Now it makes sense.
In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham
Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg.Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com. And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?"And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?"And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success.Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent.To prevent neighbouring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures - Hebrew To The People (HTTP).And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And, indeed, did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or eBay as it came to be known.He said, "We need a name that reflects what we are". Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner-Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham. Because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside.It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE). That is how it all began.
SO, OKAY, IT'S REALLY NOT 'NEWS', BUT I BET YOU ENJOYED READING IT !!!
Struck by the news of his father's sudden death, Daniel Rodriguez closed his eyes in sorrow just a few days after graduating from high school. He later opened them in horror in the middle of a deadly battle with Taliban fighters. What happened in between was a blur.
There are now two Daniel Rodriguez's. One, a battle-hardened veteran with more memories than his mind can hold. The other, a young man eager to pick up where he once left off. A shell of what he has done, a silhouette of what he can be; Rodriguez is caught squarely between what was and what's next. As the names of eight inscribed on a bracelet suggest, he always will be.
At 20 years old, Rodriguez was making his second tour of duty overseas. He had first helped spearhead the Baghdad surge, surviving a welcome of IED blasts and random gunfire to his chosen occupation. He spent 12 months in Iraq, circling city streets in days that would demand 16-18 hours of armed patrol. The task was tedious and tense, unforgiving and unnerving. It was just the beginning of things to come.
After a little over a year back home in the states, Rodriguez's unit, Bravo troop 3/61, was again called to duty. The encore destination was Afghanistan, specifically the country's eastern mountain ranges along the Pakistan border. There, the circumstances were quite different. As the Army's northernmost Afghani extension, the unit operated outside of the parameters of traditional reach. These were troops dropped into obscurity, where survival tactics and keen senses were as critical as a rifle. Men were taken deep into the wilderness and even further back in time. The soldiers lived and functioned within the terrain. Basics like food, shelter and shower were fluid luxuries.
"The only things we received were water and ammo, that's it," Rodriguez recalled. "We were on our own for everything else."
A mere-classroom of people quite honestly overshadowed and overwhelmed by their surroundings, the unit would soon endure one of the most trying exchanges in modern U.S. history. A collection of boys from back home found their greatest fears brought to reality in the bloodiest battle of the Afghan engagement. Rodriguez was one of over 30 U.S. troops suddenly overrun by a Taliban force close to 400 strong in an area so far behind enemy lines that fixed-wing aircover was 30 minutes away. With communication hubs that were destroyed, vague logistical information and odds that would make any denominator tremble, the life of this Virginia-native would soon change forever.
The day of October 3rd, 2009, Daniel's sister Veronica woke up with horrible nightmares, covered in cold sweats. Rodriguez himself was the lone soldier up before dawn, waking and trekking 300 meters across camp to the lone computer within the base wire. There he planned to open his inbox and check email messages. Rodriguez, instead, opened the front door straight to hell.
Settled in a valley between mountain high ground, Rodriguez and his peers were hit with full-circle gunfire, rockets and mortars. The former high school football star at Stafford High School in Virginia, who was clocked at 4.55 in the forty yard dash, had to sprint back to position in the pitch black dark. Bullets hit around him like raindrops from above. Each splash was a cadre of lead ricochets into a million deadly shards. No strangers to fighting or surprise attacks, the unit dug in. Accustomed to short battles, though, just over two dozen troops aimed high and shot from the difficult position of surrounded-and-outmanned.
Rodriguez expected fierce fire. This, however, was different.
Bursts that normally subsided after a half-hour only continued and increased in rate of fire. As information was gathered piece by piece, it became clear that this was an invasion of hundreds, from all sides, to the isolated position. A world away from reinforcements, and cut off from communications, the situation quickly became dire. The only option was one that offered a clear line of demarcation: life or death.
The enemy was relentless as they advanced on the makeshift outpost. Gunfire spread through the camp along with a wave of grave concern as to what might be. The objective of the atypically large native force was to gain control over a critical supply route in the region. Rodriguez's unit had little protection from the onslaught, the cover of the night sky ultimately serving as one equalizer in the chaos.
"I thought at times that this was going to be it," he reflected.
As hours crept by and turned to days, footsteps replaced mortar fire as the enemy broached camp lines. The Taliban had overrun what meager boundary was in place and a unit one-tenth the size of its' attacker was under direct siege. Falling bodies blended into a whirlwind of sights that should never be seen, noises that shouldn't be heard. As Rodriguez scrambled for clarity, anything within reach was a resource.
"At one point I had to crawl to my buddy's body and get his weapon," he remembered of the fighting. "I went through so much ammo it was crazy."
