Maybe I should entitle this “who will be the biggest bully?” But then, no that wouldn’t be quite fair, after all some of these candidates really believe in themselves. So much so, that they are willing to be rude, forceful, pushy, arrogant, and more. Like this makes them look or sound better? But among people in their party, perhaps so. Politics certainly has lost its share of morals and values over the past 30 years. I say 30 years only because it is the time period, I have been an “adult” and have paid some attention to it all.

I grew up hearing from Carter, Reagan & George Bush. Or to put it another way, I remember talks about peanuts, jelly beans and “just say no.”  I pretty much started paying attention some when Bill Clinton took office, of course what I remember there is his playing a saxophone on Arsenio Hall show (before he was the president) the scandal with Lewinsky and Saturday Night Live and McDonalds skits about him. Now I do remember as well though that the country seemed to have been in a very good place, low unemployment, education was a focus and there were more police on the streets. Let me be clear, just sharing what I remember.

We have seen horrible behaviors out politicians for decades. What’s alarming though is that we are seeing things from the local to the federal levels at increasing rates. Its as if when someone decided to go into politics they have to turn in their moral compass and prepare to be bought, sold, traded for whatever is best for their “constituents” or themselves.

It seems to be acceptable to call candidates names, poke fun at their expense, lie about and scream at when debating. People even seem to think that its okay to disrespect current people in office. Amazes me that we grow up hearing to not pick on people, don’t call names, etc. Yet here are the “role models” doing the very opposite, including our families and friends. I am tired of hearing the disrespect of our current and past presidents. What I don’t understand with President Biden is just how easy it is for people to call him names, make fun of his age or forgetting things, yet I know if started talking about their elderly family members in the same way they would be upset. Even worse to me is that if President Biden was a CEO of a company, the company would have long ago dealt with the health and mental issues by asking if not pushing retirement, yet the government tolerates and accepts it all and just lets this leader try to lead – the country. Okay, off my soapbox for that one, maybe another day another blog.

What amazes most though is just how many people “fall in line” and vote along party lines and party line only. Never considering that another candidate might be better for the job, instead they vote their party no matter how bad it might look. I know you have most likely heard the following: “if your friends jumped off a bridge/cliff, would you?” Possibly from a parent right!?

Well, it is a good question and almost always the reply would be “no.” Yet how many adults, enter election time, enter voting booths and do just the opposite and jump off that cliff? Think about it. It is no different. You hear it and read quite a bit, vote Republican, vote Democrat, vote red, vote blue. You even see vote to make a difference and recently I’ve seen something along the lines of remember Nov 6 change your clocks and change the country on Nov 8. The only real change takes place when you actually look up and understand the candidates and what they have done, stand for, etc. not what party they are in.  YES, we need a lot of change in this great country, but I don’t think it all has to do with one party. The sooner politicians learn they can go further together vs being lonely islands is when change may begin.

I know, it’s not that easy. I never said I was a political major, but I do believe that common sense, choice, thinking for oneself has taken too long of a hiatus. People have become followers of parties and candidates and all it is doing is creating more drama, issues and record money being spent on meaningless lawsuits to satisfy revenge, greed and more. Look if you want to be a follower of someone -talk to me about following Christ, not man.  But that is for a different blog, or is it?

Church, Christian leaders – do you want to be part of the solution in seeing America become better? Even if you are a non-believer or of a different belief wouldn’t you like to see American become better?

Think about this fellow believer; “The church and or leader who publicly aligns with a political party has relinquished their ability to make disciples of half their nation, much less all nations. Intentionally or even unintentionally aligning a local church with a party or candidate is an insurmountable obstacle to making disciples of those in the other party. Doing so alienates half the population.” “Saving America is NOT the mission of the church. The moment our love or concern for country takes precedence over our love for the people in our country, we are off mission. When saving America diverts energy, focus and reputation away from saving Americans, we no longer qualify as the ekklesia of Jesus. We’re merely political tools. A manipulated voting demographic. A photo op. Again, we lose our elevated position as the conscience of the nation.” – Taken from the book Not In It To Win It by Andy Stanley

There’s a bit there to think through as Christians. But even if you are not a Christian, do you want to be a manipulated political tool or photo op? Don’t you deserve better? Doesn’t America deserve better?  Of course, the answer is yes. So, what will you do tomorrow in that voting booth? Will you “jump off the cliff with your friends?” or will you pray about, think about, research tonight and tomorrow before voting and make the best decisions you can? The choice is certainly up to each of us to either see America become stronger and better or watch it continue to be in chaos.

Thanks for stopping by the fire,
Pastor Dennis

PS – Would you like to know who I am voting for? Which party? I promise this – I won’t be voting all red or all blue! I’ve done my research, thought through and prayed. Even asked a few “radicals” of their thoughts. Don’t go into tomorrow with blinders on….