UPDATE: Here is the link to Mike's sermon.

My buddy Jeff called me from New Hampshire earlier today to tell me that presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee played bass with my old worship team and preached the sermon at my old home church this Sunday morning.

He did not come as a politician but as a pastor - he preached on what it meant to be a warrior in God's army. My church normally puts up the Sunday sermons on their podcast. If they do, I'll link it here for you when it comes up. Bob Ayala, the leader of my old worship team, said he did a "very respectable" job on the bass as well without any rehearsal or even knowing some of the songs.

Before becoming the governor in Arkansas, Mike was a Baptist pastor for several Southern Baptist churches in Arkadelphia, Texarkana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is now running for president.

My roommates and I were watching the CNN/Youtube Republican debates earlier this week and Mike Huckabee made a powerful statement about the Bible that continues to solidify my support for him as the president. The two other leading candidates really did not have a satisfactory answer to the question. See this clip:

I believe the Lord is going to give our nation black and white choices in 2008. The greatest issue in these elections is not illegal immigration, taxes, or gun control. Our nation is ripe for the judgment of God and we need a revival and a turning of hearts that far surpasses revivals of old. While it is absolutely critical to pray for the elections and for the Lord to raise up a man of righteousness, I think we cannot lose focus on praying for a great heart turning and a great revival.

Having laws overturned, having amendments passed, and having a righteous president is by no means the final solution to the problems in our nation. It is presumptuous and unbiblical to expect that it is. While it is helpful, our nation needs to be changed at the heart level by the Holy Spirit. A righteous law or a righteous man in office will not completely put an end to abortion, gay marriage, or human trafficking because men will still find ways to act out what is truly in their hearts. Ultimately, we need Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, established on His throne with His law going forth from Jerusalem.

Even if Mike Huckabee or another righteous, God-fearing man is elected as president, we must continue to ask the Lord for revival - lest we end up worse off than we already are.