Pray for our Nation! -Thoughts about Obama's speech as President-Elect
Back To The Future: America in 2012
10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama
 Obama said that a united America elected him. That is not true. Good rhetoric, but not good reality.
Obama promises that America will become greater. That is not true. America will fall and in 4 years its people will be looking for a new leader once again who will promise them a full pocket book and a fat belly.
Obama calls for greater sacrifice and service. Those things are good in relation to certain things, such as Christian ministry, but what do they mean for us as Americans? Redistribution of wealth? Fewer freedoms for the sake of "fairness"? The destruction of state's rights? Tell us Mr. President-Elect.
Obama says a new dawn of American leadership is at hand and that America will defeat all those who seek to divide and destroy the world. That is not true. America can never defeat those things, even with a new "dawn" of American leadership. Only God in Jesus Christ can do those type of things. But it will not be for America that God does them. It will be for the Kingdom of God. Obama is essentially saying this: America can change (i.e. - "yes we can") and overcome their shortcomings WITHOUT Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. This is the folly of all nations, especially America. In fact, today, the American dream is the spirit of anti-Christ in this country today. That can be seen in Obama's speech with crystal clear clarity. And, might I add, Barack Obama is its newly appointed prophet, priest, and king.
Ending his speech, Obama said that anyone who doubts America will be responded to with a spirit of a people saying "yes we can" and that America must summon a new spirit now that a new "dawn" has come. But, I ask, what spirit can be summoned at the call of man? The only spirit I know of is that spirit which is sinful within the hearts of mankind. That spirit is already summoned and it is the spirit that will not confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This nation is so strong, this "democracy" so proud, but it will never see the glory it wants. It will always fall short because it is only the glory of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ that will be seen on the Last Day. May we never forget that as we see the sinful hearts of humanity trying to build another Babel… that that goal will never happen. Unity for the people of the world will never come in that way.
There is only hope in Jesus Christ and that hope is most clearly seen through His Kingdom that is being preached through His Gospel by the Church throughout the world! For the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen.
In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,
Paul Glenn Jones, Jr.
Director, In Defense of the Faith Apologetic Ministry
http://www.indefenseofthefaith.org
Back To The Future: America in 2012
Friday, October 24, 2008
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
Back To The Future: America in 2012
Focus on the Family Action published a sobering but frighteningly realistic "What if" letter on Wednesday, written by a Christian in the year 2012 reflecting back on four years of American history under a far-left president and a left-leaning U.S. Senate with a filibuster-proof majority. All of the following are possible at minimum and likely at worst:
● Four appointments to the Supreme Court leave the Court with a 6-3 liberal majority for decades to come
● The Court mandates that homosexual "marriage" be recognized in all 50 states as a constitutional right
● The Boy Scouts are forced to disband rather than comply with a Supreme Court order to use homosexual employees and volunteers
● Elementary schools present compulsory education in sexual orientation and gender identity; parents are not allowed to opt their children out
● Christian adoption agencies shutter their doors when they won't comply with a Court order to adopt children into homosexual households
● The Bible is classified as "hate speech" and cannot be taught over the public airwaves, shutting down Christian radio
● Churches who refuse to allow their facilities to be used for homosexual weddings are stripped of their tax-exempt status
● Churches that refuse to hire homosexual staff members are stripped of their tax-exempt status and subjected to heavy fines
● Homosexuals are allowed to serve openly in the military, given bonuses to remedy past discrimination, and chaplains who believe in the Bible's teaching on homosexual behavior are dismissed
● The Supreme Court rules that public schools can never be used for religious activities, even during off-hours, prohibiting "See You at the Pole" events and the rental of school auditoriums by churches
● Christian groups such as Campus Crusade are prohibited from using the campus facilities of any public college or university because they promote "hate speech" and discrimination
● The Supreme Court strips "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance
● The new president signs the "Freedom of Choice Act," which overturns every pro-life law in all 50 states
● Nurses and doctors are no longer allowed to refuse to participate in abortions on conscience grounds
● All restrictions on pornography, even on television at all hours of the day, are struck down by the Court as a violation of the First Amendment
● The Court reverses its 2008 ruling upholding the Second Amendment, allowing increasing numbers of states to ban private ownership of guns for self defense
● Homeschooling is restricted to parents who are licensed by the state and use only state-approved textbooks; parents who violate this ruling are charged with truancy and in some cases have their children taken from them
● The new president prohibits tapping of alleged foreign terrorist phone calls, resulting in bombings in four American cities and widespread fear
● Iran destroys much of Tel Aviv with a nuclear bomb; America's president promises only to cooperate with a U.N. peacekeeping force, which is never formed due to opposition from Muslim nations
● Universal health care is implemented, leading to long waiting times and denial of diagnostic procedures such as MRIs since they just reveal more health problems that must be treated for "free"
● Taxes and the federal budget go up by alarming percentages, and secret union balloting is prohibited, allowing for intimidation and the takeover of many industries by unions
● Offshore drilling is prohibited, and environmental restrictions prevent nuclear or coal energy from being developed; America has less energy in 2012 than in 2008
● The Fairness Doctrine is implemented once again, driving Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and James Dobson off the air as conservative talk radio is shut down; the Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine when it is challenged in court
● Several large Christian publishers go out of business as Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon refuse to sell any of their books since they have published some books critical of homosexual behavior
● All 93 U.S. attorneys are fired, and are replaced by lawyers affiliated with the ACLU; the Department of Justice initiates criminal and civil prosecution of any members of the Bush administration who had anything to do with the Iraq war, leaving dozens of them in prison or bankrupt.
