Who we elect is a reflection of who we are as a nation. The Democrats and the Republicans each nominated individuals that they felt represented who they wanted to lead this country. They both had massive flaws! Whichever candidate you supported those flaws were overlooked because you were a Democrat or a Republican and that is who your party nominated. (it is a little more complicated than that) Each had issues and reasons for not being a good president (See my post on moral presidential candidates) I cringe at having to explain why this country would have elected Clinton with the disregard for the rule of law, try explaining that to your kids, or electing Trump and having to explain why we would elect a president that says insensitive crude sexist comments and doesn't seem to have compassion for others. Both sides overlooked the candidate that they supported and we have elected a president that either side is not totally happy with.
These individuals that we nominated to represent us are a reflection of who we are (are we collectively garnering wisdom when making our selection?), in this election people held their nose as they went to the voting machines to vote against the person they had disdain for the most, not because the candidate they voted for was the perfect choose or that they truly supported 100%. We need to bring civil discourse back into the public square, where integrity, humbleness, and servitude are characteristics of who we select to run for office. These are the type of characteristics that I want to pass along to my kids.
A lot of nasty things have been mentioned by both candidates in this election cycle. We need to take a hard look at the candidates that the two party system nominates in the future and make sure they are a true reflect on who we want representing this country. If we do not, we will have an election cycle where we focus on the negative verses the positive and lose focus on the policies and actions that will make this country strong. There are a lot of critical issues on the table and a lot of these issues did not even get addressed or brought up. Let us be wiser in who we select in the next go around.
Social media has been a blaze with comments about ultimatums, threats, and even friends fighting over what other people are doing in the name of the candidate they are against. Listen, we need to stop pointing fingers, look at the direction we are headed as a country and work together to fix it. Even though we have elected a candidate that may not represent your position, lets work together to bring those issues to the table, lets have them addressed in a civil manner.
Toby mentioned a few weeks ago, that "I am more worried about whether you are praying with your kids every night than whether they are praying in the state house." We need to get back to teaching our kids about right and wrong, there are going to be people in the world that don't like our hair, cloths, color of our skin, how much money we have or don't have, as parents we need to teach our kids the difference in right and wrong, that the things that people say may not be the most appropriate. We need to discuss these with them and teach them that God is in control and we need to pray for those that do harm to us, so that they may see what they are doing is not acceptable and to open their hearts to forgiveness. Do not allow your kids to harden their hearts for those that repress them, teach them to be creative in showing love to even their enemies.
There are things that we need to explain to our kids about both of these candidates leading up to this election. We needed to talk about sex, sin, corruption, breaking the law, justice, etc. Not exactly issues that come up in everyday discussion with your kids, and not something that presidential candidates should be mired in as we typically hold these people to high moral standards, but our kids are going to be exposed to this at school eventually and it is better to talk with them about why this is not acceptable behavior, so they can make a difference in their sphere of influence. Let us as parents each our kids about right and wrong. We will always have "enemies" that want to repress us, let us stand against them and find ways to spread love not hate.
Let us take the first steps in ensuring the next generation make a positive different by being Christ followers and not worldly worshipers of man. We live in a free country where each one of us has the ability to be a positive influence, let us each take this opportunity to make a difference.
Showing posts with label Trump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trump. Show all posts
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Election 2016, Coming Together
I was very concerned about the direction of this country before this election and I am concerned about the direction of the country now after the election. We have an opportunity to come together and we need to work to do this, otherwise we all fail.
