President Obama

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the United States swore in a new president. What was historic about this inauguration was that Barack Hussein Obama was a person of color; the child of a Caucasian mother from Kansas and a Kenyan father, was born in Hawaii. For the first time in the history of the country, the President of the United States was not a white male. Truly historic and it brought America so much closer to Dr. King's dream.

The wife and I were both home to watch history unfold and it was moving to say the least. As the cameras panned the nearly 2 million people who filled the national mall, braving the bitter cold to be part of this historic moment, the impact of that visual made it all the more profound.

While I do not agree with all of President Obama's policies, I am proud to say that I voted for him because after 8 years of things going from bad to worse under Bush, the nation was not only ripe, but long overdue for change. The country is in very bad shape and there is much work to be done to turn things around.

However, I understand that many do not share my perspective on the new president, and that's ok too. Being able to freely and openly disagree with presidents, policies and perspectives is what makes America great and each of us truly free. But let me say that if you are a Christian, then it is your duty to regularly pray for our new president because the Bible tells us so:

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Pray on, praya!