared the word of God and he didn't have to be the voice and opinion of a man if you're gonna give people your opinions it's gonna leave empty and shallow it will crumble we're built on the rock the rock of Jesus Christ that is where our foundation is and that's what my grandfather thinking his message where is America's foundation what was the constitution built on it was built on the rock and my grandfather I think just reassured America where a hope comes from and it wasn't his opinions what the words I know I love it so I encourage people to listen to that and I just want to close reading Psalm 46 God is our refuge in our strength the helper who is always found in times of trouble therefore we will not be afraid though the earth trembles and the mountains topples and the depths of the sea though the waters were on foam the mountains quake with this turmoil and I just love in the end of

23:53that chapter it says the Lord of Armies is with us the God of Jacob is our stronghold and I think people look at you all the time and they'll tell me he's so strong he's so this he's so that and I know I mean yes you are but it's because of the Lord it's because he's your stronghold and I think that's why you have been able to carry a lot of the heaviness and things that you've seen and so I want to just encourage everybody if you're carrying heavy loads God is our refuge lay it off I'm so grateful for Edward sacrifice and for the sacrifices that our military service members and first responders make every single day but today on 9-11 I encourage you to thank one today if you're hurting right now if you've lost someone I hope that you know that God loves you he loves you so much that he sent his one and only son Jesus Christ to the earth knowing that he was going to die a death that we deserved and Jesus wants to have a relationship with you you can spend eternity with him and this is my

24:54hope and prayer that if you're listening right now and you don't know Jesus I pray that you would turn to him it doesn't matter what you've done we are never too far from the grace of God Jesus was a man of sorrows acquainted with our grief he understands love that we have a high priest that walk this earth and understands if there's someone that comes to your mind right now that needs to hear this truth I encourage you to call them reach out or next time you see them share the gospel Romans 116 says for I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes first to the Jew then to the Gentile everyone needs to hear the gospel and like Edward mentioned we all need to be ready to share the hope that it was within us we take just a minute to follow this podcast every week there's a new story a new opportunity to join in prayer for all that God is doing around the world so follow

25:56us so that you don't miss an episode of On the Ground thank you so much for listening this week God bless you