> RE: Personal Testimony of George Bush
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: George W. Bush:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Actually, the seeds of my decision had been planted the year
> > > > > > before, by the Reverend Billy Graham. He visited my family for
> > > > > > a summer weekend in Maine.I saw him preach at the small
> > > > > > summer church, St. Ann's by the Sea. We all had lunch on the
> > > > > > patio overlooking the ocean.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > One evening my dad asked Billy to answer questions from a big
> > > > > > group of family gathered for the weekend. He sat by the fire
and
> > > > > > talked. And what he said sparked a change in my heart. I don't
> > > > > > remember the exact words. It was more the power of his example.
> > > > > > The Lord was so clearly reflected in his gentle and loving
> > > > > >demeanor.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The next day we walked and talked at Walker's Point, and I knew
> > > > > > I was in the presence of a great man. He was like a magnet; I
> felt
> > > > > > drawn to seek something different. He didn't lecture or
admonish;
> > > > > > he shared warmth and concern. Billy Graham didn't make you feel
> > > > > > guilty; he made you feel loved.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Over the course of that weekend, Reverend Graham planted a
> mustard
> > > > > > seed in my soul, a seed that grew over the next year. He led me
> to
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > path, and I began walking. It was the beginning of a change in
my
> > > > > >life.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I had always been a "religious" person, had regularly attended
> > > > > >church,
> > > > > > even taught Sunday School and served as an altar boy. But that
> > > > > > weekend my faith took on a new meaning. It was the beginning of
a
> > > > > > new walk where I would commit my heart to Jesus Christ.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I was humbled to learn that God sent His Son to die for a
sinner
> > > > > >like
> > > > > > me. I was comforted to know that through the Son, I could find
> > > > > >God's
> > > > > > amazing grace, a grace that crosses every border, every barrier
> > > > > >and
> > > > > > is open to everyone. Through the love of Christ's life, I could
> > > > > > understand
> > > > > > the life changing powers of faith.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When I returned to Midland, I began reading the Bible
regularly.
> > > > > >Don
> > > > > > Evans talked me into joining him and another friend, Don Jones,
> at
> > > > > >a
> > > > > > men's community Bible study. The group had first assembled the
> > > > > > year before, in Spring of 1984, at the beginning of the
downturn
> > > > > >in
> > > > > > the energy industry.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Midland was hurting. A lot of people were looking for comfort
and
> > > > > > strength and direction. A couple of men started the Bible study
> as
> > > > > > a support group, and it grew. By the time I began attending, in
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > fall of 1985, almost 120 men would gather. We met in small
> > > > > > discussion groups of ten or twelve, then joined the larger
group
> > > > > >for
> > > > > > full meetings.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Don Jones picked me up every week for the meetings. I remember
> > > > > > looking forward to them. My interest in reading the Bible grew
> > > > > > stronger and stronger, and the words became clearer and more
> > > > > > meaningful. We studied Acts, the story of the Apostles building
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > Christian Church, and next year, the Gospel of Luke. The
> > > > > >preparation
> > > > > > for each meeting took several hours, reading the Scripture
> > > > > >passages
> > > > > > and thinking through responses to discussion questions. I took
it
> > > > > > seriously, with my usual touch of humor....
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Laura and I were active members of the First Methodist Church
of
> > > > > > Midland, and we participated in many family programs, including
> > > > > > James Dobson's Focus on the Family series on raising children.
> > > > > > As I studied and learned, Scripture took on greater meaning,
and
> > > > > > gained confidence and understanding in my faith. I read the
Bible
> > > > > > regularly. Don Evans gave me the "one-year" Bible, a Bible
> divided
> > > > > > into 365 daily readings, each one including a section from the
> New
> > > > > > Testament, the Old Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. I read
> > > > > > through that Bible every other year. During the years in
> between,
> > > > > > I pick different chapters to study at different times.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have also learned the power of prayer. I pray for guidance. I
> do
> > > > > >not
> > > > > > pray for earthly things, but for heavenly things, for wisdom
and
> > > > > > patience and understanding. My faith gives me focus and
> > > > > >perspective.
> > > > > > It teaches humility. But I also recognize that faith can be
> > > > > > misinterpreted
> > > > > > in the political process. Faith is an important part of my
life.
> I
> > > > > > believe
> > > > > > it
> > > > > > is important so I live my faith, not flaunt it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > America is a great country because of our religious freedoms.