Christians who allowed themselves - out of weakness, folly or ignorance - into voting for those who did this to their nation are left hoping wanly for the best and clinging to Bible verses which promise them that all things will work out in the end and regretting their missed opportunity to choose wisely at the ballot box.
Letter from 2012 in Obama's America: Focus on the Family Action
Obama spells 'persecution,' warns Focus on the Family
10 Ways to Pray for Barack Obama
By J. Lee Grady Wed Nov 05, 2008
Whether you are happy about this week’s election results or not, all Christians must unite in prayer for our new president. Please don’t forsake this responsibility.
It’s over. We’ve reached the end of the longest, angriest and most nerve-wracking presidential campaign in American history. Finally the “I approved this message” ads have ceased. The endless robot phone calls have stopped ringing. The debates, and the annoying post-debate comments from “experts,” are history—until the next election cycle.
More than half the nation is celebrating today while others are mourning. We are a divided nation, split into unhappy fragments by abortion, gay marriage, global warming, a failed economy and an unpopular war. Those who voted for Barack Obama have claimed a historic victory; some on McCain’s side are already looking for scapegoats. Politics is politics.
But when I got up this morning, I turned all my attention to the fact that Jesus Christ is still on the throne. His government is what is most important. Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, the Bible says “the nations are like a drop from a bucket” to God (Is. 40:15, NASB). That includes the United States. We may boast about being “the greatest nation on earth,” but He who sits in heaven has a different perspective. Let’s take a big sigh of relief now and remember that God is sovereign.
I’ll admit this election did not turn out as I had hoped. I supported McCain primarily because I am pro-life and I prefer his small-government mindset. But now that the election is over, I’m not going to harbor bitterness toward Obama supporters or go into attack mode. Obama has been elected president of this country, and that means I have a biblical responsibility to support him in prayer—even if I challenge his policies.
Whether you voted for Obama or not, you need to pray for him. Here are 10 ways I plan to intercede for him regularly:
1. Pray for Obama’s protection. We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. Let’s pray that racist hatred is not allowed to spread. Let’s cancel every assassin’s bullet in the name of Jesus. May civility triumph over bigotry.
2. Cover his wife and daughters in prayer. It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray for Obama’s wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also a husband and a father.
3. Pray that Obama will govern with God’s wisdom. God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life or vengeance on his enemies (see 1 Kings 3:11-12). Pray that Obama will order his priorities like that. Despite Solomon’s tragic character flaws, his legacy was wisdom. We can ask God to give our president the same grace.
4. Ask God to keep our president humble. Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride.
5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Godly leaders cannot do their job alone. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political cronyism but on godly character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into his inner circle.
6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue.
7. Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart.
8. Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States, and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to the God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must not come off the wall in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool. We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility toward Israel.
9. Pray that Obama’s door will remain open to the church. The loudest voices of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheists in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear.
10. Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessing during the Obama administration. The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all in authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:2, NASB). God’s will is for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. This must happen whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor and share Christ’s love at home and abroad.
J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
Reprinted with permission from Charisma & Christian Life, 2008. Copyright Strang Communications Co., USA. All rights reserved. www.charismamag.com
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