The trauma mounted. Rodriguez was hit with shrapnel in his legs and neck and was pierced with a bullet fragment through the shoulder. From a psychological standpoint, he had seen his friends fall. Despite the wounds, he fought on. Throughout an 18-hour fight at the Battle of Kamdesh, Rodriguez served his country and those around him in the face of unspeakable adversity. Chronicled that day was a story of him sprinting across the camp after one of his peers had fallen.
The scene was so devastating that twice the unit called for a "full winchester" over the radio. The army's request for direct, extreme on-target bombing, such a move is considered a last-ditched effort in battle. Only three times during the entire Afghan tour was that call made. Bombs soon were dropped right on top of the madness, with American troops huddled in their barracks amidst hope and prayer.
"I thought the shockwaves were going to kill me," Rodriguez explained. "I just held on."
Nearly three full days after he got up a bit earlier than his peers so he could use the computer, the fighting ceased. Eight Americans laid dead. Over 20 were seriously wounded. This was a battered and bruised unit that wouldn't need to roll up their sleeves to reveal their battle scars. Rodriguez, in fact, would go onto wear his just beneath.
Once the adrenaline had dried out of his system, moments of deep reflection rushed in. Though barely old enough to buy a Budweiser, this feeling was nothing new for Rodriguez. The setting was one world away; the sickness, however, hit home.
Four days after his high school graduation, Daniel was shot right in the chest by a single telephone call that completely changed his life. His father Ray had suffered a heart attack and died. The news was a devastating blow for a young man with dreams of college and continuing his athletic career. Rodriguez was a standout football player, having starred as a receiver and defensive back in the Commonwealth's highest classification. A young man confused and full of questions, he opted instead for a different path. Seeking guidance, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
"I remember my dad telling me, 'don't go into the infantry' and of course I did," Rodriguez sighed with a grin.
Then came two tours of duty overseas, a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. More than all, came the memories of eight brothers-in-arms; fallen heroes who now rest on a silver bracelet on Rodriguez's wrist. They live in his words. Stories of battle, tales of friendship, memories of life and all that comes with it. As he uses them for perspective, Rodriguez is now using them for direction.
Just a few short years ago his home base in Colorado had received tentative news of his death. The now 24-year old has instead remarkably overcome his wounds and is training six hours a day in order to realize a childhood dream of playing college football. Just 140 pounds as a senior in high school, Rodriguez now stands 180 pounds and carries the mental toughness no workout can provide. He craves the team unity, longs for the competition of the game. More so, he has a commitment to uphold.
"I told one of the guys over there," Rodriguez said looking at his wrist, "that I would go play college football."
Talking with the young man, you can tell the sport has a special place in his heart. Recollections of his high school career, speculation into his future, spark a change in his demeanor that should come with streamers and a birthday cake. A smile so wide bursts from within that his cheeks tug at the corners of his eyes. Ask him about playing college football and Rodriguez's face brightens and he starts shaking his head, as if he can't believe this second chance is his.
Rodriguez has been contacted by both Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech and Mike London at Virginia. Various other schools have taken notice including Georgia Southern and Oklahoma State. Rodriguez is keeping his options open. He is excelling in his classes at the community college and is eligible to transfer to a school of his choice. His tuition will be covered in full by the G.I. Bill.
The story, still unfinished, is one of a true American hero. Despite the medals and ribbons, Rodriguez doesn't see it that way.
"The guys who didn't come back are the heroes," Rodriguez insisted.
Moving forward, making a college football team is the next challenge in a life that has thrived at overcoming them. Rodriguez can now, at least on his good days, act his age. Hunting and fishing are two of his favorite pastimes. An outdoorsman with a true appreciation of all that he does, he is approaching his time with a strong vigor and zeal. Opportunity, consider yourself forewarned; Rodriguez will taking full advantage of any and all he can find.
"Daniel is an inspiration. He wears more than the tattoo and his heart on his sleeve. He's made up of courage, which comes from his faith," explained country music star Rodney Atkins, who saw Rodriguez's YouTube video and was immediately taken aback. "He's lived in the Lion's Den and now he is unstoppable. I believe God has an incredible plan for Daniel's life."
From the tragedy of his father through the calamity of war, this is a full-grown man embracing life with the passion of a child. The 2011 SouthernPigskin.com Person of the Year continues to work towards a roster spot at the college level, nine men train with him in his mind. Years after an unexpected detour, life is next on the schedule. Two different stories are finally meshing into one.
Four days after graduation, Daniel Rodriguez's world stopped. Consider this his day five.
