Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]
5) [Be] Peaceful
6) No Fear
7) Stay True [to the message]

Exodus 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me."   Exodus 9:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me."  Exodus 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them."

We see by the verses above that each of these chapters (8,9,10) begin by God telling Moses to "Go to Pharaoh".  In each chapter, God sent plagues upon Egypt - frogs, harm to livestock, boils, and hail - in order to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites from captivity.  Despite the harm done to the Egyptian people, Pharaoh was steadfast in his refusal to allow a release.  In fact, his heart hardened a little bit more with each plague.

I'm sure Moses, after seeing God's wrath being poured out on the land, could not believe that Pharaoh was not succumbing to this enormous pressure.  Regardless of Moses' disbelief, he came back to Pharaoh with the same message - "Let my people go."  Even after the ninth plague, Moses didn't form an army of combatants to slay the Egyptians.  On the contrary, his message from day one was the same. He didn't waver.  He stayed true to the original message.  In the end, he won the argument.

It is said that messages that are repetitive win over people.  I like to spin this statement a bit by saying, "repetitive messages rooted in God's laws and principles win over people because when you plant the seed, God starts cultivating."  Moses allowed God to work.  We can clearly see the results.

If you want be a part of a movement, political campaign or some other way to restore Washington, DC., start by acting like Moses:  Be steadfast.  Be strong.  Be convicted.  Be peaceful.  Be humble.  And don't give up.  Regardless of the hurdles, Moses never give up.  He always returned to Pharaoh with the same message.

• Believe that restoring this nation back to one rooted in individual liberties, begins by speaking the Truth and remaining steadfast in your convictions.
  
• Act by allowing God to work after speaking the Truth.
  
• Serve others as an outpouring of what God has done for you.
  

Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]
5) [Be] Peaceful
6) No Fear

Exodus 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.' "

So....Moses was in a field, tending to his flock and minding his own business.  Then, God started speaking with him through a bush that was on fire, although it didn't burn.  In order to ask a powerful government and its leadership to stop what they are doing.  God was asking Moses to get out of his comfort zone and leave his livelihood behind. Imagine what was going through Moses' mind after he came down off the mountain to tell his wife, relatives and others what he was supposed to do.  I'm sure he thought, "Why would God want me to do this task?  My wife will think I am crazy?  Why not someone else?  I like what I am doing - I provide for my family.  I have a good life"  ....etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.  

The word "fear" comes to mind when thinking of what must have been swirling around in Moses' head.  Fear of what would my wife say.  Fear of going to Egypt.  Fear of possible death from the hand of Pharaoh.  Fear of failure.

Fear is defined as: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.  Fear is not of God.

We face difficult tasks seemingly each day in our lives.  At times, those tasks seem as monumental as the one Moses faced.  How many times have you succumbed to fear and not followed through because "people might think I'm weird" or "what would my best friend say?"

In the Scripture verse above, we know that Moses, despite the anxiety and fear that was more than likely raging through his mind, overcame that fear and went to Pharaoh and said, 'Let my people go.'  He stared fear right in the eye and kept moving 

If you believe that you are being lead to make changes or to merely begin dialogues that may someday change someone's heart, fear cannot be a part of your plan.  Changing the direction of this nation will take a huge effort. Just don't let the enormity of that effort cause you to fear, otherwise, you will never follow through with your plan or your calling.

Believe that fear Incapacitates
Act by replacing fear with Faith
Serve others boldly and with Conviction

Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]
5) [Be] Peaceful

Exodus 3:10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

 Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, David Richmond and Ezell Blair, were four black college students who in 1960 sat down at a “whites-only” lunch counter at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, NC.  These students refused to leave the counter after being denied service.  Despite the taunting from many whites gathered around the stools, these four men were unified in their belief that they were free to be served like anyone else.  This peaceful sit-in fueled other like protests in the country. Four years later, the segregation of public places was made illegal.

What struck me about this sit-in was the fact that is was non-violent.  The students did not waver in their beliefs. Most importantly, they did not use weapons or a massive army of like-minded individuals to force Woolworth's to serve them.  

