State of the Unity

The infighting needs to stop.

At least that is the tone President Obama tried to set during his speech at the University of Arizona memorial for victims of Jared Lee Loughner’s shooting rampage.

Perhaps the most bracing moment was when Mr. Obama revealed that Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, who had been shot in the head by Jared Loughner, opened her eyes.

The nation held its breath and then let out a collective, “Awwww.”

Subsequently, Mr. Obama has experienced a big bounce in Gallup approval ratings.

Very impressive considering just in October, his approval ratings had dropped to their all-time low since the president took his term in office.

Perhaps “civility” was the code word all along.

Maybe it’s Mr. Obama who will usher the nation into the America our founding fathers tried to foster—or prevent, depending on whichever historical conspiracy theory is currently popular.

Still, the past refuses to be ignored, or better yet, his opponents refuse to let bygones be bygones.

Yet, all hope is not lost. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both experienced loss of favor with the American public while in office, both experienced hits of approval during their third year.

Third time is the charm?

In a new day and age where the Republican’s refusal to raise the debt ceiling could spell certain disaster for the United State’s already-fragile economy, several answers need to be addressed in Mr. Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday.

The question: will Mr. Obama’s quest for national unity and his recent gains with the American public sway independents long enough to support him as debate about the debt ceiling with Republicans prepares to go full swing?

The fight won’t be easy.
Last Tuesday, the House approved new rules for Republicans, making it harder to pass a debt-limit increase, according to an article in The New York Times.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told congressional leaders for both Republicans and Democrats that the outstanding national debt amounts to $13.95 trillion.

Failure to increase the debt limit will result in the Treasury defaulting on legal obligations and payments to bondholders in the U.S. and overseas, The New York Times reported.

Federal benefits such as Medicare, Social Security and military salaries would cease payments.

The forecast doesn’t look too pretty and Mr. Obama is going to need all the help he can get, and he seems to be trying by adding more pro-business allies to his administration.

His efforts are probably most notable in his recent choice of Jerry R. Immelt, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, as his chief outside economic adviser Friday.

Mr. Obama said that it’s time the nation moves past its economic woes and focus on recovery, according to an article published in The New York Times.

Along with the potential doomsday that many fear are on the horizon, Mr. Obama must contend with the savage refusal of Republicans on the health care bill.

The Democrats proposed and approved health care legislation. The Republicans wrote a bill to repeal health care law. The battle is predicted to carry on into 2013.

The infighting hasn’t stopped yet.

With his approval rating gradually improving and his intense focus on job-creation, Mr. Obama may experience a resurgence of popularity and favor from the American public by his 2012 re-election campaign.

With his touching speech encouraging the nation to move beyond its bipartisan loyalties and agendas and, instead, grow as a nation, Mr. Obama definitely continued to confidently march his way into the annals of history.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Obama has proven himself a charismatic president. With his down-to-earth personality, fantasy football membership, popularity with black church congregants, appearances in an Amazing Spider Man comic book and bobble-heads made in his image, Mr. Obama may be termed the common man’s president.

Yet, it’ll take more than charisma, a winning smile and encouraging words to change the critical and disappointed minds of 56 percent of the nation who say the country’s on the wrong track.

On January 25, it’ll be the time for the president to address a dividing nation. It’ll be the time for a solution to the deficit. Now’s the time for open dialogue and clear plans on how more jobs will be created for more Americans. In his State of the Union address, Mr. Obama will undoubtedly continue his stride of national unity and, hopefully, questions will be answered.

Be Still & Know

So, it's been a while since I've blogged though I said I was going to try and do it more regularly.

During Christmas Break, I kind of took some liberties and actually took a break (perish the thought, I know). But it was a good break. It gave me a chance to sit back, relax, enjoy my family, enjoy my apartment even and really enjoy the Lord.

So many times it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, whether it's work, school or even recreational activities, that we fail to spend adequate enough time with God.

It can even get to the point where when we get the chance to spend time with God, we find anything and everything else to do than just look in His face and say, "Hi!"

First and foremost I thank God that He graced me with the time I had off--time truly can be a blessing.

Second, I want to regale my audience (if anyone's reading) with the important lesson about having a restful and peaceful state of mind and being amidst a chaotic livelihood.

It's January 10--the day Winthrop University students are supposed to return to class. In essence, it's the day we're supposed to get back on the grind.

For upperclassmen who are heavily involved in extracurricular activities and something additional (maybe ministry), it can be a hectic time.

Because my mind is so used to racing and my body used to always being on the go, it was difficult at first to 'calm down' during the break.

Finally, I stopped and remembered Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

God is in control. God is the Lord of our lives. God cares so much about us and our daily needs that He's Jehovah Jireh--the God Who Provides.

When Abraham was tested by God in Gen. 22, in which the Lord requested that Abraham sacrifice Isaac, Abraham obediently executed the order the Lord had commanded. Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac on the altar, but the Lord told him not to. Instead, Abraham sacrificed a ram and passed the test. There, Abraham called God Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:14).

Knowing that God's got your back--that He has everything taken care of, from the rent to the light bill to the gas in the car to the final exam to the new job to emotional healing to ministry work to true happiness--is true rest.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him," (Psalm 37:7); "...The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him," (Lamentations 3:24).

Once I returned to Rock Hill, busyness tried to overtake my mind once again. But Tabernacle of Praise Church International entered into our Holy Convocation Week--a time to consecrate ourselves unto the Lord for the new year by spending special time with Him in fasting, prayer and reading the Word.

What an awesome time it was!

In this year of making deliberate progress, I want to deliberately spend more time with the Lord--deliberately rest in His safety--deliberately study more and more of His Word--deliberately love on Him as much as possible.

Busyness in life will come; it is inevitable in this chaotic, sinful world.

But rest in the Lord and peace of mind is also possible by trusting God and being filled with Holy Spirit.

"For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline," (2 Timothy 1:7-TNIV). Some versions say a "sound mind."

As we foray through 2011, let's devote ourselves to resting in the Lord. I've realized it's okay to take a break once in a while and tell the Lord, "God, I love you."

It's okay to even take a nap and linger in God's presence for more than five minutes.