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Buy American in 2012 by Roger Simmermaker
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Disclaimer: I, Maggie Thibodeaux, do not endorse or
recommend anything in the following article. I, however,
was taken off Nutra Sweet and any other edibles with
Aspartame by my Neuroligist in 1991, so there must have
been a reason. You can form your own opinion.
In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.
By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain and so sick she just knew she was dying.
She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.
She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.
On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.
I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.
I told her not to open it and to stop drinking the diet soda!
I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better.
She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.
Well she called me and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda... and literally dying a slow and miserable death.
When she got to Florida March 22 all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery.And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.
If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label: DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME' marketed as 'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal' and 'Spoonful.'
In the keynote address by the EPA it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.
I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.
Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!
Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.
The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic once taken off diet sodas.
In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear We've seen many cases where vision lossreturned and hearing loss improved markedly. This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,
Cramps
Vertigo
Dizziness
Headaches
Tinnitus
Joint pain
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!'
People were jumping up during the lecture saying 'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels!
Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!
Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!
These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.'
Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!
Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.
Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.
Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage, Seizures, Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks, Uncontrollable anger and rage.
Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.
So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!
Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'
It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.
Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.
There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'
Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.
Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.'
I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.
And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?
This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.
Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.
The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms.
The bill was killed.
It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well you're informed now!
~ Author unknown, but you can do your own research.
Cigarettes
Given all the health concerns associated with smoking, it's hard to believe that this habit is still as popular as it is. Teenagers often feel huge peer pressure to smoke cigarettes. Whether it be due to a feeling of invincibility, associated with their young age, a lack of caring for the consequences, an attempt to create a specific image or simply an act of rebellion, many teens pick up this habit. Tobacco companies rely on this. Smoking is a tough habit to kick, so many of these teens will likely smoke for many years to come. Peer pressure, with regard to smoking, can also have a reciprocal effect, as many people also quit as a result of peer pressure.
Smartphones
High-tech gadgets seem to change and evolve at a never-ending pace. Almost everyone in our society feels the pressure to keep up with these changes. The desire to own smartphones keeps everyone continuously plugged-in and attached to our email, Facebook, instant messenger and an endless barrage of applications. A basic cell phone hardly seems good enough these days, even though some studies suggest that many people don't actually use a lot of the added features of their smartphones. Regardless, many people are so attached to these devices that people were completely outraged when BlackBerry experienced system outages in October 2011, despite the fact that their basic cell phone services were still operational. And, as this technology continues to evolve, people continue to buy and replace their smartphones with the latest devices that offer new services and have greater capabilities. It has been suggested that the smartphone could possibly render alarm clocks and point-and-shoot digital cameras obsolete, as people use the alarm clock functions on their phones more frequently and the cameras in these devices continue to improve. This technology doesn't appear to be going anywhere. In many ways it makes communication easier, but with that comes an expectation that people are plugged-in and available at all times.
Alcohol
Much like cigarettes, alcohol is another habit that many people pick up as teenagers. Teens, who are eager to fit in with the "popular crowd," will often drink as a means to fit in, or alternatively, as an act of rebellion against their parents or society. However, peer pressure, with regard to alcohol, is not only limited to teenagers. Many young adults feel immense pressure to go out to bars and clubs to drink, once they're of legal drinking age. This continues further into adulthood when people feel the pressure to engage in a social drink. Perhaps it's pressure to join the work crew for a Friday afternoon beer, or a tendency to order another drink at dinner just because your friend does. This habit is a very social one, and isn't generally problematic for most people, though for some people this social habit can be a segue into a serious addiction.
Apple Stuff
Apple products are absolutely everywhere these days. Whether it's iPods, iPads, iPhones or MacBooks, it's almost impossible to escape these trendy tech gadgets. What is it about Apple products that has people lining up for hours when they're first released? Besides their user-friendly appeal, and the immense need for many people to keep up with evolving trends and technology, Apple has cleverly surrounded their products with a certain cachet. Apple products are just cool. Every new launch offers users new capabilities, causing the most loyal of fans to rush out and replace their, now old, technology with the latest offering, so they can remain on the cutting edge of technology with the latest and greatest Apple gadget. Another purchasing trend, that Apple has identified, is the tendency of their customers to purchase one Apple device, and then to go on to purchase other Apple devices. This peer pressure is then being translated into brand loyalty, a great trend for Apple. Apple has also managed to appeal to a broad cross section of society, with everyone from young kids all the way up to senior citizens purchasing Apple products.