God said to Moses, "I am sending you to Pharaoh...".  He didn't say that he was sending Moses with an army.  He didn't tell Moses to take weapons with him. God didn't instruct Moses to use force.  He just told Moses to go and that God would be with him.

Restoration of this nation must occur using non-violence means and tactics.  Be peaceful.  Moses was. And so sh

- Believe that the use of force does not change hearts
- Act by following Biblical principles
- Serve the movement by being peaceful

Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]
4) Formulate [a plan]

Exodus 3:18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' ' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them.

I'm a follower of sports - local, college and professional.  I even get to state my opinions about the sports world on a local television show.  Over the years, I have noticed that the successful sports franchises and those sports at lesser levels (i.e. college & high school), first make a game plan before charging out onto the field of battle.  These plans range from a 5 year plan to reinvent their entire franchise to a plan to win a big game against their cross town rival.  The managers and coaches recognize that in order to get to point B (success or a win) they must start at point A (a plan, a strategy).  And after the scheme is made, preparation must follow closely behind before it is implemented. 

In the Scripture verses above, we see the importance that God places on creating a plan.  The end goal was to get the Pharaoh to release the Jewish slaves from captivity.  In order for the desired outcome to be realized, God mapped out the steps: choose a leader (Moses), get him help (Elders, Aaron), go to Egypt, ask the Egyptian government to release the Jews, and if necessary, show Pharaoh God's might.  In order for the plan to succeed, the steps had to be followed in order to be successful.

Writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation.

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect
2) Assemble [a team]
3) Ask [for help]

Exodus 4:10 Moses said to the LORD, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." 11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

My wife wouldn't let me mount our flat panel TV over the fireplace.  Not in as much of the look, but because my handiwork around the house is legendarily not the best.  Power drills, hammers and stud finders give me fits.  Oh, I try to be handy and I can do little tasks such as hanging pictures. However, hanging a 42 inch TV in our living room, not so much.  Fortunately, I have my father-in-law.  A veteran of the construction business for 40+ years, Ed was called in to mount the TV. 

I have learned over time that I have good skills, great skills and not so great skills.  I have also come to understand that the word "help" is a good four-letter word. 

Moses understood that when he would go to the Egyptian government asking for change, he needed help - to speak.  Realizing his shortcoming of being slow in speech, Moses asked God for help.  God delivered Moses' plea for help by bringing his brother Aaron to the fold to speak for Moses when facing Pharaoh.

(writer's note: this post is a part of a series called "Burning" that examines the Biblical account of Moses & the burning bush and how this account is a blueprint for restoring this nation).

Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Blueprint:
1) [re]Connect

In the verses above, we find that God communicated with Moses.  Moses answered him by saying, "here I am".  The Creator of the universe communicates with us all the time.  A rainbow in the sky signifies that He will not flood the Earth again.  The sunrise in the morning tells us that He controls the sky.  And sometimes, a feeling to do an act of kindness towards someone enters your mind and doesn't leave.  Like Moses, are you listening to God?  Are you speaking with him?  Do you 'take off your sandals' and bow down before Him?  Do you stand in His presence?  Do you seek His advice and guidance?  

God wants a relationship with us.  He is a loving God.  He loved Moses.  Before God asked Moses to lead His people from bondage, God first had a conversation with him.  It was during this conversation that God informed Moses of his task.

Restoration of this nation - whatever that looks like in your mind - does not start by you going to a political rally, getting involved in party politics, listening to talk radio, writing letters to the editor or speaking your mind to any one who will listen.  Restoration begins by you restoring a connection with God, a [re]Connection if you will.  Whatever it takes for you to either strengthen your connection with God or to reconnect with Him -- do it.  Stand in His Truth.  Speak with Him daily. Make yourself right with God.  Go to church.  Read a Christian blog.  Confess sins in your life.  Repent.  

Do what Moses did.  Go to Him.  He wants to have a relationship with you.  And, most importantly, He wants to help.

• Believe that for a restoration to occur, a [re]Connection must take place first.
  
• Act by having a conversation with God - today.
  
• Serve God, then your family then your neighbors