Presidential Lies

President Bush was called a liar for most of his presidency by many Democratic politicians some Senators and Representatives. How is that when one Republican politician calls President Obama a liar, he is disciplined by a vote in the house after apologizing to the President, and now there is the charge of racism being added by another former Democratic President. It is not race, it is ideology. It is not the color of skin, It is the political position that President Obama has. A position that government needs to have more control over its people and not be limited in what it has the power to do. Health care is a great symbol of this divide.

Obama believes government should guarantee health care insurance for everyone, I and many others do not believe that government should guarantee health care insurance for everyone. Yes, the government should make sure that everyone has emergency health care and they all ready do that, but to force everyone to have health care insurance is not a function government should be involved in. Believe it or not, not everyone needs to have health care insurance. If you are young, single, and healthy why should you spend hundreds of dollars a month for health insurance you don’t really need?

And why should I help pay the insurance premiums for Mr. Smith in Kansas or Mrs. Jones in California that has smoked two packs of cigarettes or is an alcoholic both with failing health because of bad choices they have made. Why should I pay extra for their health care? Money I view as being stolen from me by government that I could use for my own family. I sure that is what many other Americans are thinking, as well. And when you add in government funding abortions, why should I allow government to extort my money to pay for the murder of innocent life?

In my view the pursuit of universal health care by government is one of the final straws of Secular Government’s attempt to replace God, and to become god for the people. It is essentially saying, that government will heal you of all your health problems trust in government they will take care of you. It is road I believe America should not take.

Back to the current issue of trust. What about forgiveness by the other Democrats, the ones in the House and Senate, the ones this Representative works with? Why do the Democrats need their pound of flesh? Is there no trust between the two sides any more? I think there is no trust left between the two sides. I would say that the last time America was so divided was in the years before the Civil War.

Unity? One nation under God? That is the problem, under God. When one side the Democrats has waged a campaign to remove the under God from America, and the other side the Republicans let them without a fight. Where does that leave me? Someone who only believes in America when it is under God. Without God, why would I want to be part of America, the giant secular state? It does not matter who is in charge, Democrats or Republicans, it does not matter without God. By God I mean the Christian God revealed to us in the Bible.

This is why I am no longer either Republican or Democrat. I have been convinced by the Democrats that all Republicans are liars after seven years of relentless attacks against the Republicans while George Bush was president. And now the Republicans have convinced me that Barrack Obama is a liar, not too hard after Obama’s presidential campaign and all the promises he has all ready broken. This distrust of the words spoken extends to other Democratic politicians.

That is why, I have aligned with The Constitution Party. A truly conservative party with strong Christian values.

On National Politics

For my few readers, I will make this brief. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Since 2006, I have become most interested in preserving the Republic of America. I no longer see either of the major political parties interested in that. For both parties it has become more about protecting the greedy and ignoring the needy. I want to promote a culture of Liberty and Life, rather than captivity under government control and legalized killing. Most of my political views align with the Constitution Party. But I want to offer some advice to the Republican and Democratic Parties. But before I do, listen to my thoughts about my driving force in politics.

My politics are driven by a politician’s public position on Abortion.
You may have noticed that much of my concern for both major political parties is related to the continued support by some and passive acceptance by others of abundant legalized abortion in the world. I am not a gifted speaker or writer so to hear my view on this listen to the words of another, Pastor John Piper. I am not even as gracious as he was, I did not rejoice at his inauguration.

No-Mr. President speech

To the Republicans.
Do not respond point to point to the Democratic controlled congress or President. Do not let them set the agenda on what you are speaking on. Speak out on different issues like energy independence, securing our national borders, defending freedom both at home and abroad. Do not offer compromise with watered down versions of Democratic plans. Instead day after day. Point out government failure with specific examples of real people and remind the people that we as a collective group are the solution to our own problems and that government is not. Stand for Liberty and Justice for all. Stand up for the Right to Life of the unborn, Stand up for the protection of marriage, and Stand Against government control of business, Stand Against special treatment of the few. Do not give an inch to the progressive wing of the Democrats because they will take a mile. To rebuild your party move away from Democratic positions not toward them.

To the Democrats.
Stop being rebels. You are in control act like. Does attacking Rush Limbaugh really promote leadership? Is it honorable to hope for the death of a fellow America? It looks really childish and not very Presidential. Your continued rebellion will turn into cannibalism. You can not be all things to all people. and Finally, you can not borrow your way to prosperity, the piper always has to be paid. Continue in your honesty about your positions against traditional American family values and in promoting the culture of death and the abortion industry.

