Author: John Page 144 of 168

Mark 12:30-31 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind, and with all they strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these.”

I have witnessed two types of leaders, those who focus upward to impress their boss and those who focus downward to serve their organization.  The former tend to be self-serving careerists and the later tend to be humble servant leaders.

In fact, the true focus of a humble servant leader should indeed be upward.  This upward focus should not be directed towards a boss, but to the Lord.  Only then can leaders keep their priorities in order and their perspectives in check.  Only then can leaders be reminded that leadership is a responsibility not a right.  Only then can leaders see their position as one of selfless service instead of self-promotion.  Only then can they truly love God and love others.  Indeed, our nation needs leaders that follow God’s priorities as listed in Mark 12.  We need them in our homes; we need them in our churches; we need them in our communities; we need them in our schools; we need them in our workplaces; we need them in our government.  Only with such leaders can America return to its Christian roots.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD DEMAND LEADERS IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR SOCIETY WHO FOLLOW GOD’S PRIORITIES.

Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

I had the recent opportunity to participate in a retirement ceremony of an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who had a spectacular 20-year career, and who spent the final two years as my Deputy Commander.  I spent my time at his retirement luncheon speaking about the many ways that his service to our nation had impressed me.  Upon further reflection, however, impressing one’s boss is far from the true measure of Christian servant leadership.  Therefore, the message I shared at his retirement ceremony went far beyond how he impressed me and focused on how he was truly impressive.

People who are truly impressive do not just impress the people above them in the chain of command.  People who are genuinely impressive don’t live life trying to impress anyone.  As a result of a mindset that selflessly serves others, impressive people impress their peers and their subordinates as much as they impress their leaders.  Maybe most tellingly, they impress those who can do nothing for them – the least of these my brethren.  They also don’t just impress people at work, but people in all aspects of their balanced life.

Over the weeks leading up to his retirement, I had been bombarded with stories from people from all walks of life about how impressed they had been with this retiree.  Indeed, he was truly impressive.  He was impressive in his character; he was impressive in his work ethic; he was impressive in his empathy; he was impressive in his compassion; he was impressive in his perspective; he was impressive in his creativity; he was impressive in his faith; he was impressive with his family.  He was far more than a man ending an impressive career; instead, he was an impressive man with an impressive life.  He was all of these things because he didn’t strive to impress anyone

Our nation needs leaders like this retiree.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA WOULD EMBRACE LEADERS WHO ARE TRULY IMPRESSIVE.  Such leaders live their lives focused on serving others instead of impressing them.

I deeply appreciate the opportunity to share the PLUS ministry at Lancaster Baptist Church last Sunday evening.  I also appreciate the support regarding PLUS that I have received from Pastor Chappell during the past year.  Please see the following link for some more thoughts on the importance of daily, fervent prayer for our nation:

http://www.paulchappell.com/2014/05/01/how-christians-can-pray-for-national-revival/

Daniel 2:20-21 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.”

In Dr. James Dobson’s letter referenced in my previous post, he zeroes in on the true source of our salvation from the current national moral decline.  He states:

“What, then, is the solution to our moral crisis?  Who will defend the institution of marriage?  How will children be protected?  The same answer is relevant to each question.  It is concerted and fervent prayer.  Only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction for sin and a determination to do what is right.”

While there is no human construct that can save us from the perilous path we are on, there is something we can do.  We can pray!  We can pray to the One who owns wisdom and might.  We can pray to the One who gives wisdom and knowledge.  We can pray to the One who changes the times and the seasons.  We can pray to the One who sets up kings and who removes kings.

Indeed, we must pray!  We must pray fervently and concertedly.  We must pray daily.  We must pray acknowledging that a focus on anything else will cause our nation to head further towards failure.  We must pray understanding that a lack of prayer has gotten us into our current situation.  We must pray as if it is all we can do to make a change … because it is.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD STICK TO FERVENT, CONCERTED, DAILY PRAYER TO CHANGE OUR TIMES.

Pslam 146:3 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”

In Dr. James Dobson’s April Newsletter (drjamesdobson.org/about/april-2014), he rightfully points out that “our nation is in serious moral decline, and that it is sliding relentlessly away from biblical values.”  After detailing several examples of such decline, Dr. Dobson states the following:

“The question is, what do we do about it?  Would a more conservative political party be able to turn the country around?  Probably not, although I would support one as a private individual.  Could a man or woman of character set us on the right path?  Possibly, but the change would be superficial and temporary unless the people rise up to demand it.”

Dr. Dobson is right.  The solution to our nation’s problems is not an organization or a person.  It is not a political party or a prince.  It is not an orator, commentator, or entertainer.  It is not a news organization or an election.  As American Christians hold out hope that some human construct can save us from the perilous path that we are on, we are dangerously distracted by a false savior “in whom there is no help.”  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD RELINQUISH OUR HOPE IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN CHRIST TO RESCUE OUR NATION.