Enough!

 

There’s an election coming up in a few days.  Whew!  Aren’t you glad I reminded you?   

I have to admit that I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that either one of these people is going to be our president.  I’d like to ask for a do-over, but since that is not possible (and who wants two more years of this) I’ve been trying to assimilate the fact into my head that I will need to support whichever one wins, because here’s the thing…I want the President to be successful in his/her efforts to be a good leader of our country.  If they aren’t, the country isn’t.  The reality is people are already deciding how they’re going to fight the winner (for four years) before they’ve even won and I am certain that the one thing I don’t want is four more years of fights. 

                                 Enough, already! 

How about this?  How about all of us proclaiming to be ‘good’ Christians, just ask God to do whatever and with whomever He chooses and TRUST that He will handle it.  We don’t have to scream or holler or threaten or pout or worry or hide in our rooms for four years. 

How about we show the world what Christians really are?  And have FAITH in our God.  Could we all just please do this?

This is from Bible Gateway's Encouragement for the Day... 

How to Hug a Porcupine and Squeeze a Skunk (not saying which candidate is which) KAREN EHMAN

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

I once worked as a substitute teacher. While that evokes images of chewing gum stuck to chairs and strategically placed “Kick me!” signs, this was not my experience. Sure, many of the kids were squirrely, but I never had an ounce of trouble with any of them.

Until one day.

That was the day the principal told me, “In third hour you will have a student named John Smith. Just send him down to the office before class starts. He’s known as Big Bad John, and he’s never successfully made it through even one hour with a sub. He will disrupt the class, bully others and try to make you look stupid. I want to spare you any confrontation.”

I knew exactly which student he meant and really wanted a chance to reach this troublemaker. So I petitioned the principal: “May I attempt to keep him in class and then send him to the office if he causes trouble? I’d love to try, if you don’t mind.”

“Be my guest,” he laughingly replied. “I’ll expect him shortly after class begins.”

Just before third period, a towering, husky student appeared in the doorway. He had on ripped jeans — before they were fashionable — and a soiled light blue T-shirt. I could tell from the way the students stayed back that his odor was as unpleasant as his appearance and personality. I shot up a quick prayer and greeted him.

With a smug look on his unwashed face, he boldly declared, “I suppose you’ve heard ’bout me. I’ll bet the principal told you to send me right to the office ’cause ain’t none of you subs able to handle me.”

“Nope,” I replied, just as quickly and confidently. “I heard you were going to be in my class, and I also heard you are a great kid. Do you mind helping me pass out these papers?”

Big Bad John wasn’t sure what to do. Some he threw on the floor. Another he used to play a game of keep-away with a girl in class. I followed behind him, corrected whatever he did, picking up the papers or gently taking one from his hand to give to a student. I thanked him when he was through, making no comment on his behavior.

Next, we watched a movie, and John began to act like his nickname. He was disruptive — not just talking but also taunting other students.

I walked over to his chair, squatted down, looked him in the eye and firmly but gently said, “Hey, look, John. I know that you have a reputation of never being able to make it through an hour with a substitute teacher. But I say today we show the principal a thing or two. I know you can cooperate. I know you are a good kid deep down inside. I’d love for that good kid to come out today and for us to be friends. Are you willing to give it a try, just this once?”

His countenance softened. For the last 15 minutes of class, John actually watched the movie without incident. After class, the school’s office staff buzzed with the news that this school bully had made it through an entire hour with a sub. After that, whenever I had John in class, he behaved well. In fact, when he saw me out at a basketball game or the grocery store, he smiled, waved and hollered, “Hi, lady.”

It’s easy to love those who are lovable. It’s a breeze to be kind to people you like. But to truly be patient and gentle toward someone who acts unloving or unbecoming is an altogether special assignment — one Jesus not only taught, but modeled.

He spent much of his time on earth with the not-so-popular people. He touched the leper. He granted dignity to the prostitute. He welcomed children and the tax collectors and those whom society rejected. Jesus modeled upside-down living and loving. And He urges us to do the same.

Let’s make it our aim not to just love the easy-to-love, but to hug the “porcupines” and squeeze the “skunks” in our lives, reaching those whose behavior and demeanor usually pushes people away rather than draws them in close.

