Many years ago in my alcoholic distress, I would take the Holy Bible to the rose garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I didn’t understand much of it, but the Psalms seemed a life line to me. It was the beginning of my gratitude for the Bible.

Psalm 25:16-18 -

Turn to me and be gracious to me, 

  for I am lonely and afflicted. 

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; 

  bring me out of my distresses. 

Consider my affliction and my trouble, 

  and forgive all my sins.

Bible Gateway link: Psalm 25:16 (ESV)

Let’s define some neighborhoods. How about Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol? How about a bigger circle including the State Department, the Pentagon all the other departments and the various agencies? Now let’s include the Maryland, Virginia and Washington surrounds and all the government workers, lobbyists, journalists and taxpayers? So how about it? Let’s follow Christ’s instructions and stop this madness.

Romans 13:8-9 -

Owe no one anything, except to love each other,

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 Bible Gateway Link: Roman’s 13:8-9 ESV

Whenever I hate myself for being who I am, I remember this verse. He created me just the way He needed me to be. Who am I to second guess God?

But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?

Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?

Romans 9:20-21

At a time when our country seems so broken, we would all do well to listen to God, who mercifully and CLEARLY tells us what we need to do.

2 Chronicles 7:14 -

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

 Bible Gateway link: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

If you feel you just don’t know how to pray, here’s a good one from King David. You can use it over and over again.

King David Holy Card

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord , and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Link: 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Wow. This is harsh! It could, however, explain the ugliness in our political culture right now. Generally speaking, we’d all be better off to acknowledge God. You don’t have far to look for evidence of his omnipresence.

Romans 1:28-31

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

 - Bible Gateway link: Romans 1:28-31 (ESV)

This is why I read the Bible. I am like that tree, but only because I meditate on His Word. It is changing my life from chaff to fruit.

Psalm 1: 1-4 

Blessed is the man 

  who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 

nor stands in the way of sinners, 

  nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

but his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

  and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree 

  planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit in its season, 

  and its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, he prospers. 

The wicked are not so, 

  but are like chaff 

that the wind drives away.

Bible Gateway Link: Psalm 1:1-4