On the Campaign Trail

Seems to me the world is falling in love with Sarah Palin...& is the media giving up a little? Her beautiful family is standing strong. Who watching her speech Wednesday night didn't melt at big sister Piper loving on Baby Trig?

A personality doesn't make a Vice President...or a President...but there sure are a lot of people who don't usually take politics very seriously tuned in. Praise God for the strong Republican Convention & for the many times His name was heard there.

Lord, be near to Sarah & Senator McCain as they hit the campaign trail. May they rally their support, disarm their detractors & win over the hearts and minds of those Americans undecided. Amen.

Today's News -- Christian Views

We've started reading World Magazine online...it is a great news source. It covers all the world's current events, but presents them from a Christian perspective. Check it out if you haven't already!

They've had great coverage of the election.

What are your favorite online news sources? Please share by clicking on "comments" below. Thanks!

We are now listening to NPR...

If you'd told me a week ago that we would be listening to NPR's (National Public Radio) coverage of the Republican National Convention, I would have assured you that would never happen...I didn't even know the dial location of NPR in Central Oregon...but I do now...93.1 FM.

As we wrapped up a marathon day in the tractor, we got to thinking about Sarah Palin's address to the Republican Convention & decided to "surf" the radio to see if I could find it. We tuned in a couple hours early (each in our respective tractors), so we got to hear Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee (let's start praying he runs for President again in four years), Rudy Guiliani & others. Very interesting. We agreed that we're thankful we didn't tune into the Democratic Convention, if tonight's speakers were any indication of the vein they run in.

If you didn't hear or see the speech, there is a link on MSN.com...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26535823#26535823?GT1=43001

From what we heard tonight, we're not the only ones excited about Sarah Palin.

Lord, continue to bless Sarah Palin with her unique combination of toughness & grace. Her words tonight about the special blessing of Baby Trig brought tears to our eyes. And yet she is showing herself to be more than the "girl next door." Give her the ability to assimilate information quickly & to succeed in winning over her skeptics. Thank you for the wonderful witness she has been over the past few days as the media banter questions about Bristol...she is showing the world how a Christian family handles the tough stuff...with a whole lot of love & grace. Amen.

Leave your thoughts on tonight's speech by clicking on "comments" below.

A Special Prayer for Bristol

Lord, please give Bristol Palin an extra measure of your love, reassurance, grace & strength today. While her situation is not singular or uncommon, the attention of a nation most certainly is. Keep her and her baby healthy & make her body & mind able to withstand this stress. In our minds, her poor choices are overshadowed by the brave & commendable choice she has made to give life & love to her baby. Help her baby's father & fiance, Levi, embrace fatherhood. Amen.

Share a prayer of your own for Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston.

A Nation Meets the Palins

Interestingly enough, we had heard of Sarah Palin before Friday. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho, as is Casey. When she was elected governor of Alaska a couple years ago, they did a feature article on her in the alumni magazine.

We'd also briefly heard about the birth of her son, Trig, in April. Many are touting her "courageous" decision to give birth to a baby with Down Syndrome...given her character & convictions, I doubt it was any "decision" at all.

And now, along with the rest of the country, we've met the entire family. Our prayers the last couple days have been for each of them in this transition as their mom enters the national spotlight.

Lord, be with each member of the Palin family as their mom hits the campaign trail. Give Todd the strength to support his wife and his children. Bless Track as he watches his mother from afar. May the next couple months not put an irrecoverable strain on their relationships. We pray they are able to set aside time for themselves as a family & time to connect with You. Amen.

Please post your own prayer for the family in general or a specific member of the family.

An Unexpected Ray of Hope

Friday was an exceptional day for the McKinnon household.

You see, we're not very connected with the world...let alone the political scene. We live, love & farm in Central Oregon. We don't have television & haven't for seven years. News comes to us via radio & internet...which innately filters what we really didn't need or want to know.

All this to say: the news of Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate for Vice President reached us quickly & shook us up a little. We each separately found ourselves reading articles & watching video feed of her acceptance speech...through bleary eyes & with amazement at the new hope welling up with us...for this election & for our nation.

This blog is a reflection of our commitment to pray daily for Sarah Palin during the upcoming campaign....and God-willing, her Vice Presidency! Please join us by visiting often, commenting, & offering your own prayers for this woman whom we are convinced God has prepared and appointed for "such a time as this."

Lord, we thank you for this "ray of hope" in what has been to us a disconcerting presidential campaign. We pray, Lord, that Senator McCain's selection of Sarah Palin is a reflection of his heart & commitment to values issues near and dear to OUR hearts. Give Sarah the strength & grace to face the scrutiny of the coming weeks & stand ever-true to her convictions. Amen.

Share your own reaction to the selection by posting a comment! Click the "comments" link below.