kutz@cis.ohio-state.edu (Kenneth J. Kutz) (04/02/91)
The following is an excerpt from a message given in Washington DC at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 1, 1990: "Most important, having a position of power does not bring inner security or fulfillment. That comes only by developing a personal relationship with God, which for me is personified by Jesus Christ... "When I look back on my own journey of faith, I can see that real growth began when I started reading God's Word. Romans 10:17 says 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.' The Scriptures teach me that God loves me and accepts me as I am. He loves me as I struggle, he loves me even as I fail to become the man that he wants me to be. "Once I honestly felt that I had to earn God's love. But now I know that the Bible tells us that it is faith, not works or accomplishments, that makes us acceptable in God's sight... "I remember a few years ago when I was struggling with a particular problem. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't figure it out. But I found strength in being able to talk it over and to pray about it with my wife Susan. And as we did, a truth from the book of Proverbs finally crystalized our thinking: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths' Susan helped me to see that I needed to stop trying to play God and to turn the matter over to him... "So when I think back over the hills and valleys of my life, the consistent theme is the one in the 91st Psalm: 'I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope and my stronghold: my God; in Thee will I trust.'... "I believe that as leaders we can build relationships around the world that are rooted in trust and in love and in understanding. I believe that we can go beyond rhetoric to discover concrete ways to express this reality, particularly in light of Solomon's profound observation: 'Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.' "As we join together in prayer, let us all be thankful for rekindling hopes of freedom in many countries around the world. Let us be thankful for our faith; let us be thankful for our friendships. Let us pray for the strength to meet our collective spiritual responsibilities as leaders by doing what we can to make our world a freer, a better and a more peaceful place. "God bless you, and God bless the people of all the nations of the world." - James A. Baker, III US Secretary of State -- Kenneth J. Kutz Internet kutz@andy.bgsu.edu Systems Programmer BITNET KUTZ@ANDY University Computer Services UUCP ...!osu-cis!bgsuvax!kutz Bowling Green State Univ. US Mail 238 Math Science, BG OH 43403