February 10, 2012
My Five Minutes...in One
My five minutes in the House Minority Caucus went quite well. Thank you for your prayers.
My desire was to introduce myself and inform those in the Democrat Party that our ministry service was for all in the capitol and that our studies were non-denominational and non-partisan. I felt I was able to get this message across.
The biggest helps were the endorsements of Rep. Tommie Pierson and Rep. Karla May. They both regularly attend our Bible Studies. They informed the group that what I said about being non-partisan was true and that they have been truly blessed by our studies and visits to their offices.
Just like the Republicans, there are some who were interested and some who couldn't care less if I was there. But the introduction is out there. Who knows what God may do in one's life there in the capitol which will cause him or her to ask for prayer or call for a visit. We will let God work on those things while we continue to work to show our concern and the love of Christ for the people we serve.
Thank you again for your prayers.
On another topic: Our Bible Studies each Tuesday are continuing to draw in new people and our discussions in Isaiah have been challenging. This next week's study will be on Isaiah 40:21-24 and the sovereignty of God--especially over the nations and their leaders.
Most in our Studies would agree that they are there by the hand of God. It is more difficult, though, to consistantly live this truth out and truly trust in God; as it is for all of us. This is especially true during an election year when one will be tempted to cut corners or not be totally honest during a campaign because he or she wants to be reelected. The desire to be reelected is not a bad thing, in and of itself; but if it is not guided by biblical understanding and ethics, it can easily draw one away from honoring Christ in their campaign.
Pray for us on Monday, before the studies, and on Tuesday, the day of our studies. Pray that this truth will be clearly articulated, biblically sound and may the Holy Spirit use it (as He knows best) in each of our hearts.
Click on the "Missouri Bible Study Notes" link on the left for this study and for the others we have been discussing in our halls.
Paul Meinsen
April 10, 2012
In December of 1863, word was being circulated that General Ulysses S. Grant would make a great Democratic presidential candidate to defeat President Lincoln in the following year's election. Grant was very popular in the north after his victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Several newspaper men and political operatives approached him several times, but he expressed no interest in running. In the midst of this recruitment, Grant commented to a friend,
“I have always thought the most slavish life any man could lead was that of a politician.”1
In less than seven years, with the war over and his task on the battlefield complete, Grant would come to know the truth of this statement first-hand.
As I listen to our legislators in the capitol, it seems that not much has changed in 150 years. The duty of the elected official to be a servant of the people in their area—a town, city, county, district, state or country. And there are many people offering up many voices with many concerns. There are lobbyists that desire to be heard and fellow officials who want one to support them. All of these demands can truly enslave a man or woman elected to the office.
Obviously, much wisdom is needed to discern which voices are right and need to be heeded, and which are wrong and need to be ignored. It is no wonder, then, that Solomon answered God's offer by asking, "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?" (2 Chronicles 1:10).
With these in mind, I ask you to ponder a couple of points:
When our officials ask for us to pray for them to have wisdom, they are earnestly desiring it. They have many decisions to make concerning laws and bills. They also need to know how to best help people in their districts who come to them for aid. And add to this, their continued decisions and actions for their families and work back home. This is not a flippant request.
Do you see the need for salvation? According to Scripture, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). How can we expect unbelieving government leaders to be able to rightly properly discern anything? If they do not know and trust God, they are making decisions based on something else--none of which are good and trustworthy in themselves.
Pray that our leaders will be drawn to God in salvation. Pray that all will grow in the grace and knowledge of God.
Pray for Capitol Commission to be faithful, clear and bold in the proclamation of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
Think about it.
Paul
1Bruce Catton, Grant Takes Command (New York: Book of the Month Club, 1994), 109.
Paul Meinsen
State Director, Missouri
March 21, 2012
My Latest Opening Prayer for the Missouri State House of Representatives
Date: March 5, 2012
O LORD, the beings in the heavens continually sing "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME…Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:8b, 11).
It is to You, glorious LORD, that we offer up this prayer; a prayer on behalf of these, your servants who govern this great state.
Father, while we continue to pray for the supply of wisdom, discernment, humility and grace that each one needs today, I also lift up a special request to You.
O LORD, please guard and guide each one who is married. May each husband love and cherish the wife You have given him as Christ loves the church. And may each wife show proper respect to her husband. Allow not the pressures and busyness of this profession come between what has been put together. May not another marriage be sacrificed upon the idolatrous altar of politics. It simply is not worth it.
May each one here who has children raise them in the grace and knowledge of You.
May we all learn to fear You and You alone. Draw each one unto Yourself.
We call upon You in this prayer. Please answer and be glorified. For You are good and Your love endures forever.
To the honor of Your name, O Lord, I pray in Your Son’s name. Amen.
Paul Meinsen
State Director, Missouri
March 9, 2012
Next week is the Legislative Spring Break for our Missouri General Assembly. I
teasingly wished them a fun time of going to Florida or Arizona to soak up the
sun and play golf. The truth is most will be back home with their families and
spending time campaigning and meeting with constituents. "Spring Break" merely
means they don't come to the capitol for a week.
Thus, it gives us some time in the Capitol Commission Missouri Office to
reflect on what has been going on during the first half of our 2012 session.
