Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Good Afternoon, this is Dan Hocker, and welcome back to The Lion’s Den, here on Renueva Tu Fe Radio 1430AM. Today is my wife's birthday! I do my best to remember her birthday, because Crystal (my wife) remembers all the others. She remembers the birthdays of ALL our children, all six of them, along with the spouses of our married children, her parents, my parents, my brothers, her brothers, and the grandchildren too! What an amazing woman. So, for all you do, happy birthday, Sweetheart!

Hey did you try to go to the bank or Post Office yesterday? They were closed in observance of Veteran’s Day. No matter what day of the week it falls on, we always celebrate Veteran’s Day on November 11th. I want to say thank you to all our veterans today. I tried to call some good friends who served, and tell them how much I appreciate their service to our country, but I also think it’s important to appreciate those who are serving now, and their families. We want to remind you to pray for troops and their families and in honor of all of them I want to begin our show this afternoon with this old classic, “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

Did you hear that among the things Obama plans to do as soon as he takes office is to reverse some “Bush policies.” One of those is to remove the restrictions placed on Stem Cell Research. Do you remember how we celebrated George W. Bush’s courage to place limitations on Stem Cell Research to discourage abortion as a means to acquire human stem cells. The Right to Life Community celebrated. Now this is the news of the day.
Hey the objective here is not simply to say, "Hey, we told you so." That would be pointless. Rather I want to equip you to talk with your friends as they wake up from this dream they have chosen over the reality of Obama's real positions on moral issues. I am afraid that soon tens of millions of Christians will sheepishly say, "I guess I should have known better."
I guess I still find it amazing that although 43% of Christians did not follow the recommendations and endorsements of National Right to Life as they voted in this presidential election. Maybe we shouldn’t be so amazed, since Obama had such a decided advantage both in the media’s bias and the money he spent to get his message out. People, including Christians, just believed this eloquent speaker.

Well I am glad that many of you answered the call to prayer for America, and I hope you will continue praying. Maybe you’ll join me in lifting the prayer of this next song, “Change my Heart, O God."

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

There are few things more divisive than politics, and because of its divisive nature, it is no wonder that many pastors and Christian leaders simply refuse to be involved at all. Those who venture into the troubled waters of politics do so to the tune of “Separation of Church and State,” in three part harmony. They claim that Separation of church and state prohibits the church from exercising influence on the state. Although we know that the intent was to keep the state out of the affairs of the church and not vice versa. However, fearing the loss of their tax exempt status, many churches just won’t get involved.

Another reason is simply the fear that they may anger someone who is attending their church by taking a stand on an issue where there may be others in the congregation with a different point of view. In the interest of unity they remain silent on political issues that might put them in the middle of controversy.
During the campaigns, passions rise and arguments ensue. Candidates make their cases. Parties present their platforms. We listen and we do our best to decide. Finally, we cast our vote, based on the information we have received. The ballots are counted. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Then it’s over. There are no more arguments to present. Right or wrong, decisions are made, and we go on.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve made a few dumb decisions in my life, but even then, they were errors of the head, and not errors of the heart. One couple I know canceled each other’s vote this year. Maybe you voted differently than your best friend. Maybe you voted differently than a whole lot of your friends. Hey, your vote is your business, and if you are a Christian, however you voted, I’m sure that you were doing your best to make the best decision you could for your family, your church, your friends. The deciding factor may have been one the moral issues like a candidates position on abortion or same sex marriage. On the other hand the deciding factor may have been the moral responsibility of providing for your family or defending your loved one who is in harm’s way.
So, however, you voted, or however your brother or sister voted, let’s believe the best about them. After all, you know that they would never do anything intentionally to harm you. Perhaps you think they could have or should have made a better decision. Hey, let’s give credit where credit is due. Their candidate or the proponents for their issue just did a better job communicating their message effectively than your candidate did.
The votes are in and decisions are made. Now, let’s get down to the eternal business of the church. Although these other decisions are vitally important, they pale in significance to our work in Christ’s Kingdom.
It’s time for us to pray even more, and turn our hearts toward the heavenly Father. Our hope is in a return to the values that made this nation great, but that will only happen as we return to the God of our Fathers.
This song by Casting Crowns is a word picture from the story of the Prodigal Son, from their 2005 album, Lifesong, “Prodigal”

Living on my own, thinking for myself
Castles in the sand, temporary wealth
Walls are falling down, storms are closing in
Tears have filled my eyes, here I am again

And I've held out as long as I can
Now I'm letting go and holding out my hand

Daddy, here I am again
Will You take me back tonight
I went and made the world my friend
And it left me high and dry
I drag Your name back through the mud
That You first found me in
Not worthy to be called Your son
Is this to be my end
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again

Curse this morning sun
Drags me in to one more day
Of reaping what I've sown
Of living with my shame
Welcome to my world
And the life that I have made
Where one day you're a prince
The next day you're a slave

The election results are now in, and for some, the temptation to despair is strong. Not here on the Lion’s Den. Sure admit to being more than a little disappointed in Tuesday’s results, but we are people of hope.
As Paul writes in Philippians 3:17 “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. The important thing to remember is this: the truths we stand for hav not been diminished at by a political defeat. We may have lost a battle but not the war!
The coming political climate will bring new challenges, but also new opportunities to be witnesses.

Consider this due notice. I assure you that we are not going away. Now more than ever, America needs citizens like you courageous enough to stand up for the truth. Together we can make a difference. Together we can build an army of prayer warriors, and just as we have prayed during this historic moments in our nations history, we will KEEP ON PRAYING! We will keep on working until Jesus comes!
Now more than ever, we owe it to the next generation to provide a strong voice for life, faith and family.
As we wrap up this edition of the Lion’s Den, let me leave you again with this song from Avalon, “If My People Pray."

Now is the season for healing
Deeply we need to see God's mercy revealing
Where we have fallen from His way
For we know He gives hope to the humble
Gives light in the darkness
And grace when we stumble
Let us call on His name together
Knowing He will say ... If My people pray
And reach for Me with hearts that are broken
I will not forget what I've spoken
Come and seek My face
And heaven will rain Rivers of My grace overflowing
Night and day My ears will be open
If My people pray Now is the day to awaken
To pray with conviction
For the souls of the nation
So let us call on His name
Whose faithful promise still remains ..
If My people pray
(If My people who are called by My name)
And reach for Me with hearts that are broken
(Humble themselves and pray)
I will not forget what I've spoken
Come and seek My face (Seek Me)
And heaven will rain (If My people who are called by My name)
Rivers of My grace overflowing (Turn from their wicked ways)
Night and day My ears will be open
If My people pray
Let us not grow weary as we wait for the day
When the light turns our night into morning
On our knees, calling Your name as we lift our hearts to heaven Yeah,
knowing You will say ...

Hey let's keep praying until next time here on the Lion's Den.