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Tuesday was Election Day here in the United States, and this nation, and much of the rest of the world, is electric with the election of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States of America. To say that it is historic, is a gross understatement.

As I have spoken with believers in my church, as well as across the nation, I realized very early in the election process that there was no consensus as to whom Christians thought should be elected as President. However, as Christians, despite how we felt, we now all have the same responsibility: to pray for our new President.

One of the strongest forces a Christian has for the good of his country is the power of prayer. We should pray that government will not hinder our service to God, but that we may serve God in peace, however and wherever he calls us to serve Him.

In Daniel 2:21, the Bible tells us that God “changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings...” In 1 Timothy 2:1,2 we read that “Prayer and thanksgiving should be made for kings and all in authority.” The Lord holds sovereign sway over the currents of history. These are troubling times, but we have a powerful and precious Savior. It’s enough for us to leave the future in His hands, being fully persuaded that He has the power to keep what we have committed unto Him against that day.

Let’s pray for our leaders, intercede for our nation and world, and trust the Jesus Christ as Lord of the future.

Here are some thoughts on what we, as Christians, need to do in the coming days as President-Elect Barack Obama and our nation prepares for the changes ahead.

• We ought to commit ourselves to pray for our new President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the nation. We will do this, not only because of the biblical command to pray for our rulers, but because of the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor” and what better way to love your neighbor, than to pray for his well-being. Those with the greatest moral and political differences with the President-Elect ought to ask God to engender in them, by His Spirit, genuine neighbor-love for Mr. Obama.

• We will also pray for our new President because he (and we) face challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. We will pray that God will grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.

• We will pray that God will protect this nation even as our new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.

For those Christians who are more dismayed than overjoyed about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance that as our President, Barack Obama will have God-given authority to govern us, and that we should view him as a servant of God (Rom. 13:1, 4) to whom we should be subject (Rom. 13:1, 5; 1 Pet. 2:13-14). Thus, again, we are to pray for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to thank God for Barack Obama (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are to respect Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7). We are to honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17).

For those Christians who are more overjoyed than concerned about the prospects of an Obama presidency, there should be a remembrance of our ultimate allegiance: Jesus is Lord (and thus, He, not we, decides what is right and wrong), we serve God not man, and the Lord himself has promised to establish “the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him” (Malachi 3:18). Thus, where our new president opposes or undermines biblical moral standards in our society, fails to uphold justice for the unborn, undermines religious liberties or condones an ethos that is hostile to the Gospel, we will pray for God’s purposes to triumph over our President’s plans and policies.

Without doubt and whatever our particular views may be, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must all expect to be frustrated and disappointed. Some now may feel defeated and discouraged. While others may all-too-soon find their audacious hopes unfounded and unrealized. We must all keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up leaders and nations, and it is God who pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think like unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.45. Live for God, on purpose, praying for our nation, our leaders, and our world.

Lessons Learned at a Chuck Mangione Concert

When I was just a very young man, as a music student and saxophone player at Duquesne University, I discovered the music of a little-known-at-that-time musician by the name of Chuck Mangione. Perhaps you have heard of his music, as he later became quite famous, and a Grammy award winner, best known for his song “Feels So Good.”


Gerry Niewood

I listened to everything that he recorded, and owned every album that he produced. Perhaps even more that Chuck Mangione, I was in awe of the woodwind player that was with him, Gerry Niewood. He was – and still is – the finest “doubler” and improviser I have ever heard. As a doubler, Gerry is equally proficient on all of the woodwinds, and in any given song, can and will play a select variety of the instruments he brings with him. It is not unusual at all for him to play alto flute, flute, piccolo, soprano sax, and tenor sax, all within the same song. And, his improvisational skills are amazing. He spontaneously creates melodies within the context of the harmony of the song being played in such a way that you would think they had been well thought out and scripted lines of the song from the time it was created.

Earlier this summer, I learned that Chuck Mangione was going to be performing live in concert at the Sellersville Theater, just north of Philadelphia. So, I immediately purchased reasonably good tickets, and made plans to attend with my oldest daughter, Jessica. The concert just took place a few weeks ago.

I had eagerly looked forward to this concert, to be able to see and listen to the musicians that had most influenced my own musical style. But, what took place on that evening went far beyond my wildest dreams and anticipation. Making a long story very short, I had the privilege of having a personal meeting and conversation with both Gerry Niewood and Chuck Mangione. It was an evening that I will never forget.

The events of that evening have provided me with a most incredible illustrative message that I am looking forward to sharing with everyone this Sunday morning here at WFA. I guarantee you that you will be blessed as we discover many life lessons that I learned at a Chuck Mangione Concert! Don’t miss it!

