NOTE: When writing about God and Jesus, The Daily Jot means YHVH as God and Yeshua Ha Mashiach as Jesus–the actual original names and the true nature and character of them.
A couple of polls have been taken by reputable companies regarding the state of mind of Americans. Pew Research says that nearly 7 of 10 Americans feel worn out by the amount of news they are bombarded with each day. George Barna’s American Culture and Faith Institute (AFCI) reports that almost the same amount of people (ranging from 66-77%) are angry about the condition of America; saying the country is going in the wrong direction politically, culturally and morally. Nonetheless, Barna says 45% approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as President. This coincides with Rasmussen’s Daily Presidential Tracking Poll that indicates 48% of likely voters approve of President Trump’s job performance.
Pew reports, “While majorities of both Republicans and Democrats express news fatigue, Republicans are feeling it more. Roughly three-quarters (77%) of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents feel worn out over how much news there is, compared with about six-in-ten Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (61%). This elevated fatigue among Republicans tracks with them having less enthusiasm than Democrats for the 2018 elections.” A January Pew poll said that 69% of Democrats looked forward to the congressional elections, significantly more than the 58% of Republicans. This is fairly normal for a mid-term election as the party in control of the White House usually loses seats in Congress.
The ACFI poll shows that if the election were held today, voter turnout would be even lower (33%) than the average of the three most recent mid-term elections (36.8%). Of that mix, an estimated 54% would be liberal, 41% conservative and 23% moderate. However, Barna says “Among the major faith segments, 49% of SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Conservative Christians) would be expected to vote, compared to 36% of Notional Christians, 31% of born again Christians, 30% of Skeptics, and 28% of people associated with non-Christian faiths.” Barna says that those who have a biblical worldview are substantially above-average in their likelihood to vote at 43% compared with the 33% average.
Barna says, “The 2016 presidential election was noteworthy for many reasons, one of which was the central role of people’s faith in their voting decisions. That argument is supported by more than three dozen national and statewide surveys conducted by ACFI during the campaign.” Despite discouraging news fatigue, traditional losses of the party in the White House, liberal voters being more motivated, and the general lack of interest in the mid-term elections, Christians have the opportunity to once again control the outcome and shape society by exercising their right to vote. This is one way that we influence a dark and dying world. Romans 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” A ballot cast in faith, by faith, and of faith is one way to ultimately influence the direction of politics, culture and morals in society.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
PS. Please use the “Share This Email” link below to pass this on to as many people as you can!
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Ghana: Food + Water = Transformation for the poor
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A water truck being loaded with water from our water system for needy households
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By Pastor William Agbeti
[ NOTE: This is an account of just one of many clean water, feeding and clothing programs conducted by The Daily Jot and our ministry partner Redeem West Africa in the rural areas of Ghana, West Africa. Your donations that make this possible–Blessings, Bill W]
A young African mother, holding a plastic bucket in hand, set off this morning on a 5-minutes walk from her little makeshift home to the Redeemer House, with the hope of fetching water.
On arrival, she was told the water system had developed a fault and was being fixed, and would not be ready until probably the next day. Her countenance changed all of a sudden. The joy with which she came, singing all the way, dissipated. Hope was gone. She didn’t know what to do. There was no other place within a short distance to go fetch water. Being poor, buying sachets of water for her household chores was obviously out of the question. She left with sadness written all over her face.
Undoubtedly, lack of clean water would bring along in its trail various forms of water-related stresses for this young mother and her family; not to mention water related diseases and possible deaths over the long term. The family may have to do without cooking of meals, washing of clothes and utensils today. The stress increases when one has to go to town, school or work, without showering in this 100 degrees-plus weather, with high humidity.
The same goes for food – the types of stress the poor deal with when there is no food on the table or in the stomach is unimaginable. A case in point is that of another young mother and her little child of six who came to our free feeding program last month. Both were hungry and desperate for food. As two disposable bowls of cooked food were handed over to them, the mother set one side and ferociously started eating the other with the child, completely oblivious to onlookers. In this part of the world, like elsewhere, hunger and inability to obtain food can create a vicious cycle of stress for many.
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Children line up to fetch free clean water from our ministry faucet
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The situation leads to child labor, child trafficking, juvenile delinquency, child prostitution, child sales, and various other heart-rending conditions. In Ghana, many parents are reported to have sold their children for less than $5 each, in order to put food on the table! Reports reach us from various other poor communities about very young school girls selling their bodies in prostitution for as low as $1 per swing!
In the light of the above and others, we at Redeemer MINISTRIES have come to learn the hard way that Food + Water = Transformation.
“The little food and water we regularly give out to the needy go a long way to help transform individuals and whole communities. Our water project at Amrahia in a rural section of Accra, and our monthly feeding programs deep inside rural areas, bring about hope, change and inspiration to many; even if it’s for a day!”–Pastor William Agbeti
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| Some children waiting to be served with free meals at one of our feeding programs. |
Without these little efforts, the situation could be much worse, with a spill out that could easily affect individuals, families and communities all the way in the US, for instance, through illegal immigration, refugee crisis and human trafficking.
Therefore, anytime you donate towards the provision of food and water to the poor rural folks in Ghana, know that you may be doing it for yourselves – for your own good.
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The Daily Jot is totally reader supported. My wife, Chris, and I do not take a salary or receive any remuneration for this work. Your gifts go directly to assisting us in maintaining this column, the website, outreach, and the Lord’s work we do in Ghana, West Africa. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day,
Bill Wilson
The Daily Jot |
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