Fayette County

just had a fantastic and, in my opinion, spirit-filled National Prayer

Breakfast at Grace Evangelical Church Thursday. The meeting is traditionally

ended by pastors encircling and praying for and "laying on of hands"

on elected officials.

Implicit in

any kind of prayer is requesting that God will hear our prayers and act ,

and that we as believers will be inspired by the prayers to act

in God's name. I'm an old soldier and was exposed to both "offensive"

and "defensive" language. God, in scripture, tells us to "resist

evil" (defensive) and "do good" (offensive).

The following

poem, called "The Charge," has meant a great deal to me personally

and to our little church. When we get "weary in well-doing."

We bring it out and use it to inspire us to move out and act on the "Church's

Charge" the last words given by Jesus to His disciples before He

ascended to heaven, also called the "Great Commission": Go ye

therefore & teach all nations.(Matt.28:19-20) Sounds pretty "offensive

to me. CHARGE!!!

"The Charge"

written here was penned by a young black pastor in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe,

in the city of Salisbury. He wrote this moving portrayal of his life right

before the communists overran his city and killed him. He knew martyrdom

was near. He wrote:

I am part of the fellowship of

the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power.

The die

has been cast.

I have stepped

over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of His.

I won't

look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. For my past is redeemed,

my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I am finished

and done with low living, cheap talking, sight walking, small planning,

smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap

giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer

need prominence, prosperity, positions, promotions, plaudits or popularity.

I don't

have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

For now

I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, uplifted by prayer,

and I labor with power.

My faith

is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven.

My road

is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, and my guide reliable.

My mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured

away, turned back, diluted or delayed.

I will not

flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary,

negotiate with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander

in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't

give up, let up, shut up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up,

paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus,

I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and

work until He stops me.

When he

comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, for my banner

will be clear!

It is my prayer

that the flame that the National Prayer Movement is carrying of Christians

loving one another as witnessed at the prayer breakfast this morning will

continue to burn in the hearts of all Christians everywhere.

After the prayer

breakfast, a local bread company handed out loaves of bread. We are taking

that loaf of bread from that sweet spirited National Day of Prayer Breakfast

and using it in our monthly communion service this Sunday.

Love on in

unity til Jesus comes. Watch and pray without ceasing.

The Rev.

Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev.

Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the

Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The

church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of

Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church

office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected] .

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