On October 4, 2008, former President Bush signed a $700 billion bailout bill and last month, on February 17, President Obama signed a $787 billion stimulus package. The combined pieces of legislation represent $1.487 trillion, the most expensive government actions in the history of our nation and as one commentator said, “Maybe even the history of the world.”
The two bills were responding to a series of crises – the mortgage crisis, the banking crisis, the market crisis and the unemployment crisis. Depending on what party you are from you may see the solution differently. One party sees the answer in government spending more to simulate the economy, while the other feels it is better to cut taxes and allow the citizens to spend more. In the end, both look to money as the savior of our economy.
Former President Abraham Lincoln has been getting much attention recently. We can learn a lesson through observing how Lincoln and Congress responded to their national crisis. During the civil war, when our nation was literally divided and on the brink of collapse, U.S. Senator James Harlan of Iowa introduced a resolution for a time of national prayer. The resolution stated,
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!”
President Lincoln and both chambers of Congress agreed with Senator Harlan. The resolution was approved and signed on March 30, 1863, with an urgent call to a national day of prayer scheduled just 30 days later on April 30.
There are many other times in American history when our nation was facing difficult times. Our national leaders and its citizens formally humbled themselves and called upon God for His help – God responded!
May we realize that the future hope of our nation will not come from the wealth of our own wisdom or prosperity. It comes from God. May we not forget Him in this hour of need. In this fragile world, may He be our hope for today.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Humanity of a President
Barrack Obama has ascended to the greatest seat of power in the world – the President of the United States of America. The ascension came with the sacred rituals given all presidents wrapped in an atmosphere of splendor with the praise of millions.
The public grandeur of the Presidential Inauguration was awe striking. Then following his oath of office, the private moments of President Obama walking into the Oval Office, assuming his new duties in the world’s most renowned political office, was breath taking.
As we see our new President carry out his role before a watching world, we might forget his humanity. We might think that with the pomp and circumstance of his rise, he is no longer human, but has been transformed into a tireless machine of power and influence.
Beyond the pageantry, President Obama is just like you and me. Throughout his future presidency, there will be public and private moments that display his humanity. Although he is President, he is also a husband, father, and son. In these roles, he will experience times of happiness and sadness, attention and isolation, success and failure.
Across the landscape of history, there was only one great world leader who never had to ascend to power, but always had it and still governs today. He is history’s only leader who was fully human and fully God. In His humanity, He grieved the death of a friend, was misunderstood by the public and betrayed by His friends. In His deity, He forgave sins, raised the dead and healed the sick. Who is this? Jesus. He is the Great King. He is the King of all Kings and President of all Presidents.
There is one person who is above all world leaders - Jesus. There is one person that can be looked to for wisdom and understanding by us all, including President Barrack Obama - Jesus. Jesus said about Himself, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (The Bible, John 14:1).
May we exalt Jesus above all and put our trust in Him alone, the Great King. May He be our hope for today.
The public grandeur of the Presidential Inauguration was awe striking. Then following his oath of office, the private moments of President Obama walking into the Oval Office, assuming his new duties in the world’s most renowned political office, was breath taking.
As we see our new President carry out his role before a watching world, we might forget his humanity. We might think that with the pomp and circumstance of his rise, he is no longer human, but has been transformed into a tireless machine of power and influence.
Beyond the pageantry, President Obama is just like you and me. Throughout his future presidency, there will be public and private moments that display his humanity. Although he is President, he is also a husband, father, and son. In these roles, he will experience times of happiness and sadness, attention and isolation, success and failure.
Across the landscape of history, there was only one great world leader who never had to ascend to power, but always had it and still governs today. He is history’s only leader who was fully human and fully God. In His humanity, He grieved the death of a friend, was misunderstood by the public and betrayed by His friends. In His deity, He forgave sins, raised the dead and healed the sick. Who is this? Jesus. He is the Great King. He is the King of all Kings and President of all Presidents.
There is one person who is above all world leaders - Jesus. There is one person that can be looked to for wisdom and understanding by us all, including President Barrack Obama - Jesus. Jesus said about Himself, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (The Bible, John 14:1).
May we exalt Jesus above all and put our trust in Him alone, the Great King. May He be our hope for today.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A New Start
As a sunrise means the start of a new day, so January means the start of a new year. Our world is filled with examples of new starts. The toss of a coin on a football field is the start of a new game, a wedding is the start of a new marriage and the birth of a child is the start of a new life. Examples are all around us in every sphere of life. They can teach us a few things.
First, a new start teaches us about perseverance. Life can make you weary. It can make you feel like giving up telling yourself, “I can’t do this anymore.” However, January can be a new start. Will you give up or accept that last year is gone and renew your commitment to give your best and keep pressing onward?
Second, a new start teaches us about opportunity. January shouts saying, “Hey, it is a new year. What are you going to do with it?” You may have an opportunity to begin a new career, help someone who is in need, or fulfill a lifelong dream. Will they come and pass you by or will you seize them?
Third, a new start teaches us about the grace of God. As a New Year’s Day is the chance to begin a new and better year, so the grace of God is a chance for you to begin a new and transformed life.
Like you have done nothing to bring about a sunrise or a new year, so you have done nothing to bring about the grace of God. What is this amazing grace? It is a form of God’s love shown to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that provided for the forgiveness of sins of all humankind.
As January is a start to a new year, Jesus Christ can be the start of a new life for you. Through Him, you can become a new person. Receive His grace by turning from your sin and receive your hope for today and all of 2009.
First, a new start teaches us about perseverance. Life can make you weary. It can make you feel like giving up telling yourself, “I can’t do this anymore.” However, January can be a new start. Will you give up or accept that last year is gone and renew your commitment to give your best and keep pressing onward?
Second, a new start teaches us about opportunity. January shouts saying, “Hey, it is a new year. What are you going to do with it?” You may have an opportunity to begin a new career, help someone who is in need, or fulfill a lifelong dream. Will they come and pass you by or will you seize them?
Third, a new start teaches us about the grace of God. As a New Year’s Day is the chance to begin a new and better year, so the grace of God is a chance for you to begin a new and transformed life.
Like you have done nothing to bring about a sunrise or a new year, so you have done nothing to bring about the grace of God. What is this amazing grace? It is a form of God’s love shown to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that provided for the forgiveness of sins of all humankind.
As January is a start to a new year, Jesus Christ can be the start of a new life for you. Through Him, you can become a new person. Receive His grace by turning from your sin and receive your hope for today and all of 2009.
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