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.

Secular -vs- Sacred

As a Christian I have compartmentalized my life sometimes into two different parts. The sacred and the secular. But is that really what life is supposed to be. Isn't our whole life supposed to be sacred. Or dedicated to the sacred. Well as some of you know I recently began working at a national pharmacy chain since losing my ministry position. Some of the things we sell I don't use and I am concerned about those who do. We sell cigarettes, beer, wine and liquor. Some of the people show the signs of abuse and you wonder what are the needing in their lives? Well, I am not able to witness to them, but I do pray for them. I learned the practice of breath prayers during my studies and I practice that each time I sell some of these things. A breath prayer is a brief prayer that can be said basically in the time it takes to take a breath. I simple pray that God will show his love to this person and help them with whatever is affecting them in life. At times I even continue to pray after they leave, because I sensed a deep need in their life. No, I am not some super spiritual guy, but I have discovered a way to minister in my current situation. I do pray that God will show his grace to those who are suffering from some pain or hurt. Those who live without the hope of Christ. I hope that this experience is teaching me that my whole life is sacred and I need to know that my whole life should be one of ministry.

It's a Matter of Timing

How many times have we all heard that it is "a matter of timing?" The problem becomes who's timing? As a Christian I have been taught and I believe that God's time is not our own. The best example I can come up with is of a little child. For those who have kids you will understand. When Junior wants to do something we tell him that he will need to wait a minute, even if we are true to the 60 second minute, for him it seems like an hour has passed. Our children do not have a good perspective of time. For them an hour seems like an eternity, and sometimes it is the same for us.
As I said before I fully believe that God will act in his time and in the best manner possible, but sometimes in my human body (captured in time and space) it is difficult to wait. I pray daily that God will give me the patience I need to see his hand at work in my life and I pray that he will prevent me from trying to take control of my situation and make things happen. I want him to do his will in and through my life. Please join with me in that prayer. If we could all just submit to the Christ as the head and allow him to function through us, what amazing things we might accomplish for the kingdom.