It
> > > > > >is
> > > > > > important for any leader to respect the faith of others. That
> point
> > > > > >was
> > > > > > driven home when Laura and I visited Israel in 1998. We had
> > > > > >traveled to
> > > > > > Rome to spend Thanksgiving with our daughter, who was attending
> > > > > > a school program there, and spent three days in Israel on the
way
> > > > > > home. It was an incredible experience. I remember waking up at
> the
> > > > > > Jerusalem Hilton and opening the curtains and seeing the Old
City
> > > > > > before us, the Jerusalem stone glowing gold. We visited the
> > > > > >Western
> > > > > > Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. And we went to the
Sea
> > > > > > of Galilee and stood atop the hill where Jesus delivered the
> > > > > >Sermon
> > > > > > on the Mount. It was an overwhelming feeling to stand in the
spot
> > > > > > where the most famous speech in the history of the world was
> > > > > >delivered,
> > > > > > the spot where Jesus outlined the character and conduct of a
> > > > > >believer
> > > > > > and gave his disciples and the world the beatitudes, the golden
> > > > > >rule,
> > > > > > and the Lord's Prayer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Our delegation included four gentile governors-one Methodist,
two
> > > > > > Catholics, and a Mormon, and several Jewish-American friends.
> > > > > > Someone suggested we read Scripture. I chose to read "Amazing
> > > > > > Grace," my favorite hymn. Later that night we all gathered at
> > > > > > restaurant in Tel Aviv for dinner before we boarded our
> > > > > >middle-of-night
> > > > > > flight back to America. We talked about the wonderful
experiences
> > > > > > and thanked the guides and government officials who had
> introduced
> > > > > > us to their country. And toward the end of the meal, one of
our
> > > > > > friends rose to share a story, to tell us how he, a gentile,
and
> > > > > >his
> > > > > > friend, a Jew, had (unbeknownst to the rest of us) walked down
to
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > Sea of Galilee, joined hands underwater, and prayed together,
on
> > > > > > bended knee. Then out of his mouth came a hymn he had known
> > > > > > as a child, a hymn he hadn't thought about in years.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > He got every word right:
> > > > > > Now is the time approaching, by prophets long foretold, when
all
> > > > > > shall dwell together, One Shepherd and one fold. Now Jew and
> > > > > > gentile, meeting, from many a distant shore, around an altar
> > > > > >kneeling,
> > > > > > one common Lord adore. Faith changes lives. I know, because
faith
> > > > > > has changed mine."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I could not be governor if I did not believe in a divine plan
> > > > > >that
> > > > > > supersedes
> > > > > > all human plans. Politics is a fickle business. Polls change.
> > > > > >Today's
> > > > > > friend is tomorrow's adversary. People lavish praise and
> attention.
> > > > > >Many
> > > > > > times it is genuine; sometimes it is not. Yet I build my life
on
> a
> > > > > > foundation that will not shift. My faith frees me. Frees me to
> put
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > problem of the moment in proper perspective. Frees me to make
> > > > > > decisions that others might not like. Frees me to try to do the
> > > > > >right
> > > > > > thing,
> > > > > > even though it may not poll well... The death penalty is a
> > > > > >difficult
> > > > > > issue
> > > > > > for supporters as well as its opponents. I have a reverence for
> > > > > >life; my
> > > > > > faith teaches that life is a gift from our Creator. In a
perfect
> > > > > >world,
> > > > > > life
> > > > > > is
> > > > > > given by God and only taken by God. I hope someday our society
> > > > > >will
> > > > > > respect life, the full spectrum of life, from the unborn to the
> > > > > >elderly.
> > > > > > I
> > > > > > hope someday unborn children will be protected by law and
> welcomed
> > > > > > in life.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I support the death penalty because I believe, if administered
> > > > > >swiftly
> > > > > > and justly, capital punishment is a deterrent against future
> > > > > >violence
> > > > > > and will save other innocent lives. Some advocates of life will
> > > > > >challenge
> > > > > > why I oppose abortion yet support the death penalty. To me,
it's
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > difference between innocence and guilt.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Today, two weeks after Jeb's inauguration, in my church in
> > > > > >downtown
> > > > > > Austin, Pastor Mark Craig, was telling me that my re-election
was
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > first Governor to win back-to-back, four-year terms in the
> history
> > > > > >of the
> > > > > > State of Texas. It was a beginning, not an end.... People are
> > > > > >starved
> > > > > > for faithfulness. He talked of the need for honesty in
> government.
> > > > > >He
> > > > > > warned that leaders who cheat on their wives will cheat their
> > > > > >country,
> > > > > > will cheat their colleagues, will cheat themselves. Pastor
Craig
> > > > > >said
> > > > > > that America is starved for honest leaders.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > He told the story of Moses, asked by God to lead his people to
a
> > > > > > land of milk and honey. Moses had a lot of reasons to shirk
the
> > > > > > task. As the Pastor told it, Moses' basic reaction was, "Sorry,
> > > > > >God,
> > > > > > I'm busy. I've got a family. I've got sheep to tend. I've got a
> > > > > >life.
