2013 Presidential Inauguration Prayer

O Lord, Our God, whose name is excellent, whose power is matchless and whose ways are past finding out, we gather as a grateful nation this 57^th Presidential Inauguration, to give you thanks, praise and adoration, just for who you are----our Creator, Sustainer, Protector and Guide.

Our grateful hearts are filled with exuberant joy and hopeful expectation for the second term of our beloved President, Barack Hussein Obama, whose honor it is to serve, lead and inspire a great nation and a great people.  For First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha and Malia Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, Cabinet members, advisors, our military and their families, we give you thanks for their sacrifice and service.  

We ask you to spread your arms of protection, hand of mercy, ark of safety, and gift of wisdom over the President’s life and leadership, so that people of every background, race and creed might prosper in this historic time.   Who, but an awesome God of the universe could so steer the course of history, that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Holiday and the second term of the first African American President, would occur on the same day. For that, we give you our collective hallelujah!    

Give us the holy boldness, dear Lord, to finish Dr. King's dream of a nation lifted from the dark valley of the triple evils of racism, poverty and militarism, to the sunlight mountain of brotherhood, sisterhood, prosperity for all Americans, and a world of peace. And now, God, we ask you to raise up leadership with godly character and integrity, joining heads and hearts across every dividing line, to help us become one nation under God indivisible. . .until justice rolls down like water and righteousness as an ever flowing stream.  In the name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.

Prayer for the Nation grieving the SANDY HOOK Elementary School murders in Newtown, CT

O Lord Our God, how we praise you as Author of Life for loving and accepting unconditionally all whom you have created. As a nation, we mourn the mounting human tragedies that were set in motion nearly 14 years ago with the 1999 Columbine, Colorado high school massacre.  The recently killing of 20 six and seven year olds, and six adults at a Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, has seared our nation's heart as we cry for these our children and members of our American family.  The sheer magnitude of our babies shot down at the starting gate of their young lives wounds us deeply O God, so we turn to you for comfort and strength to make sense of it all.   

In the escalation of mass murders--from a Ft. Hood, Texas Army base, to a Virginia Tech college campus, to an Arizona supermarket congressional greeting, to a crowded Aurora, Colorado theater, to an Oregon mall of Christmas shoppers--we mourn and cry out to you for answers to our "why" questions, we can find no where else?  From the depths of our sorrow, we seek the wisdom and courage to address with clear and open minds the right kind of gun control and mental health reforms these acts of senseless violence signal. 

O Lord, Our God, help us today to embrace your command to "love you and every neighbor as we love ourselves", especially the often hard to understand neighbors who withdraws to dark places that seem beyond our reach.  Through our tears and pain we remember and thank you for sending your beloved Son Jesus to earth to "bear our grief and carry our sorrows" for children taken too soon and much too brutally from our midst. Remind us today that children of every race and background are to be embraced as all of our children, as we remember to express our love more often and hug more tightly the children in our own families. We pray your comfort and strength for the journey of grief, anger, and forgiveness the families of the victims and perpetrators must endure as we hold them close in our hearts and continued prayers.  We rest now in the blessed assurance of your promises that you, O God,  "will be with us through troubles" and will "never leave or forsake us."  In the matchless and magnificent name of the One whose name is above every name, we pray. Amen. 

Christians...The Election Is Over. Time To Unify The Nation.

Elections by nature are divisive. One candidate wins. Another loses. It is quite natural for those on the losing side to feel bitter when the candidate, who represented their views and values, is defeated. 

However, the 2012 Presidential Election seemed far more divisive than any I have witnessed in past years. Television ads on both sides were downright nasty. Voter suppression laws and tactics, aimed largely at Latino and African American voters, were rampant in many states. Over 400 racially offensive emails about President Obama were traced geographically, with several Bible belt states ranking highest. An Arizona woman ran over her husband for failing to vote for Romney and because of Obama's victory. Thirty states filed petitions to secede or split from the United States. Polls showed that anti-African American feelings among White Americans escalated since the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama. Far right extremist, Donald Trump, who consistently challenged President Obama's citizenship and qualifications to be President, called for "a revolution" on election night. And, to deepen the division, Franklin Graham, son of revered evangelist Billy Graham, said that America was "on the road to destruction" because of President Obama's re-election.

