Who's on First?

My 5 year old talks…a lot. He says more words in an hour than some men say in a whole day (according to our pastor last week (not sure of the source), the average man says 12,000 words a day)! He just can’t help himself. We are his handlers and we can’t get him to stop!

If you talk to my grandfather, he says the same thing about President Obama. Usually every time I talk to him, he’ll say, “I’m so tired of hearing Obama speak. He’s always on TV and in the newspaper.” My grandfather is 87 so he has seen a lot of history and been alive through many presidents so when he says that Obama is the “speakingest” president in history, there may be a basis for this.
 
Often times Obama’s coverage is like a “Who’s on First” skit. I am not sure why he even gives an opinion on things. I mean does he really need to comment on the coming out of a NBA basketball star or pop culture? Are these matters of diplomatic concern? He should not be trying to seem cool or be our friend. He needs to be the president.
 
On top of that, he needs to learn when not to speak. I mean, who’s handling the president anyway? Are his handlers pushing their own personal agendas or is this president indeed a spiritual infant?
 
Last week, Obama became the first standing president in history to give his endorsement for Planned Parenthood. Not only did he give his endorsement he said that God has blessed Planned Parenthood.
 
Whoa! Stop the presses!
 
First, “Planned Parenthood” is an oxymoron if you are giving kudos to God. God is in total control of parenthood, not Planned Parenthood. Those of us who partake in planning parenthood are usurping God’s control over our lives. So the mere fact that God blesses Planned Parenthood is a far, far stretch Mr. President. Secondly, how do you know God blesses Planned Parenthood? Did He tell you that?
 
Second, James 3:5-6 tells us, “The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire.” Your words have caused a huge fire across our nation and across the Christian faith. Saying in one breath that God blesses the work of a place that promotes the killing of unborn babies and contributes to blocking births and in the next asking us to pray for our nation is downright confusing.
 
In your speech this morning, you asked Americans to pray for healing of our nation yet you are consistently ordering Americans to support things that are causing America to be sick.
 
Maybe you know something we don’t, Mr. President.
 
What I know, according to scripture, is that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and where things seem evil, God can make them good (Romans 8:28).
 
Maybe you won the election this time around because our nation needs to hit rock bottom before we become outraged and desperate. Perhaps if a strong Christian had been nominated, believers would have felt at ease and their guards would have been lowered.  Perhaps we are headed into an age of complete bondage because we have messed up so badly. Does anyone else think it is odd that other countries are telling us that we need to pray for ourselves? 
 
Maybe as Greg Laurie put it this morning, our country needs revival - “Let’s pray our country turns back to God. America needs a spiritual awakening; let’s pray that revival comes to our shores again.”

It may feel like we live in a perpetual Abbott and Costello skit of “Who’s on First,” but Mr. President, I know without a doubt that God is on First and no matter what you continue to say, right or wrong, God is ultimately in control and He chooses what and whom to bless.
 
Instead of only seeking healing for our sick nation, perhaps believers should pray that ungodly words are not heard by unbelievers – that unbelieving ears and eyes are opened only to those things that are of God. We need to pray specifically for each individual in this nation – believing and unbelieving.
 
The scripture chosen for this year’s National Day of Prayer is Matthew 12:21, “In His name the nations will put their hope.” We first have to believe in God before we can hope in Him. That’s the first step and an immediate prayer need.