Sorry it's been so long since the last postage. Is it really November already? This kind of creeps me out. In light of the recent election as well as my own recent interest in politics I thought I'd let you in on a little political discourse I've been having with myself recently. You can only discourse with yourself for so long before it is socially unacceptable and I fear I might be reaching this point, so come on in the water is.... ???
So, I voted on Tuesday and I am gonna tell you a little secret - that was the first time I ever voted. I've just never had the interest or felt like it really mattered or wanted to educate myself before. But I really enjoyed it and at the same time was kind of surprised at what turned out to be the key issues in this election. Here are some thoughts I've written down over the last few months as I've been thinking about this stuff:
"Peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication." - Derek Webb
What does it mean to have fleshly enemies? To take a stand against evil while loving the enemy? To submit to God's ultimate and complete authority while engaging in the battle around us? Is war an act of vengance and should we EVER touch that? Is it dangerous language to name the terrorists 'the enemy.' - who is the REAL enemy here? Who's definiton of 'evil' are we as a nation using and can we hold that up to a totally different culture as a measuring rod?
I obviously have a lot more questions than answers here. I know I need to seek a heart of humility instead of judgment and pray for our world leaders A LOT!
Here are some truth's I've been praying over some of the things going on in the world today...
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! Psalm 79:11. This is my prayer for the death penalty to be abolished and for all of the prisoners around the world that are in need of a Savior.
Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May He judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy and crush the oppressor! Psalm 72: 1-2, 4
This is my prayer for the leaders of the world today
This was King David's prayer before his death and I LOVE how it captures his heart as a man who lived under the authority of God...
Blessed are You, O lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. yours, O Lord, is the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; yours is the dominion, O Lord, and you exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now, therefore, our God we thank you and praise Your glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given you.
1 Chronicles 29:11-14
You might want to check out this book, I haven't finished it yet but it has been really helpful in thinking through some of these things.
God's Politics
by Jim Wallis. Also you can check out www.sojo.net
