Saturday, September 13, 2008

We don't like Ike - let's pray for a change!


'We like Ike!' - that was the slogan that once helped President Dwight D. Eisenhower to take the White House by a storm caused by waves of public support in 1952. I am very old - approaching 47 - but far too young to remember this. But as an educated History teacher I've learned my lessons. And I sure hope and pray that the same is true for the American people today - caught in an election with slogans about winds of change, threatened by an economic disaster and beaten up by hurricanes - such as Ike.
My God, what's going on? I live on the other side of the Atlantic - the problems seem so far away. And most American families will live their lives as if nothing serious is happening to them.
Hurricanes have always been there. And our global economy has weathered some storms before. Leaders will rise and fall - nothing's really new - except maybe for the size and the frequency of the disasters and challenges.
In the meantime I am praying for the people of America. For the families that are isolated, for people caught in the winds and the waves. I am a Dutchman and I know about the threat of water, but thanks to God not by personal experience -yet. Let's do what we can and let's ask our Lord to silence the storms once again. And let the body of Christ on this side feel the pain of the body on the other side. My prayers are with you, friends! Trust in the Lord, keep the faith - Jesus is still the Lord of the winds and the waves.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. Ephesians 4

This blog entry is my reply to the news here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Paul,

If you want an update on events check out my blog. There are two posting from friends, Paul and Sandy who live in Houston. They have opened up the church to many in the community. Despite the loss many are experiencing the gospel.

Rebecca Opetsi said...

Hallo Paul,
I hope you are doing well, Thanks for this post and God bless

Rebecca

Bob said...

I work for the power company that serves the area north of Houston. Ike was not kind to the pine trees of east Texas. It's been a week since the storm hit and there are still nearly 1000000 people in Texas without power.

Cori said...

Paul, thanks for reminding us of all these things. Sometimes we get to caught up in our own affairs that we forget the challenges facing others.

Carol Douglas said...

Paul,

I like Ike so much I named my youngest child after him. Seriously.

(Hope you are well.)

Carol Douglas said...

(But of course I meant Dwight D. Eisenhower...)