LIVING ON THE EDGE

Well after a month and half off I decided to mouth off about this captain who was held captive for several days by a bunch of thugs from Somalia. This whole thing has me baffled. Not that he was held captive but for how long he was held and how our president didn’t seem to have the time to even mention the issue during a press conference when he was asked a direct question concerning it. AMAZING!

Now that the brave men of the Navy Seals have rescued him and risk their lives to do so, we now have this debate in the main line media outlets on who should get the credit? The Navy Seals or should Barack Hussein Obama get the credit? AMAZING! Our president didn’t even have time to mention the issue four days ago but now that he gave a politically expedient order to OK the rescue, he wants full credit. AMAZING!

Yeah. I know. “Damned if you; do damned if you don’t”. We lived with that sentiment for eight years in the Bush administration. But now that it’s the “anointed one” we’re not allowed to question his motives or his decisions even if we all know what his motivates are: SELF PROMOTION.

Well, I for one know who gets the credit for the rescue; our military that put their butts on the line every day to keep us safe and free from idiots like those Somalia thugs who tried to take an American ship. I applaud them and honor their service to not only this captain but to all of us who live in America. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

If you see a military person in uniform today or know one personally, buy them a cup of coffee or buy them lunch. Just let them know how grateful you are for their service.

It’s AMAZING what a little praise will do for their spirits.

After watching the events of this truly historic day in the life of America, I could not help but be drawn to the prayer offered by Pastor Rick Warren. Of all the prayers that have been or could have been offered this day, God knew whom He wanted to pray on this day for our new president.

I, for one, was moved to tears and have a greater since of hope for this new administration because of Pastor Rick’s GOD focused and Christ honoring prayer. As you read his prayer, let the spirit of God speak to you and make it your prayer as well.

Rick Warren’s Prayer.

“Almighty God, our Father:

Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.

The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.

We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.

Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.

When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.

When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.

May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.

And may we never forget that one day, all nations–and all people–will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, ‘Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.”

This past week I went to my local Starbucks to read and do a little sermon prep.  I love the place when it is empty and quiet because I can get a lot of work done. This was the case this past Wednesday. I was having a great quiet time.

All of sudden, out of nowhere, three of our locals show up. Two Christians and one guy who just likes to argue religion and politics.  They sit, join me and we are off and running. We chased every rabbit that came through Starbucks.  What I found interesting and frustrating at the same time was the subject matter.  These good fellows were once again bashing our President for the war in Iraq. That is beginning to wear me out and it really is getting to be old and borders on nonsense.

But what fascinated me more than anything is when one guy said, “we should keep our nose out of other countries business. We have no business being the worlds policeman”.  Though I agree with that statement, I don’t agree that we, the most blessed country on the planet, the wealthiest nation, the most powerful and influential nation on the planet should sit idly by and watch other nations suffer at the hands of tyrants.  When we see suffering we should be the first to respond. When we see injustice in the world we should be first to stand up for what is right, even if it means removing those who in power who are inflicting the pain of injustice.

God has blessed our nation for a reason and where much is given much is required. (Luke 12:48) We must, as believers stand up for those who have no voice, for those who are oppressed and for those who are being slaughtered for no other reason than “convenience”.  Yes. I’m talking about abortion, the Sudan, Iraq, Somalia, China and even our own cities. Every place where we witness injustice, we the church must stand up and stick our nose in their business. God demands it.

The problem I see is, we are too ready and willing to let our government handle it and then when they “do it wrong” we are quick to bash them for making the hard choices. It’s easy for us to sit in our little white chapels with stained glass windows and soft cushy pews and tell the prez how to do it. But it is a whole other thang to get our hands dirty and actually DO THE WORD and not just be hearers only.

It’s time for those of us who call ourselves “Christ Followers” to actually start following His example. Get off our butts, do something and stop having Starbuck discussions about it. Stop blaming others for inaction and start taking action.

OK. I’m done ranting. Gotta DO something.