Democracy Done Right

This country has always been divided when it comes to political affiliation.  That is how Americans voice their ideologies and keep their government accountable. Typically, two political parties have emerged as dominant – the Democratic party and the Republican party.  Democracy is wonderful when things are done right.

The 2016 Presidential race brought out some negative elements, especially when people stop adhering to the tenants of democracy.  The obvious one was when people decided to protest the election results, with some on the edge of widespread riots. It’s one thing to fight for what you believe in and fight for your candidate ‘before’ the election, but it’s another, when people continue to fight after the clear winner has been announced. The people should’ve come together as ‘fellow Americans’ and celebrate the winner.

In general, previous Presidential elections had people come together as fellow Americans after the race.  They come together to recognize and respect the will of the people and to honor the highest office in the nation.  Regardless of who that person was or his political party affiliation, he was chosen to sit on the Presidential chair in the Oval office in the White House. In a way, it’s like the Olympics; the runner in the race has finally won and now deserves his medal. Taking his gold medal back, because a group doesn’t like him is called totalitarianism.

The losing political party (Democratic, Libertarian, Green) doesn’t need to pack up their bags, close the doors, throw away the keys and go home.  They don’t need to fight the result of a clean fight.  They don’t need to make excuses.  They don’t need to demonize the other party and its voters, nor do they need to assassinate people’s character due to their defeat.  No! What the parties need to do is this:  They need to re-strategize, re-equip, and get ready for the next election race. They have four years to prepare, win people’s hearts, and choose their best candidates.  This is the beauty of democracy!

As followers of Jesus, let us go to our spiritual hill top – wherever you commune with God, and ask our Lord for protection for President Donald Trump and his family, for guidance and wisdom as he and his administration lead and make decisions, and for God’s Will and blessings for this great nation, the United States of America!

Romans 13: 1-2 (Hawai’I Pidgin): Everybody gotta listen da guys dat stay in charge a da law. Dey get da power fo tell da odda peopo wat fo do, you know. But da power dey get, God wen give um dat. Da guys dat stay get power right now, dey da ones dat stay in charge cuz God wen make um lidat. Dat mean, if get somebody dat go agains da kine peopo dat get dat kine power, az jalike dey going agains da way how God wen go make one govermen fo us. If get anybody dat make lidat, dey goin get it from God da Judge.

New Year Prayer

This prayer from Billy Graham, written for The Saturday Evening Post in 2008, is just as relevant this year.

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

Amen                                                                                                      

© 2008 Saturday Evening Post Society. Reprinted with permission.