Hope Hype

There is a lot of talk these days about hope. Many people have had their hope renewed by our new President. Last week I heard lots of people interviewed. Over and over I heard people lay that they feel like they woke up to a new world and that they felt like they needed to do more to be a better American. This is very interesting to me. Isn't it strange that people are so simply motivated. That their hope could be so simply placed.

Now I like Obama. I almost voted for him. I think he will make a great President. I am praying for him and his family. I cried as I watched him sworn in. So this is not a statement about him. I actually feel like this is not fair to him. I don't know how he could ever deliver all that people expect of him. I trust he will do a great job.

However President Obama has no affect on who I am. James 4:1 asks us "What is the source of the wars and the fights amoung you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you?"...then goes on to say in verse 7 "therefore submit to God but resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

So who I am should not be based upon who others are. I am influenced by others just like everybody. I sometimes joke to harshly because I know people think it's funny....I am human and I am sinful. I don't always want people to know I am weak. I say I am okay when I am not. I make things sound harder than they really are just to make myself look stronger than I really am. I realize that I need to do better not because someone else is better...not because they make me want to BE better. I realize no person who has that control over me. Even if I could whip it for a while I would go back. Even if I volunteered 5 hours to community service....this doens't make me better....But there is one who can.

I want to be a good American, a good citizen, a good neighbor, a dependable friend, a good employee and a good caretaker of this earth These are not based upon wither I like my neighbor, or a like my President but because God calls me to it. My hope is in Him....not in my country. I am a citizen of another city....who's builder is God. I am greatful for this great country. I pray that she will be used by God to do good things for the world...to bring hope to hurting people....mostly I want this to be true of His church. May we draw near to God. Trust Him for our future. Give to Him our present and repent of our past. I thank God for a country that can learn from it's mistakes. That we could elect and move an Africian American Presidental family into a house that was built by slaves. I am grateful we can change and learn to do better as a country. It reminds me that God could do that within me to....renew me...make me different than I was...I need that hope.

This is true hope. Not just temprorary hope that fades in 100 days....hope that is simply hype. This is hope that changes everything..everywhere....for all time.