Last night we had a VIP visitor at Honey Lake from Fox News, (anchorwoman Shannon Bream). I was fortunate to spend quite a lot of time with her and found her to be very articulate and intelligent, with a warm and friendly personality. One thing certain she loves Jesus Christ.
She and her husband were celebrating both their 18th wedding anniversary and New Year’s Eve with her parents and a few friends over a nice steak and lobster dinner. It was quite interesting to get a behind the scenes look at her world in Washington D.C. I especially enjoyed hearing her describe what it’s like to play such an important role in such a large media organization and hearing her views on the declining values and morality in our country.
I shared with her what our ministry is trying to accomplish with our Renewal of America effort and our goal of returning America to its faith based roots. I told her that it is my belief that if we stay grounded in our faith, then God can bless us, and this great country that we so dearly love can yet again become a shining beam of light to a dark world.
Shannon was much encouraged to learn that there are people out there like our team who aren’t giving up and are not conceding that it’s too late and in fact inevitable that no matter what we do, our country is going to tank. In fact we believe that we serve a mighty God who is capable of accomplishing mighty things, and we, (His servants), are actively working night and day towards igniting significant change all over this country. She thanked me several times for our team’s efforts in that regard. I took up far too much of her time on such a special occasion and intend to apologize for that, but it was terrific getting to know her.
I was thinking of all of the people who have hangovers this morning after their New Year’s Eve celebration last night. I cringe when I think that some are in hospitals and even the morgue due to driving while intoxicated.
While the numbers aren’t in yet, (and in fact as I write this some diehard knuckleheads are still driving around out there), it is a fact that people are much more likely to drink and drive around January 1 than during any other major holiday. Nearly half of all 286 traffic fatalities during the New Year’s travel period in 2010 were alcohol related.
Ughhh! So much grief being endured by so many families this morning and it is all so unnecessary. There will be no Happy New Year for them this year . . . Sad . . .
The contrast is remarkable to me when I think of the way we spent New Year’s Eve and how so many others spent it. This beautiful woman exemplifies what we should be doing. She enjoyed her anniversary and New Year’s Eve with her husband, parents, and friends quietly discussing ways to bring God back into mainstream America, versus hard drinking and wildly celebrating the dawn of a New Year.
My prayer for America and the world is that beginning this year, (2014), that we as a nation will return to the gentle love of Jesus Christ. The wholesome, peaceful, loving, joyful presence of God is so badly needed in this chaotic dangerous world and so few are seeking it. We need His rest. I pray that we find it in 2014.
I suppose that is the bottom line: Wild celebrations or rest – That is the question . . .
Happy New Year!
Matt. 11:28
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS . . .
January 1, 2014 – Click here to listen