November 2024 Revealing Light Newsletter

A country is mortal, it doesn't have a soul, it's a functioning system to govern people. We pray for the hearts of people who direct and lead those different systems around the world.

Any direction a country goes, that doesn't mean that Disciples of Jesus stop living out God's Kingdom here on earth. Though any country around the world may not perfectly represent or follow after God's heart and Kingdom here in tangible ways, it does mean that we as Disciples of Jesus continue to look first to God's Kingdom anyway which is eternal. How we live as Disciples of Jesus and citizens of God's Kingdom matters here and now. How do we as Disciples of Jesus love and have compassion with each other, family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, as people created in God's image, even if they voted differently than you did? “How can we say we love God yet hate our brother who we can see?” [1 John 4:20]

We continue to pray for ever human being as God has created each of us in His image, from before we were created in our mother's womb till we return to dust in the ground, we pray for each person - that they may know who has created us and loved us, and has given us life each day and life with Him eternally through Jesus Christ. We pray for those who face injustice, or destroyed by deceptions and caught in the middle of strife between people. We pray for people as they learn to navigate with God through darkest seasons of their life (family deaths, job losses, depression and anxiety of the unknown). ...We pray for the loving and compassionate hearts of disciples of Jesus as they walk alongside people with grace and truth. We pray for the truth to be revealed as light shines in darkness, we pray that we may not be deceived by conspiracies based in lies (“all things in darkness will be revealed when light shines on it” [Luke 8:17; 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 4:5]). We pray for families affected by wars, on either side and those caught in the middle. We pray that we may not idolize any human to a savior position in our life (church leader, family member, friend, government leader), replacing our true savior, Jesus Christ. We pray for the hearts of our leaders, that they may look to God, our creator and savior, for guidance and to be shaped by His goodness, truth, justice, love, grace, and mercy. May we continue to be empowered by God's Spirit given to us through Jesus Christ, to courageously yet humbly live out God's heart as Disciples of Jesus. Amen.

- Daryl Struemph

Those are the words the old Army veteran spoke, as he leaned over the table and whispered them to me. He had served overseas to protect these freedoms that we all hold dear. I could see the pride in his eyes as he spoke, knowing he had “done his part.” So I’m asking you to do your part: Go Vote! I’ve heard some of my dearest Christian friends saying this year I’m not going to vote. I don’t like Mr. _______ or I don’t like Ms. _______. My response is an easy one: “you’re not voting for the candidate” which you might like or hate his or her personality—you are voting for the platform and principles they represent. In the past (many years ago) it was harder for me to make a decision about which platform to support because both parties had some of the same ideals I cherish. Both were in favor of life—that’s right both were opposed to abortion—both valued the worth of the human life which is in line with my beliefs. Proverbs 6:17 “God hates those hands that shed innocent blood.” One party changed their platform to reflect the unborn child has no “equal protection under the law.” I have difficulty believing that those who claim they speak for the “rights of the women” haven’t considered the rights of those women who are being killed by abortion. It’s not a mass of tissue—it is a human being made in the image of God and he or she has worth because of that. When the democrats said they “didn’t want God in their platform” my long time democratic friend said “I didn’t leave the Democratic party—the Democratic party left me.”

So even if I don’t particularly like either candidate it is easy to decide this year which party is closer to my ideals and beliefs. All I had to do was compare what each party says is their platform. One yard sign I saw on the way home from Kansas City sums it up pretty well: “Vote the Bible.” So exercise your privilege and pray about your decision and then vote.  

- Alan McNeely