Yesterday I sat in a room filled with hundreds of college students and Tallahassee residents listening to Rick Santorum speak from his heart about why he is running for president, and why America needs to change. My heart and mind were moved to agree with his beliefs. It solidified my thoughts that he is the man for president in November.
Here’s why.
I believe the fundamental problem we face in America is not budgetary, and it’s not wars; it’s not healthcare, and not even over-reaching government. These are merely symptoms of a deeper rooted disease: the lack of morality due to the break down of the institution of family. Every single issue our Nation is facing can be rooted back to morals being thrown out the window for the sake of personal desires.
If the problem we face is a moral one, how does a politician fix it?
Simple: He doesn’t. At least, not completely.
What America needs most importantly is for hearts to change and return to morality — the morality found in God’s Word. We need the hearts of the fathers to be turned to their children; we need a revival. This can really only come through prayer, but having the right man in office would help. This understanding of focusing on family and God is what Rick Santorum spoke about yesterday –– it’s what solidified in my mind that he’s the real deal and the candidate who would help steer America where she needs to go in this season.
I appreciate what Senator Santorum said yesterday about the constitution and its original intent being to protect the rights that God Himself gave us. Without God giving us freedom and laws, we’d have no rights or morality.
I understand these points are not conclusive, but I believe they are paramount. At least regarding the elections. I believe Rick Santorum has had a strong and consistent focus on family, God, and life. His focus on the family is the strongest out of the other GOP candidates, especially his fervor to end abortion in America. Rick Santorum and his wife have parented 7 children, and they understand the value of human life.
“The Constitution is there to do one thing, to protect God given rights. That’s what makes America different than every other country in the world. No other country in the world has its rights based in God given rights, not government given rights. If our President believes that rights come to us from the state, the everything government gives you, it can take away ” -Rick Santorum
Allow me to a bit vulnerable in this post. I have lately been fraught with worry, anxiety and fear. I’ve been pondering where this came from (cause it seemingly came out of nowhere), and I’ve spent a good deal of time praying, reading the Word and psychoanalyzing myself. I guess a large part of the fear is simply worrying about ‘tomorrow’ and the thought What on earth am I going to do with my whole life?
“Worry puts question marks where God puts periods.” John R. Rice
But in all the soul-searching that I have done, I have found no solace or understanding, until today.
I started reading a book by Robert J. Morgan called Red Sea Rules which gives 10 scripture-based strategies for difficult times. I’m pretty blown away with the godly perspective I’ve gained about my worries. The Red Sea Rule #1 to making it through a hard season (be it worry, anxiety from situations or just plain bad circumstances) is to “realize that the Lord has either placed us there or allowed us to be there, perhaps for reasons presently known only to Himself.”
The same God who led me in will lead me out. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8). Realizing that God has me right where He wants me brings a great sense of hope. I’m not in this difficult season because the devil has me in a trap that I can’t break free from and God can’t break into. I will rest in the fact that it is God who brought me here, He will keep me here because of His love, and give me grace to be His child (Heb. 12:6, 1 Cor. 10:13). Jesus will turn this trial into a blessing and teach me a lesson about Himself, myself, and life itself.
This poem, which is untitled and unattributed, found in a small volume by V. Raymond Edman, titled The Disciplines of Life, really encouraged me:
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man,
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, Watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lights beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out–
God knows what He’s about.
You can check out the book Red Sea Rules here:
Update December, 2011: I have decided to personally extend this till the end of the year. I will begin posting again in January.
Social networking can be a great tool for relationship building and the furtherance of the gospel, but — as with most things — when used in excess, becomes an extemrely detrimental tool to our lives. The biggest issues being that of time and relational health.
Social networking can keep us from:
Why it’s important to fast corporately:
Ray Comfort, founder of Living Waters Ministries produced this 33 minute documentary that is raw, gritty, a bit offensive, and true.
This ‘guy on the street’ styled documentary shows pro-choice Americans’ views on abortion and their complete 180º change to pro-life seconds. The paralel between Hitler’s Holocaust of the Jews and America’s Holocaust of 50+ million babies is an incredible, thought-provoking argument.
Comfort’s goal is to get the movie out to people, free of charge, including giving out 200,000 DVDs of the movie in one day to the nation’s top universities. Please visit the movie’s website at: http://www.180movie.com
“The root of the problem does not originate with a love of pleasure but rather lies with the posture of our heart in the midst of pleasure. Therefore selling our possessions and living in poverty can never be a final solution to our dissatisfaction. Those who believe so have assumed that our satisfaction is the pinnacle of our existence. Is our joy the final goal of our lives, or do we exist to enjoy bringing pleasure to Another?”
I arrived in Orlando this evening to take part in the Florida Straw Poll, Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and to pray for the presidential candidates. I will also be attending the Fox News/Google GOP Presidential Primary Debate on Thursday.
I’m so excited to be attending this event and to pray over this election season. Our prayers are effective from anywhere, but there is something different about being able to lay your hand on someone’s shoulder and pray for them.
I am asking God for divine meetings and favor. Also, I am really praying that God would use me to encourage the candidates to make bold, unapologetic stands for righteousness according to the Word.
I would love it if you would please pray for my mother and me.
Here’s some ways to pray:
I am currently sitting on an electrical box outside of a Christian Life Center waiting on my car to be towed. The muggy air is thankfully masked by the slightly cooled breeze. As I was driving here, my car…bit the dust.
While turning, I lost power steering, A/C; my battery warning light came on and my car let out a treacherous squeal like she’d been shot by an arrow in the gut. Turns out it was the Serpentine belt.
Minwé, my car, has had a rough time lately. Last week her A/C died, costing me a pretty penny (a really pretty penny). We’ve had our fair share of problems and fix-its, her and I. But I’ve never doubted God’s faithfulness and goodness.
The reason I call her Minwé is actually an interesting story of God’s faithfulness.
This article is a gem. It talks about the 3-5 second window we have where we can say yes or no to temptation. It also hits on how we can practically avoid temptation. Oh, and it’s vintage, so it should appeal to you hipsters.
tag. -->
- Tagged:
- politics
- america
- Rick Santorum
- elections
Comments