Someone asked me yesterday “so what do you think is the future of the church in America?” Boy, that’s a loaded question. A lot of people smarter than me have speculated on where the American church is headed. Some feel hopeful but many others have pointed towards the spiritual darkness of the European landscape as its future. While I’ll leave the speculation to pollsters, here’s my prayer for the Church in America: I pray that the church will continue to seek those outside the faith. I believe that nothing is closer to heart of God than rescuing those for whom He sent his Son to die on the cross. I pray that the church will live its faith out in authentic community where the broken as well as the whole can do life together. I pray that the church will continue to remind Christians that while we are change agents…

One of the most fun parts of my trip to Hong Kong was going to a street fair near my hotel. But in just a few hours after Steve Shantz, my travel companion and I made our way through the crowded fair Saturday, a man threw a bottle of acid into the crowd from a roof top injuring some 30 people including several tourists and children. You can read the CNN report here I’m specially thankful for family and friends who were praying for my safety during this trip. My son Derek and his entire class committed to pray for me as well. We often take prayer for granted, but incidents such as this bring the covering of prayer into the spotlight. Have you ever felt the power of prayer work in your own life? What’s your story?

Almighty God, our Father:Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory. History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made. Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting…

I have found myself complaining that technology makes us so accessible that it’s intrusive and often unnecessary. But after yesterday, I have found a whole new appreciation for the ability to connect with people at an instant. After my youngest son was diagnosed with pneumonia, our pediatrician was concerned about other symptoms Derek displayed. Without alarming us, he let us know that he wanted to test our little boy for juvenile diabetes. Gwen and I began to pray and ask God for healing. After days of waiting, we got a call. The results of the first two tests were not encouraging, but not conclusive. A third and final test would tell us whether or not he would have to begin a life-long battle with a tough condition. Gwen email loved ones all over the globe. I text messaged close friends and family throughout the entire country to pray with us…