We have a new President in the U.S.

“If we quote the Bible to defend our rights, we must define and defend the rights the Bible defends.” Quote from the New Book.
We have a new President in the U.S. I stayed glued to the television for many hours. The entire world is focused on this event and if nothing else it has restored international hope in America. Can hope ever be a bad thing? I have not seen anything else like this in my 40 years overseas unless you compare it to the global dislike of Nixon and Bush. Let us pray that God, who can use anyone, anywhere, use this President to bless the world and expand His Kingdom.

South Africa has been in the news a great deal the last few months, but don’t worry it is all made to sound worse than it actually is. Like America, “drama” sells papers. If they can print a front-page crisis, a U.S. paper will make on average $1million more with that issue than a normal headline.

Our fledgling democracy is doing pretty well walking through the first leadership crisis and a healthy opposition is developing to the overly powerful ANC party. Many Christians and churches across the country are in active mode to play their part in this history making time. The start up of a genuine second party “COPE” (I had nothing to do with it!) is a big move forward towards checks and balances. God is alive and active in South Africa as are His people. Pray that the move towards greater justice and development continue as His values are put into place.

In researching the current book on Governance, I did a study of the political leadership from Abraham to the time of Christ. I listed each leader with the positive and negative contributions that God notes. By the time you have done them all, patriarchs, judges and kings you are convinced of several truths:

*GOD USES EVEN THE BAD LEADERS WHEN HIS PEOPLE PRAY.
*GOOD LEADERS DO BAD THINGS AND BAD LEADERS DO GOOD THINGS.
*THE COUNTRY SOMETIMES PROSPERS UNDER THE BAD GUYS AND SOMETIMES FALLS APART UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GOOD GUYS.
*ALL THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF ISRAEL HAD MAJOR FLAWS.
*GOD IS BUSY IN THE NATION NO MATTER WHO IS LEADING.
*THE INFLUENCE OF THE CITIZENS IS MORE INFLUENTIAL THAN THE POLITICAL LEADERS.
*GOD DOES HAVE AN OPINION ON WHO SHOULD LEAD BUT EVEN THE BEST IS NOT THAT GOOD.
*ISRAEL ALWAYS PLACED TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON WHO WAS LEADING POLITICALLY AND NOT ENOUGH ON GOD’S ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH ANY VESSEL.

As we face elections with the ANC and Zuma as a candidate and you look to the next Presidents first 100 days. Let’s remember if God can use you and me, God can use anyone. Pray!