The events of this week led me to change what I was going to speak on Wednesday evening. I hope you will take the time to hear what God put on my heart.
As an added bonus, my sister plays the piano and sings an original piece to start things off.
Tag Archives: vote
It’s Not a Platitude: God Is Still in Control
Filed under Abortion, America, Christianity, Countries, Culture Wars, current events, Preaching
Observations from a Middle-Georgia Pastorate: “The Critical Vote”
Who Would Have Guessed
Honestly, who would have thunk that by moving down here to Georgia I would play a part in American history? Well, after tomorrow my vote could determine the direction of this nation.
I mean, you know, just pastoring a church gives one the chance to impact lives for generations to come. But pastoring a church in Georgia right now, right on the cusp of one of the most important elections – EVER – makes me tremble.
But, like I’ve said before, “…for such a time as this.”
Don’t Tell Them
One of the more sensitive issues of ministry is that of politics. As you are surely aware, we pastors are not supposed to tell people how to vote. To do so could potentially result in a church losing its tax-exempt status.
Yet, as you have surely seen over the last few years, more and more pastors and religious leaders are making it clear where what boxes they want you to check. Without question – it’s not even an argument – African-American churches (which overwhelmingly support Democrat candidates) have long been known as being active politically, even to the point of specifically endorsing candidates from the pulpit. It’s even expected that the Democrat candidates make appearances in black churches.
Then, of course, there are the other churches that support more conservative candidates, most always Republican. In lots of cases, the candidates will go to those churches to speak, also. But the Republican church visits are nothing in comparison to the other party’s efforts.
And when it comes to what pastors are allowed to say; when it comes to how far a pastor should go in stating support for a particular candidate or party; when it comes to a pastor talking politics at all . . . the white churches and the Republicans barely hold a candle to rest. It’s not even a contest.
But that’s not how I’m going to roll this time.
Perdue and Loeffler
To be honest, if anyone in my congregation votes for Jon Ossoff or Raphael Warnock, I’d be terribly surprised. To the best of my knowledge, based on nothing more than objective observation, most of my congregation will vote Republican tomorrow. Yet, I still won’t get up behind the pulpit and say, “Go vote for so-and-so.”
But since this is my blog, I will say exactly what I think. It’s still my right and I’m free to exercise it.
If you live in Georgia, as I do, and you vote for either Jon Ossoff or Raphael Warnock, then the blood of America will be on your hands.
I will boldly beg of you to vote for either David Perdue or Kelly Loeffler.
The Agenda: Fundamental Change
Folks, if Ossoff and Warnock are elected and placed in the United States Senate, America will never be the same, and that’s their goal.
I don’t have to go through all their promises. All I have to do is to get you to understand that with a Democrat majority in the Senate, the House, and with a Democrat President, they will complete what Barak Obama said he wanted to do: “Fundamentally transform America.”
Stop and think about those three words for just a moment. What does one mean when he says he wants to “fundamentally change” or transform anything? If I were to stand before my congregation and exclaim, “This year we are going to fundamentally change Christianity”? Would it still be Christianity without its fundamentals?
What if you told your wife or husband, “Tonight’s date-night will fundamentally change our marriage”? What would that mean? Would that be a good thing? Maybe.
But when you propose, even promise to bring “fundamental change” to something, what you end up with is NOT what you started with. Consider what Wordhippo.com offered as synonyms to “fundamentally change.”
Then, from a legal standpoint, what is a proper definition? Consider the following from LawInsider.com:
“Fundamental Change means a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation, regardless of whether the Company is the surviving corporation, or a statutory share exchange involving capital stock of the Company.”
Barak Obama promised it. Biden promised it. Ossoff and Warnock promise it (either directly or by association). And if they get elected to the Senate, then the Democrat party will have little to nothing stopping them from destroying this country.
Just keep in mind, these are the people of the party who now say “amen and a-woman.”
Do Your Duty…Vote…or NOT!
This Tuesday will be the day we go to the polls to vote. Unless you were one who voted early, Tuesday will be the day you should do your public duty as a citizen of the United States. VOTE!
But WAIT!!! Do you know what you are doing?
Do you know who you are going to vote for? If not, why? If you go to the polls November 3rd just so you can push a few buttons, or check off a few marks, what good did you do? If you only go to fulfill a responsibility, without knowing any details, what kind of steward of this blood-bought gift are you?
If you don’t know the difference between liberty and liberalism, democracy and democrats, or socialism and social networking – DON’T VOTE! Just stay home and watch Oprah or Dr. Phil.
When others are heading to the polls that evening, just veg out while you enjoy another episode of some cake-baking, tatoo-designing, dance-off competition.
For over 200 years men and women have been shedding their blood for the freedom we enjoy.
More will die to preserve it in the future, that is, if we still have freedom to defend. If the uneducated, illiterate, uninformed and apathetic continue to vote for more government, all so that they can receive more “freebies,” not to mention tax-payer funded health care, then blood was shed in vain.
Stay at home, ye who do not know what is going on. Stay at home, all ye who will vote simply to remove “Orange Man” from the White House. Stay at home all ye who said “anything is better than what we have.”
Please, for the love of God and country, STAY HOME!
Let the people who have strong ideals go vote. Let the mature, the concerned, the alert, the forward-looking, the reader, the listener, the active citizen (as opposed to the apathetic moocher) go vote. We know the importance of what we are doing and take it seriously. We can handle the responsibility…
Yes, we can!
People all over the world would, have, and will die for the opportunity to have what we have.
Take it seriously. Make yourself a student, at least a “C” student, of what and Who made this country a “shining city on a hill.” Read
the Constitution. Read the Bible. Take responsibility for your own actions. Know what the candidates truly stand for, then make a decision.