Listening to Glen Beck today he brought up some interesting points. We have gotten into a mindset of creating things that are "American" and if you don't do these things you are not American. This has created a dangerous path to be on and creates an "us" and "them" stance. This is not what America is about. We have gotten into this pendulum swing of national extremism, which started after 9/11, everyone had to show patriotic colors, support the military, police, firefighters, etc., if you didn't you would be labeled un-american. Then the pendulum began to swing in the other direction, millennials were concerned with the environment, sincerity of the government, being in wars and foreign affairs. If you didn't support the policies of the president you would be labeled a racist, xenophobia, bigot, etc. Now during this election it is swinging back to nationalism, protecting our borders, reduced federal government in our lives, etc. We need to take a hard look at how we are treating people as we swing through these extremes and at some point we need to get back to incorporating biblical principles and civility in our public square, to have love and compassion for our neighbors even when we disagree. The point is that as we support one extreme and the other, we are not coming together to understand those differences. Neither one of these extremes are inherently bad, the problem is, each side is using their "power" over the other when in power. We need to stop the pendulum swing and come back together as a country.
We need to work together for a government that enforces the rule of law, no matter what position you hold. We need to sympathize with those that are different than us and learn to understand them, and work to make a country that allows us all to live with equal opportunity. Those of us that think BLM is all about killing cops need to understand the true reasons behind why BLM is protesting, there are reasons that need to be talked about and understood, a dialog of love, forgiveness, and understanding needs to take place.
We have gotten into a habit of lumping groups together. We say, "All whites are racist" or "All Muslims are terrorists" or "All blacks are on welfare or cop killers". None of these comments are true and it produces hatred and shuts down dialog and an intellectual conversation about the issues that are plaguing this country today that need to be discussed. Let us begin this dialog today. Let us welcome those with opposing views and life experiences and truly understand what they, our neighbors are concerned with. We need to stand together when the rule of law is not being followed or when justice is not being served, even when it is our "side" that is not following those rules, because when the pendulum swings the other way, you do not want the other side to us those same tactics against what you support. Having "your" president work around the Congress to get "laws" enacted that you support is OK, just remember when a president that you do not support gets into office do you want them to do the same thing? We all need to support the rule of law whether a "law" is to our benefit or not otherwise we eventually will have someone in there that creates "laws" that we do not like.
Let our differences not divide us, but let us work through these differences to make us all stronger, if we can work together to address these issues we can overcome. We need to be leaders of integrity to bring us back together. We do not all want to be the same, so we need to work together to create an environment that brings out the good in our culture and the differences we all bring to the table creates an ever changing, evolving, dynamic, and wonderful blend of humanly that you can not find anywhere else in the world. Let us demonstrate the positive side of this melting pot not the negative side.
As Americans we need to come together to unite, understand that what one side is dealing with was what the other side was dealing with 4 years ago. Let us not take "revenge" on the policies and decisions that defined the last 8 years with equal and opposite concern for the other side. This is not the time for a tit-for-a-tat politics. If that is the direction this next president takes, we need to all stand as Americans against them and any policies that go against our principles and Constitution. As Americans and especially Christians we need to take advantage of this opportunity to build a loving, forgiving environment that reflects the love that Jesus has for everyone. We need to take into account the concerns of our neighbors. If we fail to do this, there will be a swing in the opposite direction down the road that will not be favorable for you.
Its time to get to work, let us work together for a greater tomorrow.
Listening to Glen Beck today he brought up some interesting points. We have gotten into a mindset of creating things that are "American" and if you don't do these things you are not American. This has created a dangerous path to be on and creates an "us" and "them" stance. This is not what America is about. We have gotten into this pendulum swing of national extremism, which started after 9/11, everyone had to show patriotic colors, support the military, police, firefighters, etc., if you didn't you would be labeled un-american. Then the pendulum began to swing in the other direction, millennials were concerned with the environment, sincerity of the government, being in wars and foreign affairs. If you didn't support the policies of the president you would be labeled a racist, xenophobia, bigot, etc. Now during this election it is swinging back to nationalism, protecting our borders, reduced federal government in our lives, etc. We need to take a hard look at how we are treating people as we swing through these extremes and at some point we need to get back to incorporating biblical principles and civility in our public square, to have love and compassion for our neighbors even when we disagree. The point is that as we support one extreme and the other, we are not coming together to understand those differences. Neither one of these extremes are inherently bad, the problem is, each side is using their "power" over the other when in power. We need to stop the pendulum swing and come back together as a country.
