Governor Rick Perry has called for a day of fasting and prayer within the Lone Star, Lord knows we need it. by Mark Vogl
(conservative)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Texas is suffering one of its worst draughts in history, and the state budget is several billion out of balance. The federal government continues to refuse to protect the Texan border with Mexico where it is reported many of the forty thousand who have died along the US - Mexican border have perished. With these kinds of problems the Governor has seen fit to call on God for help..
Rick Perry has taken a step which is needed, but why did he do it?
You don't have to read too many articles of the America Today column to know that I am a firm believer that the United States is a Christian nation, and that God does have a place at the table of governance. So one would think I would be very supportive of Rick Perry's call for a day of prayer and fasting on August 6th in Texas.
Let me say that I do believe the entire nation needs a day of prayer of fasting, and more. We need to rededicate our nation, our people, and ourselves individually to Christ (those of us who are Christians). We need to invite God to the table. We need Him to be there when we try to fix the mess we have created. We need to lean on Him, and realize that we can't make heaven on earth, that the government CANNOT solve all our problems. We neednot trim government; we need to do major amputations of entire departments. So much of what the federal government does is not its' business! Most of the social programs are really the responsibilities of family, church, and local community. Education is a state responsibility, and we should close of the Department of Educatiion. And we are not the guardian of the world, nor are we leader of the Free World anymore. Simply put, they dont need us anymore, and we need to recognize we are just one of 200 nations.
Is there a need for alliances? Maybe. Are there nations who have been friends to the United States? Yes. And to the extent that we can, we should stand with our friends. But,American policy, both domestic and foreign, should be centered on American interests. We cannot let another nation's needs, vulnerabilities drive American policy.
Anyway, Rick Perry has taken a step. He has done something, which in some quarters, could be very controversial. So, in one sense, what Governor Perry has done is courageous. Why he waited until now; well, that's the question. Our nation has been on the path of decline for a long time. The decline started with Perry's mentor George Bush; or even before the last Bush to the first one. When America won the Cold War in 1991 our nation had a chance to re-evaluate our role in the world. We had an opportunity to withdraw back within our borders, and focus our attention on the Americans who carried the world for half a century. But we didn't do that. We didn't look at a new world of 200 nations and think, ok, what's best for America? Instead, the Neo-conservatives dreamed a new global mission, one that traded America's heartland for something called globalism. The President, who as a nominee said it was not America's job to nation build, "changed his mind" as he says in his autobiographical Presidential memories. America found a new reason for a global presence. It arrived gift-wrapped on September 11th when approximately fiftyterrorists participated in an attack that killed more than 3,000 Americans and destroyed the Twin Towers.
Were we attacked? Absolutely. Did we need to respond? Absolutely. But our choice of response has committed us to a colonial, nation-building presence in the Middle East.
George W. Bush is a good man. He is a Christian. He is a Texan. He was a fighter pilot. But, he also was an Ivy leaguer and the son of his father.Now comes Rick Perry, the protege of Bush. He is a decent man. He is a Christian, he is a Texan. And he was afighter pilot.Governor Perry does NOT have an overly conservative record as a governor. Yes, Texas has a good economy, but how much of that is due to Perry is really questionable. Perry has held the line on no income tax in Texas, but who knows if he could have gotten it, if he wanted it. Perry did not stand with Arizona last year concerning illegal immigration and the damage done by the failure of the federal government. Perry has not been a spokesperson for any one particular cause. Recently we have seen many speeches he gave out of the state, which certainly could be considered conservative in tone. But in East Texas, possibly the most conservative part of the state, Perry did very poorly in presidential polling. In East Texas, he didn't get ten per cent.
Yet, his most recent words, ones in East Texas on May 11, make even the most skeptical Texan wonder: Is he better than he seems to be? Perry, in his talk in Longview, Texas, said about a prayer service he is organizing in Houston:"It is going to be people on stage projecting and proclaiming Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior at Reliant Stadium." Further on he said, " ...we've got to havemen and women who are willing to stand upto proclaim the values that this country was based on."
So is Perry flim-flamming us? Or does he truly believe in Christ and inviteHim to the table to guide us in governance? Does Perry reject homosexuality? Would he aggressively fight abortion? Would he get the F.C.C. to clean up television and radio? Will he develop a political platform with a foundation onthe Bible?
I pray Perry is praying, and is open to letting God lead. I pray Perry is not calling a day of prayer and of fasting because it will be a very popular thing for a large segment of America, but because he is serious about asking God to lead the American recovery.
America is suffering, butI contend our nation suffers because of ourchoices, our turn from God, our belief that we don't need God. President Obama proclaimed to the world that the United States is not a Christian nation. I would argue that who we are as a people must be the center of 2012 election. Governor Perry may be saying he feels the same way through his decision to call for a day of prayer and fasting.
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