Praise Him in the Storm

In 2005, Christian singing group Casting Crowns released a single that has resonated in the hearts of so many for the past 5 years. The name of the song is “Praise Him in the Storm.” Our worship team and band played and sang this song at church two days after a tornado ripped through Crittenden, Piner, Peach Grove, and more. I didn’t realize till now just how all shocked we were. The days afterward have been long and hard as families grieved the four lives lost in just our county alone. Debris was sifted through, as folks sought to gather up what valuables could be found and salvaged. I don’t know about you, but I will never forget that day. I was off work that day, but decided to go to a lunch meeting in Alexandria. It was just an ordinary day, and the meeting was a very good one. Once I got home from that meeting, I switched to honey-do mode as I folded laundry while watching TV in my living room. I realized quite quickly that the weather was big news already. The meteorologists dominated the local stations. I saw that we had some storms headed our way, but then proceeded to watch some show I had recorded on the DVR. It wasn’t long that my viewing was interrupted by the emergency alert system, giving a tornado warning in parts of Indiana. When that robotic man’s voice actually said the words, “A tornado is on the ground. Take cover now,” I was taken aback. I had never heard that before on any of these alerts. From that point on, I left it on the local news to hear what the meteorologists had to say. Fast forward to around 4:15 p.m. My wife and kids had made it home from school, and now our skies were looking quite ominous in Independence. The emergency alert system was at it again, now saying that WE were under a warning and to take cover. In five minutes, we were all in our basement. Ironically, we were sitting in lawn chairs and having normal family conversation. But little did we know that just 8 miles east of us, homes were being destroyed. Not long after we came back upstairs, I received a call from one of our church secretaries that Chris and Michele Popper’s house had been destroyed in Piner and that they were using facebook to communicate and call out for help, even asking someone to call 911. Church members called 911 and then immediately got into vehicles to go help the Popper’s. By the time I got there, traffic was so backed up that I had to pull into a makeshift driveway and walk to the Popper’s home. As I walked up the driveway, the first person I saw was Chris Popper. He spread his arms wide and said three words that shocked me: “Praise the Lord!” In a matter of seconds, we were hugging and tears filled our eyes. His whole family was safe, but his home was severely damaged one wall having exploded and some of the roof just gone, not to mention a completely flattened barn. Others experienced homes that were severely damaged too, and some homes were just horrifically disintegrated. And as word came that lives were lost, the grief simply overcame our community. But as you know by now, that grief quickly turned to a resolve to help. We tweeted, facebooked, called, and just showed up and began to help our neighbors. The donation centers were set up and filled up quickly. Piner Baptist Church organized quickly to become the hub for all relief efforts in that area. Crittenden Baptist Church became the hub in their area as well. As overwhelming as the destruction was, I have to say that the desire to help and the actions that came with it were just as overwhelming. One of the lyrics of that Casting Crowns song reads: “As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, ‘I’m with you.’ And as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.” I honestly don’t believe I caught that lyric till I heard it sung in our church on March 4. It’s practically a direct quote of Job 1:20-21: “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’” Did you catch all the different emotions Job went through in just a couple of verses? He tore his robe and shaved his head, a common action in his time when someone experienced intense mourning and sorrow. That was pretty normal, considering he had just lost everything but his wife: houses, livestock, wealth, and even the lives of his children. But then he fell to the ground and worshiped. And then he gained perspective: “I came into this world with no possessions, and I will leave it with no possessions.” And then he just praised the Lord who gives and takes away. Every time I begin to craft an answer to the question “Why,” it seems to never pan out well. I can always find a rebuttal. We may never fully find a satisfying answer to that question, but I do realize that God is in the business of healing and restoring. I know that He is with us in our darkest hour with His hand outstretched saying, “I am with you.” We are now in the recovery and rebuilding phase. It’s still a long haul. Please don’t let your enthusiasm to help die down. Keep on praying. Keep on helping. And keep on making yourself available to rebuild. And for those who have faith in Christ, never forget that God has commissioned us to be His hands, His feet, His hugs, His smiles, and His words. Shine the love of Christ in the midst of this storm. And may our community all join together, raise our hands, and say, “We praise the God who gives and takes away!” He is our help! By His strength, and to His glory, we will rebuild!

