GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

Oasis Church gives a Sneak Preview

This past week our North Miami campus took a short Mini Missions trip to Jacksonville to help Jeremy Higdon and his team prepare for their Opening Service on Sunday, February 8th. Jeremy gives an update on his blog and also shares some news about opening day. You can also see a short video of the preview service our NoMi members participated in last weekend on his blog. 

Richard Doty led the group to Jax, and he and his wife share their story of the weekend on our visitoasis.org site

Next week our Pines Campus will be taking a group up to Jax to help with Opening Service, February 8th. The shuttle bus is full and those who have signed up will get an email update in the next couple days. If you still want to attend the weekend, you can drive your own transportation. We will give you directions. The cost of your meals would not be more than $50 for 5 meals. Bring a sleeping bag, or air mattress if you have one. The launch team for Oasis Church North Florida will be putting our folks up next weekend. 

If you still want to go, email me, or mark your connection card in the service you attend. Attendees from any of our 3 campuses can go next week. Bus and others who are carpooling up will leave Oasis Church/Pines Campus at 7:00 A.M. Saturday morning, and return at 8 P.M. Sunday night.  

Even if you can't attend please be praying for Jeremy and team!! You can also go to our visitoasis.org site and give towards this new mission church, just as you are able to go on and Tithe and give to other missions ministries.   

 

111 Yr-old Fathers 11 Babies...This is no joke!!

It does not get much stranger than this!!!

Check out the link below if you don't believe me!!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1127525/Henry-lizard-surprise-father-111-years-old.html

Face Book's "25 Random Thoughts About Me", I give my own "13 About Us"!!

There is some random list of "25 Things About a Person" that everyone on Face Book seems to be obsessed with. I have enjoyed a few of them, (especially my niece's about ME!!) but enough is enough!!  I found a list that actually says something about all of us!!! Author unknown!!! But he/she hit the nail on the head with this one. Can you add to this????   ( We are now up to 21!!)

MOST USED LIES ---------------------+

13. The check is in the mail.

12. You get this one, I'll pay next time.

11. You look great.

10. Of course I love you.

9. It's not the money, it's the principle of the thing.

8. ...but we can still be good friends.

7. Don't worry, were not lost -- I KNOW where I'm going.

6. In this car, I can always go another 20 miles when the
   gauge is on "empty."

5. Don't worry, he's never bitten anyone.

4. I'll call you later.

3. I've never done anything like this before.

2. I'm from your government, and I am here to help you.

1. I DO

Ok, some of my Face Book friends added some other things, I think we are about to reach our 25!!! Do you have any!!! Man, there are alot of lies out there!!

 Gabrielle Quebedeaux Murray at 1:43pm January 28

14. This won't hurt. 15. Only $19.95 + S & H. 16. Lifetime Warranty (whose life?) 17. A 2:00 doctor's appointment

 Brian Johnson at 4:40pm January 28

How about the one that's been famous the last few years, # 18, "our thoughts and prayers are with".....When I hear some famous person say that I always wonder if they really pray. I don't doubt they think of the person or situation. But do they really pray for them.

 

 Kimberly Pressley-Herrick at 6:45pm January 28

 # 19 How about "I love you, I am just not IN love with you"

 Kaara Wright at 7:40pm January 28

 # 20"its not you, its me...."
 # 21"It will just feel like a mosquito bite..."

The Catholics Have Nailed it!!!!

Yesterday at our Pines Campus I closed the service with a special prayer for our new President, Barack Obama and his family. It was a very special time. It was also a day that we remember each year on the last Sunday of January, as one of the most dreadful days in our 223 year history of the United States. It was the day, 36 years ago, our Supreme Court ruled that unborn innocent babies had no civil rights and that any woman, regardless of her reasons, could have the baby killed in her womb. Millions, some estimate up to 25 million, babies have been killed in this holocaust, we call Pro Choice.

How ironic I reminded our Pines congregation, that just a few days after we celebrated the greatest Civil Rights leader in our history, Martin Luther King and the revolution he led to give all men their civil rights under our Constitution that we also realize not all rights have been given to all humans in the United States yet. Then just a day after we installed the 44th President and our first African American President, we also realized that there is still one group not only discriminated against, but which is being extinguished in the most horrible ways via Abortion. Almost 37% of those abortions are performed on African Americans. 