Barack Obama and the Freedom of Choice Act

Barack Obama on January 22, 2009:

On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.

“The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.  That’s the first thing that I’d do.”  – Senator Barack Obama, speaking to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, July 17, 2007

on January 22, 2008, One Year ago, Senator Barack Obama released the following statement:

“Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it’s never been more important to protect a woman’s right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women’s health. With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women’s fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

“When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president.

“Moreover, I believe in and have supported common-sense solutions like increasing access to affordable birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancies. In the Illinois state Senate, when Congress failed to require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, I made sure those contraceptives were covered for women in Illinois. In the U.S. Senate, I’ve worked with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on a bill that would make birth control more affordable for low-income and college women, and introduced the Senate version of Representative Hilda Solis’ bill to reduce unintended pregnancies in communities of color. As President, I will improve access to affordable health care and work to ensure that our teens are getting the information and services they need to stay safe and healthy.

“But we also know that Roe v. Wade is about more than a woman’s right to choose; it’s about equality. It’s about whether our daughters are going to have the same opportunities as our sons. And so to truly honor that decision, we need to update the social contract so that women can free themselves, and their children, from violent relationships; so that a mom can stay home with a sick child without getting a pink slip; so that she can go to work knowing that there’s affordable, quality childcare for her children; and so that the American dream is within reach for every family in this country. This anniversary reminds us that it’s not enough to protect the gains of the past – we have to build a future that’s filled with hope and possibility for all Americans.”

A New Pledge

Warning this post contains my political opinion and may be harmful for my progressive American friends…

With the inauguration of President Obama and the election of a majority of progressive Politicians to both houses of Congress, there is little doubt that the policies and direction of America will take a hard turn to the “left”.  I don’t want to discuss the details of what they may or may not look like, but want to point to a great danger.

The danger of silencing the opposition.  It is easy to compromise and form consensus without any opposing voices (voices that were silenced). It has come to my attention that both President Obama and the congress would like to reintroduce the fairness doctrine to the public airways requiring all points of view to be voiced through all media.  This is a mistake.  It is one of the many actions I expected from my progressive friends.  Regardless of what the intention of the law might be, the reality is the silencing the voices from their opponents by removing one of their primary venues to discuss and disperse their point of view.  A media that their point of view can not break into.

The irony of my position in protecting AM radio is that I voluntarily stopped listening to AM talk radio several years ago.  It was a personal decision.  I find more truth, peace, and joy from learning about my Creator, so  I replaced it with Christian talk radio and music.  I know that once AM radio falls the next target may be Christian radio and then beyond.  Silencing the voices of all opposition.  This censorship only demonstrates the fear and weakness of your position.  If you can not stand debate, and just want to silence opposing views.  What kind of debate and compromise can be offered if there is only one point of view?

Silencing the voices is only the beginning of try to controlling the body and actions of another. The loss of freedom of speech or control of speech is the beginning of the loss of other freedoms.

I will always remain as one of the uncompromising voices tugging on that rope to the side of smaller government, lower taxes paid by all, less intrusion of personal liberty, and a guardian of the helpless.  America is a republic and not a democracy.  All that means to me is that minorities have rights and privileges that are safeguarded.  It is government’s responsibility to protect those rights.

New rights may need to be discovered, but many are all ready known and have been enumerated in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.  If new rights exist out there they must be added in the proper way–not by Judges revealing them from their seats,  IT should take more than 5 judges to manufacture rights.  They need to discovered by thousands of voters, representatives, and senators amending the Constitution.  That is the beauty of that document that binds us together.  If you discover one of these rights we can add it.  When the Constitution was first written women could not vote and blacks were considered property.  But those in justices have been undone, through the proper channels.  The debate and struggle to get those rights enumerated and added to the Constitution and the high bar that must be reached ensure that it is in fact a right and not some ones private view or ideal.  But truly a right of the people.

I will be the conservative whisper, the voice of the right tugging against the popular and majority ideas of change.  When the country is being pulled to the left.  I can play the role of the demon on the right.  The punching bag or the object of wrath for the far left.  Burn me in effigue if you want.  Spew yourr venom and bitterness on me.  Let your hatred for conservative ideals be personified in me.  Ideals of the free market (not the economy that produced the greed and theivery of giant corporations who are all products of a regulated market place), of the freedom of speech to cry foul at the socialist policies, of the freedom of religion even if that religion believes that homosexuals are living in sin and the every child in the womb has the God-given right to be born, and of the right to own a tank if you want–as long as you do no harm with it.  I will not waver in those stands.

