Chaplain Report August 2001

Rev. Dr. William Jackson  Lincoln ALP 3 Chaplain 

What’s UP with our beloved nation nowadays? It seems we have no leadership, a rather poor excuse for a government at many levels, and some downright SOMETHINGS going on behind closed doors to permit such a fiasco as this nation to be brought to our knees in shame and degradation (Judges 18:7). 

Oh, sure, no one person in a given household here is DIRECTLY responsible for our nation’s decline, but…have you ever thought, if God empowers me, what could I accomplish? 

And, yes, you CAN do something, but….well…it’s sort of…by some people…thought to be a bit much to corner others into doing what needs to be done to help restore this nation’s greatness. 

Yeah….you’re right. Why quibble with such a near impossible event to handle? Unless…there’s an open door right in front of you that’ll aid your warrior-like turn-around (Job 34:30, 34)? 

Back in ancient Israel, the struggle of following God’s plan for their “milk & honey” reward often found them suffering from similar malaise as we today, such as ineffective leadership, an absence of management largess, and a seeming ignoring of better ways to live out God’s great life for them. Judges appointed by God tried to deliver their people from foreign oppression as well as from their own spiritual sin; e.g. Samson (Judges chapters 13-16.), Deborah (Judges 4-5), Ehud (Judges 3:15-30), and Gideon (Judges 6:1-8:35). 

The question that begs questioning is: why is God persecuting America like that of Israel of old, with all of the good we’ve done over our 245-year history as a democracy? Maybe…now is the time to get with the Lord to find out why, then follow His wisdom for rectifying our situation. 

When Joshua was about to embark on the conquest of God’s chosen land of “milk and honey” in Canaan, he counseled his people: ”Choose ye this day which gods you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15). Have you done this lately? Yes, you vote and campaign for a given leader. I get it. But does God get it when you may not have chosen Him? To help alleviate this distress, and probably help America to get back on its feet, you and the Lord may have to get really chummy, like His judges and prophets did, to get the wisdom and blessing to move America forward again. It’s up to us to do what’s necessary if we want to remain Americans. 

Rev. Dr. William Jackson 

Lincoln ALP 3 Chaplain