Language

I read an article last night that truly sparked a thought process that has not ceased in my mind. The author said: "We must translate God's revelation into the language of the world for the Great Commission to be fulfilled. We cannot rely on just scripture when arguing over the Apologetics, but a truth that everyone can grasp." When they understand the importance of what we live daily, can they truly grasp this mindset with all of the noise the world presents? I think that for someone to truly lock into this idea of Jesus they must experience Him on their own level. That isn't saying that we must stop trying to introduce those to Him. I think getting people connected to the church and the ministries that encapsulate this vision is vital. How can they experience if they are never exposed? I think our call is to inform those around us of the experience that awaits them if they decide to connect to this life changing reality!

Fear

We aren't left alone in this world. We are chosen to act and accomplish what is needed to fulfill our "own identity" and the identity of Jesus. I stare off into the distance this morning and only ask that we will return to the mindset and actions of a time that has passed. I ask that we will start a new movement in this town, nation, and church. I pray that God will start to work in ways that have been unknown before. I pray that we will see such a renewal of the power that Jesus holds in His church body and world. I cast down pettiness and ignorance at this vital time. May we lift up our new leader and our new nation in prayer daily. We have made history this month. May we continue down this path of renewal and strength and with Jesus leading us grasp onto this concept of "true" change.

Inspire me.

I am feeling inspirational tonight. What I want to do is is give you some inspiration from people who have shaped and changed this nation from its beginning to present day. I will give you the exact words out of their mouth that helped usher in a definitive change and destiny for our nation as we know it.

"There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite."-Herndon's Life of Lincoln by William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik (New York, Da Capo Press, 1983)

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

“There is no shortage of good days. It is good lives that are hard to come by.”- Annie Dillard quote

"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."-President Barack Obama

"That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."-President Barack Obama

I leave you with these quotes of hope, change and a renewed vision of what America can be and will be.

Do something about it

Here is something I have been emailing, talking and nearly preaching about since 10pm Tuesday, November 4th. It has come in the form of mass emails, conversations, and even arguments asking people to join the movement of praying for our soon to be President. I have been expressing my passion about the change we need and how to usher it in with prayer and now the next President of the United States of America has created a direct connection to express your vision, passion, and thoughts on how he should lead our country and how we can unite together during a season where the last thing we need is to tear each other apart because one voted blue and another voted red. The time has come to get over it, grab the hand next to you no matter what race, belief, denomination, or other "dividing" factors and stand together, think together and work together towards a common goal of helping our Nation get through these troubled days and navigate that long road to the change we really need.

A Legend

No one can deny that we are living history. I know it is a main factor in my re-visitation of the literary work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Not only his story but what he spoke and the way in which his poetically transcribed words is so touching and changing. Just minimal self taught knowledge of this great man is so inspiring and motivational. So I leave you with this short message of his hope, change and dreams with a quote by Dr. King: Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Dec. 11, 1964.

"Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart."- Martin Luther King Jr.

Back in the Day

Forgotten are the days that have been gone so long. I have to grasp the now with a life full of purpose and virtue. I remember those days lost and without direction. Just wandering without a real goal in sight or a real purpose to strive for. I am with thoughts that drive me towards a real purpose and prize. I love where I reside and what I do. I can only seek what is before me and what resides beyond my own two eyes. I can only move through this life in clips and phases and ask only for a pass to proceed in what I know as the real truth. I pray today that I will truly be able to seek tomorrow with a fuller heart. Ready for what is in store for me and the life of my family.

Wanted

I have to say there has been a lot conversation lately over what we need as a country during these troubled times. I have been listening, reading and watching arguments from different sides on this issue. Is this what we want or need right now as a country? Our we positive that our new President can take over and fix this mess we are in? Is his inspiration in actions and words what we need or just what we want. The first answer is prayer, we must take the lead to lift up our country and new leader daily. I also have to say that the argument over what we want or need might be a foggy one. Just think: maybe what we want as a country will end up being the thing that we need to inspire us to change within ourselves and act now to help transform this nation. No matter what your beliefs or choices are at this time, please sit back and take a second to think over what is in your life that you may want, and how to transform that into what you need to change your situation, mind, family or community around you. A sort of call to action to get involved in ways you may have never before and become passionate about the issues that affect you and the place you call home: America. Because the thing we want just may end up being the launching pad to grasping what we need in making real change.

