Reason's to Pray for Obama, Pt. 2

In another installment of my "Reason's to Pray for Obama" series, I wanted to hit another couple of topics here. I'm going to skip over a couple of reasons due to my lack of knowledge about them, but I'll at least mention them.

Reason 2 to pray for Obama: Tax Increases for All. Despite campaign rhetoric, President Obama will increase direct and indirect taxation on virtually all American's in pursuit of his stated goals of societal transformation and wealth redistribution. (Taken from the before mentioned pamphlet "Living in an Obama Nation: 21 Way the Obama Presidency Will Impact You and Your Family."

Reason 3: The End of Marriage. President Barack Obama will watch over the end of traditional marriage by pushing a pro-homosexual agenda that includes repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in his first year in office.

In essence, to him, he will start to at least do nothing to stop the homosexual agenda from going forward. Meaning, he won't stand for traditional marriage. But he will at least step aside and let those would decide to ruin the sanctity of marriage being between a married man and woman (being married to each other) and make it accessible to a man and man or woman to woman. But what if it doesn't stop there? Why not do an aunt to a nephew or some other combination? He stated in a letter to the LBGT community that he will as president support the gay community and see to it that their rights are up held.

Along this same line, he wants to make it possible for hate crimes to cover sexual orientation. Ladies, lets just say that your in a public restroom, taking care of business. And in walks a guy! Do you realize that if you were to try and gently say to the misguided man "Um, sir, your in the wrong restroom. The mens is just down the hall (or next door, or whatever the case may be). Do you realize that that could potentially be labeled as hate speech!? I mean, perhaps the guy just feels more feminine that particular day! That's where this is going. Trying to do away with the letter of the law and more along the lines of feelings.

Reason 4: Silencing Conservatives. He wants to utilize the Fairness Doctrine, and the power of the Executive Branch, to silence conservative opposition and deliver a damaging blow to free speech for all Americans.

The Fairness Doctrine is a policy that requires broadcast media to promote "fairness" and "balance". I haven't been on CNN or some of the other major networks in months. I stick w/ FoxNews or WorldNetDaily for my news. The way that some of the major networks spew their stories about blaming Israel for everything is just ridiculous.

Obama says that he is a Christian. Probably like a lot of folks say they're Christians and they know all the right talk. But what are they REALLY like? What am I really like?

Lord Jesus, I come before your throne of grace today, and I life up President-elect Obama to You. Lord, many of his policies I don't agree with. But I still petition you and ask for You to bless him with Godly wisdom in this hour. God, I thank you that while we were still yet sinners, Christ died for us. So Father God, I pray that you would visit him God and give him an encounter with Your Holy Presence and change his life forever more. May he come out of this as a man after Your Own Heart. Amen.

Running the Race

I just got back from a ministry trip in Biscoe, NC. For those of you who don't know where thats at... don't ask me because i don't really know either. It's kind of what you might call a 'po dung' town out there somewhere. Meaning, its a really small town.

In any case, one of my friends here asked me to go w/ him and pray for people. I'm always amazed at how much God uses me, despite who i am. It's like He's saying, "I'm going to use you, despite the fact that i know who you really are..."

So i get there Friday night after driving for about an hour. I go walking into the building and they pretty much got under way right away. So no debriefing for me. I just jump into the mix and see what happens. Later on, i step outside and see that they have a sign on the wall that says "Revival with FIRE School of Ministry". i'm like, 'oh, ok.." (i hate to be critical at this point in time, but you can plan a revival like you can plan a snow storm. I laugh whenever people say "oh, we're having revival at church that week." ok...)

in any case, from what i understand of the end result of the weekend... the Lord really did a deep work at this church. everyone was very thankful we came. which is cool. Personally, i guess i'm used to much more intense times of prayer and worship... but the key thing is is that they were encouraged and challenged.

The Lord was raising up spiritual parents during this weekend. Also, our whole team had to give prophetic words for people in the church there. Now, normally, i don't flow in that type of activity. Personal prophetic words aren't necessarily my field of expertise. But I was more or less put into. So it was time to go swimming... like it or not.

On a side note, i was able to get some four-wheeling in! It was great! My buddy there had a 4-wheeler and he took me out on a trail nearby his house. I somewhat grew up on them so i was like jump on and ride!

An Outbreak Has Occurred

Friday night, one of my roommates here comes into my room when i was getting ready to go to bed. He says with a big grin on his face, "Did you hear what happened today at school?" I said, "No, what happened?" "We didn't have classes today!" At first, i was like 'what do you mean?' Then it dawned on me: The Holy Spirit broke out in intercession! they started praying around 8am and kept going til about 1pm. i was immediately jealous and happy for them at the same time.

The Lord rewards those who seek Him. The Lord pours out into a vessel that is cleaned and wanting and needing a touch from Him. My roommates went on to describe to me what happened. Unfortunately, words can't describe what was going on in my heart. I seriously wanted to start crying out of joy. Luckily, the schools leaders allowed the intercession to takeover and not worry about classes for the day. We're a school and church that is somewhat used to this sort of thing happening. We long to have an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit feels welcome to move about as He so desires.

I've said it before and i'll say it again: the Lord is raising up sons and daughters to take rule and reign on this Earth. The only way to do that is to have people who are used to being in His Presence and know His voice. I'm not talking about having nice church services and living decent lives. This is a Saul/David like scenario. I'm not writing this to necessarily trash traditional style church. But something seriously needs to change. We need to be able to change the method without changing the message. Jesus said "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."

Recently, it came down the vine that a church here in the states issued a "30 Day Sex Challenge." i read it and was like "what?!? thats absurd!" I'll stay away from the marrieds portion of that one (considering my current single status) and just hit on the singles end of it. For singles, it was to abstain from sex for 30 days... Whatever happened to the message of Holiness and consecration. Can we not realize that parts of a 'seeker sensitivity' in our 'American gospel' just isn't working? I loathe sitting in on messages and the minister has to dance around issues so as to not offend someone.

But i know for a fact that church as we know it is about to change. I'm not talking about watering down the message at all, but perhaps in how its delivered. A loving parent will at times have to bring correction to their child. It's in how its brought i think that makes a big difference. Is spanking a bad idea? Nope. But it depends in the attitude and the manner of which is delivered. What child likes to be disciplined? as far as i know, none. But the Bible says to not despise the discipline of the Lord, because He disciplines those that He loves.

All this to say that this past week here in the FIRE community, hearts are being stirred. Minds are being renewed and lives are being changed. May we have wisdom so as to know how to steward what the Lord has given, is giving and will continue to give to us His bride.

Good times

Sunday night i got together w/ a bunch of my friends here from church to celebrate someone's birthday here. we went out to eat and then went back to someones house to pray. we ended up praying for about 5 hours or so. we started somewhere around 4:30 and had to stop around 9:45pm. good times... it felt soo good. we started off w/ worshipping for a while and then we ended up praying for people. we did some foot washing combined w/ "The Hot Seat." these weren't prayers just like "Oh Lord, bless them..." and done with it. this was reading their mail so to speak and getting deep and rooting things out in their life. whoever said Christianity is boring apparently hasn't been hanging out w/ us...