Soul and Spirit | Ain't Complicated

Voices and Prayers and Life Truths

Andrée Seu posted another good piece over at WorldMagBlog:

As I listened to John McCain giving his gracious concession speech last night I realized that, from here on in, his voice will fade, fade, fade away into the ether (where is Geraldine Ferraro?), and Barack Obama’s voice will wax.

But eventually Obama’s own voice will disappear into the slipstream of history, like a ship’s wake that rushes away from us even as we watch from the stern. We are but froth on the sea.

And how about A Prayer for the President-Elect? It concludes this way:

For the sake of your own Son, who intercedes every moment for your people, give us grace to honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear you, and to honor President-elect Barack Obama. In the name of King Jesus, we ask. Amen.

And to close this post, I call your attention to some Life Truths I posted earlier this morning.

Congratulations, Mr. Obama

God has chosen to elevate you as President-elect of the United States of America, just as He chose to elevate Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, and Nixon before you. (And many others, of course.)

May God be exalted in your administration. And in this country as a result of your administration.

May He keep you and your family.

And may God’s people find in Him the grace and renewal they need for the dim times in which we find ourselves…and for the darkening times which hover on the horizon.

Meanwhile, in other news, Israel launches first airstrike on Gaza since June. I wonder if this portends the trend in the Middle East over the next two months, as the Israelis prepare for President Bush’s departure from office.

Oh, and I’m glad I can not expect Mr. McCain’s disappointed legions to resort to riots and street battles and violent protests.

Muslims at the Vatican

Catholics, Muslims open landmark talks at Vatican

Senior Vatican and Islamic scholars launched their first Catholic-Muslim Forum on Tuesday to improve relations between the world’s two largest faiths.

The three-day meeting comes two years after Pope Benedict angered the Muslim world with a speech implying Islam was violent and irrational. In response, 138 Muslim scholars invited Christian churches to a new dialogue to foster mutual respect through a better understanding of each other’s beliefs.

In their manifesto, “A Common Word,” the Muslims argued that both faiths shared the core principles of love of God and neighbor. The talks focus on what this means for the religions and how it can foster harmony between them.

The meeting, including an audience with Pope Benedict, is the group’s third conference with Christians after talks with United States Protestants in July and Anglicans last month.

Jesus is the Word. (See 1 John 1.)

How can Muslims have a common Word with Catholics?

Or with Christians?

Regardless of Who Wins

“Our business on Election Day is brief, and regardless of who wins our work remains the same—seeking and serving the lost, losing our own lives in the doing, and clinging to the Cross that shatters nations, tribes, and creeds.” — Tony Woodlief

Hold to His Hand

Danny and Liisa, Liisa and Dan,
Walking together through life hand in hand
Raising a family, doing their best
Through thick and thin and every hard test
Holding to God and trusting His way
Living and laughing and loving each day.
Till one day God called
And He said, “Come home, Dan,
I’d like you to sing in my heavenly band
I’ll care for your family — trust Me on this,
They’re special to Me and I know they will miss
You, Dan, as their father,
But I want them to trust
And have faith in Me — that is a must.”
So now picture with me a brand new Dan
Walking with Jesus hand in hand
Now do you not hold to Jesus’ hand too?
Are you seeing the picture in this life so new?
You on one side, and Dan on the other
Jesus between you still holds you together
Yes, we must let go and not wish him back
Though our hearts break and we feel such a lack
God has a grand purpose, a wonderful plan
Keep trusting and hold to His unchanging hand.

My wife Ruby wrote this yet-unfinished poem for Liisa. (I just made up the title — Ruby hasn’t titled it yet.)

For those interested in the family connection, Dan’s mother is my first cousin Janet (Shetler) Ewing.

Danny and Liisa Ewing and some of their children

Is Faith in God Enough?

Last update for this post appended at the end

I don’t know what to title this post. That will have to do. Maybe it fits; maybe it doesn’t.

Early this morning I got an email from one of my cousins about one of her sister’s sons, D.

They had found a hole in [his] heart and he had surgery on Thursday… yesterday. Things have taken a very unexpected turn and unless God works a miracle… he will not make it. Please pray. [D] and [L] have 6 children and the 7th is due in December.

D was losing blood faster than they could give it.

In faith, I rest in God’s love, wisdom, and power.

And in His nearness to D and L and their children, and to their extended families.

I posted the above on October 24 at 7:01 am Pacific Time.

UPDATES: October 25 at 8:47 am PT

At 9:15 (Eastern) last night: At the same time the doctors are being very honest with the family saying there is little chance for [D] to live. They say if you could put it into percentage they might say it is an 80/20 percent chance for him to live. The doctors have been very reassuring that they are there to help him survive, and not at all ready to pull life support. His body is under tremendous stress. He is very swollen, up to 48 extra pounds. There is a possibility of brain damage but not permanently since the whole body is swollen. There are many side effects. His hands are so swollen that they have had to cut them open to relieve pressure. They had to do this or he might never have use of his hands again. They are trying hard to stay ahead of all the side effects that the shock is putting on his body. Vital organs like kidneys and lungs could fail and then be the next most urgent concern. At this point they are not planning to do a heart transplant. His heart though not working on its own yet, is a good heart.

At 9:30 (Eastern) this morning: He made it through the night. PTL! The doctor told the family this morning that the truth was that he had not expected [D] to make it through the night. Things are still very touch and go. BUT- quoting the doctor, “we can be cautiously optimistic.”

UPDATE: October 25 at 9:41 pm PT

At 6:30 (Eastern) this evening: They have done some tests on [D]s brain. There is still blood flow there. This is a very good thing. Now the next major prayer request is that he would wake up so they can see if there is brain activity.

UPDATE: October 28 at 11:55 am PT

For missing and further updates and for a guestbook to sign: Danny Ewing.

A Pre-Election Expectation

It’s late…too late to be doing this. This is my last computer activity of the day.

In a final effort to seal the coffin of McCain’s electoral chances, the economic picture will be allowed (or further forced) to darken in the next several days.

The wild ride is not yet over.

Rest in Jesus, and you will have peace.

Good night.