An Email Brigade

I received this through e-mail today. If I am not mistaken (which I could be), this was already published by Fr. Reuter earlier. Still, the message is ever relevant.

We pray for an integral renewal of Pilipinas, and ating Bayang Mahal, Lupang Hinirang. And also, we also pray, resolve, and act on our own personal renewal. As once said (thanks to the wisecracker), "Become the change you want to happen."



THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

by Father James Reuter, S.J.

Our republic has become one of the weakest nations, steadily left
behind by its more progressive neighbors.

The signs are clear. Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path
of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort.
We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government,
NGOs, church groups & people's organization devote themselves to the
task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds. Not
even people's revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent
in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but
three steps backward.

We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people,
can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the
spiritual realm... It's time to gather GOD's people to pray for the
economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation.

Is prayer really the answer?

Before you dismiss this as just another rambling, I'd like you to
consider some lessons we can glean from history.

England 's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation,
a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers.

The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it
the most powerful nation today --- a strong faith in GOD and a
disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its
major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept
across the land.

In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in
the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today,
led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho.. No wonder it has emerged as a strong
nation when other economies around it are faltering.

Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here,
there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer, moral
reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to
general prosperity. YES, we believe prayer can make a difference.
It's our only hope.

Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over
the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral
reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask of
you to fwd this email to your close friends and relatives.

This is the kind of resolve and unity which can make a big difference.
Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer,
you can be more involved by starting a prayer group or prayer center.

We have tried people power twice before; inboth cases, it fell short.
Maybe it's time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope?
YES! We can rely on God's promise, but we have to do our part. If we
humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will hear and heal our land.
By GOD's grace, we may still see a chance of a better future for our
country..

'If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and
pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I
hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their
land...

(2 Chronicles 7:14).

If you care for your children and grandchildren, let's not abandon the
Philippines .

PLEASE, pass this on.