Here is what we have to report from the capitol:
- Our Tuesday Bible studies are still going strong. We have had over 50
attend at least once; most coming back for more.
- I spoke to the Democrat Party Caucus--opening up opportunities and
introductions into that side of the aisle.
- Specific prayer requests and counseling opportunities are increasing. God
is granting us favor in the eyes of many who turn to us with their issues.
Several are non-believers, who when hit with crisis, turn to believers for
guidance, prayer and support. We pray that God will use these instances to draw
people unto Himself.
- More chances to pray to open sessions of the House of
Representatives--giving further exposure of the ministry.
- I have had deeper discussions with a number who are not believers. Many
times discussions on bills or ethics lead to a discussion on "authority" which
leads directly to God, Scripture, and Christ.
- I continue to thank God for providing Nichole for us. I spend more time in
the capitol (which leads to more ministry openings) while she is taking care of
business that I would have had to do in years past--and she does a better job
at it, as well.
Friends, we are in our fifth legislation session of ministry in the Missouri
State Capitol. While we still seek to expose the ministry in various areas, I
also believe we are becoming entrenched in the life of the capitol. One of our
legislators, on a Monday night, told his colleagues that he was turning in
because "we have church in the morning"--a reference to our Tuesday Bible
Study.
I ask that you please pray for me to have a change in mindset from "just trying
to get established" to "seeking to impact people's lives with the gospel and
discipleship." Many of the things listed above are things we have listed in the
past, but God continues to expand in all these areas. Pray for expansion; pray
also for depth. We don't want to be a "mile-wide and an inch deep." We desire a
ministry of depth in the capitol, and let God grow us out to the areas He
wants.
Proclaiming the greatness and glory of God in the Missouri State Capitol,
Paul Meinsen
State Director, Missouri
February 24, 2012
An Excellent Day in Jefferson City
If you were not able to make our Pastors/Partners Commission to the Capitol on February 21, then you truly missed a great blessing.
Rep. Dave Schatz started off by testifying of God's faithfulness during some very tragic events and His grace in drawing Dave unto Himself.
Bret Capranica, pastor of Summit Woods Baptist in Lee's Summit, preached on God's sovereignty in the appointment of leaders from Romans 13:1-4. Amongst many excellent statements, he said "We represent our King and our society needs to see our King."
Col. Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri Highway Patrol, started the second session with his testimony of God's work in his life and God's guidance as he leads this very important department in our state. For five years now, a group of the ranking officers in our MOHP gather each Monday morning for prayer and biblical instruction.
Dr. Charlie Self of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, gave "A Message to the Thoughtful" based on the foolish, unthinking idol worshipers of Isaiah 44:19. From that, he discussed discernment and dispositions that should be found in the believer as one contemplates our society.
After a report of the work of Capitol Commission Missouri, we held a time of prayer--lifting up, by name, each Missouri state leader from our Leadership prayer calendar.
We then turned our Pastors and Partners loose on the capitol to meet with their local representatives and senators. Many of which were able to introduce themselves and have a time of prayer for their leaders.
Combine all of these with a great lunch by our caterer, Anita Walker, and beautiful weather, it was an excellent day.
We thank God for His work. We pray that it was His name that was lifted up and glorified on Tuesday, February 21. We also pray that this is just the beginning of ministry relationships between our pastors and their legislators.
Paul Meinsen
State Director
February 10, 2012
My Five Minutes...in One
My five minutes in the House Minority Caucus went quite well. Thank you for your prayers.
My desire was to introduce myself and inform those in the Democrat Party that our ministry service was for all in the capitol and that our studies were non-denominational and non-partisan. I felt I was able to get this message across.
The biggest helps were the endorsements of Rep. Tommie Pierson and Rep. Karla May. They both regularly attend our Bible Studies. They informed the group that what I said about being non-partisan was true and that they have been truly blessed by our studies and visits to their offices.
Just like the Republicans, there are some who were interested and some who couldn't care less if I was there. But the introduction is out there. Who knows what God may do in one's life there in the capitol which will cause him or her to ask for prayer or call for a visit. We will let God work on those things while we continue to work to show our concern and the love of Christ for the people we serve.
Thank you again for your prayers.
On another topic: Our Bible Studies each Tuesday are continuing to draw in new people and our discussions in Isaiah have been challenging. This next week's study will be on Isaiah 40:21-24 and the sovereignty of God--especially over the nations and their leaders.
Most in our Studies would agree that they are there by the hand of God. It is more difficult, though, to consistantly live this truth out and truly trust in God; as it is for all of us. This is especially true during an election year when one will be tempted to cut corners or not be totally honest during a campaign because he or she wants to be reelected. The desire to be reelected is not a bad thing, in and of itself; but if it is not guided by biblical understanding and ethics, it can easily draw one away from honoring Christ in their campaign.
Pray for us on Monday, before the studies, and on Tuesday, the day of our studies. Pray that this truth will be clearly articulated, biblically sound and may the Holy Spirit use it (as He knows best) in each of our hearts.
Click on the "Missouri Bible Study Notes" link on the left for this study and for the others we have been discussing in our halls.
Paul Meinsen