Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff's Department
Hello, and welcome once again to the November edition of the Chaplain's Corner. Well, I wanted to wait until after the election to write to you since it was so close to the first of the month. I had hoped to be basking in the glow of a McCain/Palin victory. I'm very sad that the good Governor had to endure what she went through for nothing. I'm very disappointed in the outcome of the election. Not because this country will have a black president, but that the country has suddenly swung so far to the socialist left.
I've read a number of posts in LiveJournals and police websites today. A number of which were written by Obama supporters gloating in his victory. A number of which were by heartsick conservatives, like myself, who are concerned about what will happen to this country over the next few years. And a number of posts from - I hesitate to say wiser or cooler - heads saying, in effect, "Suck it up and get over it." Easier said than done for a lot of us.
There was a C&W song that played and played and played not too terribly long ago at the store where I moonlight. I don't know the name or most of the words, but part of the refrain fits my feelings and it speaks of "getting over it" in time, but for now it says, "I just wanna be mad for a while."
I'm sure I wasn't the only one praying about this election as hard as I thought I could. And it is disappointing that the election went the way it did. But as I've said in a past article:
Prayer is a sincere conversation from the heart that touches Him. He will hear and answer. Sometimes the answer is exciting and obvious. Sometimes we have to listen closely. Sometimes the answer is scary or not what we want to do, but if we'll do what He says, it will be prove a blessing.
Sometimes the answer is scary or not what we want. A prayer of that sort, and one I can identify with, can be found in the Minor Prophets. Habakkuk, to be exact. (Page 1306 in my Bible. J) Early in my praying about the election, God dropped this passage into my heart.it was a very familiar passage to me, but I didn't want to accept it as applying to us. I really didn't want to. I still don't, but as the old saying goes, "If the prophecy (shoe) fits."
Habakkuk Chapter 1, starting in the second verse:
How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to Thee, "Violence!" Yet Thou dost not save.
and the fourth:
Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice comes out perverted.
Sounds about like where I was. Praying for the defeat of a party and a media that was so far left and biased almost beyond belief. But then come verses five, six, and seven. (I'll switch to my "revised slandered version" for verse 6.)
5. Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days - You wouldn't believe it if you were told.
6. For behold, I am raising up the Democrats, that fierce and unprincipled people who march throughout the country to seize things which are not theirs.
7. They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
I'll let you look up the rest of it for yourselves, but read it and see if it doesn't describe pretty closely what has gone on during this election cycle and what we were promised that the candidate would do if elected. Which he was.
The ruling powers in this country have largely tried to shut out our God, much like ancient Israel had done. To borrow words from Jim Croce "You don't mess around with" God. There comes a time when God says, "Enough."
I can very much relate to the prophet in his answer back to God, which was basically, "Wait! How can you do this! You can't be serious!" And God essentially says "Oh yeah? Buckle up, it's gonna be a rough ride."
Habakkuk, like I have to do, had some soul-searching, serious prayer time with God over this. And in the end God strengthened his faith, and Habakkuk concludes the end of Chapter 3 with:
I heard and my inward parts trembled; at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.
Yes, my friend, I'm very concerned that we're in for some rough road in these next few years. We need to go back and dust off our Bibles, read and pray that He will give us strength, faith and protection that we will be able to hang on until He comes again.
The election's over, and what's done is done. The sun will keep coming up, and eventually I'll be able to deal with it. No matter what the future holds, God is still good, and He will bless His people. But, suck it up and get over it? No, not today. "I just wanna be sad for a while."
Blessings to you and yours.
Chaplain Bill
llanochaps@moment.net