Clearly, many people voted for Obama or Romney simply because they thought that one candidate would be better at leading the nation at this time. During this Thanksgiving and Christmas season of peace and goodwill, lingering racial and political divisions highlighted in this election are real causes for alarm by Americans of conscience, but especially for born-again Christians. The word "Christian", used only twice in the Bible, means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. This goes beyond church attendance and religious activities. St. Paul put it best when he said, "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

In a real way, Christians, both mainline and born-again evangelicals, who held strong, opposing views about the re-election of President Obama, have a responsibility to model unity in ways that would attract nonbelievers to the faith and bring healing to our nation. Pew research exit polls showed that of those voting for President Obama, 42% were White American Christians; 20% White born-again evangelicals; 95% were African American Christians; and 50% were Catholics with the majority of Catholic votes coming from Latino voters. Heightened racial division, growing Middle East tensions in Gaza; and continued economic hardship for many unemployed and working poor Americans that may worsen with the threatened "fiscal cliff" or crisis, are incredible challenges facing our nation. They are also great opportunities for Christians to stand up and demonstrate four basic unifying lessons of our faith: 

1. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who dwell in it.(Psalm 24:1). The election is over and God who created heaven and earth is still in control and reigns over the affairs of nations and rulers no matter who is in the White House, the Congress, or the State House. Efforts to secede or split from the United States are hopefully short-term temper tantrums of angry voters. Christian leaders need to step up, become the voice of unity, and help America turn to, and not turn on one another, as did the people of New Jersey and New York following Hurricane Sandy. 

2. Who can command things to happen without the Lord's permission? Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? (Lamentations 3:37, 38) God did not choose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney. But God certainly allowed it as He does many things which we do not always understand. This fact of our faith would be true no matter who was elected. Racially bigoted language aimed at President Obama has absolutely no place among those who have determined to be followers of Christ and therefore have become a "new person". 

3. You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31) These greatest commandments are not suggestions or recommendations. They are the primary basis for demonstrating our love for God. Loving God and neighbors as oneself means seeing all others in the image and divinity of God. It means treating others fairly; and welcoming strangers as we once all were in this nation except for the Native Americans. Most of all, it means not using racially negative language toward any person or group even if we disagree with their political views or values. A good start for African American Christians, most of whom voted for President Obama, and White American Christians, most of whom voted for Governor Romney, is to begin building bridges of communication and dialogue around what unites us. We are united by faith and our shared love for a nation where Americans of all races and cultures are hurting financially, and in need of our collective voice for the President and Congress to come together immediately to address the nation's challenges. 

4. Pray for all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.(1 Timothy 2:1, 2) We are called to pray for leaders whether or not we agree with their politics, so that God will touch their hearts to make decisions that are fair and just for everyone. There is power in prayer and prayer changes things. So in a real way we have the nation and leadership for which we pray. Just imagine what would happen if prayer vigils were held outside of the White House, Congress and State Legislative Houses across the nation as important decisions were being made. I have not agreed with every decision of President Obama on such issues as marriage and abortion, nor did I agree with every past President from both political parties on every issue. But I prayed for them. God's word compels all believers to pray for President Obama and for those in leadership, both nationally and locally, "so we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." 

May we use this Christmas season of peace and goodwill to demonstrate God's love in action in ways that bring healing and hope to our world.

Evangelical Christians: It's Time To Move Past Two Issue Politics

It is time for evangelical Christians, who profess to fully reflect Christ-focused values at the polls to move past two issues…the politics of marriage and life, while embracing the true principles of Jesus…helping the poor spiritually and materially; peacemaking; stewardship of the environment; befriending those systematically facing racial, sexual and class discrimination; and welcoming the stranger or the immigrant seeking a better life in a very rich nation.

The term “evangelical” comes from the Greek word “evangelion”, meaning “the good news” or the “gospel.” Evangelical faith focuses on the “good news” of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ. To be an evangelical follower of Jesus Christ means to live one’s life according to the standards set by Jesus throughout the Gospels. Among other core values, to be an evangelical means believing the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.

