Election 2008

It's hard to believe that in is just a little more than two weeks
we will be electing the next President of the United States. Not only that but if I remember correctly the entire Congress, that's House and Senate, are up for election this year. Needless to say this is an important election. I like you am concerned over the economy, my parents lived through the Great Depression, and I don't want to go there. I am concerned about our troops and our national security. Like you, I am also concerned about the environment, and how we have failed to really be good stewards of what God has blessed us with. But who do you vote for? That is the question! To be perfectly honest there are things about each candidate that I like. But then there are also things about each candidate that I don't like. So again I ask, "Who do you vote for?"

Well this is not an endorsement for either side. It is a plea for each of us to take time to really pray and seek God in this situation. Ask him who it is that we should put into office. I don't mean a sentence here or there in a prayer, but intense, heartfelt seeking after the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the voting booth. This is an important election, I know you hear it each election year, but I do believe that this election will shape our country for years, if not decades into the future. So I ask you to pray and not to vote because you have always voted for one party or the other. Don't vote for the best speaker, or the war hero, or the tax break guy, or the taxer, vote for the person that God leads you to vote for. That is all I ask, and I think that is what God is asking of us as well.

100 Years

This past Sunday the Church of the Nazarene celebrated the 100th Anniversary of its founding. While I know there are many who oppose denominations and separation, I was excited to participate. I do believe that there are things about denominations that have been detrimental, but that is not what I want to discuss here. I want to express here why I am a Nazarene and why I am excited that the Church of the Nazarene exists.

The thing that makes the Nazarene's different from most other churches is their teaching of holiness and sanctification. I grew up in a different theological tradition and I always struggled with the idea of holiness and sin. On the one hand I was taught that I should be holy because God was holy. Then on the other hand I was taught that I would sin everyday. I was taught that I was covered by the blood, and so when God saw me he saw the blood, not my sin. The idea of being changed and a new person, was taught but if I sinned how could I be considered a new person. All of these questions battled within me. Now the Nazarene's teach that you can be a new creation in Christ and that you don't have to live with sin in your life. The Holy Spirit can give you the power to overcome sin and not have to sin.

When I found the Church of the Nazarene, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. All of my questions were answered, and it all made sense. I am excited that the Church of the Nazarene exist and I pray that God will continue to bless it and help it grow to give this hope to others.