I asked our congregation, what if the baby was born to an immigrant father, who deserted him at an early age. He was raised by a single mom, as a bi- racial child, and also raised by his grandmother. What kind of life would he have? This would have qualified for sure to be an aborted child who would not have been worth saving and would have been better off aborted. 

Then I reminded them, this was the story of our 44th President!!! What if his mother because of all the disadvantages she and he would face, had aborted him? What a horrible feeling, and thought!! I'm so grateful to that mom, and grandmother. I wish more would follow their lead. How many Barack Obamas and Martin Luther Kings have been aborted? Think of how many great Black, Hispanic and ethnic leaders we would have today if it were not for that terrible Supreme Court decision 3 decades ago.

I don't know where I thought of that illustration, except I have had so many give me that type of scenario for so many years that it just made sense to bring it out on such a momentous week. 

Let it be even a greater reason to be passionate to save our unborn. Please pray for our President and Congress that they will not allow the present laws to stand that kill innocent babies in the womb, which should be the safest place in this world. 

This week I got an email from a catholic organization, and this 40 second commercial is one of the most powerful I have ever seen. You have got to see it. They nailed it!!!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2CaBR3z85c

I Celebrated Christmas Today!!! It's the 25th, did you?

I am celebrating Christmas today. I listened to my favorite Christmas C.D. on the way to a meeting today. The only Country C.D. I have -- Alabama Christmas. It's about 15 years old and it's a tradition for me.

Now you guys think I am obsessed with Christmas. Well, maybe I am.  But unless you were at our Christmas Eve Services you don't realize I am really celebrating today.

I challenged Oasis Church to Celebrate Christmas this year every month on the 25th. Except instead of receiving gifts, we give a gift or gifts to someone each month. Surprise them. Re-gift a gift you cherish, not a throw away or white elephant. Bless someone.

Some of our folks are doing this. How about trying it? The only thing I did not expect is Tonia said, "If you're celebrating Christmas every month, than I better get a gift". So tonight after our Host Pastors Meeting for the 7 Nights of Worship, I headed over to the new Kohl's. Haven't been before and picked up a Christmas present for Tonia.  I brought it home and wrapped it in Christmas wrap, and ornaments. When she got home from her Pastors' wives meeting, she was a little surprised. I think she forgot she made the deal.

I also chose a gift certificate on Christmas morning, that I would give to a family who was struggling financially at this time, and I am sending it to them, anonymously. I look forward to doing it again each month on the 25th.

If you are interested in more of what was said in that short Christmas Eve message on giving Christmas every 25th, you can click here. You can choose the audio or video. Merry Christmas!!

Part 2 - Open Letter to President Obama

Earlier this week I shared one of the best Open letters to our new President. It was by Richard Land of the Ethics and Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. I did not share the entire letter since the last part below actually is more appropriate now than it was before the inauguration. It is written with the respect and civility that should be used to approach any moral and spiritual issue where people of Faith may disagree with the Politicians we have elected. This thoughtful letter addresses the subject of Life Issues and asks our new President to protect the lives of the unborn. Some of his Democratic Colleagues have sponsored a bill that would save millions of babies. Richard Land asks our new President to consider these bills.

I would ask each of us to pray for our President as we should do. Pray for wisdom, safety and good health. Pray he leads our country with a heart that desires God's will and not partisan ideology.

Unfortunately, just yesterday afternoon, after the press had shut down for the weekend, in a very quiet move President Obama reversed the policy not to use Americans' Tax money to Fund Organizations around the world to perform Abortions. It almost went totally unnoticed in our media, last night and today. He had made this pledge during the election, but I had hoped he would not make this a priority over our budget crisis here at home, when we are adding trillions of dollars to our debt, and now will add millions of more dollars of taxpayers' money to Kill Unborn Babies around the world. This is disappointing and disturbing to be happening within the first 100 hours of his administration. I am asking all Christians to pray that God will change his heart toward the innocent unborn babies, here and around the world. There are many Life policies protecting the unborn, that he is being asked to reverse and it will lead to over 100,000 more Babies killed a year in the United States.

Please pray, pray, pray!!!  Now for an awesome part 2 of Mr. Land's letter to our President:  

"Southern Baptists remain unalterably committed to the protection of unborn human life. The vast majority of Southern Baptists believe that a pre-born baby is a distinct human life, according to both science and the Bible (Psalms 51:5; Psalms 139-13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41). The euphemism of "choice" or "reproductive freedom" cannot disguise or justify killing a baby. Government has a proper role in protecting lives, including the lives of the unborn. Southern Baptists, by national resolutions, have opposed abortion on demand, and have called for public policies which severely restrict abortion and which promote alternatives such as adoption.

