Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Only sixteen more days before we exercise one of our most valuable rights as a free nation, and that is a trip to the local polling place to cast our vote. What a privilege this is. “I finally have a chance to tell ‘them’ what I think!” Many of our country’s finest have sacrificed their life to maintain this privilege for us, so the “right”,” responsibility”, “obligation”…however you see it, should not be taken lightly. Therefore, I whole-heartedly encourage you to show up and cast your vote for the political platform on which you stand. I am stating our voting responsibility in this manner, because I know from the many conversations I have had concerning this election, neither candidate seems to be the first choice of most people. When you add to that the fact the media has kept this election a personality contest (and I sympathetically agree that neither personality is particularly desirable candidate), we have to rise above that circumstance and vote for the platform and not the personality.
To assist with this endeavor, I am enclosing a link to the Billy Graham Ministries website where they have simplified both political party’s platform and have made it easy to read and compare. I am also enclosing a statement by Franklin Graham, Billy’s son, to explain why they did this. The difference between the two party platforms could not be more striking. One is leading to more of the same; one is offering hope for a new direction. Please read and heed.
https://billygraham.org/story/2016-party-platforms/
“As Franklin Graham travels to all 50 states on the Decision America Tour, he’s urging Christians to boldly live out their faith—at home, in public and at the ballot box. Many decisions are made at the president’s desk, but the major political party to which he or she belongs wields significant power over which domestic and international policies are advanced and what becomes law. Here is a summary of theDemocratic and Republican party positions on some of the vital issues facing the country. As Franklin Graham has stated clearly many times, we are not endorsing any candidate or party.”
It’s easy to let the numbing circumstances of this election, our culture, and world events cloud our thinking and lead us into a funk. But we must not forget that we can make a conscious choice to shift our focus from the domain of darkness – this world – to the domain of Light, Jesus, who said, “come unto me all that are heavy laden, and i will give you rest.” (John 11:28) And again in John 8:32 , Jesus directs us to “follow my teachings, then you’ ll know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Notice Jesus was very specific about what teaching he was talking about; “MY teaching.” So what did Jesus teach? He taught about love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, grace, and being of service to our fellow man. He taught about “loving God with all our heart, soul and mind”. (Luke 10:27) He told us to “Repent! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) He told us “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “As he (a man) thinks within his heart, so he is.” In other words, what you have in your heart determines what you say and what you do. If your heart is filled with hatred, anger, disgust, jealousy, envy, the result will be evil actions. And who is the author of evil? The prince and power of this world…satan! So whether we are witnessing the indiscriminate killing of innocent people by an ideology that hates any way of life that does not bow down to its belief, or protests such as those seen in Ferguson or Dallas that resulted in violence and killing, the motivation comes from the same source…satan!
I am constantly amazed at how many people – especially the professed intelligentsia – seem to have learned so little from history. Both the Bible and secular ancient history books reveal the same information, albeit one from a spiritual perspective and one from a secular perspective. But if one were to take time to trace the rise and fall of civilizations in either book, it is easy to see patterns. The Bible is clear that when people, countries or civilizations are in line with God’s will, they are blessed and they prosper. When out of line with God’s will, there is calamity, such as fire and brimstone, floods, wars, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, etc. The ancient history books attribute the fall of the same civilizations to such human flaws as greed and the desire for power, control, and wealth. Again these human traits are out of line with God’s will because they are motivated by “self will”, the author of which is satan. So let me point out the obvious…self-will is the root of all evil.
So how does that basic history lesson apply to our culture today? Well…whenever a culture exalts the wisdom and teachings of man over the wisdom and teachings of God, that culture is on the pathway to collapse. Can you see that happening in our country today? No doubt the teachings of Jesus are marginalized, minimized, mocked, ridiculed, and even condemned in many cases. The fundamental Judeo-Christian principles on which this country was founded are under assault by an agenda that wants to redefine America. The “traditional family” and “traditional moral values” are also under assault by a liberal progressive agenda that wants to redefine “normal”. Instead of seeking to promote commonality and unity among the populace, there is an attempt to divide and promote anger, distrust, and even hatred. And what could be the reason for all of this? Could it be for wealth, power and control??
No doubt, satan’s lies are always appealing! 2 Corinthians 4:4 explains this perfectly: “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Well…by all appearances, satan is winning. It would appear that the saying, “the world is going to hell in a handbasket” is true…unless, of course, WE remember who we are and who’s we are. We are followers of Jesus Christ and we have a secret weapon that allows us to rise above the world to become the person God created us to be. We ARE already victorious. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (and so have we because we are in Christ!) He also told us in Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority over all the powerful schemes of the enemy…”, and again in 1 John 4:4. “He that is in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.”
If there was ever a time for intercessory prayer, it is now! The moral and spiritual bankruptcy of our culture and our country presents and opportunity for the Church to shine at its brightest. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, have the power to change the world. And the truth in the Scriptures above tell us we are already victorious. So let’s proclaim the Truth of Jesus’ teachings with a MIGHTY VOICE to this dark world that wants to keep the focus on evil! It is our time to shine.
Let me close with the answer that was proclaimed many centuries ago. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
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May God Bless Ya…
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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