Benefit Concert @ Sherman Baptist for Tornado Victims

In the wake of the tornado that ravaged the area on March 2
nd , area Southern Gospel musicians will gather in Dry Ridge, Ky. at Sherman Baptist Church to turn a community's tragedy towards benefiting the displaced of Crittenden and Piner Kentucky. The "Stand Tall Kentucky Tornado Relief Concert" and Donation Drive will remember those that lost their life during this tragedy as well as raising funds and necessities for those who have lost everything, with two evenings of music and donations that will draw a community together in helping friends, family and neighbors who continue to pick up what pieces of their lives, hopes, and dreams they can salvage and begin to rebuild, many having to restart from scratch. In partnership with Greg's Call Music Ministry and the Sherman Baptist Church,  the event hopes to bring in as many donations as possible for the victims of Northern Kentucky areas that were hit the hardest. So on Friday evening, March 16
th and Saturday evening March 17th as musicians and singers such as Common Bond Quartet, East to West, Hearts of Faith, Revelation 411, and Greg's Call take to the stage, hundreds from Northern Kentucky will join in a single voice and prayer to remember those lost, pray for those picking up the pieces of their lives, and honor men and women who unselfishly have and will spend countless hours devoting their time and energy to helping in the process, as well as remind everyone that we are Kentucky, the Bluegrass State and we will STAND TALL through trials and tribulations.  
The "Stand Tall Kentucky Tornado Relief Benefit" concert will aid Kentucky victims of the devastating band of tornadoes that tore through the area on March 2nd. 100% of the proceeds will be distributed to Crittenden and Piner Kentucky chosen relief agencies that are already set up through local churches to meet the immediate needs of the Kentucky tornado Victims.
 "When we began to hear about the devastation caused by the storms and tornadoes in our home state of Kentucky, we, just like everyone else, wanted to do something to help," said Greg's Call, Leigh Ann, a Kentucky native. "We are so excited that so many of our Southern Gospel friends agreed to stand beside us as we attempt to have a night that will not only raise money and supplies for many people that so desperately need it, but raise hope and build faith through this great night of music and encouragement." This benefit will usher in great aid to those who need it most. "This is more than a concert, this is ministry. Pure, raw, real ministry."  said Greg's Call.
 
While this is a free event we do ask for donations of canned goods, non-perishable items, or monetary donations be brought and collected at the door. There will also be a love offering taken up both nights during the event.
 
The event will be held at Sherman Baptist Church in Dry Ridge, Ky on March 16th and 17th from 6:30-9pm both nights For more information feel free to contact Leigh Ann at
859-817-1454 or 
booking@gregscall.org

in awe of HIM,
Bill Clark

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Update on How to Help NKY Tornado Victims

Hey, friends! Wanna know all the latest info about the Tornado Disaster Relief efforts in Northern KY? Check out this link below. It will tell you latest info on drop-off locations, benefit fundraisers, places where effected families can get help, and more. This is a facebook group page link, so if you don't have a free facebook account, you'll need to get ya one to see the info. The response to help has been overwhelmingly awesome! I'm so proud of our community. We have such Godly people that are serving the Lord and shining His light in the midst of a horrible tragedy. Let's keep serving in His name! Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TornadoReliefNKY/docs/

Helping Tornado Victims in Kenton Co.

Hey friends! Now's the time to be the hands and feet of Jesus and help those in need. We have had at least to families from Hickory Grove Baptist Church whose homes have been devastated by a tornado. The National Guard and Red Cross have set up shop at Piner Baptist Church. Volunteers will not be allowed into Liner till 10 am. Minors will also not be allowed to volunteer. So if you wanna help just bring some tarps, plywood, chainsaws, and other tools, and meet at Piner Baptist's lower parking lot no earlier than 10 am. Also, we are taking donations for those in need at Hickory Grove Baptist Church (11969 Taylor Mill Road, Independence) starting at 8 am Sat. morning. We can use clothing and nonperishable food items especially. They are also taking donations at the Independence City Building and the Sprint Store in Independence on Saturday. Please, above all this, pray for the tornado victims and their families. There's a lot of rebuilding to do. But with God's help, we can do all things. May He be glorified,evening this!

