Celebrations

What an amazing week this has been!  A week ago tonight, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, a team that had not won any championships since 1908 (that was 9 years before America entered into World War I!) finally achieved baseball's highest prize - the World Series Championship.  I have rooted for the Chicago Cubs for many years and it seemed that, not too long into many of those seasons, I could be heard saying, "Wait until next year!"  But now the wait is over!  A young team believed in themselves even when their backs were up against the wall to a very good Cleveland Indian team.  They were a fun team to watch.  They played with enthusiasm.  I think Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Jack Brickhouse, and Harry Carey would have approved of the 2016 Chicago Cubs team.  They won a title, not just for themselves, but for a city and for a group of legendary players who had donned a Cubs' uniform but never knew the thrill of a game 7 in the World Series.  November 2 was a very fun night!


Then, what about last night?!  Wow!  Political pundits are speechless.  Pollsters are wondering what happened.  The main-stream media is scratching its head.  Establishment leaders on both sides of the aisle are regrouping and trying to decide what the next step is.  It was sort of fun watching their consternation last night.  To be honest, I went to bed before the final call was made, but it appeared that Donald Trump had the election secured. 


So, how did it happen that a man who had absolutely no political experience could be elected to the highest office in the land and the most important office in the world?  Here was a man who did not have the endorsement of many within the Republican establishment, even after he had won their party's nomination.  Many sought to distance themselves from him.  And Trump certainly was the target of the main-stream media from the very beginning.  His life was put under the microscope, and, yes, there were some things that caused disappointment and embarrassment.  But those same media-pundits were not as quick to examine Secretary Clinton until Wikileaks began dumping huge quantities of revealing emails into the public's lap.  From a logical perspective, there was no way that Donald J Trump should become the 45th President of the United States let alone would become that.


So, again, how did it happen?  Let me share with you two reasons that resonate with me.  I will share the lesser important one first.  Donald Trump had a message that, from the very beginning of his campaign, appealed to the common people who had come to feel very disenfranchised by politicians.  He echoed their concerns.  It was almost as if he had peered into their hearts and saw the anguish that was there.  He saw that most politicians would only talk about issues...he wanted to do something about those issues.  When you look at the map of the popular vote, it truly is amazing.  Michigan - predominately red.  Wisconsin - predominately red.  Iowa - predominately red.  Even Minnesota - predominately red.  Farmers, auto workers, coal miners, textile workers, day laborers found a hope in the message Donald Trump offered.  He was not a politician.  He was a very successful businessman.  Perhaps he could get things moving in a right direction.  And, when Secretary Clinton described those who followed Trump as being a basketful of deplorables and unredeemables, well that just increased the momentum.  People truly believed those words of Trump, "What have you got to lose by voting for me?" 


But, as I still process the result of this election, I believe we have seen a miracle from God because many of us were driven to pray diligently for this election - perhaps as we have never prayed for an election before.  Franklin Graham called people to pray yesterday.  Others did as well.  It was almost as if there was this feeling that America was running out of time.  We pleaded with God for one final opportunity to have a "Josiah" experience - a national turning to God.  And God heard our prayers.  But now is not the time to stop praying.  It really is time to continue praying for God's healing to be upon our land.  Wouldn't it be great if God would get hold of Donald Trump's heart?  He has invited some very outspoken evangelicals to be part of his team as a candidate; let's pray that those same men will be invited to give counsel now that he is president-elect.  And how we need to pray that our new president will surround himself with men and women of strong convictions and not just swayed by the winds of cultural change.  Wouldn't it be great if those advisors really had a heart for a nation envisioned by our Founding Fathers?  And how we need to pray that our new president will cultivate a strong working relationship with the Congress - that he would not see them as adversaries, but as team members to work together to accomplish some great things for America.  We see such scenes in the Old Testament: the stories of Hezekiah and Josiah come to mind, as well as those of Nehemiah. 


These are historic days.  I believe God is giving America one last chance.  The spiritual battle will rage more intensely...but let's join hands and hearts to claim the victory through Christ Jesus.


Finally, over the weekend I went to see the new movie directed by Mel Gibson.  "Hacksaw Ridge" is one of the most intense movies I have seen - possibly since "Saving Private Ryan" or "The Passion of the Christ."  The movie follows the story of Desmond Daws, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  The film is not for the weak-in-heart.  If the sight of blood and mangled bodies makes you squeamish, then this is not for you.  Gibson does not pull any punches with regard to the horrors of war, nor of the courage of one young man to risk his own life to rescue those of his comrades, many of whom had been hostile toward him during basic training.  As I left hat theater after seeing what so many of our young men went through in order that I could enjoy the freedoms that I have, I became very angry at those NFL players who have decided to dishonor our flag and our national anthem.  I would like to roundup all those players, strap them in theater seats and show them this movie and then explain to them that those young men fought and died to defend our nation's flag and the anthem that represents us.  I highly recommend this movie.  Its story needs to be told.  Its spirit needs to be resurrected in our nation's psyche. 


Yes, it has been a pretty incredible last few days.  Praise God He is still in control.  He continues to be our hope.  Even so come, Lord Jesus.