Kyle Gebhart

Intercession is real.  It is more real than voting, politics, or public policy. 

Recently, I’ve been reading up on a lot of foreign policy books (mostly related to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the last 50 years or so).  What I’ve realized is that though people spend their entire lives trying to figure out nations, government, and ways of acheiving peace and safety - the people in charge are really just guessing.

 You can’t predict the rise of al-Queda - you can’t forsee 9/11 - you can only ‘push and pull’ other nations back and forth with economic sanctions, covert ops, and the threat of military invasion.  Every situation is ‘win-lose’.  The strong prevail over the weak.  There is no justice in international affairs.

So, who is really calling the shots?  People like Daniel - those who stare into eternity.  Those like the apostle John who are invited into the counsel of the Lord.

I’m learning to pray for my enemies:  Mahmoud Ahmidinajad and Kim Jong-il.  I’m asking that God would raise up prophets who would speak the word that would break the back of the strongholds destroying their people and blinding them to truth.

I’m also praying for the leaders in this nation.  We need grace.

But the good news is that we can shift nations.  We can bring (in a limited sense)  justice to bear and haste the coming of the one who will finally rule with true justice.  We are doing the most significant work in the earth.  Prayer is the center.  We are changing nations.

Yes - I know - I need to say something…sigh.

So - I’ve been thinking about how Paul Cain prophesied the ’spirit of Islam and communism coming together - being headquartered in Europe’ - and the fact that both Iran and North Korea are actively pursuing nuclear weapons (and hate ‘the West’).

When do we actually start to proclaim TO the Eastern seaboard that there is imminent nuclear holocaust? I always picture that extra in the movie with the sandwich board that says ‘the end is near’ when I think about this.

Once I finish teaching my class (Thursday…I’m teaching NT Survey for the first time to a faithful 4 students in the night watch APP) I’m going to begin to search out the implications of Paul’s prophecy in light of the above. Hopefully I can get an interview with Tony Snow of Condi to help out with my research.

Stay posted.

“Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.”
President George Bush,
January 10, 2007

One of my friends indicated that Bush admitted making a mistake in Iraq.

Honestly, I was hoping for more than the above quote.

Where have mistakes been made - what lessons were learned and applied?

When Clinton failed morally - we (meaning the church) endlessly berated and criticised. Yes, it was an abominable abuse of authority and a profound failure. “The Right” was dead-set on impeaching him.

Were the mistakes leading up to Iraq greater, lesser, or is it a matter of comparing apples to oranges? I’m not sure of any satisfactory answer - but I just was hoping for more from our President.

I truly enjoy our President, and appreciate his efforts to keep us safe, but I continue to pray and hope that the entire Republican ’system’ can move more in the direction of personal accountability, humility, and away from political posturing. Especially those who declare Christ and reflect upon Him in their decisions.

Admitting you’ve made mistakes is difficult - but the source of great spiritual maturity when done without defending yourself - it cleanses the soul.