Todd alerted me to the fact that there has been a request by the National Day of Prayer Task force for tomorrow to be a day of prayer and fasting for our nation. I know that it's a bit late posting this, but maybe a few will catch and want to participate.
Some verses that make me think:
Jeremiah 29:12 "You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Deuteronomy 4:7 "What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?"
And a verse that really has opened my heart up to fasting:
Matthew 17:20, 21 "He (Jesus) told them, “Because of your lack of faith. I tell you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. 21But this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.”
Fasting with Prayer for the November 4th Elections
Called by the National Day of Prayer Task Force
Fasting brings us to a deeper level of commitment; it intensifies our prayers.
As you know, we are entering increased intensity surrounding our November election. It is indeed a sobering time in America and our world.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force is calling for a fast with our prayers as we desperately seek God in regards to our nation in the days ahead.
We invite you, to join with us as we earnestly approach our Heavenly Father with the needs of our nation over the course of the next few weeks. We hope that pastors will also encourage their congregants and parishioners to also unite in this concerted time of prayer with fasting.
Indeed there are many churches fasting in their prayer efforts around the nation already.
This time of fasting falls in line with II Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn form their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (NKJV).
The late Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, called fasting a “spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.”
“But,” he added, “before God comes in revival power, the Holy Spirit will call millions of God’s people to repent, fast and pray in the spirit of II Chronicles 7:14.”
Henry Blackaby, excerpted from Authentic Prayer and Fasting:
“In truth our first motive in fasting and prayer must be to return to God. It must not be for what He will do in "revival," regardless of how crucial the need for revival may be.
Revival is not what happens to the "lost," but what happens to God's people when we come in brokenness and grief over sin - our sin - and are restored to that holy love relationship with God. Revival is when God's people are once again living to the praise of His glory and to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will always know, as God's people, when we have returned, because we will see fresh evidence of a fresh and powerful sensitivity to sin and to the Savior.
In this restored relationship with Him, God is once again able to work through his people to touch a lost world redemptively.”
-----
Fasting with prayer can take many forms:
· Daniel Chapter 1 Fast: vegetables, water…
· Forty Day Fast: 9/26-11/4
· Fasting one week
· Fasting one day
· Fasting one meal
· Let the Lord lead you in how to fast with prayer.
Many will be led to begin right away, maybe even today for a sustained, continued season to fast before November 4th.
But please join with us in taking no less than one day, Sunday, 11/2 as an appointment with the Lord to fast and pray. We are praying for untold numbers to join in this vital endeavor to redeem the very soul and thus future of our nation---the United States of America, one nation under God.
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked to clothe him...Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the Lord will answer..." Isaiah 58: 6-9a
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Narrow Gate
MATTHEW 7:13-14Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A black Man's Perspective
Some of you may have read this already, but in light of my post yesterday I thought I would post this. I received this email, ironically today. Huntley Brown is an African American musician. His letter is so well-written and explains also why I cannot vote for Mr.Obama (although, I would have added a few other reasons as well). I especially like how he says whomever is elected will get his prayer support.
Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown
Dear Friends,
A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent
out an e-mail with a few points. With the election just around the
corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list
have seen some of this before but its worth repeating.
First I must say who ever wins the election will have my prayer
support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need
to explain why I will not be voting for him. Many of my friends process
their identity through their blackness.
I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a
Christ follower) means he leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms he
does because he is the leader.
I can't vote black because I am black I have to vote Christian
because that's who I am. Christian first black second. Neither should
anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years
from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I
know Jesus and accepted him as Lord and savior.
In an election there are many issues to consider but when a
society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research,
human cloning to name a few wrong economic concerns will soon not
matter.
We need to follow Martin Luther King's words don't judge someone
by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I
don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record.
His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal
senator in the US Senate in 2007.
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007
(01/31/2008)
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal
senator, takes some doing.
Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what
would happen to America if he had four years to work with.
There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % ratings.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc loves
him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to
the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of
same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted no on partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted no on confirming Justices Roberts and
Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned
partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.
Let's take a look at t he practice he wanted to continue.
The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedure:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg
with forceps.
(Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for
the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The
scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted.
The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The
dead baby is then removed.
God help him.
There is a reason Obama opposed the parent notification law.
Think about this you can't give a kid an aspirin without
parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without
parental notification. This is insane.
