Refuse

Refuse: Re-fuse. verb. 1.) Indicate unwillingness. To declare a decision or intention not to do something.

Here are a few things I refused to do this week.

I refused to watch even one second of the royal wedding. I know I have English blood flowing through my veins. I know my last name is Prince. Still I wasn’t too interested in the happenings at Buckingham Palace at 3 a.m. Central time last Friday morning. At that time of the day, the only thing I was interested in doing royally was sleeping.

I refused to say yesterday, “May the Fourth be with you”. I like Star Wars. But I never wanted to grow up and be a Jedi Knight or Yoda or Obi Wan Kenobi. Besides, I think I misplaced my light saber.

I refused to complain about the rising gas prices. I get it that gas prices are high. Really high. I also get it that most of the people in our world don’t own a car, and hence, most folks have no need to complain about rising gasoline prices. My family is so widely blessed we have three cars sitting in our driveway (and probably will have four cars after this summer if Ben gets his way). The way I see it, I am blessed beyond measure living in this wonderful country—so why should I complain?

I refused to celebrate the death of the Osama Bin Laden. I celebrated that he was brought to justice. I celebrated that he can no longer be a dangerous threat. I celebrated that our soldiers acted with precision. But I will not celebrate in death. It is a somber reminder that we live in a fallen world that desperately needs the peace of God to reign.

I refused to grumble that Alex will have less scholarship money than last year. He received a great education this year at MidAmerica Nazarene University. It’s a terrific school and he had a great year. I’m proud of him. If MNU has to make a few cuts in scholarships to be more fiscally sound—I’m willing to do my part.

I refused to join the chorus of naysayers that think God is done in America. We serve an awesome God and if He can bring revival to a city like Nineveh that was on the brink of total annihilation―and He did (read Jonah), then I think there is hope for America! Let’s pray, believe, tell and hope that God is doing some great things! Today is the National Day of Prayer. Find a place to pray (I’m going to the Johnson County Courthouse at noon in Olathe) – and pray for our country and for our world! God’s not done yet!