"Winning the War on Cancer"

I just read a very interesting article called Winning the War on Cancer. It is worth a look, especially since cancer has officially surpassed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under the age of 85.

Who sits on the throne?

"... acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes" - Daniel 4:32b.

The election is over. The United States of America has chosen her new president; the Most High has given that office to whom He wished. It has been a long process for engaged Americans, filled at times with questions and accusations and excitement and fear and anger and jubilation and despair and grief and hope.

Throughout all of it, there have been passionate interchanges, particularly between followers of Christ.

And now, it is time to move on... not in leaving something behind, but in moving into this new era with faithful prayer for our new president. Now it is appropriate for "men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing..." and "that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior" - from 1 Timothy 2.

Personally, I have been a little bit grieved that my conscience did not allow me to cast my vote for the first black president in United States history. It is exciting to know that our country has moved beyond racial prejudice that precludes its voting for a man who is not white. Of all the many things I believe the Lord will be accomplishing as He moves us through His sovereign will for these next years in America, I hope that the communication of racial healing and the accomplishment of some measure of racial reconciliation and restoration, will be among them.

Time will reveal the future. President Obama will do some things right, and he will do some things wrong. Even as I pray for him, his family, and his administration, I will pray for his relationship with the sovereign LORD. I will pray that he comes to know Him, if he does not already, and that his governing will be from a position of humility and dependence upon the wisdom and will of the Most High God.

I will pray that the Lord will change his heart and mind where he is wrong, and that He will "instruct him and teach him in the way he should go" (Psalm 32:8). I will pray that the Lord will give him strength to stand firm where he is right and will richly bless him as he does so.

And I will never stop praying that God will step in and intervene on behalf of the thousands of babies who are legally murdered each day in the United States alone through abortion. I will pray that by some miraculous heart change, President Obama will not make good on his promise to Planned Parenthood to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.

But however many babies are legally killed, and however many women are damaged physically and emotionally in the process, America will walk through these next hours and days and months and years.

And our ultimate hope is in God, who is our Ultimate Hope. Salvation does not come through politics or good laws or good economic policies or, or...

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne" - Revelation7:10.

"Whose Side Are You On?"

I am writing from a hotel room in Chantilly, Virginia, where my two older children and I have been helping to campaign for Congressman Frank Wolf. There is much I'd love to say about the experience of working together to help re-elect leaders whose values and policies you support and admire, but that will have to wait for another (less busy) time!
The purpose of this post is to share with you the incredible sermon I heard this morning. We attended Cornerstone Chapel here in Leesburg, VA, and heard a very bold, straightforward, gutsy message called "Whose Side Are You On? - An Election Day Sermon." No, he doesn't endorse any particular candidate. He doesn't endorse any one political party over the other.

But he does give a very thought-provoking and convicting message regarding the Christian responsibility to exercise the right to vote which I think every believer should have heard this Sunday. Further, he addresses the Biblical principles that thoughtful, careful, prayerful believers (whether Democrats or Republicans, supporters of Obama or supporters of McCain) must consider when casting their votes in a particular direction. I know I never would have heard a message like this if I'd been at my home church this morning, so I'm glad I was here and got to hear this one.

If you are a Christian believer who has not yet cast your vote in this election, please take the time to watch this message. And feel free to let me know what you think.