Letters to the Editor

  “With One Cry”

The folks at Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Farmville, Virginia, like so many Americans, recognize the many challenges we face as a nation today and the need for guidance and wisdom from our mighty God during this important election cycle and beyond. There have been many times in our country’s past when our situation looked bleak. In response, our citizens gathered to pray publicly and ask Jesus for mercy, and He heard and responded to our cry for His help. As we prepare for the 2016 presidential election, we are facing a situation about which many people feel helpless and hopeless.

We write this to invite all to join us for a period of repentance and prayer from now until the election. We are organizing our prayer around the prayer points below from With One Cry by David Butts. We are meeting twice a month until the election. If you are interested in joining our prayer group please contact Pastor Matt Sorenson by calling 434-392-1875 or email at pastor@stjohnsfarmville.org.

Let us first repent of our own sin as we prepare to “Cry Out” to the Lord for our nation and the election process.

Pray for the judges of this nation that they will seek the wisdom that comes from above as they hear and decide the cases before them.

Pray for our judicial system and lawmakers – that justice for all, tempered by mercy and compassion, will guide our nation.

Pray for wisdom for all voters and for a safe and fair election. Pray that the results of the election will please God.

Pray for the salvation of those who are in leadership of our nation. Pray that they and their families will be protected from harm and unnecessary scrutiny. Pray that each candidate will focus on the issues we face as a nation.

Pray for truth to be the established standard in our news media and that any unjust media bias will be replaced by fairness.

Pray for great awareness and discernment as we pray over the election.

Pray for a spiritual revival to sweep the nation as the Lord’s people humble themselves with a contrite spirit, and tremble at the Word of the Lord.

C.W. Ironmonger, Jr.

Farmville, Va.

Trump’s Misfires Better Than Clinton’s Lies

Donald Trump has certainly said numbers of things even his most ardent supporters would find hard to defend. One in particular was responding to a “Gold Star” couple who spoke at the Democratic convention. Mr. Khan exploited an understood “immunity” he enjoys as the parent of a U.S. soldier killed in action.  Khan stood before the world stage deriding Trump on a variety of issues. The wise thing for Trump to do would have been to thank the man (or his son) for the sacrifice and move on. Trump’s counter-punching personality could not back away.

 Just the same, isn’t Mr. Khan taking cheap shots? Isn’t what Khan did tantamount to a preacher starting a gun fight from the windows of his church? Yes, the Republicans did the same by having the mother of a man killed at Benghazi accuse Hillary (who was directly involved in that death). The following day (however), “The View” program didn’t hesitate to criticize Patricia Smith and the media squelched the reports that Smith received death threats from unknown sources following her speech.

Trump’s counter punches can be admirable but, he often misses his marks by wide margins! He’d still be a better president than one who stands to be blackmailed by the enemies of America because she can’t recognize a classified e mail she sends/receives on unprotected servers. Or a president who’d rather lie about an issue when the truth would serve her better! Or someone who was unwilling to save 4 American lives in Benghazi!

Karl Schmidt

Farmville, VA.