What an exciting time to be alive to witness the course of events as they unfold to create history. This primary process was already one of historical proportions from the very beginning. Out of the three viable candidates, the two Democrats and one Republican, whomever is elected would be a 'first' for America. Either the 'first' African-American, or the 'first' woman or the 'first' oldest ever President of the United States of America. This presidential election will be history making regardless of who is eventually elected.
However, what is most exciting, whether you agree with his platform or not, is the historical nature of the first seriously viable candidacy of a 'black' man for President. We must remember and concede that the prior three black candidacies for president of the United States were by and large symbolic in nature. Most are unaware of the candidacy in 1972 of Shirley Chisolm, the 1984 and 1988 runs of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the 2004 run of Rev. Al Sharpton. These candidacies were by and large symbolic in nature, run to raise issues of race, class and social issues. Senator Obama's campaign has transcended race and class, thereby elevating him above the pettiness of color and class arguments. We have come to place to understand that the issues we face are bigger than governments and policies. We are facing a sin issue. A battle waged in the heavenlies in the spirit realm. It is a divine God thing verses being a sinful human being thing.
It was only 42 years ago, in 1965, that we gained the right to vote as African-Americans here in the United States, without having to pay a poll tax, or count the number of marbles or rocks in a jar, or the number of bubbles in a bar of soap or recite a passage from a poem or a book. We are only a single generation removed from being barred from hotels, restuarants, businesses, buses and even from using public water fountains or restrooms, simply because of the insidious ignorance of others in relation to the color of our skin. Our generation knows nothing of being attacked by fireman's water hoses or police dogs or being beaten with police batons. We are unfamiliar with being called 'boy' and 'nigger' on a consistent daily basis as a way of life. We have dealt with Jim Crow, Jr., which is a 'smile in your face but plot behind your back' and 'behind the scenes' form of Jim Crowism.
Anthony Samad, author and historian of 50 Years After Brown: The State Of Black Equality In America, said in a CNN interview that many see and view Senator Obama's groundbreaking achievement with 'cautious optimism' while others see it as a 'dream deferred' largely because many African-Americans really never expected to this type of political reciprocity so soon, in their lifetimes. Many still find it difficult to wrap their mind and emotions around the sheer significance of his accomplishment.
Rev. Jesse Jackson was quoted as calling Obama's surpassing of the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination a 'transformational moment.' This is 40 years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and 200 years after the abolition of the African slave trade. There is a timing significance associated with this monumental moment as well. Timing is imoportant in God's economy.
This is a season of change and new beginnings. It is a time of God doing things we have never seen before in our lives. I encourage each of us to believe in the Word of God and to appropriate His Word and to manifest His blessings in our lives. Get in on what God is doing in the earth and through people! Live out your faith, publicly, on purpose and with pride! Do not be ashamed to recognize and honor Him as Savior and Lord of your life. Expect the best from God in your life. Push your faith to the limit! Obey God no matter what or no matter who! Let your life become a testimony to the awesomeness and greatness of God!... The reality of all that is happening in the world now is that God can and wants to do much, much more than that! The apostle Paul says in the book of Ephesians that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly, above all that you can think or imagine in your life, in your marriage, in your family, in your relationships, on your job, in your body, with your health, in your mind, in your emotions, in your education, in your experience and even in your finances. God wants to be God and do God things holistically in your life!
Whatever it is God has put in your spirit to be, do or accomplish, let this be your year! Your year to begin what God has already completed for your life! Go for broke with whatever it is! Believe God can do even more than what you are believing Him for! Spare no expense! Take no shorts! Get your 'Holy hustle' on, do all that you can do and watch God do the rest. Walk in faith! Talk with favor! When you show up you will find out He has already prepared the way! Don't just walk into your season, but run into your destiny! Somebody is waiting to be blessed by the blessing God has in store for you!
Let your life be the monumental moment and history in the making with God writing the script! He alone is the author and finisher of our faith! From cover to cover in our lives, it is all about Him!
See you on the blessed side!
AGAPE,
Pastor P
Loving Life and Living To Love
2008 Year of New Beginnings!
