December 24, 2012 To my readers came across this today and the writer appears to have a solid feel for our current situation and I agree completely with what she says here: "From: Carol Bauer Capital Prayer Alert As you know, my wife, Carol, prepares a prayer alert about once a month. I hope you will share Carol's thoughts with your friends and fellow worshipers. Thank you for taking an interest in her monthly devotion. -- Gary Christmas is the time of year when thoughts turn to the blessings we have in our families and our freedoms. Many of us will gather around the Christmas tree to open presents, while taking in the joy and awe of the children and grandchildren in our midst. We will attend Christmas Eve services at our place of worship and sing familiar hymns heralding the birth of the baby Jesus. We will sit down with loved ones to a lovingly-prepared meal and enjoy the bounty our country offers. To the casual observer it would appear to be a Christmas just like so many others in our past. But for many of us, we have an aching feeling in our hearts that things are different, that something has gone terribly wrong. We can look at social statistics on downward trends in family formation and the rising numbers of homes without fathers and see disturbing trends for our future. We read about gloomy economic projections and skyrocketing debt and we wonder what the future holds for our children and grandchildren. We see leadership in Washington failing to take these and other issues head-on and looking for yet one more way to "kick the can down the road." And, we see story after story about the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings and analysis that points to efforts to address a variety of "cures:" gun control, mental health improvement, better school security, the list goes on. If you stand back and look at the cultural and societal decline, out-of-control spending and a long list of disturbing signs, the common theme seems to be a country which hesitates to affirm that which is good, decent and true, particularly if it has a basis in faith, and also a country which discourages personal responsibility and sacrifice for the greater good. In the next few weeks the president and the Congress will chart a national course that will involve changes in the tax code, the debt ceiling and possibly minor entitlement reforms. And, early in the New Year the next Congress will be sworn in. It is one which looks very similar in numbers and make-up to the current Congress. Please pray for the leaders of our country at this pivotal time. There is a common thread that links these societal ills and trends, and it is a willingness to cast aside the underpinnings of faith and the basic rules for society that most faiths find to be good and true. Pray that the horrific shootings in Connecticut would prompt our lawmakers to look beyond the easy fixes for answers. The cry for more gun control, school safety measures, a re-examination of our mental health system and other reactions are very predictable. Yet a society which refuses to acknowledge that evil exists in the world, and seeks to explain away acts of evil by circumstances, will live to see that evil repeated again and again. Ask God to prompt members of Congress and state legislatures to not only look behind the societal symptoms but to be willing to speak to the price we are paying for devaluing life and elevating relativism. When doing right is not elevated and doing wrong is explained away we are left adrift in a sea of relativism. Pray that those in a position to make a difference will not be afraid to ask the "Why" question until they get back to the root causes. Most importantly, ask God to give these elected leaders the courage to not only ask the big questions but be open to thinking outside the box for answers. The truth may be difficult to accept and discuss, but without a willingness to do so we are rushing headlong into uncharted territory for our country. Pray that our elected officials would be moved by the words of Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:8-9. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." May the Lord prompt us and our leaders who are men and women of faith to think on these things and find ways to put them into practice to turn our country in a different direction. Bless you this Christmas and in the New Year!" * * * * *