February 2025 - Presidents Day
If you had asked me in the third grade, what I was going to be when I grew up, my answer would have been that I was going to be a lawyer, go into politics, and be the President of the United States someday. I believed that until the middle of the tenth grade when I decided I didn’t want to be in school that long. It took about 9 years of life experience and further discernment to realize that I was called to be a pastor. By being a pastor, I never have to deal with legal matters or politics (that’s a joke) and of course, I ended up going to school longer. If you want to make God laugh, tell God your plans.
As a child interested in the presidency, I spent a lot of energy on learning all things related. I could have told you the names of all the Presidents and when they served (don’t ask me now, I’ve forgotten). I could tell you a lot about the history of the White House. I looked forward to Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays. I’ve visited their homes several times. I watched all the Watergate hearings that were televised, and I always watched the inauguration. My first presidential election to vote in was 1980 and I only missed voting in one in 2000 due to my parents’ final days being at that time. I’ve often stayed up to watch the returns and I watch most of the debates.
I know that some of my friends have and are rejoicing with the 2024 election results and some of my friends are in grief. Although I am a registered republican, I learned from my parents to not vote straight party tickets, but to instead consider each candidate and vote my conscience. Across the years, I voted for about half of the presidents that got elected. The other half, well I voted for the other person. But I took part in the process. And all of them were my presidents.
None of them have been perfect. None of them have made every decision that I agreed was the best course of action regardless of whether I voted for them. Most of the decisions they have made have not had that much direct effect on my life. Oh yes, cost of living, interest rates have fluctuated, the market has gone up and down and up again. But all in all, my life has not been changed that much by whoever sits in the White House. I know this may not be true for you. I also recognize that I have lived a life of privilege regardless of my economic status at any given point.
The most profound changes in my life have not had anything to do with who is in political power in my community, my state, or my nation. The most profound changes in my life have had everything to do with the relationships I have developed in my life. Some of those relationships have been with you and others who will read this newsletter. Certainly, my family: parents, siblings, extended family, wife, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter count huge among those relationships.
The most significant relationship has been with God. God is the keeper of my going out and my coming in every day (Psalm 121). This day and all the days ahead will be in God’s hands regardless of who is elected to any office.
It is this God who reminds us how to relate to our leaders:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 – I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Romans 13:1 – Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Jeremiah 29:7 – Also seek peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
We are called to pray. Pray for our mayor, council, supervisors, and commissioners. Pray for our governor and state assembly. Pray for our President and Congress. Pray for your church and your pastor.
I lift my prayers for you as well – You are blessed!
Blessings!
Alan
