My friends, the hours before I leave America, not to set foot on our
soil for the next 11 months, are quickly dwindling away. Saturday morning I will leave bright and
early to head for Los Angeles, via the Atlanta airport, where I will meet with 50 others from all
across the country and even a couple from Canada. Our hearts are crying out for the nations of
the world and all the lost and broken souls within them. We have been called to love and serve abroad
and as we embark hand in hand with God, we could not be more eager and excited
to go and do His work. But before I
leave, I will give my state of the union address for America – my home, my first love.
Those close to me know me as an incredible optimist. As we push further into this election season,
there are so many issues on the hearts of minds of our people. Many, in fact, will focus on only the
negatives and everything that needs to be changed. The pursuit of a better America is a
worthy cause and it is true that we live in extremely extraordinary and
potentially perilous times. However,
there is so much more to this blessed land than the rhetoric of sound bites. We have problems and we have flaws. Some things are (really) bad and some things
need to be fixed. But my friends, I tell
you today, unequivocally and unashamed, that the state of our union is GOOD!
For months, our financial system has been crumbling from
within – torn apart slowly over many years by greed dominating proper judgment,
risk being too far separated from the risk takers. Bear Sterns vanished over night. The face of Wall Street was changed forever
when, in the blink of an eye, Lehman Brothers, AIG, and Merrill Lynch tumbled
to obscurity, a memory of the past. And
now, we are about to witness the single largest expansion of government in our
nation’s history as they seek to bail out the crippled economy. Yet, I have had the opportunity to work for a
financial company founded with Christian values who still holds true to those
today. Northwestern Mutual is run with
all the wisdom of prudent leaders. With
every decision they make, they are dedicated to doing the absolute best thing,
not just for some distant CEOs or shareholders, but for each and every client
whom they serve and whose trust they seek to gain and keep. “Hot” trends – like the sub prime mortgage
industry that is heavily responsible for the collapse of financial institutions
– are discarded and not thought about twice if they fail to meet the high
standards of greatest value to clients. The
integrity of the individuals in the company – ALL of them – is excellent, and I
would be proud and honored to return to work with them next year if God leads
me back to America
and the business world. Now, with ties
broken and nothing to personally gain, I highly recommend the company to anyone
looking for any type of guidance on financial matters. Northwestern Mutual, I thank you for every
aspect of the time I have shared with you so far. To you, and because of you and all
other business men and women who work every day with integrity and for the
improvement of our society, I say, “the state of our union is GOOD!”
Many people with hearts for international missions – and
many more who have simply become disillusioned with America – claim that we already
have so much. Too much, in fact, to
waste more time or energy on. As
Americans, yes, we are so rich! But I am
also reminded of a quote by Andrew Carnegie who once said, “No one becomes rich
without enriching the lives of others.” Take this with you, all budding entrepreneurs. A copy of Forbes Magazine recently fell into
my hands with a list of America’s
400 richest individuals. Of course
Carnegie may not have been one hundred percent correct when you take into
account benefactors of inheritance, crooks, successful gamblers and so on. But as I scrolled down that list, I think of
how these individuals have improved the quality of life for millions. And, more often than not, they did so because
they worked extremely hard to get to that point. A couple examples: Can you now imagine life without computers?
(Bill Gates). How about the hundreds of
millions who save needed money shopping at Wal-Mart and the millions more
employed there? (Waltons). We are
dependent upon one another and on God in this world. To anyone who thinks you are “independent,” I
question your sanity. How easy it has
become for us to claim our own independence when policemen and soldiers keep us
safe. How easy to claim our independence
when doctors keep us healthy. Isn’t it
easy to enjoy a nice meal when farmers have grown our food, others have
packaged and shipped it to us, and then chefs have prepared it? To all those who have become rich by
enriching our lives, to all those who recognize their true riches with Christ,
to all those on whom we depend for so much, and because of all these
people, I say the state of our union is GOOD!
And how easy is it for us to think we’re “something” for
going overseas to do God’s work. I tell
you the truth, God is smiling on Maralee who is committed to bringing love to 2nd
graders of all family backgrounds every day. God is smiling on Matthew and former World Race alum, Gabrielle (among
the thousands of others) who have signed up for their domestic mission through
Teach For America. God is smiling on
Nathan, Will, and the many other youth group leaders, who show love to, and
build the foundations in, young adults that they may become the men and women
of God they were created to be. And just the other night I bid farewell over burgers to 5
incredibly close friends. Justin. A buddy since first grade with the soul of a
musician and heart of a lion about whom I could share cherished memories for
hours. Ben. A college roommate who may know me as well as
any; more than a decade-long friend; a high school basketball teammate. And then an actual brother and sister to each
other: Tim. Mr. Most Talented, American
Idol should-be, hard-working success will-be. Lauren. A confidante; Tim’s
sister, and my neighbor down the street for the past twelve years. Throw in Tim’s girlfriend Sara who just
graduated with me from UNC who is a joy getting to know more and more every
time we’re together, and you’ve got a good cast for dinner. Coast to coast, our nation is filled with
individuals like all of these, and millions more – good… no, GREAT people. To them, and because of them, I can
easily say that the State of our Union is
GOOD!
This summer has taken me on many travels. I have had the privilege of spending a
weekend in Atlanta, a family trip to San Antonio, and five days in Milwaukee for Northwestern Mutual’s annual
meeting. Along the way, I’ve passed
through the airports of Detroit and Minneapolis. Then of course, my numerous travels through
my home state of North Carolina – from my
hometown of Hendersonville to Charlotte
to Greensboro to Chapel Hill to Wilmington. The greatest state in the country – said not to be taken as a divisive
claim, but merely out of the passionate love for all that I’ve ever known. Then finally, just last week my team, Judah,
and I made it to Kansas City
to visit IHOP, aka International House of Prayer. Here I witnessed for the first time a place
that has been committed to 24/7/365 prayer, praise, and worship and has not
stopped for a minute since 1999! The
only way to describe it is powerful and that you can simply feel God’s presence
when you walk in. Whatever differences
these places may have, there are so many more common threads which unite us
all, wherever we may be in the country. And I don’t know about you, but I feel better about our country just
knowing that people are praying without ceasing. To the people in every corner of the U.S who
are committed to making your community a better place and all those who offer
continual prayer, and because all of you, I say the State of our Union is GOOD!
Until that first Tuesday in November when the last vote is
cast, you will hear many things about this country. In January, the 44th president of
the United States
will formally give his view and future outlook on this topic. But as I depart, and carry you with me as I
go, I definitively remind you that the state of our union is GOOD! It is time for me to follow God’s lead to the
distant corners of the earth, sharing His love and serving others abroad. It is time for you to stay, and with a daily
commitment to follow God’s lead, make this land GREAT. We all have our role to play in the body of
Christ.
I will miss you, and yet I leave without turning back, even
for a moment. May God bless you, keep
you, and fill your heart and mind with the knowledge of my deep love for
you. May God continue to bless America. And may America always bless God.
Nations… Here we
come.
