Friday Countdown...what the next eight years could hold for us all

There are some things that I would like to suggest that we will see more of over the next eight years in America. I am basing this not on a Obama or McCain presidency but on the events and trends of the last eight years and what the Bible says about the days in which we are living. I will say any presidency over the next eight years surrounded by people who do not know the One and True God through Jesus Christ will only accelerate the following. Again, these are not predictions, but trends and patterns that are developing in America.

1. We will see the church in America (true believers and followers of Christ)lose more freedoms and more churches lose their tax-exempt status. We will see more of an emphasis and even pressure put on people of all faiths to be tolerant of one another and agree on certain essential ideas. Those who choose not to conform will be mocked, ridiculed, and even ostracized.

2. We will see some kind of global economic system that will include the U.S. of America. Too most of us that realize how bankrupt our country is, this is obviously coming soon. Isn't amazing that most Americans never saw this coming as little as a year ago. My how times are changing quickly.

3. Islam will become more and more dominant in America. This one I know may scare a lot of people, but just look at the facts. After 911, who would have ever thought that the people of the United States would possibly elect a man to be President who attended Islamic schools in both Indonesia and Kenya while growing up and was influnced by both a Islamic father and a Islamic step-father in his child and teen years. And, has well-publicized ties or associations to anti-Israel and radical Islamic extremists. Even if the Obama presidential run fails, Islam is the fastest growing religion in urban areas in America and absolutely nothing or no one presently stands in the way of its growth and influence in America.

4. We will see more racial tension, divisions, weather-related disasters, and more 911-like tragedies in our country. If we as the church in America (the people of God) will humble ourselves, pray, repent, and experience revival, I truly believe this could be avoided.

5. Our quality of life will continue to decline in America unlike we have ever seen before in modern history. It has been on a very slow decline over the last eight years, but its nothing to what can and will undoubtely happen to a nation that is financially bankrupt and so dependent upon the other nations of the world.

I am going to stop here because in spite of how it sounds I am not a doomsayer. I truly believe these trends can be stopped and changed. I do not believe a new President, or more government control, or an economic miracle is the answer. I KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS...IT IS WE THE PEOPLE OF GOD SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD ALMIGHTY WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, STRENGTH, SOUL, AND MIND. WE(THE CHURCH) ARE THE ANSWER TO ALL THAT AMERICA FACES RIGHT NOW AND IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. AS THE CHURCH GOES, SO GOES AMERICA. That has been the trend for the last 200 plus years, and will be the trend over the next eight years...IF JESUS' COMING TARRIES.

Have a great weekend!

-Pastor Randy