KLINE: The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth

Earlier this week, we saw the results of the elections for the primary season. There were many surprise wins, inevitable wins, and of course the surprisingly inevitable. Regardless, we see that the November elections will surely be a time to anticipate. Although, voter turn-out was not as ballot box staggering in my area, it was good to see that the number of voters in many regions was greater than had been expected. It was reported that preliminary vote totals were larger than that of 2006.

Now, I know that there are many things that contributed to the outcome of these elections, yet it is certain that many of the efforts made by the members of the Tea Party movement have certainly had their influence. In some areas we see some Democrats deciding to elect more conservative Democrats as the choice candidate in their area. U.S. Senate candidate for Kentucky, Rand Paul, advocated the influence of the Tea Party people by saying, “I have a message, a message from the Tea Party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We have come to take our government back.” Those are certainly bold words from a person who has only won the nomination for his party, yet I respect his boldness.

While on the subject of bold people, I was personally surprised to see that Dan Onorato won the Democratic nomination of Governor. Though many predicted he would win the nomination, I thought that the popularity that he lost over the Drink Tax idea would be his downfall. This is one of those victories that fall under my surprisingly inevitable category.

I knew that Corbett had the popularity to be the choice Republican candidate, yet I was a bit skeptical of his victory due to the sudden popularity Sam Rohrer.

Regardless, we see that we are certainly in for an interesting election season. Though much can be predicted, we can never be certain where the restless political winds will take its rest. So it is important that we not become lazy simply because we made it past one election. It is important that we stand strong, and see that our nation becomes better as a result.

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KLINE: America’s Altar Call

“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” -I Timothy 2:8

I had the opportunity to attend the National Day of Prayer meeting here in Kittanning yesterday. They prayed about the many needs of our nation; from our elected officials in Washington to the needs of the American family. These prayer meetings were held all over the United States with the exception of the Nation’s Capitol. Just recently, a Wisconsin judge said it was considered to be unconstitutional to have a national day of prayer. Almost 50 years ago, our nation found it unconstitutional to have prayer in our public schools. Now I know it doesn’t really matter if our government recognizes a day of prayer. Yet for them to keep going in the direction further from the things of God is not good for the future of our nation. If they wonder why we need to recognize God, perhaps they need to look under the “general welfare” clause that they love so much.

Now you may call it coincidence, but every time the United States (or any nation) has taken another step toward godlessness, things only became worse. Now this nation and founders were not perfect at its origin by any stretch of the imagination, but the majority of them decided to put their trust in a perfect Almighty God who was able to make this nation prosper and become the ideal nation on earth.

The question remains, ”How did we get to this place of developing a godless society?” The answer is not that our government failed. It was Christians who failed to continue in the faith. It was when God’s people became proud, refused to pray, forsook God’s face, and embraced the ways of wickedness that the problems surfaced in our government and beyond. It is time that we as Christians look to God before one day we wake up and one nation under God is gone.

”When we were in great peril we had daily prayers in this room for the protection and guidance of Almighty God. I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I have that God governs the affairs of men. If the sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without his aid. To that kind of providence we owe this happy privilege of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. Have we now forgotten that powerful Friend; or have we no longer need of His assistance.” - Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention

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