Mr. President-elect, you have said you want to unite us as a nation. An excellent place to work for such unity and consensus on the life issue would be for you to put your full and vigorous support behind the Democrats for Life House Caucus initiative known as the Pregnant Women Support Act or the 95-10 Initiative (because its goal is to reduce abortion by 95 percent over a 10-year period).

This bill (H.R. 3192 and S. 2407), sponsored in the last Congress by Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN) and Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA), would, among other things:

-- establish a toll-free number to direct women to places that will provide support during and following their pregnancy;

-- fund collection of accurate data on abortion;

-- provide child care to low-income and student parents;

-- provide parenting education in maternity group homes;

-- make the Adoption Tax Credits permanent;

-- ensure that pregnant women are not denied health care by insurance companies and that coverage is continued for newborns;

-- codify the regulation that extends coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to low-income pregnant women and unborn children;

-- improve services for pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence;

-- provide services to parents receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions;

-- increase funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program;

-- provide grants to institutions of high education to fund pregnant and parenting student services;

-- provide new mothers with free home visits by registered nurses.

All of these measures would help fulfill the pledge made in the 2008 Democratic Party platform, which "strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre- and post-natal health care, parenting skills, income support, and caring adoption programs."

Mr. President-elect, America needs moral conviction, not moral neutrality. America's children need a model of leadership committed both to excellence and to virtue. May God help you, Mr. President-elect, and make you that leader. And may God bless America!"

Yours in His service,

Richard Land

Richard Land is president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

Weekly Oasis Family Newsletter, January 23, 2007

To our Extended Oasis Family, Im sharing this weeks letter with you since it was such an historical week in our Nation. The margins dont always fit from the format, so if you miss a few words on the edge, Im sorry. Have a wonderful weekend.

Dear Extended Oasis Family:

This week our country celebrated one of the most historical events in our history.  We not only installed the 44th President of the United States, but we inaugurated for the first time ever an African American. Just 40 years ago while I grew up, this never would have seemed possible.  I grew up in a segregated South Florida. Now, as a church with people originating from 70 countries and all different nationalities, this is especially poignant. Just a few decades ago, it seemed impossible. For every child of color or ethnic descent this event has proven you can be anything you want to be in the United States of America. Never again will a black, Indian, Hispanic or any other child growing up in a minority family have to be told, “You can be anything, except ________”.  While this inauguration was particularly special for every African American, it was far more!! It told how far we as a nation have come. It gives so many hope. My son, who teaches in an inner city school, called me Tuesday night after the Inauguration and told me it was the best day of his life. He told me story after story of the day and how excited his kids were to watch this historical event. He has 20 children in his class and all but a few are of ethnic descent. Many come from South America, eastern Europe, Mexico or are of African American descent.

He told me that throughout the day he had to turn away, he was so choked up in the emotion of the picture this was for his kids. How excited they were that a president who looked more like them was now President of the USA. These kids don't have a clue of the enormity of the moment, but they will never doubt anyone can be what they want in America. He told of one girl who asked, “Mr. Melton, can a girl grow up to be President?” How precious, and he was able to tell her, “Yes after today, she can!”. (and BTW he explained, one almost did this year LOL). Now, my son is not an emotional person, but he was full of emotion this past Tuesday. I told him if for no other reason for us to be happy about this election, it gave hope to little children who have always felt they would never be able to realize fully the American dream. I can just imagine every child of African American descent must stand a little taller and hold their shoulders a little straighter knowing they can achieve anything they set their heart on and no one will hold them back based on color or cultural background. PTL!!

Regardless of your political persuasion, I hope we can all share in this beautiful moment. Now, having said this, we must all pray for our President, and his family. Pray for wisdom, safety and a heart to do God’s will. If a President will seek the face of God and fall on his knees before God, I have no doubt he will make good decisions.  That does not mean that when he does what we disagree with, that we don't have the right to criticize. I will not hesitate, if my President makes a decision that is of a moral or spiritual nature and I don't feel it reflects the true biblical principle, then I will speak out on this.  Pastors of all persuasions have always done this and I will do it also. But, first and foremost I will ask God to change his mind and heart toward the subject. We all need to pray for our President and elected officials.  The Bible exhorts us to pray for “kings and all who are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).   It also reminds us that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whither soever he will” (Prov. 21:1).

