I'm writing this month's thoughts late on purpose. It's November 5th, and we've just witnessed an historic event. For the first time in our 232 year journey as a country, a black man has been elected to the presidency. Some of the darkest days of our national past included despicable acts, treating some as mere property just because of the color of their skin. We've come a long way to realizing the words in our own Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal". Paul said almost two thousand years earlier "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". (Galatians 3:28)

 While in one respect, this is a moment of incredible national pride, I'm worried about the direction the country is taking. As I watched the news last night, some were debating the stance of our national psyche. "Are we right-leaning? Are we moderate? Has there been a shift to the left?" More and more I think the latter. We have in so many areas ceased using the Bible as the "rule of law", believing it to be out of step with modern society. We have allowed thoughts and practices to creep into our value system that generations ago would have been unthinkable. Numerous state referendums were voted on yesterday, attempting to pass into law mindsets that fly directly in the face of tenets held to firmly in Scripture. I don't believe we are becoming more enlightened. Just the opposite; I think we are sinking deeper into darkness. Every nation that has fallen throughout history has first fallen from within.

But I still believe in this land and the ideals it was built on. President-elect Obama says he is a man of deep faith and conviction. We need to hold him to that. Already, he is building a team of advisers that will have great sway over what happens over the next four years. We need to pray that of all the voices that will be vying for his attention, the strongest ones will be those whose hopes and convictions are firmly established on Jesus Christ. We also need to pray that he use his faith to seek the face of the Lord for decisions to be made. These are critical days for our country, but the word of God spoken to King Solomon resonates truer now than ever; "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 hear their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)