> > > > > > "Who
> > > > > > am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel
> out
> > > > > >of
> > > > > > Egypt? The people won't believe me, he protested. I'm not a
very
> > > > > > good speaker. Oh, my Lord, send, I pray, some other person,"
> Moses
> > > > > > pleaded.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But God did not, and Moses ultimately did His bidding, leading
> his
> > > > > > people through forty years of wilderness and wandering, relying
> on
> > > > > > God for strength and direction and inspiration. "People are
> > > > > >starved
> > > > > > for leadership," Pastor Craig said, "starved for leaders who
have
> > > > > > ethical and moral courage." "It is not enough to have an
ethical
> > > > > > compass to know right from wrong," he argued. "America needs
> > > > > > leaders who have the moral courage to do what is right for the
> > > > > >right
> > > > > > reason. It's not always easy or convenient for leaders to step
> > > > > >forward,"
> > > > > > he acknowledged. "Remember, even Moses had doubts."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "He was talking to you," my mother later said. The pastor was,
of
> > > > > > course, talking to all of us, challenging each one of us to
make
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > most of our lives, to assume the mantle of leadership and
> > > > > >responsibility
> > > > > > wherever we find it. He was calling on us to use whatever power
> we
> > > > > > have, in business, in politics, in our communities, and in our
> > > > > >families,
> > > > > > to do good for the right reason. And his sermon spoke directly
to
> > > > > >my
> > > > > > heart and my life.... There was no magic moment of decision.
> > > > > >After
> > > > > > talking with my family during the Christmas holidays, then
> hearing
> > > > > > this rousing sermon, to make most of every moment, during my
> > > > > > inaugural church service, I gradually felt more comfortable
with
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > prospect of a presidential campaign. My family would love me,
my
> > > > > > faith would sustain me, no matter what.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "During the more than half century of my life, we have seen an
> > > > > > unprecedented decay in our American culture, a decay that has
> > > > > > eroded the foundations of our collective values and moral
> > > > > >standards
> > > > > > of conduct.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Our sense of personal responsibility has declined dramatically,
> > > > > >just
> > > > > > as the role and responsibility of the federal government have
> > > > > >increased.
> > > > > > The changing culture blurred the sharp contrast between right
and
> > > > > > wrong and created a new standard of conduct: "If it feels good,
> do
> > > > > >it."
> > > > > > and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else'."
> > > > > >"Individuals
> > > > > > are not responsible for their actions," the new culture has
said.
> > > > > >"We
> > > > > > are all victims of forces beyond our control." We have gone
from
> a
> > > > > > culture of sacrifice and saving to a culture obsessed with
> > > > > >grabbing
> > > > > > all the gusto. We went from accepting responsibility to
assigning
> > > > > > blame. As government did more and more, individuals were
required
> > > > > > to do less and less. The new culture said: if people were poor,
> > > > > >the
> > > > > > government should feed them. If someone had no house, the
> > > > > > government should provide one. If criminals are not responsible
> > > > > >for
> > > > > > their acts, then the answers are not prisons, but social
> > > > > >programs....
> > > > > > "For our culture to change, it must change one heart, one soul,
> > > > > > and one conscience at a time. Government can spend money, but
> > > > > > it cannot put hope in our hearts or a sense of purpose in our
> > > > > >lives."...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But government should welcome the active involvement of people
> > > > > > who are following a religious imperative to love their
neighbors
> > > > > >through
> > > > > > after school programs, child care, drug treatment, maternity
> group
> > > > > > homes, and a range of other services. Supporting these men and
> > > > > > women - the soldiers in the armies of compassion - is the next
> > > > > >bold
> > > > > > step of welfare reform, because I know that changing hearts
will
> > > > > > change our entire society."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "During the opening months of my presidential campaign, I have
> > > > > > traveled our country and my heart has been warmed. My
experiences
> > > > > > have reinvigorated my faith in the greatness of Americans. They
> > > > > > have reminded me that societies are renewed from the bottom up,
> > > > > > not the top down. Everywhere I go, I see people of love and
> faith,
> > > > > > taking time to help a neighbor in need.. These people and
> > > > > >thousands
> > > > > > like them are the heart and soul and greatness of America. And
I
> > > > > > want to do my part. I am running for President because I
believe
> > > > > > America must seize this moment, America must lead. We must
> > > > > > give our prosperity a greater purpose, a purpose of peace and
> > > > > > freedom and hope. We are a great nation of good and loving
> people.
> > > > > > And together, we have a charge to keep."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ** (Please Spread this around on the Internet . . ..it will
never
> > > > > >be
> > > > > > published by the biased news media. The Internet serves notice
> > > > > > that the fourth estate no longer has an exclusive control over
> > > > > >what
> > > > > > is published for the people to see and hear.) Steve McDonald
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > |
