Continued prayer needed!!!

[Ttulipss]

President Bush our leader:

This was the same man who came within a hair's breadth
of losing an election in November, who withstood the
political chicanery of the Florida Democratic machine
to fix the vote count.

This was the same man who admitted to having a
drinking problem in younger years, and whose
happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre grades in
college and an ill-fated oil venture.

This was the same man who mangled syntax even more
than his father, and whose speaking missteps became known as
"Bushisms."

And on Friday, this was the man who bore the weight of
the world and the responsibilities of a generation
with dignity, class, confidence, appropriate
solemnity, and even much-needed wit.

One thing struck me during the campaign, that
difficult, roller-coaster campaign that now seems
years ago. It was that George W. Bush never seemed to
get ruffled. Whether the theft of a campaign debate
video or the sudden (some would say, vicious) release
of a DUI arrest two decades ago at a key moment, "W"
did not lose his cool. At times, his staff seemed
overconfident, as did many of us. A 350-electoral-vote
win, they quietly implied . . . and we optimistically
believed. Then they counted the votes, miscounted
others, and re-counted still others. At the end, he
was still there. Whereas Al Gore almost frantically
huffed and puffed, trying to gin up something out of
nothing, Bush quietly but confidently waited at his
ranch. He didn't do nothing: that is the mistake
people have constantly made with this man, confusing
lack of bluster for absence of action.

No, his team of attorneys and the iron-willed James
Baker were carrying out his orders, but W stayed in
the background, confident and faithful.

You see, it is this faith business that confounded
everyone. We have had such actors and liars in
public office that we have looked skeptically whenever
anyone used the term faith.

But this was the same man who was the first politician
ever in recent memory to name Jesus Christ as the lord
of his life on public TV. Not an oblique reference to
being "born-again" or having a "life change." He said
the un-PC-like phrase, "Jesus Christ," to which his
handlers and advisors, no doubt, off stage, were also
saying, "Jesus Christ" in a much different tone.

God has a way of honoring those who honor Him. David
learned that while he was on the run from Saul's
armies. Job learned that after his time of horrible
tribulation. The Messiah said so Himself, many times.

So this was the man who actually put faith into
practice. He actually loves those who hate him. It is
a staggering concept, so foreign in daily occurence
that few thought it anything but grandstanding. Even
one of W's biggest supporters chided the President for
adhering to his "new tone." Yet there he was, again
and again, thanking the Democrats. Appointing his
enemies to high places in his government. Inviting his
former foes and their wives to private movie
screenings, and (I know, this is hard to stomach) even
treating them with dignity. See, this was the man who
learned early on how faith worked: by praying for his
enemies, you "heap burning coals upon their heads."

This was the man who named the absolute top people in
national security and defense, then caught barbs from
the politically righteous that this one didn't have
the right views on abortion or that one didn't have
the right position on guns.

And on September 11, at mid-morning, this was the man
thrust into a position only known by Roosevelt,
Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the
world was on his shoulders, and the responsibility of
a generation was on his soul. So this same man---the
one that the media repeatedly attempted to tarnish
with charges of "illegitimacy," and the one whose
political opponents desperately sought to stonewall
until mid-term elections---walked to his seat at the
front of the National Cathedral just three days after
the two most impressive symbols of American capitalism
and prosperity virtually evaporated, along with,
perhaps, thousands of Americans.

As he sat down next to his wife, immediately I knew
that even if his faith ever faltered, hers didn't. I
have never seen a more peaceful face than Laura Bush,
whose eyes seemed as though they were already gazing
at the final outcome . . . not just of this conflict,
but of her reward in Heaven itself. In this marriage,
you indeed got two for the price of one.

Then came the defining moment of our generation. Some
people fondly recall their Woodstock days. Others mark
with grim sadness November 22, 1963, as the day
America lost her innocence. But I firmly believe when
the history of this time is written, it will be
acknowledged by friend and foe alike that President
George W. Bush came of age in that cathedral and
lifted a nation off its knees. It wasn't so much his
words, though read a decade later, they will indeed be
as stirring as any. This conflict would end, he noted,
". . . at a time of our choosing."

It certainly wasn't his emotion. What had to have been
one of the most stunning exhibitions of self-control
in presidential history, W was able to deliver his
remarks without losing either his resolve or his
focus, or, more important, his confidence. It was as
if God's hand, which had guided him through that
sliver-thin election, now rested fully on him.

His quiet confidence let our enemies know . . . and
believe me, they know. . . that they made a grave
miscalculation. Now, this same man who practiced his
faith through a tough election, who steeled his
convictions even more in a drawn-out Florida battle,
and who never once gave in to the temptation to get in
the gutter with his foes (well, ok, maybe the "Clymer"
comment is an exception), this same man now lifted the
weight of the world and the responsibility of a
generation and put it on his modest shoulders as
though it were another unpleasant duty.

As he walked back to his seat, the camera angle was
appropriate. He was virtually alone in the scene,
alone in that massive place of God, just him and the
Lord. But that's the way it's always been in his life
recently. In that brief time it took him to return to
his seat, I believe he heard words to the effect of,
"You can do this, George. I am with you always. And
you can do this well, because I am going before you.
And don't worry about the weight. I've got it." And I
saw in his eyes a quiet acknowledgement. "I know.
Thank you, Lord."

Back at his seat, when W sat down, George H. W. Bush
reached over and took his son's hand. The elder Bush
always struck me as a religious man, but not someone
who shared his life on a daily basis with the Lord.
George H. W. treats the Father like a respected uncle,
visiting Him on appropriate holidays and knowing the
relationship is real, but not constant. Anyway, I
believe that in that fatherly squeeze George H. W.
said, "I wish I could do this for you, son, but I
can't. You have to do this on your own." W squeezed
back and gave him that look of peace that Laura had
kept throughout. It said, "I don't have to do it
alone, dad. I've got help."

******************

What a blessing to have a professing Christian as
President - one who is not ashamed to admit it!
Please take a moment after you read this to pray for
him - he truly does have the weight of the world on
his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain him and give
him wisdom and discernment in his decisions. Make no
mistake about it - the decisions he makes in the
coming days, weeks and months will literally define
the future of our country and the free world. Pray for
his protection and that of his family.

After you have prayed, coy this and send it to everyone
on your e-mail list. Our President needs Christians
around the world to be praying for him. As this makes
the e-mail rounds, eventually there could literally be
people praying for him 24/7!! He needs it.

[Vc1612]

Thank you for sharing that with us. I have been praying for him and I must say, I was thrilled when he was elected. His words are very powerful for "a man that can't speak for himself" like some have said. Also, Laura is a great rolemodel for the young people of today. It is awesome that he is not afraid to say what is on his mind. He doesn't care if it is PC or not. He is REAL! What you see is what you get. I am glad he is in office at a time like this.

[buckeyemomma]

He is in my prayers day and night.

May The Lord Jesus be with him in every move he makes.
And may The Lord Jesus be with each and every one of us and guide us. We are blessed to have a God who listens and helps all of us. I love Him and praise Him.



MAY THE LORD OUR GOD BLESS USA

[Ttulipss]

Lets not forget to be thankful for our country's leadership during this time and to continue to pray for our President and those around him as well for our military who are fighting to preserve our way of life!

[hrdlife1]

Bush is handling this travesty very gracefully and effectively...i have to admit i am very proud to have him as our president and i think he is doing an EXCELLENT job and will continue to have my support and prayers!!

[buckeyemomma]

Originally posted by hrdlife1
Bush is handling this travesty very gracefully and effectively...i have to admit i am very proud to have him as our president and i think he is doing an EXCELLENT job and will continue to have my support and prayers!!

I joined the presidential prayer thing postd here. He has my full sipport and prayers. I pray at least twice a day, sometimes more for our God to be with all our leaders and all our military.