Rescue

Rescue. It’s an intriguing word. Have you ever been rescued? I can remember my first time ever taking a vacation at the ocean. My family was at Myrtle Beach. I was a puny little 4th grader, and I remember getting sucked into the undertow. It was a scary, powerless feeling. I remember just being pulled away from the shore, my body literally dragging against the sand and silt on the bottom. And then, I suddenly stopped. My body had hit the legs of another man who was standing out in deeper waters. Almost as soon as I hit his legs, he reached down into the waters and picked me up. I don’t believe I said a word to him, but I bet he saw the panic and fear in my eyes. I immediately left the ocean to find my family. But I soon realized how thankful I was that I was rescued by this man that I didn’t even know. I was in a situation that I could not get out of in my own power and strength. I needed someone to pull me out of danger and into safety. Last week, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Dave Hammers, the executive director of the Fairhaven Rescue Mission, located in Covington, KY. Their mission is in the name. They seek to rescue homeless men from the streets of Covington. My heart and soul burned within me as Mr. Hammers shared story after story and explained how their program worked. Every evening, men will line up in the alley adjacent to their facility, hoping to gain entrance to a free, hot meal inside. The men are given a breathalyzer test, and if they pass, they gain entrance. Mr. Hammers said that once men on the street realize they can get a hot meal if they can take a day to be sober, it already begins to motivate them towards life change. After a meal is provided, they then have a chapel service where the “spiritual food” of the gospel is served. About half the men who come in to eat will also be provided with a shower and a good night’s sleep in a warm, clean bed. And men who are really serious about seeing their lives transformed can apply for another program that will allow them to stay at the mission on more of a long-term basis. By the end of their time in that program, they will not only be sober, but they will have a permanent job and money in the bank. But there is one common thread in everything Fairhaven does: JESUS CHRIST!!! He is the ultimate rescuer. A government program won’t do it. A free hand-out won’t do it. A self-help book won’t do it. Jesus always has been and always will be the answer for our lives. Galatians 1:4 says, “Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.” In one simple verse, we are pointed to our rescuer. Jesus Christ has the power to forgive us of our sins. Jesus Christ has the power to deliver us from whatever shackles us in this world. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been in a place where you were absolutely powerless and needed someone more powerful than you, more capable than you, to reach down to where you are and literally pick you up? Are you there even now? There’s good news! Jesus is our lifeguard. Jesus is our 911. Jesus lived and died and rose again in order to rescue you, not just in one moment as you fill out a decision card in a church service, but each and every day all through eternity. Jesus is in the business of rescuing you. It’s up to you to call on Him. It’s up to you to put your hand in His. He won’t force Himself on you. But He is available to all who are willing. “For whosoever will call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (Romans 10:13). Will you let Jesus be your rescue? [For more information on the Fairhaven Rescue Mission or to inquire about volunteering or being a donor, call (859) 491-1027]

Giant Character

This past Sunday marked the end of one of my favorite sports seasons: pro football. I was so glad to see all those rich guys agree to still play the season (wink, wink), but that’s another story. This has to be one of the most unique post-seasons I can remember in recent history. I don’t know about you, but I fell into Tebow-mania all the way. I don’t care how you slice it; God granted Tebow the opportunity to bring glory to Him through unusual, remarkable success that really seemed only explicable by His divine hand. And Tebow was the first to give him the credit for every ounce of success. I’ll never forget that amazing game against the Steelers in the first round of playoffs. And that first play of the overtime period was mind-blowing as Tebow through the game-winning touchdown pass. And it didn’t hurt my feeling that it happened to the Steelers, me being a Bengals fan and all. Nevertheless, the character of a man who has radical faith in Jesus Christ was brought to the spotlight as a result of the God-given success to Tim Tebow, a man with giant character. And then you have the GIANTS. I remember when they had a 7-7 record and sports pundits were wondering if Coach Tom Coughlin had coached his last season in New York. And then the Giants never lost the rest of the season. They had to win the last game of the regular season just to barely make the playoffs. Then all they do is go beat Atlanta, then the most lauded team in the league on that team’s tundra turf: the Green Bay Packers. Then they take a trip to San Francisco to play a hot 49’ers team. They win that game to seal their trip to the Super Bowl where they get a rematch of the 2008 championship against the New England Patriots. Could the Giants beat Tom Brady? Would Eli Manning get one more championship ring than his brother, right there in the house that Peyton built? Had the Giant’s hot streak finally run out? The Giants continued to show the character of a team that never gives up and doesn’t bend in the face of adversity, as they win Super Bowl 46. I have been spending a lot of time in the book of Joshua lately. Things were going well at the beginning of that book of the Bible. Moses had passed the torch to his successor Joshua. They crossed over the Jordan River with great, worshipful pomp and circumstance. They came to that great walled city called Jericho. They followed God’s unusual marching orders that resulted in that wall collapsing and bringing overwhelming victory to the Israelites. What a great way to start the Occupy Promised Land movement! But then, due to sin in the camp (thanks a lot greedy Achan), Israel gets routed by little ol’ Ai. All of a sudden, the Israelites had their backs against the wall, wondering what God’s plan was for them. No doubt the folks began to wonder why God would deliver them from Egypt only to get defeated in embarrassing fashion. But God spoke to Joshua. Joshua 8:1 says, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’” And that is exactly what Joshua and the Israelites did. They did not stay in that dark valley of defeat. They trusted in God and did exactly what He told them. And the result of that was victory. Character is a funny, paradoxical thing. We often believe that great success is a result of great character. That can often be true. But how does that character develop in a person? Often through failure, difficulty, and adversity. I have a feeling that Tebow has learned a lot in his personal life about character way before he found himself in the spotlight this season. And the Giants probably learned a lot during those 7 early-season defeats that propelled them to victory in the Super Bowl. And the Israelites learned the importance of trust and obedience through utter failure. But that character that was built catapulted them to ultimate victory. How about you? Are you allowing God to build your character right now? Don’t stay in the valley of defeat. Don’t give up. Get up. Trust completely in God. Obey God wholeheartedly. And then prepare to celebrate ultimate victory that is way more eternal than the Lombardi trophy. Let God build “giant character” in you.

