Do We Really Want God to Help Us and Bless America?

It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8

No one in his or her right mind would argue that America is in desperate times. With all the disturbing problems facing America today, we have the option to turn to one of two places to find answers. We can take refuge in the LORD, or we can put our trust in man.

President Obama boldly declared that he could bring the change to correct all of our nation’s difficulties. Now that he is in office, it is obvious that a majority of Americans have bought into this audacious proclamation.

When we put our trust in a person to ultimately find solutions for our nation, the only option is to increase the size of our government. This leads to more programs, higher taxes, tons of activity, but no guarantee of real change. Our nation’s problems are bigger than a man's ability to solve them. Frankly, when we try to fix things without God, we create more chaos.

When we take refuge in the LORD, external government shrinks because God internally rules the hearts of people. As we turn to God, His peace, purpose and prosperity manifests in our lives. As more citizens possess these qualities, the opportunity to experience change in our nation increases drastically.

Maybe you subscribe to an atheist worldview and don’t believe in God. If so, then your only option is to deify a person in hopes that he or she will possess messianic qualities and save the planet. It seems many in our nation are doing this to our current president. History has proven that when we put false expectations on a person to perform like a god, that person always let us down.

Fortunately, the vast majority of Americans believe that there is a God. In fact, President Obama concluded his oath by saying, “So help me God!” While repeating his oath, President Obama raised his right hand and placed his left hand on the Bible. He even concludes most of his speeches by saying, “God bless America”! We are wired intrinsically to appeal to Providence for protection and guidance.

Is it right to ask God for help and take an oath while placing a hand on His word, the Holy Bible, without making a sincere commitment to adhere to it’s teachings? I think it is very disingenuous.

Do we really want God to help us and bless America? If so, we better obey His teachings found in the book our President places his left hand on while repeating his oath.

Stay tuned for part 2 and let me know what you think!

A New Day of Leadership!

My heart was filled with joy and anticipation as I watched the inauguration of the first African-American President in United States history. Even though I did not vote for Barack Obama, I think his election is an event to celebrate.

Why? It is a great day because we have come so far as a nation in regards to breaking through our prejudices to forbid people, based upon the color of their skin, from rising to places of influence. I am so thankful to have witnessed this event with my own two eyes.

African-Americans have incredible potential to be great future leaders in America. There are two key components that can be major factors in their success as leaders. They are suffering and faith.

1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

It is interesting to note that the people who founded this nation had to endure suffering and possess faith. The suffering they experienced under a tyrannical form of government produced the resilience it took to start a new nation. It was their faith that assisted them when it seemed all odds were stacked against them.

Once they gained their liberty, and with it power, they faced the challenges of their success. Unfortunately, many of them used their freedom and leadership influence to put African-Americans in slavery. Positions of power always tempt the people who occupy them to use others for their own selfish gain.

It seems that the people of antiquity in our nation forgot their own suffering under harsh leadership. Also, it is obvious that they chose to ignore the teaching of the Bible while enslaving African-Americans. The very faith they relied on to fight for their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was put on the shelf for personal profit.

The challenge African-Americans will face in their new places of leadership will be the same challenge every group of people have faced since the beginning of time. It is the difficulty of remembering the keys to right leadership. If they never forget their suffering, and never lose their faith, they can leave a legacy of servant leadership to be admired and followed by future generations.

Let it be so...Lord!!!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs!

A prophetic declaration. A virgin pregnant with a baby. Angelic visitations. A bright shining star in the sky. Magi delivering gifts. A threatened King issuing an edict to kill the firstborn male babies.

All of these events were signs that something extraordinary was about to happen. What were the signs attempting to reveal to people?

Matthew 1:21-23 says, “21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Wow! The signs were telling people that God was coming to be with us in flesh and blood and save us from our sins. Amazing!

Do you ever miss what the signs are telling you?

Late at night, during the last two weeks, I kept hearing the sound of running water while preparing to go to bed. I walked in the bathroom and inspected the bathtub and sink faucets. They were not leaking water. Although I could still hear running water, I did no further investigation. I ignored what the sign was telling me.

Over the weekend, water began gushing out of the brick siding on the back of our house. A water pipe had busted. Since it was a pipe on the outside wall, it did not create any serious damage. Thank you Jesus.

Last Sunday, during prayer before our church service, I noticed as I was pacing back and forth that something felt slippery and sticky in my left shoe. Being a creature of habit and a very meticulous person, I am very aware of how clothes and shoes should fit on my body. I remember thinking something doesn’t feel right in my shoe, but I chose to ignore what the sign was telling me.

When I arrived at home after church, I went through my usual routine of taking off my church clothes immediately and putting them neatly in their proper places in the closet. As I went to take off my left shoe, I noticed that my shoe was stuck to my sock. I gave it a good yank and a long string of gum followed my shoe through the air. I ruined a good pair of socks by trying to use Wrigley’s Peppermint gum as a shoe freshener. In case you have ever wondered if that trick would work well, now, you know it does not.

Unfortunately, it is human nature to ignore what the signs are telling us. Whether it’s through denial, laziness, busyness of life, selfishness or any number of other reasons, it is easy to overlook the signs.

A virgin birth, angelic visitations, Magi gifts, a King’s decree of infanticide, a star in the sky and prophetic proclamations are all signs that God is with us and He will save us from our sins. This is great news to celebrate. It also means that God has made Himself known; therefore, we are responsible to give attention to what His signs are revealing to us.

Are you ignoring His signs?

New Year's Resolutions

As I prepare for the New Year, I always like to set goals for my life. Listed below are my goals for 2009. I have intentionally tried to keep them simple because I want to better live life from the inside out, instead, of always trying to add more activities to my already overcrowded agenda.

(1) I want to know Christ Jesus better.

In Philippians 3:8 Apostle Paul wrote, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Apostle Paul didn’t rely on his past knowledge or experiences to carry him forward in his walk with the Lord. He had a burning desire to know Jesus in a new and living way. I am making this my main prayer for 2009.

(2) I want to make Christ Jesus better known through my life.

In 1 Timothy 15-16 Apostle Paul wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (16) But for this reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” As a man who also feels he was the worst of sinners, I am so thankful God was patient with me and extended to me His mercy. Now, even more, I want my life to be a reflection of his love, grace and mercy to others.

(3) I want to run a mile in under six minutes on my 40th birthday on March 5th.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord.”

In order for me to accomplish this goal, there will have to be divine intervention.

Remember, as you enter into 2009, make sure you leave the old behind and grab a hold of the new things God wants to do in your life.

What are your goals for 2009? I would love to read them!