Hail to the Chief

It has been an exciting week in our nation. Our country is living new history
in electing Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. For those who voted for him and those who did not, he is the President… period. For the Democrats and the Republicans, he is the President… period. For the Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, etc… even the Atheist, he is the President… period.
Scripture tells us how we are to respond to our new President. Romans 13:1-7 makes this bold statement, “Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you're trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear. Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and He uses them to do it. That's why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live. That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, and respect your leaders.”
The apostle Paul wrote this to the Roman church in an era when the Emperor Nero was on the throne. Nero was a horror of an authority. He was the one who blamed the Christians for everything that went wrong and began a brutal era of killing Christians for sport and pleasure. Could the people respect him? Maybe not much, but Paul advises Christians to live in their society within the bounds of rule, order, and government. Today we can hear these words again afresh. I prayed for President Obama on election- day for his safety. I pray that his policies will be benevolent and for the best possibilities for his Presidency. I pray that our country will come together in reaching agreements that will be sound in judgment and prudent for future generations. Our economy is a wreck and there are those who need to be brought to justice for some of the crimes committed.
Ultimately though, there is free will. Free will allowed Nero to behave like a mad man. Free will enabled someone like Adolf Hitler to terrorize the world. But, free will brought Emperor Constantine to proclaim Christianity the religion of much of the known world. Free will enabled so many great leaders to choose to be the difference maker in helping the citizens each represented. You and I will continue to pay our taxes, obey the laws, and be respectful of our elected and appointed officials. But at the same time, I encourage you to be in prayer for President Obama, our legislators, and our judicial officials. May they use their will and authority to bring this country into line with what God wants for His people. Until next time, Blessings!

Don’t Waste Your Time

Happy New Year! So, what do you have in store for the New Year?
Are you hoping that it will be a better year than last? Usually, when I hear people speak about the New Year, they speak with a tone of hope. They hope that life will be better. They hope that their investments will recover from last year's losses and grow again. They hope that they will enjoy good health. They hope they will be happier. But mostly they are worried that things could only get worse.
Today, I want to be sure that I tell you the most important thing I can for your future in the New Year. 2009 will be another group of days, made up of 365 individual days, 52 weeks, and 8760 hour. Time is the one commodity that we can neither save nor trade. Time is a possession that slips though our lives with each passing second and disappears as quickly as the next second takes its place. It is not to be harvested nor accumulated… it is only to be used. While many of those hours will be consumed with work and sleep what about the rest of the time? Will you spend your time doing something of relevance?
Hebrews 13:13-16 tells us about time and how it is to be used. “… let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name. Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.”
The lesson for us is that our time on this earth is short compared to eternity. We are simply asked to proclaim a God who loves us dearly to everyone we come across. That is how we offer a sacrifice to God though our actions. It isn’t about being good, but proclaiming that God loves us and forgives us in spite of ourselves.
I am reminded of the funeral I attended many years ago. I knew the deceased person and his family pretty well. When the preacher started talking about the life of the dead man, I actually wanted to stand up, ask the preacher to stop, and open the casket… because I was sure that either they had the wrong man in the box or I had wandered into the wrong funeral. The man the preacher was describing was not the man I, nor anyone else remembered with the exception of a few loved ones.
In the movie the Wizard of Oz, when the Wizard gives the Tin Man his heart, the Wizard imparts this bit of truth, “...that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” These are wise words for such a bumbling Wizard. Many people have loved… their money, their stuff, even their own selves. But for others to love you, you first must demonstrate love to them. Giving time, with a smile, can be worship. At first, it might seem difficult or “sacrificial”, but our time can be a gift to God no matter where we are or where we go. This year, make a difference for God and you will have no worries of ever having a bad year, just another good one!