Capitol Bible Study: "Promises, Promises"

From our interim Bible study in the West Virginia Capitol:

“A chicken in every pot, and a car in every garage.”

– 1928 Herbert Hoover Presidential Campaign

This may be perhaps one the best known campaign promises ever uttered. During the presidential campaign of 1928 a circular published claimed that if Herbert Hoover were elected, America would see this kind of prosperity. However, the stock market crash of 1929 plunged the country into the Great Depression. The American people lost confidence in Hoover and he failed to win a second term.

This is a great example pointing out the difficulty in making and keeping campaign promises. People wrongly believe politicians will say anything “just to get elected”. The reality is most candidates have the best of intentions when making statements regarding stands on issues and plans for serving in office. It is when faced with the challenges of leading and lawmaking, changes in circumstances, and the very realities of the political process that it becomes quite difficult to follow through on the statements and promises made during the campaign. There may be a few who make promises they have no intention of keeping, but most simply find that it may be quite difficult at times, due to circumstances and realities, to keep the promises they have made. Whatever the case, when it comes to politics, many will indeed often say, “promises, promises”.

This is not the case when it comes to God and the promises we find in His Word. Those who trust Christ and follow God have a heavenly Father Who will always keep His promises. He intends to do so when He makes them and He is able to do so regardless of circumstances. So we are reminded in Hebrews 10:23 that we can “Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…” One of the great privileges we have as citizens of heaven are the great promises we have from our heavenly king. As we near the close of our study of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, we come to one of the most encouraging promises God has given us. When we grasp its truth it will certainly help keep us from wavering in our walk with Christ:

…My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

You can download the complete study HERE.

Capitol Bible Study: "The Secret of Contentment in the Capitol"

From next week's Capitol Bible Study:

Contentment is an elusive virtue. We often seek for contentment and happiness in places where it cannot be found – money, possessions, power, positions, relationships, or freedom from trials and difficulties in life. Contentment may be particularly difficult to achieve in life and work here in the capitol. There is often the ambition to gain a higher office or position of leadership. There is a great desire to win the political battles over important issues and legislation. There are often difficult circumstances and situations that threaten to rob one of contentment. Paul has encouraged the Philippian believers to “Rejoice in the Lord, always” (Philippians 4:4). Now he writes of a quality closely related to joy, that of contentment:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:10-13)

Download the complete study HERE.

Photo is from the cover of Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs' wonderful book, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment".

Capitol Bible Study: Godly Thinking in the Capitol

From next week's Bible study at the West Virginia statehouse, "Godly Thinking in the Capitol":

There is nothing more true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute and more excellent and worthy of praise than the person of Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel. We focus on the fact that we are all sinners against a holy God and under His wrath. We consider the truth that Jesus came and lived a perfect life of obedience and suffered and died in our place so that we might have our sins forgiven. When we understand this and repent and trust Him, then it indeed changes our thinking about everything.

Perhaps an apt closing is the prayer found in the old hymn by Kate Wilkinson:

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

You can read or download the complete study here.

Pray for our Interim Committee Meetings and Bible Studies

Every month our legislators gather in Charleston for three days of interim committee meetings. Each lawmaker is assigned to one or more committees in order to work on various issues throughout the year.

In these meetings they deal with a variety of topics, many of which will be taken up during next year’s regular session.This month's interim meetings will be held on September 12-14.

During the interim meetings, Capitol Commission provides Bible studies for our legislators and elected officials at the capitol. Our study for this month is entitled "Godly Thinking in the Capitol" from Philippians 4:8 and will be held on Tuesday, September 13. Please pray for our legislators as they gather for these meetings:

Pray for safety as they travel.

Pray for them as they take this time away from their families and jobs.

Pray for them as they deal with many issues important to our state.

Pray that our Bible study and other aspects of our ministry will be a challenge and encouragement to our leaders.

You can learn more about the legislative interim committee assignments and meetings at the West Virginia Legislature web site.

You can download the complete study HERE.

Resting on That Which will Never be Shaken

As most of you know, West Virginia recently experienced something quite unusual , at least for us, - an earthquake. I was in my office in downtown Charleston and the shaking of the sturdy, two story building was disturbing. I arrived at our state capitol building shortly after and found that all the buildings on the statehouse campus had been evacuated. The earthquake, which was centered almost 300 miles away and caused minor damage throughout our nation’s capitol, made quite an impact in the WV capitol as well.

After everyone was allowed to return to the building, I met with a friend from the governors office who recounted how the main capitol building was shaken. This made me think of how quickly our lives can be shaken if they are not built upon Christ and His Word. When the capitol was evacuated, it did not matter if you where the governor, a legislator, a secretary, or a maintenance man – everyone found themselves in the same situation. This is a good reminder that everyone, including our elected leaders need to hear the gospel and submit to the truth of God’s word. Many of our leaders build their lives on shaky foundations such as careers or political achievement.

Please join me in praying that God will use circumstances, whether earthquakes or life situations to turn our leaders’ hearts to that which can never be shaken – Jesus Christ.

(This is from the transcript for a weekly spot I do on WOAY Radio (Oak Hill / Beckley) reminding folks to pray for their leaders.)

A Good Reminder to Pray for the Leaders in Your Community

In just a little over a year, the capitol community saw the deaths of five members of the legislature. Three of these were quite sudden and unexpected. In a small community of 134 members, this certainly had quite an impact, both on the lawmakers themselves as well as on the staff and lobbyists who worked with them over the years. The widows of two of the legislators were appointed to fill the remainder of their husbands’ terms and are now serving in the House of Delegates.

As one seeking to minister in the capitol community, I had the opportunity to attend the visitations and funeral services for several of these leaders. I was reminded of the urgency and importance of sharing the gospel with them. Both in the capitol during the sessions and at home in their districts, many people descend upon our legislators to speak with them about a host of topics and issues. How many have a goal to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ? How many ever think to seek to help Christian lawmakers grow in their walk with the Lord? If people knew that their meeting with a legislator would be the last time they would ever see them or speak with them, would that change or add to the focus of their conversation?

This should certainly remind us to pray for the spiritual needs of our leaders, and that God would bring into their lives people who will faithfully seek to share with them the gospel and the word of God.

(This is from the transcript for a weekly spot I do on WOAY Radio (Oak Hill / Beckley) reminding folks to pray for their leaders.)

Redistricting & Remembering Our Representative in Heaven

If you are following the news of West Virginia politics at all, you know that the legislature has been in special session dealing with the issue of redistricting. Every 10 years, the our lawmakers must determine how the districts throughout the state will be drawn to ensure fair representation for all mountain state citizens. As always, the issue brought about much controversy, heated discussion, and debate.

All the talk about how we can be best and most effectively represented by our leaders in Charleston reminds us of an incredibly important biblical truth. In Jesus Christ we have One who perfectly represents believers before His Father in Heaven as He is at the right hand of God to intercede for us. We take great encouragement from the fact that He ever lives to make intercession for us. It is through His death on the cross our sins can be forgiven, and through His perfect life His righteousness can be given to us. This is the case He brings before the Father on our behalf.

In the midst of all the issues discussed and debated at the capitol, this is the message that all need to hear. During the special session last week we were blessed to proclaim the gospel message through our Bible studies in the statehouse. Pray that our leaders will indeed hear and heed the great truth that through faith in Christ we can have Him representing us before the throne of God.