There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20
years.
Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah
Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wrights sermons. I
wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled
him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28 v 19 -
20: 'Go and make disciples of all nations'. This means reproduce your
self. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you
believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah
Wright teach him?
Would you support a White President who went to a church which
has tenants that said they have a
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired
skills available to the White Community .
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources
for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and
embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value
System.'
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the
tenents of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a
church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al
Sharpton would have been marching outside.
This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up
after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The
church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race.
He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches
value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if
it's a white church or a black church its still wrong. Anyone from
either race that attends a church like this would never get m y vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal
theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of
Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who
is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God
is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we
had better kill him.
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe
this?
So what does all this mean for the nation?
In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of
Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing judgment.
Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king.
First God says 1 Samuel 1 v 9 Now listen to them; but warn them
solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will
do.'
Then God says
1 Samuel 1 v 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for
relief from the king
you have chosen, and the LORD will not an swer you in that day.'
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said.
'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,
with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.'
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it
before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a
king.'
Here is what we know for sure:
God is not schizophrenic
He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote
for McCain. As the scripture says a city divided against itself cannot
stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.
Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change
and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.
For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look
God in the face and say Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama
even though I know he will continue the genoci dal practice of partial
birth abortion.
He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices,
and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making
laws that are against you.
I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even
though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the
other way because of the economy.
I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions.
Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the
nation;
1 Whose value system should be placed on the nation?
2 Who should determine that this is the right value system for
the nation?
Blessings,
Huntley Brown
I went to snopes.com to make sure the email was legit. Mr.Brown added to this letter on snopes
Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown
Dear Friends,
A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent
out an e-mail with a few points. With the election just around the
corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list
have seen some of this before but its worth repeating.
First I must say who ever wins the election will have my prayer
support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need
to explain why I will not be voting for him. Many of my friends process
their identity through their blackness.
I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a
Christ follower) means he leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms he
does because he is the leader.
I can't vote black because I am black I have to vote Christian
because that's who I am. Christian first black second. Neither should
anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years
from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I
know Jesus and accepted him as Lord and savior.
In an election there are many issues to consider but when a
society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research,
human cloning to name a few wrong economic concerns will soon not
matter.
We need to follow Martin Luther King's words don't judge someone
by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I
don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record.
His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal
senator in the US Senate in 2007.
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007
(01/31/2008)
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal
senator, takes some doing.
Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what
would happen to America if he had four years to work with.
There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % ratings.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc loves
him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to
the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of
same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted no on partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted no on confirming Justices Roberts and
Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned
partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.
Let's take a look at t he practice he wanted to continue.
The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedure:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg
with forceps.
(Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for
the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The
scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted.
The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The
dead baby is then removed.
God help him.
There is a reason Obama opposed the parent notification law.
Think about this you can't give a kid an aspirin without
parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without
parental notification. This is insane.
There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20
years.
Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah
Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wrights sermons. I
wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled
him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28 v 19 -
20: 'Go and make disciples of all nations'. This means reproduce your
self. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you
believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah
Wright teach him?
Would you support a White President who went to a church which
has tenants that said they have a
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired
skills available to the White Community .
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources
for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and
embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value
System.'
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the
tenents of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a
church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al
Sharpton would have been marching outside.
This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up
after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The
church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race.
He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches
value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if
it's a white church or a black church its still wrong. Anyone from
either race that attends a church like this would never get m y vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal
theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of
Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who
is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God
is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we
had better kill him.
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe
this?
So what does all this mean for the nation?
In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of
Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing judgment.
Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king.
First God says 1 Samuel 1 v 9 Now listen to them; but warn them
solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will
do.'
Then God says
1 Samuel 1 v 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for
relief from the king
you have chosen, and the LORD will not an swer you in that day.'
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said.
'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,
with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.'
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it
before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a
king.'
Here is what we know for sure:
God is not schizophrenic
He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote
for McCain. As the scripture says a city divided against itself cannot
stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.
Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change
and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.
For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look
God in the face and say Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama
even though I know he will continue the genoci dal practice of partial
birth abortion.
He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices,
and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making
laws that are against you.
I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even
though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the
other way because of the economy.
I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions.
Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the
nation;
1 Whose value system should be placed on the nation?
2 Who should determine that this is the right value system for
the nation?
Blessings,
Huntley Brown
I went to snopes.com to make sure the email was legit. Mr.Brown added to this letter on snopes
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Too far
We received a chain email this week that, in my opinion, goes too far. Basically this email is making the claim that the real reason that people are voting for McCain is that Obama is black. That we are overlooking all his negative traits simply because he is white. It is titled "If the tables were turned" and makes some statements about McCain, but put in a way that if Obama was the one who ____. (all negative statements, by the way) This is one of the final statements
If these questions reflected a reality, if the tables were turned, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative characteristics in another when there is a color difference.
First of all, this is politics we are talking about. It doesn't matter the color of the person, ALL parties emphasize negative characteristics in the opposing party and downplay negative characteristics in their own party(which, by the way, we ALL have some negative characteristics). Sure, there probably are people who are voting for McCain because he is white. But, then again, you could say there are some who are voting for Obama simply because he has some African American blood. It could go both ways.
Secondly, this notion of racisim in this election is what could split this country up. If you go to Todd's blogs you will see how he and I have thought and wrestled with coming to an understanding on how Christians can vote for Obama because of certain fundamental family and biblical differences between he and McCain. Neither candidate is perfect, but we really feel that McCain and the Republican party more closely align themselves with our beliefs. (again, realizing that neither party is perfect in God's eyes) We have listened to the rationale of people who disagree with us. But, to claim that ultimately it comes down to color is very offensive to me and to many other McCain supporters I'm sure. For those believers out there who are voting for Obama, PLEASE stop this talk. It is not helpful to our community or our nation.
Whomever is the elected President next week, they are appointed by God. We need to respect that God has a reason for his election. If it happens to be McCain then I pray that people stop and think before they react. With chain letters like I mentioned, I worry about rioting and much worse. Again, if you are an Obama supporter and you are a Christian, please do not encourage the racism line of politics.
If these questions reflected a reality, if the tables were turned, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative characteristics in another when there is a color difference.
First of all, this is politics we are talking about. It doesn't matter the color of the person, ALL parties emphasize negative characteristics in the opposing party and downplay negative characteristics in their own party(which, by the way, we ALL have some negative characteristics). Sure, there probably are people who are voting for McCain because he is white. But, then again, you could say there are some who are voting for Obama simply because he has some African American blood. It could go both ways.
Secondly, this notion of racisim in this election is what could split this country up. If you go to Todd's blogs you will see how he and I have thought and wrestled with coming to an understanding on how Christians can vote for Obama because of certain fundamental family and biblical differences between he and McCain. Neither candidate is perfect, but we really feel that McCain and the Republican party more closely align themselves with our beliefs. (again, realizing that neither party is perfect in God's eyes) We have listened to the rationale of people who disagree with us. But, to claim that ultimately it comes down to color is very offensive to me and to many other McCain supporters I'm sure. For those believers out there who are voting for Obama, PLEASE stop this talk. It is not helpful to our community or our nation.
Whomever is the elected President next week, they are appointed by God. We need to respect that God has a reason for his election. If it happens to be McCain then I pray that people stop and think before they react. With chain letters like I mentioned, I worry about rioting and much worse. Again, if you are an Obama supporter and you are a Christian, please do not encourage the racism line of politics.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Chocolate
Abby and I are chocolate lovers. My sister took this picture Saturday at a store. It kinda sums things up for us:
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Last Visit to the Beach for Awhile
We have a tradition that we started, oh, probably 8 or 9 years ago with our friends Keith and Kristi. Usually once in mid-spring and then again in mid-fall we take a walk at a local Park. This hike leads through a wooded area and opens up into the beach. Usually when we go there are not many people around as it is off-season. Today, however, the place was packed. We were able to spend a gorgeous afternoon enjoying God's wonderful creation!
Even the dog's enjoyed themselves!
Even the dog's enjoyed themselves!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Few Moments of Quiet
And we find this...
Josh and Abby sure had fun with their friends Caleb, Ethan and Andrew today!! I'm afraid that next summer we will have a field of cow corn where the trampoline currently is!
Josh and Abby sure had fun with their friends Caleb, Ethan and Andrew today!! I'm afraid that next summer we will have a field of cow corn where the trampoline currently is!
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