This is where the confusion arises. Pro-life must mean more than protection of life for nine months in the womb. It must be centered in the New Testament Book of Matthew 25, the doctrine which values the life of   those who Jesus called “the least of these”---the child born to a poor family--- the life of the working poor, who are not looking for a hand out, but a hand up through skills training, in order for them to live in decency and dignity. It means strengthening the quality of life of the elderly poor, most of whom invested during their working years in Social Security and Medicare which is now owed to them; not being given to them. It also means seeking ways of preventing the need for abortion…through providing quality health care, child care, and job training for poor women, as well as broader alternative to adoption.

Following Jesus, I strongly believe, does mean marriage between a man and a woman for those who have placed the values of God above political values and the standards of our world. But it also means not demonizing or judging those who have chosen a different lifestyle. The greatest commandment, to “love God and every neighbor as you love yourself”, calls evangelical Christians to a higher standard of manifesting God’s love to everyone.

For the election tomorrow and for future elections, the question for the nearly 100 million “born again” Christians should be: what are the standards by which candidates for office should be judged? Before accepting Jesus as the center of my life several decades ago, my standards for judging candidates were that of a progressive Democrat who voted against war, poverty, racism, sexism, ageism, and for abortion, gay marriage, and environmental stewardship.

All this changed when I met and married the late Tom Skinner, a well known evangelist, author, powerful Bible teacher and messenger of the “Good News”. Tom helped me to dig deep into God’s word, compare scripture to scripture for a holistic biblical understanding on a range of vital issues like marriage, life of the unborn, war, peace, poverty, justice and the environment. It was my love for God above every other love of my life, including my political and cultural viewpoints, that led me to re-examine my position on all issues. It has led me to become “completely pro-life” from conception to the grave; including life of the planet; pro-traditional marriage; pro-racial healing; pro-justice for the poor and pro-peace.

How then should evangelical Christians who want to vote their values do so in the choice between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney? President Obama is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. Yet, he has championed polices that address the needs of middle and working class Americans…like health care, saving the auto industry, making college affordable for all Americans through Pell grants, fair pay for women, tax cuts for small business, and putting a “circle of protection” around the poor in Congressional deficit reduction and budget cutting efforts. He has ended the War in Iraq and has made environmental stewardship a high priority. President Obama has consistently affirmed his faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ on numerous occasions, where I have been present. Contrary to those who still say he is a Muslim, it has never occurred to me that I should not take President Obama at his word that he is a Christian, or Governor Romney that he is a Mormon. Anything else would be presumptuous or arrogant on my part.

Governor Romney has been unwavering during his political career in his commitment to marriage between a man and a woman. His position on abortion is still as unclear as it is ever changing. As governor of Massachusetts, he was pro-life, but said he was committed to protect a woman's right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth. However, as the Republican candidate in the 2012 election, he defined himself as “severely conservative”, and changed his position to being solidly pro-life and against abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. On issues of justice for the poor and underserved, Governor Romney’s position until recently, referred to 47% of the nation as unproductive and allowing the poor and the elderly to fend for themselves. His more recent public stance shifting toward compassion for the average or poor American makes it difficult to determine his real position.

Whoever becomes President will be confronted with many very serious issues facing our nation which will require impeccable character, morally excellent leadership, and will need to be humble enough to seek both bipartisan partners and divine direction.

Let me suggest six basic guidelines for evangelical Christians to follow, using the model…“How would Jesus vote”?

FIRST. As evangelist, author Tony Evans suggests, in his book, “How Should Christians Vote?”, Christians should vote “for the party, person, or platform that best represents God’s values”  This includes the values of righteous living; fair treatment of others; protecting and valuing all life; looking out for the vulnerable and exercising good stewardship of the planet.

SECOND. Realize that God is neither Democrat nor Republican. When your political party’s positions are contrary to your understanding of the broad biblical witness, embrace God’s word as your standard. Evangelist Tony Campolo — in his book Is Jesus a Democrat or Republican?", answers by saying, “We should never try to shoe horn Jesus into our own personal agendas."

THIRD. Become familiar with the politics of Jesus rooted in justice for the vulnerable; safeguarding the sacredness and value of all life; and righteous stewardship of the earth. Weigh all candidates stances based on the politics of Jesus.