 

One last thing to share is a quote I heard on Martin Luther King Day, I don't know who said it, but it sums it all up.  “Rosa Parks Sat so Martin Luther King could March, Martin Luther King Marched so Barack Obama could run!! I would like to add to this, Run Barack run, run, run!!! I am Praying for you, Mr. President!

 

Another historical event is remembered this week, although it’s not one of celebration. It was the Roe vs. Wade decision, of 1973.  36 years ago yesterday the rule of our Supreme Court made it law to Kill unborn babies. This is one of the saddest decisions in our country’s 223 year history. Over these 36 years there have been millions of little girls and boys who have been killed, poisoned, and pulled apart in what should be the safest place in the universe…the mother’s womb. How ironic that the very week we celebrate the most Prolific Civil Rights leader in our history, Martin Luther King, the next day the first African American President is sworn in, and two days later, we remember the horrific genocide going on in our country. I read this week, that 30 percent of all babies aborted are African American!! Think of it, how many Barack Obamas, and Martin Luther Kings could our nation have had if millions of black babies had not been aborted. This is not a pretty thought. But it’s ironic that on the day the Guantanamo Prison in Cuba was shut down which houses terrorists and killers who threaten America, that thousands of unborn babies have less Civil Rights than a terrorist in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. As long as I'm alive I will remind my fellow believers that this atrocity must be corrected. This week we saw almost 200 years of injustice turned around, and I believe some day we will overcome this evil of abortion. Pray our new President will stand for the unborn. Pray that if the Congress passes more bad legislation this year as they promised in the form of the "Freedom of Choice" Act, which some believe will mean an additional 100,000 abortions a year, that our President will veto it. (Presently, our President supports all abortion laws, but that does not mean God cannot change his mind and heart on this.)  If you hear of this bill being voted on, please contact our President and legislators and ask them not to vote for it. This week you will find an insert in your bulletin featuring one of the many ministries, Hope Women’s Centers, that are not only speaking out against abortion and educating our teens about the dangers and sinfulness of it, but they also counsel women who have had abortions and are suffering the mental and emotional effects of it. If you have had an abortion, we will also share at the end of our service a special Abortion Recovery Counseling Workshop.  Please contact them if you need help.  The wonderful thing is our God is a God of forgiveness and God can forgive you and He wants to heal you.

 

I know this has been long, so I’ll just send you to a few links this week from my Blog:   (if you go to my blog, you'll see my picture in honor of our new President)

 

• Out with the Old, In with the New, I need your opinion on this one
• A Letter to our New President, this is good, check it out
• Wish List for Oasis North Florida, along with details on the North Florida Mission Trip for Opening Day at the Oasis North Florida, in Jacksonville, click here
• Leadership 101 "Do" Click here

That’s all for this week. I know this was long, but felt this was too important of a week to not speak to it.  I look forward to seeing you as we continue our Thrill Ride Series in Ecclesiastes. Read chapters 7-8 if you able before coming to church this week. These are the two chapters we will be looking at this week. God bless you, and thanks again for the privilege of being your Pastor

Guy Melton, Pastor
Oasis Church
www.guymelton.com
www.visitoasis.org

Pastor's Email

Hollywood Campus

Pines Campus

N. Miami Campus

Prayer Requests

www.visitoasis.org

Oasis Church North Florida Wish List

This past week on Pastor Jeremy Higdon's Blog, he listed some of the needs for the new Church. I know many of you are already giving financially. I appreciate that and thank you for this sacrificial act. Even with all our church has done, there is more that is needed. If you can personally, as a family pick up one of these items  then you can personally contact Jeremy and let him know and give through our church. Just mark the offering with the name of the item you're giving towards.  If you need the exact cost of an item you can contact Jeremy at the email address below.

Pray for Jeremy and his team as they open February 8, 2009. If you are interested in attending the opening Sunday, mark your connection card when you attend church this week. You will be contacted with the details. We will take the church shuttle Bus, there is one night lodging, and your meals . You will be helping support and cheer the team on as they begin an exciting journey. I hope we have 15-25 go along that weekend. February 7-8.  

 

Resource Wish list for Oasis Church North Florida

One of the great statements I love to say as Oasis Church is being launched is the fact that we are "launching this church...together." First of all, we believe God has called us to this and is already at work...we are joining him! Secondly, we have hundreds of families and several church partners who have given money and prayer to be part of this launch. We even have several families who be coming up from Oasis South Florida to help with our final preview weekend and our official launch day, February 8.

