The Election is Now History

Yesterday, history was made in our nation in a way we can all celebrate. Regardless of whether you voted for McCain or Obama, the fact that “we the people” elected an African-American to the highest office of civil leadership in our country holds enormous historical significance. I will admit that it is hard for me, who grew up in “privileged” White America, to fully appreciate the sense of hope and joy this brings to our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Black community, who love the blessings of living in America, but who never believed they would personally live to see the day a Black person could become President.
Like many of you I watched the news programs this morning about the election. I saw (General) Colin Powell, a Republican who served in the Bush Administration, choking back tears as he spoke of what the election of Obama meant to him as an African-American. I heard interviews with other prominent Black leaders who spoke about their sense of wonder and amazement, some at a loss for words. I watched the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta (Martin Luther King’s church) celebrate with exuberant joy in their sanctuary. (For me that brought back memories of just a few years ago when I sat in that sanctuary as part of my Sankofa journey.) The importance of the day came home to me in a deeply personal way last night. I coach a basketball team my daughter Marisa plays on. We have several African-American players and they were absolutely giddy over the election results. It said to them that being “Black” or a “minority” in America need not be an obstacle to whatever they hope to achieve in life.
This is a good time to remember that Christians have had an important historical role in making this day possible. In the 1840’s it was devout Christians who began the anti-slavery crusade that coalesced into the broader U.S. abolitionist movement. In the 1960’s it was a Christian pastor named Martin Luther King who was so inspired by the compelling social justice message of the Old Testament prophets, and the determined love of Jesus extended even to His enemies, that he, Rev. King, was willing to make enormous personal sacrifices and to lay down his own life to bring an end to systemic racism in America.
Of course not all Christians voted for Obama, nor should we expect they would. The reasons we vote as we do are complex and involve many considerations. Rest assured, I’m not writing this to pass judgment on the way anyone voted. (It's everything I can do in an election to figure out how I should vote.) Yesterday was the day for voting our conscience. The electorate has spoken and regardless of how we personally voted, today is the day for all of us to celebrate the important milestone in history that has been accomplished. For that we can all be proud of our nation and thankful once again to be living in the land of opportunity that is America.
The real work is just beginning for President-elect Obama as he assumes the most influential position in our temporal world. He will not be perfect in all his decisions. No president ever has been. What is important is that we remember to pray for him and his family in the days ahead, as we remember to pray for all of our national and local leaders.

Gratefully Serving,

Keith Carpenter
Senior Pastor

Reflection on Raising G-Rated Kids Series

I hope those who attended our “Raising G-Rated Kids in an X-Rated World” the last six weeks found the series helpful, no matter what your role in the lives of kids. It was not intended as only a parenting series (thought I hope parents got a lot out of it), the goal was to give God an opportunity to speak into the lives of everyone who has a role in the lives of children—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, Sunday School workers, coaches, group and scout leaders. I also tried to make it clear that (though it may sound trite) it really does take the whole church to raise a child. Meaning, it is God’s intention that the whole church shape and spiritually form the lives of those who grow up and participate here, and this is a responsibility our church needs to take seriously. I am thankful to be part of a church that is deeply committed to children and youth ministries. Let me urge you again, when you see one of our students in the hallway, say “hello,” and ask a few questions about their life. Show some interest. Then leave them with a warm handshake and an affirming comment (in the Bible that’s called a blessing.)
I took some of my inspiration for the series from an outstanding preaching pastor in the Covenant named Ray Johnston. Ray is the senior pastor at Bayside Covenant Church in Roseville, CA. Ray’s series was 10 weeks in length, mine was six, so I didn’t go into as much depth as Ray but I did get some helpful ideas from him in developing the series. He urged me to preach on this topic when I saw him last June, just before I did my July study leave and made my preaching plans for the year.
Whenever I offer a series like this I always get a few questions from the parents of kids who are struggling through their teen years or maybe are in their 20’s, and are not in any visible way walking with the Lord. In fact, they may appear to have turned their back on God and the church. If that’s your situation, I encourage you to hang in there, keep praying, and don’t give up. Maturing is a challenge for all of us. I have heard numerous testimonies over the years from people who walked away from faith in high school or the early adult years, but then came back with great passion a decade or so later. We have a great promise from Proverbs, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” I said “tongue in cheek” that “when he is old,” means 75, at least. It’s hard to put a number on that statement but I do know this, it’s not 19 or 23 or even 30. Keep praying for you adult children who have wandered from the Lord, they will turn back and will find Him waiting with open arms, like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, of whom it says he saw his son coming while still at a distance. In other words, this father’s love motivated him to be watching and waiting each day for his son’s return. Parents, you planted the seeds of faith in your son’s or daughter’s life, now give them time to grow, they will come to fruition.
It is now Lent season. We began Lent with a solemn and reflective Ash Wednesday service. We will now turn our attention to a few of the parables of Jesus as we move toward the great and wonderful celebration of Easter.

Gratefully Serving,

--Pastor Keith