FOUR. Become familiar with voting guidelines of evangelical organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals (www.nae.org), Sojourner (sojo.net) or develop voter guidelines for future elections for your church, denomination or ministry. Base them on a full range of vital issues beyond marriage and the life of the unborn.

FIVE. Pray and ask God’s guidance as you examine the record and positions of candidates against the biblical standard. Pray for fair elections with no hindrances to the precious right to vote.

SIX. Develop a biblically based understanding of the role of government based on God’s word.  The role of government, among other guidelines, is “to restrain evil and promote good” according to author Dr. Ronald Sider, President of Evangelicals for Social Action.  You should also consider organizing forums and seminars to help those you know better understand this important issue.

Tom Skinner once preached that for us to know what heaven is like, we should be able to see a little bit of heaven through the everyday lives of God’s people on earth. We should be able to watch how they live, work, handle their marriages, raise their children, manage everything from their sex lives to their finances and relationships, and respect people who are different from them. I pray that in the 2012 election and all future elections, evangelicals and people of conscience will follow all the teachings of Jesus and not focus exclusively on marriage and life.

Faith Without Works is Dead

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 41^st Annual Legislative Conference was held on September 21-24, 2011 in Washington, DC.  Gathered in one spot were some 10,000 folks from hip hop to high level corporate and small business leaders; from the church to politically savvy women leaders and community organizers, along with the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).  There were robust intergenerational dialogues and practical “how to” information sharing seminars, led by CBC Members, with some of the nation’s best and brightest thinkers, practitioners and opinion shapers, on every conceivable aspect of African American life, e.g.health care, wealth creation, job development, poverty elimination, and civic engagement.

One of the most popular of all the events was the Saturday morning Prayer Breakfast attracting about 3,000 of many of the same leaders who participated in issue workshops and seminars. I am humbled that 30 years ago, my late husband, Tom Skinner, and I founded the Prayer Breakfast as a sacred place for African American leaders to find spiritual renewal for the hard work of empowerment. The good news is that the faith of African Americans remains intact despite the weakening moral fabric of America. The bad news is that the faith foundation of African Americans in years past included less talk and more practical institution building than is now evident. 

The years following President Abraham Lincoln’s signing the Emancipation Proclamation saw the building of some of the most enduring African American organizations and institutions by folks who understood that “faith without works is dead”.  It is mind blowing that without access to technology, widespread political power, high level management positions, wealth, and the first African American President, Black people built such incredible institutions as Howard, Atlanta University, Fisk, Morehouse, Howard and Hampton universities. Believing in a God who could do anything but fail, they joined with progressive, White Americans to elect African Americans to high political offices, create sororities and fraternities, newspapers, service clubs, churches, banks, life insurance companies and other small businesses. This faith inspired work took place during a time when laws were passed that made Black life expendable with lynchings and terrorist acts against African Americans occurring regularly.

Given our glorious past, even in the midst of great dangers, I firmly believe that it will take the following faith-inspired actions for African Americans to re-gain a high level of political and economic momentum and turn our faith into community building work:  1) African American elders practicing a “lived faith”, reflected in life styles of moral excellence that can be modeled by young people;  2) Well educated African American middle class intentionally building connections and relationships with poor and working class African Americans in efforts to strengthen the total community; 3) Training of African Americans in wealth-creation and encouraging greater financial support of African Americans institutions like NAACP and National Urban League ; 4) Intentional efforts at civic engagement and mass demonstrations to protect civil rights, economic, and political gains made by African Americans, against actions to turn back the clock; and,  5) Mentoring of African American young people by older African Americans to provide the love, nurturing, core values, and support needed to build more stable African American communities. Faith combined with works is the key!

Life Is Different From A Wheelchair

Have you ever seen someone in a wheelchair and thought silently to yourself, “How sad; glad it’s not me”?  Of course, you flashed a sympathetic smile to the disabled person as your hurried your “abled” self along.  Or, maybe, you complained to yourself while struggling on a cold and rainy day to find a parking space at the supermarket or mall, and muttered, “why are so many spaces close to the store entrance taken up by the disabled?”

But did you ever stop to think, what your life would be like if you had to spend even a short time disabled and needing a wheelchair to get around?