Words on the Presidential Election


Barack Obama	Billy Graham	Mike Huckabee	Colin Powell	Chuck Colson

“As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.” – Barack Obama, November 4, 2008 in his acceptance speech in Grant Park, Chicago

“President-elect Obama faces many challenges, and I urge everyone to join me in pledging our support and prayers and he begins the difficult task ahead.” – Billy Graham, November 4, 2008

“I’m very proud to have supported Senator McCain and the only regret is that more Americans didn’t share my conviction that he would have made an outstanding President. I not only recognize, but respect that we are a nation in which the people choose and tonight they have chosen Senator Obama. He was not my choice, but he will be my President and I will pray for him to lead this great nation with God’s help and grace. He will face serious challenges to lead our country and he will need all Americans to give him a chance.” – Governor Mike Huckabee, November 5, 2008 on his blog

“Whether you voted for Mr. Obama or not you have to take tremendous pride in the fact that we did this. From the clash of ideas people are informed and the people make their choice.” – Colin Powell, November 5, 2008 CNN interview

“The new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world – challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid. So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It’s a time for Christians to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.” – Chuck Colson, November 5, 2008

Wood Shares Post-Election
Video Message

The 2008 presidential campaign concluded Tuesday evening with Barack Obama winning the election.

As the United States prepares for this transition in leadership, Assemblies of God General Superintendent George O. Wood has recorded a video message to encourage and challenge the Fellowship. The video is now available for viewing and download at http://www.ag.org and can also be viewed with Spanish voiceover.

Wood chose to record the video on October 27, prior to the election, as to keep his message from being affected in any way by the results.

“Our responsibilities as Christians transcend politics,” Wood says, “and we must be who we are, regardless of who wins.”

During this time of national change, Wood calls on believers to pray for a great spiritual awakening across the country.

“I want to call you to refocus on the health of the church, that the real answers to eternal issues lie not in the government, but in a revitalized body of believers that transforms neighborhoods, communities, through our witness in word and deed,” he says.

In the video, Wood shares five principles the apostles taught the early church in regards to its relationship with the government of its day. He emphasizes that these principles are just as relevant today and apply in every nation.

To view Wood’s post-election video in its entirety, see http://www.ag.org. An audio version and transcript of the message are also available.

The Response of Praise

by Elizabeth Elliot

We cannot always or even often control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen which dismay or appall, we ought to look to God for His meaning, remembering that He is not taken by surprise, nor can His purposes be thwarted in the end.

What God looks for is those who will worship Him in the midst of every circumstance. Our look of inquiring trust glorifies Him. This is our first responsibility: to glorify God. In the face of life’s worst reversals and tragedies, the response of a faithful Christian is praise – not for the wrong itself, certainly, but for who God is and for the ultimate assurance that there is a pattern being worked out for those who love Him.

as seen at Elisabeth Elliot’s website, www.elisabethelliot.org

The Witchcraft of Rebellion

by Jon Walker

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV)

Most of us would be shocked and angered if we found out a believer in our congregation was actively using a form of witchcraft to control people, places, things, and circumstances. In spite of our fear, we’d fight back once we learned that the witchcraft was so powerful it had entrapped whole families and small groups of people within the church.

In truth, such a form of witchcraft is present among many believers; it’s the incantation of rebellion. Why does the prophet Samuel say rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft?

It seems to me the similarity between the two is an attempt to control your circumstances independent of God. Witchcraft casts spells and summons spirits to alter the natural, and therefore, it assumes a role for which it has no authority. Rebellion uses disobedience, disharmony, and disunity to gain or maintain control of the situation.

Either way, you’re trying to rule from “I can,” rejecting any notion of “God can.” And when you do that, you’re becoming one with the enemy, aligned with the very things that are in armed rebellion against God.

These things oppose God’s order of things and his work in your life.

“Not doing what God tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult,” says the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 15:23 MSG).

In that light and truth, will you let God rule, or will you rebel so you can rule yourself?

You Might be a Preacher if...

• Your favorite “light reading” is Strong’s Concordance.

• Playing the piano and being an expert at packing boxes was high on your list of requirements for a potential spouse.

• As a child, you practiced baptizing your cats.

• You say “amen” at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance at a public event.

• You own more books than the religion section of your local public library.

• Your kids are always asking to go over to someone else’s house where they don’t have to act “good” all the time.

• You have fried chicken for dinner every Sunday after church.

• You look in your wife’s purse for a snack for your kids and all you find are communion wafers.

• You go the hospital to visit your mother but stop and have prayer with folks in every other room along the way.

• You have to schedule your vacation around Bible School, Youth Week, the liturgical calendar, and annual meetings of your denomination.

• The message on your answering machine contains both these phrases: “If this is an emergency...” and “Have a blessed day!”

The Last Impression

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married – for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband’s occupation.

“He’s a funeral director,” she answered.

“Interesting,” the newsman thought. He then asked her if she wouldn’t mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she’d first married a banker when she was in her early 20s, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40s, later on a preacher when in her 60s, and now in her 80s, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, “I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.”

I am writing this week’s firstIMPRESSIONS from Carlisle, PA, at the Church Multiplication Network’s BootCamp for the Penn-Del District. Since this is my home district, I didn’t have to fly to get to the location, so I will be home early! I am excited to be back at WFA for a great worship service this Sunday! Be sure to join us as we worship together in spirit and in truth!