God and Government - part 2

Last week, I shared about a historic day in the state of Kentucky as we became the 5th state to launch a State Legislative Prayer Caucus which calls on the entire Commonwealth to pray and seek God for the protection of our freedom to express our faith in God and for our government leaders to have wisdom as they carry out their God-given roles in our state and nation. It’s a huge affirmation to what we should know by now: if you make government completely void of God, you are headed for chaos, destruction, and a country void of the very blessings of God, the One who has been the foundation of this nation from its inception. Kentucky State Senate President Williams reminded us of something that we must remember: our constitution, including any amendments, does not contain the words “separation of church and state.” However, that does bring us to the other side of the coin. What if there was a complete marriage of God and government? What if they became one and the same? Would that be a good thing? There are times when I think YES, YES, YES! Perhaps pornography would be outlawed. Perhaps the rights of unborn people created by God will finally be protected, and we would see abortion abolished. And I could list many more. But just one day after the historic Kentucky Prayer Caucus launch, on January 11, 2012, there was another historic event that happened. The Supreme Court of the United States made a unanimous decision to declare that there is a ministerial exemption on churches and religious organizations that allows them to hire and fire in ways that other employers cannot: based on their beliefs. Chief Justice John Roberts refers to the First Amendment of the Constitution, saying, “The Establishment Clause prevents the Government from appointing ministers, and the Free Excercise Clause prevents it from interfering with the freedom of religious groups to select their own.” He continues explaining his view by saying, “The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so, too, is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith and carry out their mission.” What this ruling does is prevent government interference in a church’s calling or dismissal of a minister based on that person’s ability to carry out the teaching of that church’s beliefs or the failure to teach those or live out those very beliefs. It’s a huge ruling because otherwise, churches could be sued successfully for letting go an employee or minister who suddenly declares they believe abortion is okay or homosexuality is okay, even if that church teaches and preaches otherwise. Imagine a world where the government has its hands on the calling of ministers in your church? That is a scary world. When you think about it, government is a tricky concept when it comes to living a life ruled by God. That was once how it was for Israel. They were ruled by God, and God would raise up leaders in the form of judges and prophets. But the day came when they wanted to be like the other nations around them and have a king to rule them: an established government. Here was God’s response to that through the last judge of Israel who was Samuel: “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.’ Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day,’ (1 Samuel 8:6-18, NIV). And as we look at the roller coaster history of Israel, we see that when there was a king that loved the Lord, that governmental period was blessed and prosperous. When it had a king that despised the Lord or turned away from Him, Israel became a mess. So where does that leave us? Friends, we must let our individual lives and families’ lives be governed by the awesome love and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He is the answer! He is the source of abundant life (John 10:10). He is the giver of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 10:13)! And then as for our government, here is what we do: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4, NIV). That is how we blend both God and government. We are blessed to be in this great nation called the United States of America. But I believe that we must fight hard to remember that those blessings come from one source: God Himself! My life depends on Him, not government! Our nation’s future prosperity and success depends on HIM, not government. So let’s turn to Him, live obedient lives, and pray for our leaders. Our nation’s present and future depends on it!