Unity

We have moved past the months of the Presidential campaign and into a new mindset as a nation and world. A lot of us did not vote for President-Elect Obama but are still so happy that we are living to see an African American in the White House. That being said, this is a time to unite as a nation and as a unified body of believing people to pray for our new President. He will need guidance and clarity as he steps into this mess we are in an have created. The decisions he will need to make are vital and needed, from the economy, foreign policy, and main street to health care, life-issues, and the womb to tomb mindset. These are only a few things he will face, which is even more a reason we have to pray for him, his administration, decisions and shifting mindsets to what we need as a country and a world. I heard a tidbit of pure gold just a day after this historic election ended. Pastor Zane spoke about the election to our small group of support staff on Thursday morning and offered great insight on where we go from here and not to keep looking back, also speaking of those that may not have cast there vote for Obama: "If we are not careful, we will hope for Obama's failure to validate our own opinions and in turn flush our nation down the toilet". This was profound to me and easy to fall susceptible to. What we need now is unity and strength, may we all find this together and continue to intercede for American and our new President.

The 5th of November 2008

November 4th was a day and moment that will be etched in the history books and documentaries for years to come. This will be a time that we will recall and replay in our mind and our heart. Our children that are old enough to understand what has happened will remember this historic event. Those that are too young to realize the substantial wall that has been broken down will hear it from their parents and family when their minds have matured enough to grasp it. November 4th was a launching pad for a nation and an example to a world. No matter where your vote ended up, you understand the significance of this time. I awoke this morning in a foggy haze wondering if this moment was really upon us, if we actually did what I experienced the evening before. Was it all a dream? Even though I watched the speech two times and was glued to the television for hours as it unfolded, it still seems surreal. There has been a lot of mixed emotions, anger, joy, love, confusion, racism, and change. This only proves that we aren't where we need to be yet as a people. I cannot stress the sheer magnificence of what has been accomplished though. It is easy to think: we have just elected an African American President. My, how far we have come. Yet in just listening to the words of those in the spotlight, at the workplace and all around us with the hints of sarcasm, prejudice, and even racism that still reside in people's heart is so sad to me. I went through an entire work day without one person commenting on the fact that we have just elected this man and made history. We are living history this very second. November 4th was a monumental day in our Nation and November 5th a historic one. I have laid out a prayer for our President Elect that his heart and hands will be guided with integrity, character, clarity and strength. I am brought almost to tears when I think of what America did yesterday, the wall we broke down and the dreams of so many finally came true. The words resounded in my head all night and day: if you are an American you can do anything. Even though this spirit of racism is apparent in the belly of our nation at times, we as a unified whole decided on what change we wanted and believe is needed in our country at this time. This is time for unity, a time where we can come together and seek the change we desire, as a country together. This message of hope is so rooted in our country, dating back to the beginning of it all. I pray now that tomorrow and the day after and after that will only strengthen us as a nation. That the differences in an electoral vote will soon fade and the reality of the world we live in will become so apparent to us all, more than it has ever before. I was going to try and sum up what is important to me for this new President to fight for and give attention to but this article is a call to action and addresses every area I would speak of and pray for. Please read it and pray for what you feel directed to do.

History in the Making

This will be one of the most historic elections of our time. There is not a person who can deny that fact. We have seen and heard a lot of things the last few months and years, some have been true and a lot have been false. I only ask as we enter the final 24 that you will extend your prayers to the candidates, with your whole heart. To bless them in the path they have taken, and to guide them in the future they seek. I can only stress the dire needs that our future President must face and will experience. This is a time like no other, and it deserves a person like none before. May the hands of America be guided to the box that is needed to move us from fear to hope. Hope that we as a nation can come together once more to see through these challenging times and to unite us as we are divided. We must push petty differences aside as we grow and learn to work on a familiar field together. There are powers that wish evil upon us as a nation and we must not let them succeed. America is different and amazing in so many ways, let us not stray from what is vital and needed as a country. I pray that God will bless us tomorrow with a person that is fit to lead our country and world today. May you find peace and clarity where you reside tonight and find a decision where you Vote tomorrow.