Drive By Post

Question: What can the body of Christ learn from those who seek to be gods?

Check out this news release about the Mormons in California.

The Influence of Scripture

As mentioned in a previous post, I have begun memorizing Scripture. This was an activity, a spiritual discipline, that I knew was lacking in my life and sorely needed. I had purchased the Fighter Verses pack from Desiring God Ministries and started them once before but stalled out when The Queen didn't participate as planned. Nevertheless, as the spiritual leader of my home, I started them back up, roughly at the same time as the bi-monthly men's group, which also encouraged us to memorize passages.

Happily, I can say that the memorization is going well and that I am truly seeing changes in the way I am thinking (Romans 12:2) and even in the way I pray. I'm simply writing this to encourage all to do some type of memorization program. A verse, a passage, a book, whatever it takes, HIDE GOD'S WORD IN YOUR HEART.

You'll be glad you did, when our Bible's are ripped out of our hands.

Ok, that last was a little dramatic. . .

Time To Live a Little

Today was a tough day for many Americans, or at least it was around here. The day after this historic election found me very somber. I would not go so far as to say depressed, but downcast, for sure. A kind of short-tempered feeling, with a dash of irritation, and a boatload of exasperation. I walked by faculty who I know supported the man who today is our President, and did not move out of the cordial greeting phase with them at all. I heard things that tempted my blood to boil. And I knew the day would get harder.

For those who do not know I am a pastor and a junior high History and Civics teacher, and between talking to a few teachers and fielding questions from students (which I did all day), I am exhausted. I had to do my very best to live Romans 13:1-7 and Titus 3:1. It was difficult. However, I was encouraged by a few things I read at The Founders Blog, and some other sites I frequent. I began to remember that I am commanded to pray for my leaders, to honor them, and to keep in mind that God is in control as the One who orders all things to the pleasure of His good will.

However, I did not come straight home after work. During my planning period I decided to do something that I pray will bear fruit and glorify my Savior.

I made a few appointments.

At 3:30 today I met with the mayor of the little town I live in. We spoke a little about the new town council. She related that they always prayed before conducting any town business. She shared some of her concerns: the homeless, veterans, the hungry and poor. I really do not think there is a truly homeless person in the little town limits. But she told me about a group living under a bridge in a bigger city, not 30 miles from here. She spoke about a woman's self-defense program that she found out about from some volunteers at the annual Founders Day who were not even living within the town limits. And about how she wrote some letters of appreciation to the persons responsible for the program. These letters really encouraged a few people. (Maybe enough to continue the program..) I then confessed to her that I did not pray for my elected officials as I should. I read her the opening verses of Romans 13. With her permission, I prayed with her and for her, then I left.with an invitation to open a future Founders Day in prayer.

I am not going to pretend that I am not cringing when I hear about all the things that naturally follow an election, But I do believe that this is a really good chance to live the love that I preach about, to give the respect that I should offer to those who God says deserves it, to not render myself unapproachable to those who voted differently than I did , and to trust the sovereignty of God.

I plan to try to pray with (and for) as many of my elected officials as I can. I do not pretend to be reconciled to all of what has happened in my country. I just do not want to miss such an opportunity to obey God, and maybe to even grow a little spiritually (Lord willing). Please join me in praying for our country and its elected officials.