Wednesday, November 12, 2008

"Not my president!"

Listening to talk radio, I'm hearing frustrated call-ins saying such things as "Obama is not and will not be my president!" Now, I know how to interpret what they are saying. "I didn't vote for him, don't respect him, and don't trust him." Well, I understand where they are coming from, but I have a memory of people on the other side of the political spectrum saying pretty much the same thing four years ago and eight years ago. I remember talk about stolen elections and not counting votes.
For those who groaned and sighed their way through the last eight years, I understand your pain, I groaned my way through the Clinton and Carter years; the last eight years was your turn, and now It may be my turn again perhaps. But I remember that I managed to survive those years just as you did the past eight years. The country managed to survive all of those presidents on both sides of the political divide. The sun rose every day just as before; coffee still tasted good in the morning; my family did just fine through it all. And though I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, I suspect that history will instruct us all that we can survive the next 4 (or even 8) years of president Obama. And unlike some angry voices on the radio, Barak Obama will indeed be my president. When he does something I approve of I will applaud him; when he does something I dislike I will probably groan or sigh.
But because I am a person of faith I know my duty regarding my president. The Apostle Paul instructs me to pray for him regularly. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Obama is the closest thing to a king we have in our country these days so we are to pray for him daily. Here is my advice: If you admire Obama pray for him daily and If you don't then pray for him twice daily. The exercise may shape you into a more mature and thoughtful person. I believe you will survive and who knows, you may even thrive either because of or in spite of it all. People of faith know who is really in charge of it all. The Lord will be gracious and loving to us no matter who our president may be. Just a thought... Ed S.

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