I honestly never thought about it until this April when disaster struck with a vengeance and I ended up temporarily needing a wheelchair.  Life changed for me, as a Baby Boomer, ex-jogger and vegetarian in superb physical condition, when I experienced a horrific fall.  I do not mean I tripped on the stairs or slipped in the shower for not paying attention.  As an ex-jogger, I had fallen many times on a running path from an unseen dip in the road, or on uneven pavement of city streets.  Over time, I learned how to collapse into an easy fall and have never suffered more than a few bruises and momentary embarrassment.  Sometimes, I could even brace myself to ease the fall. This time, there was simply nothing to prevent my fall. Nothing at all. 

I was speaking at a college and shortly before my session I went with the moderator into a small auditorium to review the format as I normally do.  Surprisingly, in a new, energy efficient building with motion sensored lighting, there were no lights on as we entered the room.  My colleague opened the door and called out for a custodian but no one was on duty.  So we walked along the back wall searching for a light switch with the door ajar to give some light.  In the process, with no lights along the floor indicating stairs, I fell harder than ever down deep steps landing on my right foot with my ankle twisting backward and landed face down.  It happened in less than five seconds.   While being helped up, I prayed that nothing was broken. 

I requested from the custodian, who finally showed up, a bucket of ice for my foot,  gave my message, then left for the nearby medical center very thankful for health insurance.  I could not believe the doctor who said, “the X-rays revealed two broken bones in your right ankle, so I need to fit you with a cast and crutches.”  I could not answer because my mind was racing with questions.  How could I preach in the Chapel tomorrow in a cast and on crutches?   As a frequent traveler who easily navigates through airport, how in the world would I manage now on crutches?  Why did it have to be my right ankle that was broken; and especially my driving foot?  How could I navigate around my house where all the bedrooms are upstairs and the kitchen downstairs.  And what about the travel commitments I have made?  For a moment, I was overwhelmed and settled into a 20 second pity party.

I asked the doctor and nurse to leave the room and give me a moment alone.  Once alone, I prayed “Lord you said you would never give me more than I could handle.  Well I need your help right now to handle this situation.” I added, “God you are so powerful that you could have allowed me to fall without breaking a single bone broken because all power is in your hand.  So obviously, you have a purpose in this that I simply do not understand.  So I will trust you.”

Fitted with a soft temporary air cast, I preached the next day in the Chapel sitting on a stool, after a long, sleepless night of ibuprofen and numbing pain.  With great help from sister friends; I successfully negotiated the airport . . . yes, from a wheelchair.  A second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon back home affirmed that a minimum three months would be required for healing, assuming I spent the time totally off my feet and in a wheelchair when I left the house.  So I went from 3-5 meetings a day to working from my bed on the computer, struggling up and down the stairs in my medical boot that looked like an oversized ski boot.

It has been more than two and a half months since my fall and I tell you life teaches great lessons from the wheelchair, or from any crisis you face.  First, you learn that life may not be fair but God is good.  God will never leave you or forsake you in your crisis. Your illness or disaster gives you much unplanned time alone to pray, meditate, reflect on your life and remember what really matters.  You have time alone with God who has your full attention from the usual distractions to develop closer relationships and deeper faith.  Trust me, God wastes no time helping you to see areas of your life that need a make-over.  Disasters and setbacks also help you to realize how little control you have over certain life circumstances.  Whereas work too often becomes our master, leaving little time for family and friends, disaster forces us to focus and even depend upon family and friends. 

Second, crisis helps you to see people in a whole new way.  I have always embraced as brothers and sisters, people of all races and backgrounds.  Yet, from a wheelchair, from a crisis, you see people of all races and cultures in a whole new way.  You feel a sense of oneness with strangers who from their wheelchair smile at you, not a sympathetic, “O you poor thing smile”, but with an “I know how you feel smile” of understanding and support.   I tell you, there’s total equality from the wheelchair because disaster is an equal opportunity employer.  It favors no race, gender, culture or age.

Third, you get to really know what people are like in your crisis.  The people you thought would be there for you don’t show up at all.  People you never expected to show up, or maybe took for granted, provide amazing emotional, spiritual and physical support.  I love social networking and appreciate my Facebook page, but a true "friend" is the one who despite the inconvenience shows up if only to say, “I’m here; or what do you need.”