But, we are still in need of several items which will position us to launch in the best way possible, in a portable setting depending on volunteers to set-up and tear-down each Sunday. We are asking people and churches to prayerfully consider the following list and either donate money toward these items or, if you already own them, donate these items to Oasis Church North Florida. 

- A Large Towable Storage Trailer

- Beat-em up truck to pull trailer

- Safe place to store trailer on Northside of Jacksonville
- Every Type of Children's Ministry   Equipment/Supplies Imaginable (Birth-5^th Grade)

- Portable Sound Equipment (speakers, subs, mobile cases, etc...)

- Video Projector (minimum 2500 lumens)

- Mics, cables, mic stands, music stands, stools, drum shield, drum mics, etc...

- Countryman over-the-ear mic

- Portable staging

- Portable lighting
- Communion Supplies
- Pipes & Drapes
- Office Space on Northside of Jacksonville
- Video Camera equipment to film our services
- Web design
- Videography and Film Editing

Please feel free to forward this list to anyone or organization that may be able to help us with these items. Email me at jeremyh@oasisnfl.com for more info or to schedule a time for items to be picked up. And of course, join us in prayer for these items as we launch a new church... together!

 

One of the great statements I love to say as Oasis Church is being launched is the fact that we are "launching this church...together." First of all, we believe God has called us to this and is already at work...we are joining him! Secondly, we have hundreds of families and several church partners who have given money and prayer to be part of this launch. We even have several families who be coming up from Oasis South Florida to help with our final preview weekend and our official launch day, February 8.

But, we are still in need of several items which will position us to launch in the best way possible, in a portable setting depending on volunteers to set-up and tear-down each Sunday. We are asking people and churches to prayerfully consider the following list and either donate money toward these items or, if you already own them, donate these items to Oasis Church North Florida. 

- A Large Towable Storage Trailer

- Beat-em up truck to pull trailer

- Safe place to store trailer on Northside of Jacksonville
- Every Type of Children's Ministry   Equipment/Supplies Imaginable (Birth-5^th Grade)

- Portable Sound Equipment (speakers, subs, mobile cases, etc...)

- Video Projector (minimum 2500 lumens)

- Mics, cables, mic stands, music stands, stools, drum shield, drum mics, etc...

- Countryman over-the-ear mic

- Portable staging

- Portable lighting
- Communion Supplies
- Pipes & Drapes
- Office Space on Northside of Jacksonville
- Video Camera equipment to film our services
- Web design
- Videography and Film Editing

Please feel free to forward this list to anyone or organization that may be able to help us with these items. Email me at jeremyh@oasisnfl.com for more info or to schedule a time for items to be picked up. And of course, join us in prayer for these items as we launch a new church... together!

Leadership 101, January 09........ Leaders DO, they just don't read about doing!!!

From time to time I like to jot down some Leadership principles I’m finding in my own Bible reading or studying.  I don’t spend a lot of time looking for them, but when they show up and jump from the page, I make a note of them.  This last week in my devotions and study for our final sermon of our Thrill Ride Series, I found some.  Many can apply to anyone, granted, but I spend most of my time these days with leaders…recruiting them, training them, developing them, meeting with them, praying for them and encouraging them.  So I want to focus on the hundreds of Leaders who are ministering in Oasis Church.  If you didn’t read my post on Leadership 101, you can go here and check it out.  I will share the thoughts out of The Message.  The Message is not a Bible translation, but rather more of a commentary by one man.  I’m sure some of the good reliable translations will say things better, of course.  This is just one devotional tool I use in my devotions.  These are random…the way I found them, not one specific order:

 

Proverbs 11 - Without Good Direction, People Lose Their Way

Verse 1:  God hates cheating in the marketplace; He loves it when business is aboveboard. 

Verse 2:  The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm.

Verse 3:  The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;  The deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

 

Proverbs 12 – Chasing Fantasies Destroys, Just stay at what You have been given

Verse 8:  A person who talks sense is honored; airheads are held in contempt.

Verse 9:  Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.

Verse 11:  The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies

 

Proverbs 19 – If You Quit Listening / Why Blame God for what we ourselves caused??  Good Leaders Listen, they may not always do what everyone wants them to, but they do Listen!!

Verse 2:  Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.