Father, give me eyes to see through others’ tough exteriors to their hearts — hearts that so desperately need a loving touch from You through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 15:17, “This is my command: Love each other.” (NIV)

Romans 12:9a, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.” (NLT)

 

I had a John, only his name was David.   He was in my last fourth grade class.  I’m trying hard to love either or both of these candidates and let me tell you it is not easy! But I know what God calls me to do and that is to love them and support whichever one wins.  I don’t have to agree with them always and I can peacefully and thoughtfully support the issues I believe in, but the Bible tells me I am to support them…Romans 13:1; Acts 5:29; 1Peter 2:13-17; Titus 3:1; 1Timothy 2:1-3; Daniel 2:20-21.

 

Because it also says in the Bible… If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  Mark 3:24   It wasn’t the founding fathers who said it first…

 

Jesus did!

 

 

 

 

Being American Isn't Easy

 

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.

 
Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free..."

 

"We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle age, middle class, middle income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family, and American values and character, and you wave an old photo of the President's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism. You tell them she's to blame for their lot in life..." (The American President, 1995).

I love this speech from the movie, The American President, because the words are so real, especially today in this United States.  You can replace the name, 'Bob Rumson,' with whichever political candidate you might choose, but the message is still the same.  Our president doesn't have a girlfriend, but his skin color is black.  Insert that and you have the same message...


Or insert the message that those from a religion we don't know about or understand...


Or that ... well, you fill in the blank with anything you don't like or agree with.


There will always be someone 'different' from us on which to place the blame.


But here's what I know to be true, placing blame and scaring people doesn't solve the problems.  It might win you an election, but the problems remain and, worse still, these actions create new and bigger problems.


For the first time in my adult life I am really afraid for my country, even more so than on September 11, 2001, because this time the threat is us.  We are at a cross-roads where we must choose new leadership for our country.  I have to agree that, given my choices, I would rather choose D - none of the above (not the first time this has happened), but as a citizen of the United States I owe it to my country to vote for the one I believe to be the best choice. 


And here is how I will choose...

Which one will lead most closely to my Christian belief system?
 



That system is not based in anger, finger-pointing, division, and hatred.  That system, my system, is based in love and grace.  These are the things Christ came to earth to teach us.


We have just celebrated the anniversary of the birth of our great country. I've just re-watched all the videos and movies about how this country came to be and I LOVE them!  This creation, as all creations, was HARD!  There was disagreement after disagreement after disagreement, but there were enough clear heads that kept them focused on the end game, the prize, that, against all odds, it worked.


Our first president, George Washington, intended to retire from office after his first term, but was encouraged to continue because he saw the young country leaning towards political parties and division.  He hoped that four more years of his leadership would calm the waters and establish the idea of one for all and all for one.  Alas, after four more years, the tides were cast and political parties were already in place.


The purpose of those political parties?  To further my beliefs over your beliefs, what I think is right over what you think is right.  In other words...POWER and CONTROL.


Here's what Mr. Washington said, "...There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume..." (published in David C. Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser on September 19, 1796, under the title "The Address of General Washington To The People of The United States on his declining of the Presidency of the United States") 

Mr. President, you were right.  We are being consumed!  We can point fingers and say that 'they' don't belong to the right party or the right religion or the right country or the right skin color, but as long as we keep pointing our fingers at 'them' our problems cannot be solved.  Where are those leaders of so long ago who set aside personal wants and needs to fight for and create these United States of America?  Where is the spirit of compromise and providing for the common good?

We know of only two times that Christ ever showed anger towards anyone.  In both cases his anger was caused by ungodly attitudes and actions by those around him.  These were the religious leaders, the men who knew 'the rules' better than most of the others and yet, Christ corrected them on several occasions telling them that God wasn't about the man-made rules.  God was LOVE.

Look at who Christ spent his time with.  He ate with those no one else would eat with.  He spent his days and nights with the sinners and the sick and the hated.  He was scorned and killed because his love and peace frightened and angered the general population.  They liked the divisions, them and us.  'We are right and they are wrong!'

How, after all these years, can we miss the message of both of these men and so many more?  God continues to send us these men and women of light and we all agree that their message is sound. 

And then we continue to follow the loudest voices shouting just the opposite message.

I fear that one day all too soon God in heaven will be fed up with we human beings and decide that it is time to finish it.  And all these 'Christian' folks who have shouted the loudest and condemned so many others will find that they have missed the opportunity presented to them. 

We live in a great nation, founded in liberty and freedom and tremendous responsibility.  God put us all here in this time, in this place, to do great things.  We will live up to the challenges He has placed before us? 

Will we rise to the challenge and become what He always intended us to be?

The choice is ours to make.  I pray it will be 'the right one!'