Finally, crisis and physical setbacks like mine provide an opportunity for real introspection and for making needed changes in your life.  What about the book or play you have been threatening to write or the advanced degree you have dreamed of pursuing?  And what about family and friends you have not contacted for awhile because 60 hour weeks leave little time for either.  By God’s grace, I am on my way to healing and have started driving short distances near my house.  But even if my injury had caused long term disability, the same lessons would apply and I am thankful for mine.  The next time I pass someone at the airport, or at the market in a wheelchair, I will look at them in a very different way.  I will not look with sympathy, but with understanding because I sincerely believe that when some member of the human family hurts, we all hurt.  Dr. Martin Luther King said it best, “we are all caught in an inescapable web of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects us all indirectly."

Want Joy and Peace In Your Life and World for Christmas; New Year? Talk to the God of Joy and Peace!

Since the day after Thanksgiving, I have been hearing Christmas songs like O Holy Night, O Little Star of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Hallelujah Chorus, and Little Drummer Boy, so many times, I hear them in my sleep.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love these songs.  I grew up on them.  I especially love the way different generations sing and perform them.  But the more I hear them, the more I am haunted by a recurring question.  Why does there seem to be so little joy and peace in the world today with so many people singing "joy to the world and peace to all people"? 

Just look around.  Malls are full of folks with nearly maxed out credit cards but pressed to buy even more.  Folks are going home for the holidays often with little to say after “how have you been?”, “how’s the weather back home?”, and “how was your travel?”  Wars in both Iraq (56,000 still there) and Afghanistan (nearly 100,000 troops), cost an estimated, $7 billion a month.  Home grown and international terrorists scheme daily attacks on America.  North and South Korea stare one another down at their common borders, playing “war games” that impact nations like ours.  Added to all that . . .the New Year is  just days away and the challenges of gang violence, sex trafficking, Haiti relief, immigration, home foreclosures, jobs shifting overseas, and slow American economic recovery are begging for leaders with courage, integrity, and commitment to the poor and underserved to show up.

What does all this mean to you?  Do you feel a spirit of joy and peace about your future? Your job?  Your home?  Your life?  Or. . .are you feeling that there’s something more you can do to make the world where you live and work just a bit more joyful and peaceful? 

Let me suggest two things that you and I can do right now to make joy and peace a reality in 2011.  Remember that happiness is based on circumstances that come and go, but joy is rooted in a sense of spiritual and emotional well-being whether things are good or bad in your life.  Peace is based on harmony within and among people.  Often, conflict and hostility come from self-centeredness and obsession with self, e.g. “me first” and “look out for number one”.   

First, to bring joy and peace into your world, find a cause bigger than yourself that helps someone less fortunate than you where you can make a real difference.  Big or small. . .it does not really matter.  How does that sound to you for starters?  

Second, get to know the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, who came into the world to forgive sins, save souls, and bring peace among people.  Spend time in His love letter to you . . .God's Holy Word (the Bible).  Talk to him like you would a close friend about the kind of leaders we need. . .like the ones you see on television or the Internet whose decisions impact your world and mine.  St. Paul, the writer of two-thirds of the New Testament, as an older man, told a young man named Timothy, who he was mentoring, how to bring joy and peace into the world.  He said, first of all, before you do anything else, pray for everyone, including those you do not like, and especially for rulers and those in authority that we might live peaceful lives. 

In other words, he was saying that there is a direct relationship between the kind of planet we live in and how often we talk to God about leaders. Their decisions can bring joy or conflict; peace or pain; poverty or prosperity to us.  To put it another way, we have the kind of leaders we pray for!  Why?  Because prayer does not change things. . .prayer changes people. . .and people change things!

Believe it or not, you and I have much power to change our world, our cities, our neighborhoods, our schools, our families, and even our own lives, through our prayers.  Don't get me wrong.  Praying does not mean we stop voting, writing letters to elected and appointed leaders, and to the newspaper editors; Blog, Tweet, testify and organize to change our world. We must do it all. So, let’s use both the power of prayer and the power to organize for change, now, and in the New Year,  to create the joy and peace we want, personally, for those around us, and for our global community.  Have a blessed Christmas and a fantastic New Year using the incredible power you possess to talk to God. He loves hearing your voice!