We need to work together for a government that enforces the rule of law, no matter what position you hold. We need to sympathize with those that are different than us and learn to understand them, and work to make a country that allows us all to live with equal opportunity. Those of us that think BLM is all about killing cops need to understand the true reasons behind why BLM is protesting, there are reasons that need to be talked about and understood, a dialog of love, forgiveness, and understanding needs to take place.
We have gotten into a habit of lumping groups together. We say, "All whites are racist" or "All Muslims are terrorists" or "All blacks are on welfare or cop killers". None of these comments are true and it produces hatred and shuts down dialog and an intellectual conversation about the issues that are plaguing this country today that need to be discussed. Let us begin this dialog today. Let us welcome those with opposing views and life experiences and truly understand what they, our neighbors are concerned with. We need to stand together when the rule of law is not being followed or when justice is not being served, even when it is our "side" that is not following those rules, because when the pendulum swings the other way, you do not want the other side to us those same tactics against what you support. Having "your" president work around the Congress to get "laws" enacted that you support is OK, just remember when a president that you do not support gets into office do you want them to do the same thing? We all need to support the rule of law whether a "law" is to our benefit or not otherwise we eventually will have someone in there that creates "laws" that we do not like.
Let our differences not divide us, but let us work through these differences to make us all stronger, if we can work together to address these issues we can overcome. We need to be leaders of integrity to bring us back together. We do not all want to be the same, so we need to work together to create an environment that brings out the good in our culture and the differences we all bring to the table creates an ever changing, evolving, dynamic, and wonderful blend of humanly that you can not find anywhere else in the world. Let us demonstrate the positive side of this melting pot not the negative side.
As Americans we need to come together to unite, understand that what one side is dealing with was what the other side was dealing with 4 years ago. Let us not take "revenge" on the policies and decisions that defined the last 8 years with equal and opposite concern for the other side. This is not the time for a tit-for-a-tat politics. If that is the direction this next president takes, we need to all stand as Americans against them and any policies that go against our principles and Constitution. As Americans and especially Christians we need to take advantage of this opportunity to build a loving, forgiving environment that reflects the love that Jesus has for everyone. We need to take into account the concerns of our neighbors. If we fail to do this, there will be a swing in the opposite direction down the road that will not be favorable for you.
Its time to get to work, let us work together for a greater tomorrow.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Moral Presidential Candidates
I was just reading an article about how a "well-known evangelical theologian" was no longer endorsing Trump and bemoaned his character. If basing your decision on moral character is determining your vote, I'm not sure there is anyone to vote for!
We are not going to find a person of moral character that will be sinless, but I do believe that we can find people that live up to the next verse,
Romans 3:24
"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Let not our sin define us, but rather through grace and a striving to be more like Jesus everyday be the definition of who we are.
We are looking for people of character, not that they are perfect, but rather striving for that perfection. The reason we have gotten so caught up and divided with Donald Trump is the fact that he is not striving for something greater than himself. As a country we want a strong leader, but also a leader who knows that God is the creator and ultimate leader.
I hope that through this process we take inventory of our own character. Determine if as individuals we are striving to be more like Christ everyday. If we all did this our world would be a much different place, still not perfect, but better.
Vote your conscience this election, understand who you are voting for, and at the end we must come back together as a nation and stop the division that has struck us over the past several years.
Romans 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
Romans 3:24
"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Let not our sin define us, but rather through grace and a striving to be more like Jesus everyday be the definition of who we are.
We are looking for people of character, not that they are perfect, but rather striving for that perfection. The reason we have gotten so caught up and divided with Donald Trump is the fact that he is not striving for something greater than himself. As a country we want a strong leader, but also a leader who knows that God is the creator and ultimate leader.
I hope that through this process we take inventory of our own character. Determine if as individuals we are striving to be more like Christ everyday. If we all did this our world would be a much different place, still not perfect, but better.
Vote your conscience this election, understand who you are voting for, and at the end we must come back together as a nation and stop the division that has struck us over the past several years.
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