God and Government - Part 1

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but something within me drew me and motivated me to attend this event. It was quite spontaneous, and I knew of no other ministerial friends that were going. But when I got the e-mail invite to attend the Kentucky “Call to Prayer” Day in our state’s capital, I just had to RSVP and go. I invited our youth pastor Jon Burdette, and on Tuesday morning, January 10, 2012, we loaded up my little green civic and headed to Frankfort. We were going to get there an hour early for what was called a “pre-event” for pastors and other citizens. As I pulled close to the round-about near the Capitol and found a quick easy parking spot, I was wondering if maybe we were one of the few attending. After a lovely encounter with the greeter at the door and the hilarious security man, we found ourselves in the famous rotunda of the Capitol building. The pre-event was nice, with some refreshments, a video presentation, and introductory remarks about what was about to take place. But once the clock struck 12 noon, the main event began. It was awesome! State legislators took to the podium and shared a little about their faith and about how excited they were to launch this Kentucky Legislative Prayer Caucus. It is only the 5th state caucus to launch in the nation, formed after the national version of it that was founded by Randy Forbes in Washington. As the speeches were delivered and as many of our state legislators signed the “Call to Prayer Proclamation,” it was as if an old-fashioned revival service had taken place. Throughout the event, there was applause and amens. At one point, a lady even whipped out a shofar (an Old Testament ram’s horn) and blew it right there inside the rotunda. Awesome stuff. One of the statements that was made by Senate President Williams that elicited one of the loudest ovations was, “There is no mention in our constitution of the separation between church and state.” I had heard that before. Probably even preached it. But it was great to hear one of our very own government leaders say it. Another cool moment came near the end of the event when someone read the actual “Call to Prayer Proclamation” document: Throughout the history of the United States, its citizens have drawn strength, hope, and guidance by prayer and humble petition before a loving and merciful Creator—imploring him to watch over this nation, its leaders, and her people. The faith-based principles that established America, including the first amendment to the constitution, guarantee the freedom of religion and its expression. The moral and solemn responsibility of those elected to public office, draws many servants who believe in the power of prayer—to seek humility in governance, wisdom in decision-making, courage in times of testing, and providence for God’s favor and blessing. On May 24, 1774, when facing enormous challenges, caucus members from the Virginia House of Burgesses passed a resolution setting apart a day of “fasting, humiliation, and prayer.” in early 2005, a small group from the U.S. House of Representatives began meeting in room 219 of the United States Capitol to pray for our nation. The gravity of this meeting was derived from the humble and sincere belief that God could heal and restore America. Soon thereafter, these members formed the Congressional Prayer Caucus to vigilantly watch over and protect the right of individuals to pray. We stand at the threshold of another significant crossroad: either to acknowledge and embrace the vibrant character of our spiritual heritage or to plunge headlong into the postmodern void—a value neutral and amoral vacuum that endeavors to deconstruct much of what we hold sacred. Centuries ago, the Bible records in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that God told King Solomon: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” With clear vision and the recent re-affirmation of “in God we trust” as our national motto, it becomes more evident how important prayer is to this country and to Kentuckians. The preamble of the state constitution humbly asserts, “We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy, and invoking the continuance of these blessings, do ordain and establish this constitution.” The patriotism of the Commonwealth’s first governor, Isaac Shelby, helped inspire the state motto, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Furthermore, the official Latin commonwealth motto, adopted in 2002, affirms, “deo gratiam habeamus” (let us be grateful to God). We, the undersigned believe in prayer and the Judeo-Christian principles that remind us that our rights come from Almighty God, unite in this proclamation. Accordingly, this day we respectfully and humbly issue a “call to prayer” for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and invite Kentuckians everywhere to pray that God will continue to bless this country, our noble state and the freedom for which they stand. The really cool moment came when the man got to the Bible verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14. As he read it, gradually, most everyone in the rotunda, including legislators, began to say the Bible verse aloud as well. It was spontaneous. No one asked the crowd to do this. I tell ya, it was as if the Holy Spirit’s presence truly invaded the rotunda of the Capitol that day. And fellow citizens, that is as it should be. There are some things about that concept “separation of church and state” that may actually be good (which I’ll write about next week), but our founding fathers and most importantly, God, who has established and richly blessed our great nation, NEVER meant for us to not involve Him and His all-knowing wisdom and ways from the governing of our country. So let’s answer the call! Humble yourself. Pray. Seek His face. Turn from your sin. And God promises that He will hear our prayers. He will forgive us. And He will heal our land. Our nation’s present and future depends on Him. Will you answer the call to make that happen?