When you get right down to it, everyday is the birthday of someone. February 12 is the birthday of a person important in my life: my grandson, Thomas. Happy birthday, Thomas. I am so glad to call you my grandson! It is also the birthday of someone important in the life of American history: the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
In her book, Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin reminds us that 3 members of the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln ran against Lincoln for President of the United States in 1860: Secretary of State William Henry Seward, Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase, and Attorney General Edward Bates. Despite the fact that these 3 men were former rivals, Lincoln chose to have them as a part of his cabinet. Another interesting thing about the Cabinet of President Lincoln was that Seward, Chase, and Bates were also the only members of the Republican Party in his Cabinet.
Perhaps the leaders of our community, state, nation, and church would do well to study and learn from Lincoln about the importance of working together. As the motto of the great state of Kentucky says, ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” Jesus puts it this way in Luke 11:17, “ 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. “ Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall
Prayer: O God, you have made each of us unique and different. Yet, you have also made us more alike than different. Give us grace to work across our differences for the betterment of our world and of your Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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