Will You PRAY?

In 23 days, we will go to the polls and cast our votes for the next President of the United States of America. So much is on the line in this historic election. I know any potential readers of my blog suffer from the same information overload that I do. You are swamped with “stuff” to read. So, knowing that, may I simply make one request of you? Pray! Regardless of what polls and journalists say, will you pray for the United States of America? There are two completely different views of America represented in the two candidates and different views on issues that matter to Christians. None is more different than their views of the life of the unborn. Senator Obama’s view “…he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.” (His Official Website) And Senator McCain’s view? John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. (His Official Website)

Christian- we need to pray! Will you?

Challenging Days

We live in challenging days- economic turmoil at home and war abroad dominates the headlines. This morning I had a conversation in which the Battle of Gettysburg came up. I recalled having had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg a few years ago. It is a moving experience to walk around that historic sight and to recount that great battle. On the night before the battle, President Abraham Lincoln is said to have dropped to his knees and prayed. In fact, Lincoln said that he was often driven to his knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go.
Nowhere else to go…That is where we are as a nation today. We have nowhere else to go but to God. I think of that painting of George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first president of the United States kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge. It was a defining moment and a turning point in the American Revolution. It was a time of overcoming great adversity. Our challenges, while great, do not compare to what those brave men faced. The question is will we rely upon Almighty God as they did? I fear for our nation if we do not. In a few weeks, we will elect a new president. In the days leading up to this election we need to pray. We need to be touched with the conviction of Abraham Lincoln that we have nowhere else to go. We need to implore our God for our nation that President Ronald Reagan called A Shining City Upon a Hill. Would you join me in that? Will you pray in the coming days leading up to the election that God would have mercy on America? Remember, we have nowhere else to go.

Would You Please Pass the Salt?

As Christians we are called to be salt and light according to Matthew 5:13-16. Salt was rubbed into meat to prevent decay. However, the salt had to be pure to accomplish its task. As Christians, we must remain pure in our walk with Christ and we too are to have a penetrating effect on society as salt had on meat. Our mission is the Great Commission but the example of Christians from the past reveal to us that our mission does not stop when someone prays to receive Christ or when they start to grow as Christians. Our mission involves penetrating the culture as salt penetrates meat. This is particularly needful in America as we see a rapid acceleration in the decline of morals and values. In fact, we see this in virtually every element of society. We need to be involved in the saving of men and in the saving of our culture. What in particular do you find most troubling in our land today? What is it that when you think about it, it really troubles you? What is that thing that you see that just causes you to say that “something should be done”? What comes to your mind that is diametrically opposed to what you know of God and His truth? Is it abortion, human trafficking, AIDS, poverty, hunger, education, pornography? For you there is no doubt something that every time you hear of “it” your interest is peaked and you pay a little closer attention. You have thought for a long time that you should get involved in some way but each time you manage to put personal involvement out of your mind.
As inspiration to get involved- to be salt-consider William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was a young politician that won a seat in Parliament in 1780. He was for a long time concerned about the slave trade and sought to bring it to an end. He introduced his first slave trade bill in 1787 and would spend most of his political career in the battle to end that which brought so much human misery and death. He faced an uphill battle because slave trade was profitable business. The people of his day were interested in greed and cared nothing about the loss of life and the untold sufferings their pursuit of wealth brought. It was just how life was. But Wilberforce would not be dissuaded. He introduced and argued bill after bill in the House of Commons but each was met with stiff resentment. His Christian commitment would not allow him to give up. Finally, in 1807, the slave trade ended.
Get involved. Quit saying that “something needs to be done”. Do something. Get involved in politics. Run for office. Write letters to your Congressman. Support a child that has AIDS. Just think about what concerns you and take some steps to become salt.