We live in a caring community. For all the calls, emails, cards, prayers and the genuine care and sympathy for the recent passing of my dad, thank you! Those loving touches of respect and concern as we went through cancer’s ravaging final moments meant more than you know. Then, after I returned home, everyone’s patience in allowing the time needed to grieve and find my moorings here again, revealed even more why I love our county.
Several of you told me I needed to get to work and write a new column. So, here goes.
I purchased 10 tickets for the “Restoring Love” event July 27 in Arlington, Texas, with the hope of taking some there. The “Restoring Honor” Aug. 28, 2010, event in D.C. ended up with four bus loads of us going to join some 850,000-plus others, compared with 110,000 or so in Texas Stadium for July 27, 2012. The Love event sold out in 15 minutes, whereas the “Honor” event had no tickets and was at the base of the Lincoln Monument, with people on both sides of the reflecting pond way out past the tree lines and stretching to the World War II Memorial. That’s like one mile long by more than one mile wide (with a pond in the middle) of people.
Our daughter and her family live in Arlington, and I gave her the tickets. They are excited for the opportunity to attend the event, and it’s all of five minutes from their home.
Of all the things our country needs restored, loving God and one another as we love ourselves seems so appropriate and timely. I believe most people in Cass County strive to follow golden rules regarding others, but definitely D.C. needs a great awakening if our nation is to survive the economic tsunami about to hit.
Do you get the sense that none of our federal elected officials even care since they still keep piling on the debt? They’re borrowing 40 cents of every dollar they spend!
It’s not just D.C. that needs a 2 Chronicles 7 movement, but across our country people are praying for such. We want that to happen! We plead that such a restoration of every citizen would come and come soon.
My dad and I talked about the desire to witness a Great Awakening in our lifetime. What happens to our lifestyles, family, careers, friends and neighbors, should that come? I studied the past Great Awakenings in some detail through my years at seminary and since in preparation for some special speaking events. If you get a chance, type “Great Awakening” in your search engine and see what happened in the 1800s and early 1900s. Then imagine and pray for the changes that may come.
For now, I have the joy of serving Dailey Church, the 125-year-old landmark church on Dailey Road, as interim pastor. Also, I am helping Jack Hoogendyk (U.S. House candidate) and Gary Glenn (U.S. Senate candidate) to win their primary race next month.
Above all, I’m praying for you.