Options for Writing Your "Letter to the Next President"

As part of this exciting new message series, Letters to the Next President, we are wanting to hear from you! If you had the opportunity to write a letter to our next President and you knew it would show up on his desk in the Oval Office, what would you say? What advice would you offer? What changes would you suggest?

If you'd like to write a letter to the next President, here are some options:

1. Email your letter to me: michael@peacecc.org.

2. Mail your letter to Peace Community Church: P.O. Box 392, Goodlettsville, TN, 37070.

3. Submit your letter online. Click here to begin writing your letter!

I promise that we will send these letters directly to the White House. Thank you for your participation!

To find out more about the "Letters to the Next President" message series, please visit http://www.letterstothenextpresident.com/.

Maybe Later?

I showed this clip several weeks ago at church, and everybody thought it was hilarious. It's my kind of humor--the truth communicated in a sarcastic way. The truth is that everybody is committed to something. Even if they don't appear to be committed, that just means they're committed to being non-committal. Well, just watch the video and laugh. Then ask yourself a serious question: Who and what am I really committed to?

Obama and McCain this Saturday Night

PRESUMED PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES MCCAIN AND OBAMA TO MAKE FIRST JOINT CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE ON AUGUST 16 AT SADDLEBACK CHURCH;
Pastor Rick Warren to Host Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion and Question Candidates on Faith and the Common Good

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama, respective presumed Republican and Democratic presidential nominees, will end the primary season by making their first joint appearance of the 2008 campaign at Saddleback Church on Saturday, Aug.16 at the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion. Dr. Rick Warren, founding pastor of the 22,000-member Orange County, Calif. mega church and moderator for the event, made the announcement today upon confirmation by both campaigns.

"We’re honored that the candidates chose The Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion for their first joint appearance, an unprecedented opportunity for America to hear both men back-to-back on the same platform," Warren said. "This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart – without interruption – in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan ‘gotcha’ questions that typically produce heat instead of light.

"The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues. While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank, but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights."

Warren confirmed that, at the candidates’ request, this two-hour event from 5-7 p.m. (PDT) will be held in a non-debate format and open to all media. Both candidates also requested that questions be posed exclusively by Warren, instead of a panel or members of the audience. Each will converse separately with Warren for approximately one-hour, beginning with Sen. Obama as determined by a coin toss. This historic forum will be the only joint campaign event prior to each party’s national convention.

Check out the following websites for more info:
www.saddlebackcivilforum.com/index.html
http://www.rickwarrennews.com/

Is Skip Caray in Heaven?

As I work this afternoon on a few projects, I'm listening to the memorial service for Skip Caray, long-time broadcaster of the Atlanta Braves. I grew up listening and watching Skip, so I feel like I lost a family member. I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

As with any family member or friends, we want that assurance we will see them again in heaven. I would love to sit in a broadcast booth in heaven and call a game with Skip Caray one day, perhaps a Braves vs. Yankees game with guys like John Smoltz and Mickey Mantle on the field. And won't it be great to watch Smoltz and Mantle play without their shoulder or knees bothering them?!?!

So is Skip Caray in heaven? Clearly, he was a good broadcaster. His family testifies that he was a loving father and grandfather. He did a lot of charity work. But that doesn't answer my question, does it? Is Skip Caray in heaven? Of course, I don't really know the answer. I did not know Skip personally. I'm not the Judge. God's the Judge of human hearts. But I do know what the Bible says about how to get to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus also said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). In other words, a personal relationship with Jesus and a absolute commitment to following Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven/eternal life.

I can only hope that somebody shared the love of Christ with him, how Jesus came to pay the punishment for our sin. I can only hope that somebody shared the message of repentance with him, that we must turn from our sin and our selfish ways and surrender every area of our lives to Christ. I can only hope that he accepted God's grace and forgiveness. I can only hope that he did repent. I can only hope that what he did here on earth was evidence of a man who was committed to Christ and His church.

That's my hope for Skip. That's my hope for my family members. That's my hope for my friends and neighbors. Did Skip go to heaven when he died last Sunday? I don't know. Are you going to heaven if you die this week? I don't know, are you? I hope you do.

Good Morning America, Larry King

Music artist Steven Curtis Chapman will appear on both shows this week. Please watch, and invite others to watch. Should be powerful stuff...
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/TUNEIN03/80804043