Verse 3:  People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed? (This one is definitely one I’m working on)

Verse 11:  Smart people know how to hold their tongue; Having a good spouse is more important than a good inheritance.  If you’re not married, make sure you wait until you get one, a good one, and if you are, it’s up to each of us to cultivate the relationship.  A Leader is only as good as the family and home they lead.

Verse 14:  House and land are handed down from parents, but a congenial spouse comes straight from God.

 

Proverbs 20 – I have seen some great leaders brought down from alcohol, the Bible has lots of warning on this. It is not very PC to talk about, but Leaders must live a higher standard and not allow something to control them outside the Holy Spirit, and the spirits can really do that!!

Verse 1:  Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome – a staggering drunk is not much fun.

OK…not sure where Leadership is in this verse, but want to throw it in for all you Yard Salers out there:

Verse 14:  The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take if off your hands,” then goes off boasting of the bargain.

 

Thrill Ride is our Sermon Theme this month, but Solomon actually warns us to watch for the pursuit of Cheap Thrills!  Sometimes leaders want to exploit those they lead, or someone wanting to be a leader is only doing so in order to get more, whatever “more” is!!!

Verse 17:  You’re addicted to thrills?  What an empty life!  The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.

 

OK, this is enough.  I have some things I wanted to share from my study in Ecclesiastes, but I’ll wait and do that later.  It’s already longer than I wanted.  BTW!!!  How’s your daily time with God going?  If you are a Leader, it starts there.  If you aspire to leading, start first with following God on a daily basis.  He will open the doors in time…in His time!!

The DO in the Title of this Post comes in the next segment, part 2.

 

 

 

A letter to our New President and a Prayer!!!

Today is one of the most historic of my half century on this planet.  There have been millions of words already uttered about this day. There will be millions more. How much can I add to the discourse of its importance? I doubt much!! So I'll keep this short. I read this letter a few weeks ago that Richard Land sent to our new President. Richard Land is the President of the Ethics and Religous Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  He sums up pretty well what I hope is every American's spirit on this day whether you voted for our new president or not. I will pray for my new president daily. I will pray for his family. I will pray for wisdom, and for choices that please God and not men. I will pray that he seeks God's face and will in all areas of his life. When I disagree with his decisions, I will pray God changes his mind or heart. I will resist the temptation to talk in a hateful way and with bitterness and demeaning terms of our President when I disagree. My heart has been grieved to see Christians in the past speak of their president in hateful and mean ways. We can surely disagree without being hateful and demeaning. I appreciate the spirit of Dr. Land in sharing how he will address his new president even when in disagreement. I am only sharing part of the letter. There is some very timely information in the second half of the letter that best fits sharing following this special day. So I will do that later in the week.  May God bless and protect our new President and his family, and may God bless America.

Dear President-elect Obama,

By Richard Land 

First, congratulations on your successful campaign to become the 44th President of our beloved United States of America. This was a historic election in terms of the massive increase in voter participation as a percentage of the electorate.

I hope you know that there are tens of millions of Americans who did not vote for you who are still very, very pleased that an African-American has been elected President of the United States.

The fact that this could happen in a country with as tragic a racial past as America’s says something noble and fine about the American experiment and the glorious “opportunity democracy” it has spawned. After much struggle, we as a nation have chosen together to live up to the promises of our founding document, the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

For those of us who came of age during the Civil Rights Era and were inspired by Dr. King, it is very gratifying to watch our nation elect a person of color to the highest political office in the land, even someone for whom they may not have voted because of serious policy differences.

Mr. President-elect, the Bible exhorts us to pray for “kings and all who are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We, therefore, covenant to pray for you, your family, and your administration. We will pray that God will grant you godly wisdom in all your decision-making. We pray with faith and confidence that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whither soever he will” (Prov. 21:1).

On issues which involve moral and ethical values, we will both pray for you and exhort you to apply biblical principles and values as you make policy decisions which will impact the families of America and the world. We will also pray that God will bless you with safety, health and all spiritual blessings.

On issues where we agree, such as standing against genocide in Darfur and protecting basic human rights around the world, we will support you.

On issues where we disagree with the approach your administration takes, we will do our best to persuade you to change your approach. When we are unsuccessful, we will stand by our convictions and will exercise our God-given responsibilities and Constitutionally-protected right to work for alternative solutions which are more in accord with our convictions............ TBC

Mr. President-elect, America needs moral conviction, not moral neutrality. America’s children need a model of leadership committed both to excellence and to virtue. May God help you, Mr. President-elect, and make you that leader. And may God bless America!

Yours in His service,

Richard Land