I read this in another pastor’s blog, and I wish I had written it myself. It is “right on.” - Pastor Art

Some Things I Know About Our New President

Last night Barak Obama was elected president of the United States. There are several things you should know about this election as God’s people.

Psa 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
Psa 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

It is God that puts up and puts down. I must trust that God has chosen Barak Obama to be the president of our country now!

Pro 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

In our desire to think that we make many of these decisions I think it is wise to remember all of these verses from Scripture.

Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

So I recognize that God is of greater power than the people and not only that I recognize that He has the heart of the king in His hand and will do through the president what He pleases.

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

I know that God can work in the king’s heart and place thoughts there:

Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

I recognize my need to honor the authorities that God has placed over me and to pray for them. I hope you will do the same. Please remember that to obey is better than to sacrifice–in other words God prefers that you obey Him even to the worship that you could give Him.

Rom 13:1-8 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

I hope you will commit to pray for our president and all other authorities in positions of leadership above us. We can disagree with their policies but I think Biblically should respect their position. We should honor them. We ought not get into bad attitude bashings of our leaders.

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Be careful of the attitude that you have.

2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Let us put the ignorant who would talk bad about us as God’s people to silence. Do not have a bad attitude. Do not go around talking trash because your candidate didn’t win. Do not show disrespect for the president just because he wasn’t your choice.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

So let’s sum it all up:

God has placed Barak Obama in this position as our president!

God is still in charge and we can rest assured that He will accomplish His purposes under Barak Obama!

I need to honor and respect the authorities that God has placed over me.

I do not want to allow any kind of bad attitude or actions to ruin my testimony before those that do not know God personally.

I need to pray for all the authorities that God has placed over me.

I can disagree with policies and principles but ought not to get into personalities.

I know that God is at work to bring great honor and glory to Himself and I anxiously await what He has planned!

Tags: Attitude, Patriotism, Prayer

This was in today’s Northern Virginia Daily. This is a sad day in the Commonwealth of Virginia…

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Chaplains resign from duties in protest of order

Public prayers to Jesus prohibited

By Garren Shipley — Daily Staff Writer

Six of 17 Virginia State Police chaplains have resigned their clerical duties in protest of a directive effectively forbidding them from invoking the name of Jesus during prayers at public events.

The half-dozen troopers, who perform their chaplain’s duties in addition to being sworn law enforcement officers, resigned following an order from Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty requiring chaplains to offer only nonsectarian prayers at public events.

Flaherty cited a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit earlier this year, in which the court upheld restrictions on sectarian prayer the Fredericksburg City Council placed on its own members for invocations.

“The Colonel respects those chaplains whose convictions and beliefs are in conflict with his request, and is affording those Department chaplains the opportunity to decline participation at Department-sanctioned, public events,” Flaherty wrote.

But the rule doesn’t cover chaplains during private ceremonies or meetings, such as funerals or counseling sessions with colleagues or families, he added.

House Majority Leader Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, laid the resignation at the desk of Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

“With one misguided action, the Kaine administration has put the chaplains in an impossible position,” Griffith wrote in an e-mail to reporters.

“To then require those troopers to disregard their own faith while serving violates their First Amendment rights and prevents them from serving effectively as chaplains,” Griffith wrote. “These men had little choice but to resign.”

“To adopt that policy is a disappointing break with tradition,” said Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, who had been in communication with both groups in recent weeks over the issue.

While Obenshain said he hadn’t seen the specific order banning sectarian prayer, the Fredericksburg case would apparently have little impact on chaplains’ prayers.

“It was clear to me that absent a state police policy that there was no First Amendment prohibition against state police chaplains engaging in that,” said Obenshain, whose district includes Shenandoah and Warren counties.

The decision to move to nonsectarian prayers was made by Flaherty alone, according to Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey, but “Gov. Kaine does support it.”

“Gov. Kaine is a man of faith and has dedicated his life to that service. It’s disappointing that Del. Griffith would make such a a political attack on Gov. Kaine’s faith,” Hickey said.

Del. Bill Carrico, R-Independence, a former state trooper, said the policy amounted to no less than “an attack on Christianity.”

“It aggravates me when public servants act unilaterally out of a supposed fear of getting a complaint, instead of actually having to deal with one,” Carrico said.

* Contact Garren Shipley at gshipley@nvdaily.com61

Tags: Prayer, Virginia