Cars
Whether it's that first beaten-up car that teens save up for once they get their driver's license or a hot sports car purchased by someone middle-aged, cars have a way of inspiring a sense of freedom in most people. Many feel a desire to purchase a car that in some way defines them. Whether that be an environmentalist who buys a hybrid or a wealthy business person who purchases an expensive luxury car, society impacts almost everyone's vehicle purchasing decisions to some extent. A vehicle is such a large purchase that many people want to put quite a bit of thought into it. Marketing, public opinion and status often play into these decisions to a large degree. Many people feel an impulse to "keep up with the Joneses," and purchase cars that help them fit into their social circles or to pump up their egos. This is certainly not only limited to young people. For most teenagers and young adults, simply owning a car might be enough of a status symbol. It's also important for people to consider how purchasing a car will impact their overall financial situation. Expensive cars often come with big payments and higher insurance rates.
The Bottom Line
Peer pressure affects aspects of everyone's life, from childhood to old age. Whether it be through our clothing choices, food purchases, where we live, where we shop, where we go to eat or what we spend our entertainment dollars on, we are constantly impacted by those around us and by society at large. The important thing is to consider how these purchases impact you and your financial situation. Buying a luxury car is probably not a smart idea for most people in their 20s who are just starting out. Purchasing the latest and greatest tech gadget might not be the wisest decision when the technology seems to evolve at such a rapid pace. Constantly giving in to peer pressure could lead to debt. Consider each purchase before you make it, and the reasons behind the expenditure. If you're only doing it to fit in or to look cool in front of your friends, perhaps you need to step back and rethink whether you need it at all.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - II Chronicles 7:14
Pray for protection and care for our troops—that they will be empowered to serve wisely, and pray for their loved ones as they make continued sacrifices for the cause of freedom.
Rise up to cry out to God for our nation, our leaders and our troops. Pray for a spirit of repentance to take hold in America that individuals, communities and institutions will repent of sin and will hunger for righteousness and godliness. Pray for the character of our leaders.
James 5:16 says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Pray for our nation and its leaders, and our Armed forces who are defending our freedom. The key is to be right with God as we pray.
Is there anything unconfessed in your life? Then confess it. Is there someone you need to forgive? Then forgive. God has chosen to let us help Him change the world through our prayers. This great country was built on the foundation of prayer since its founding. We each have a responsibility to continue praying for our country as they did in the very beginning. Please join me as we, together, do our part in rekindling our rich cultural heritage of prayer for our great nation.
- John Lind, President/CEO; The Presidential Prayer Team __________________________________________________________________
"Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history. From the beginning, You have been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right arm has saved us. We have been amazingly and graciously blessed.
"Today, we confess our sin of not responding to Your right to rule in our lives and our nation. Too often we have despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we are now facing the consequences of our disobedience. Draw us back to Yourself that we may return to Your ways once again. Without You we can do nothing. You have promised that if we honor You, You will once again honor this great nation.
That is our fervent prayer. For Your honor and glory we pray, Amen." -
Dr. Henry Blackaby __________________________________________________________________
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance." ~ Psalm 33:12
Praying With Liberty
by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos
With Liberty we lift our hands
beseeching God to bless our land
and guide our leaders to a place
where righteousness prevails.
With Liberty we stand erect
although ashamed and circumspect
about the countless times we’ve failed
to stand for what is right.
With Liberty we raise a flame
confessing that we are to blame
for how we’ve bowed to tolerance
and closed our eyes to truth.
With Liberty we dodge the tide
that splashes us from side to side
and keep our heads above the fray
that harbors culture’s lies.
With Liberty we clutch a book
without concern for how we look
when critics see us with God’s Word
and simply roll their eyes.
With Liberty we lift our eyes
and look into the spacious skies
to seek God’s vision and His peace
and focus on His grace.
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Perhaps never before has there been a greater need for prayer in our nation than right now! And our prayer must be of greater fervency than ever before. While we have been “praying” in recent years, the spiritual condition of our nation, our churches, and our families has been in decline. Great uncertainties seem to be crying out for real answers. Therefore, let us pray ardently until God responds and sends a mighty revival to us and our land.
The entire people of God must participate together in sincerity and passion. And we must not be content with anything less than a great revival! This is what God desires, and it is up to us to respond to His heart for our day.
Begin now to pray, and encourage others to do the same. We can experience together the great and mighty wonders of God again in our nation.
- Henry Blackaby - __________________________________________________________________
Since the earliest moments of our nation’s history, our leaders have called for national days of prayer, repentance and fasting. When an impasse had been reached at the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin called for prayer with these words: “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men… And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I therefore beg leave to move--that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business…”
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