But if you’re wondering if it’s worth taking the time to drive to the poll…if you have to watch CNN right before you walk out the door to help you decide who to vote for…please, we’ll send you a “I Voted” sticker, just stay home.
It’s your patriotic duty.
Filed under Christian Living, Culture Wars, General Observations, Uncategorized, voting, World View
What Were You Expecting, Shakespeare and Milton?
The … ummm … Debate?
I watched it, the first shouting and arguing match between to grown males. It wasn’t a “presidential” debate because there was little if nothing presidential about it.
But I sat through the whole thing. I sat through every interruption by Donald Trump and every name-calling response from Joe Robinette (that’s his middle name, if you didn’t know). And because I sat through the whole thing, like eating too many greasy hamburgers the night before, I woke up nauseated.
Winners & Losers
Simply put, there were no clear winners last night, except maybe the demonic forces whose leathery, flapping wings fanned the flames. POTUS was consistent with his message and policies, never wavering on his mission; VP Biden was present and accounted for, maybe even on a little meth (just kidding).
Frankly, I can’t blame Trump for coming out of his corner like a bat out of hades (that’s a figure of speech because, as far as I’ve read, there are no bats in Hell). For the last four years he has had to put up with attack after attack after attack from the likes of Biden, and so the one made famous for saying “You’re fired!” fired salvo after salvo at the USS Sleepy.
But as for “Come’on, man!” Biden, the bar had been set so low for him that just being able to complete a sentence after an hour was a shock to Republicans and Democrats alike. No one I spoke with thought Biden would be able to survive 3 minutes in the ring with Trump. Yet, even after multiple haymakers to the jaw, Biden was still standing at the end and it was Trump who was flustered.
However, the real losers were the two parties, the American people, and every parent who’s tried to instill in their children a sense of decorum and grace under pressure.
The Lesson
Sure, I suppose there are many lessons we could learn from last nights fiasco. Once could be: Never ask Chris Wallace to babysit your pit bulls. Another might be: What did you expect? Shakespeare? Milton? This was Reality Trump and Plagiarizing Biden.
But the big lesson is one that every voter should remember, especially since last night exposed the raw humanity of these two men can be found in the following verse from Psalm 20:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” – Psalm 20:7
Whether chariots or horses, elephants or jackasses (sorry, donkeys), only God can get us out of the mess we are in right now.
Filed under America, current events, politics, voting
I’m a “5-Issue” Voter
Today is election day in America.
Today is the day we Americans – the ones who care – take advantage of a blood-bought privilege to determine who will represent us in the governance of our nation, from local races all the way to Washington, D.C.
Now, it’s only a “mid-term” election, but it’s still very, very important. That is why I will head to the polls with as much gravitas as I would should this be an election to determine the President of the United States.
Some people will vote solely along political party lines. Others will vote based on “who’s best for the job.” They are the ones who claim to put person over party,”principle over politics.”
But let’s be honest, folks: this election (as was the last one) is far more complicated than simple either/or choices. No one is perfect, so it’s not always easy to say there’s one candidate that’s clearly better than another. And, to be fair, depending on where you live and who’s in charge, party affiliation isn’t always a black-and-white issue.
However, there are some issues that help guide how I will vote in each election. Some folk like to think of themselves as “single-issue voters.” I, on the other hand, am more like a “5-issue voter.” Therefore, I thought I would share them with you this morning, just in case you are looking for any last-minute advice.
5 Deciding Issues
1 The First Amendment. Without a doubt, the Constitution is always under attack. One reason is because so many are woefully ignorant of what’s in the Constitution – most have never even read it! But when it comes to whom I vote for, I will NOT vote for someone who threatens to dismantle my right to free speech and my right to worship. To be specific, I will oppose a candidate who wants to enact legislation meant to silence the pulpit, chill open discussion of ideas, or restrict Christians from participation in the public square.
2. Right to Life/Life of the Unborn. Let me be very clear, I will not vote for any man or woman who condones abortion on demand. Granted, the choice might get complicated if both candidates believe the same on this issue, but differently on others, but as a general rule, if there is any other choice, I will not vote for a person – or a Party – that supports and condones the willful and unnecessary destruction of innocent human life in the womb.
3. The Second Amendment. This is America, not Europe or Australia. I will not vote for someone who wants to take away my right to bear arms. George Washington said: “Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence.” For a more amplified defense of this position, I would refer you to an essay by Walter E. Williams of George Mason University (the source of the above Washington quote) entitled “Constitutional ignorance.”
4. Originalist Judges. It is tragic that so much power is now placed in the courts. Yet, knowing the way things have been going as of late, it’s probably not going to change any time soon. Therefore, it is more important than ever for an informed voter to cast his vote for a candidate who will support the selection and nomination of judges who will not seek to write law but enforce it. It is also important that the candidate support the selection and nomination of judges who do not try to imagine what the Founders were thinking, but what they wrote. It is not the responsibility of the judge to change law based on his or her opinion of it; it’s the job of the branch that writes the law in the first place – Congress.
5. Freedom. Believe it or not, most people are clueless as to what a genuine “right” is. That is why we have seen laws like the Affordable Care Act passed. Because many claimed healthcare to be a natural human right, Americans were forced to give up actual rights in order to keep from being fined. Any “right” that imposes a “duty” on another is not a true human right because it cannot be enjoyed simultaneously by both individuals. For a great explanation of what is a legitimate human “right,” I would encourage you to read the following piece by Professor Charles W. Baird: “#10 – ‘I Have a Right!'”
So there you have it. These are the issues that help guide how I will vote in each election. I hope they help.
Now, go vote!
The Recovering Legalist 