Others can be noble and honorable and forge compromises to get things done.  Since they believe that getting things done is the measure of success.  I do not.  To get things done for the sake of action is not always the right.  Sometimes inaction is the best way to handle current crisis or events.  I do not like emotionalism to drive action.  Measure self-control is a better course.

The main reason I did not vote for Republicans in the election in 2008 –among other things–was their approval of the $700 Billion bailout plan.  When President Bush and even Senator McCain signed off on it.  I could no longer support the party.  The party betrayed one of its main anchors–the free market.  The marketplace is not perfect but when a company makes a decision to operate in a particular way, it must bear the responsibility of its decision.  It may find great reward in its method or it may sink.  It is not the role of government to bail out failing business–banks, mortgage companies, newspapers, car companies.  They have made their decisions.

To put it another way, Why do I have to suffer in their loss when I do not benefit from their gain?  In my opinion the bailout can be seen as the setting sail of the Titanic.  Everyone is excited and marvel at the grandness of it.  All can pat themselves on the back for saving the important bedrock companies that support the American Economy.  But ultimately those choices lead to more bailouts and the need for more money.  Where does that money come from?  It comes from the hard earned dollars and credit of the responsible Americans.

To continue with the Titanic analogy it tell everyone on board to ignore the rescue boats we are all in this together, whether you want to be or not.  Further government action will only lead to the eventual vote of throwing the lifeboats over the side and forcing everyone into coming to the aid of these wayward companies.  It is getting rid of the lifeboats when the first glimpse of a single iceberg is spotted.  With little thought to the seas ahead that will be temming with hundreds more.  But there will be no lifeboats.  We will all sink or drown together.  That is loss of freedom at its greatest–placing all hope and trust in the federal institution that may be the author of the original problem.

In my opinion this loss of freedom is one of the final steps in the death of the American Republic and the birth of the American Empire.

My final thought is this: Rome was a republic before it was an empire, is that were America is headed to?  The more the people let government take away and make themselves dependent on it, the closer the nation gets to Empire.  Welcome to the American Empire.

The pledge of the American Empire:

“We pledge allegiance to the flag of the Unified State of America and the empire it sits upon, one nation its own god, bound, with safeguards and fairness for all.”

not the pledge of the American Republic:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Election Aftermath: Top Ten List

Top 10 Predictions
(No Matter Who Wins the Election)

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Movies and the Election

I have been running on information overload with all the talk of the Presidential Election.  The way I have been processing the upcoming election is by watching a variety of old movies from my strange assortment of movies.  I began the month of October watching the movie the “Untouchables” with Sean Connery and Kevin Costner–to remind me of the corruption in Chicago that sometimes even infects the politicians.  Next I followed it with “Sum of all Fears” with Ben Affleck to reflect the danger America might find itself in, if the Democratic Nominee is elected.  Just last night, I watch the movie “300″ again.  It was my attempt to process the battle for the soul of America and seeing the bravery and courage of the universal struggle between Liberty and Slavery.  It is the ultimate Greek tragedy, with all the heroes giving their lives for a cause greater than themselves in valiant deaths and the villains conquering for a temporary victory to enslave the masses.   After the election is over, I am considering the movies “the Postman” and “Waterworld” if the Democratic Nominee is elected to give me a preview of the struggles the nation will face in the following years.

There is a strange fascination with watching the aftermath of a car crash or a train wreck.  Many stop to stare to try and image the moment of impact.  Our nation may be at the moment.  It can be a depressing feeling if your hopes and dreams are dependent on the outcome.  I have removed myself from the election the only way I could.  I am voting third party.  Regardless of the outcome depression will set it for most, first for those that voted for the losing candidate and then for those that voted for winning one, when they are not satisfied and nothing in their life gets better, in fact, somethings may even get worse.  The expectations will not be meet.  Brace yourselves for eight years of depression with only a few temporary waves of hope every two years in the form of more promises and expectations around election times.

Last night I also read from bible (a spiritual discipline of my life) from James 3:13-18

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Are you feeling confused about the mixed messages during this campaign season.  Read this passage and you will know why.  The selling of envy to get elected (redistribution of others wealth to the lazy) is evil and demonic, not to mention it reduces liberty.  Compulsive donation to others does not make for cheerful giving or receiving just bitterness and hatred.

Well these are some random thoughts from a charter member of the right wing conspiracy in northern utah, who does not cling to any guns because I don’t own any, by choice (yet I would like to keep my options open just in case someday I might want one), and does not cling to religion (organized ritual to find a god) either–Just to my Messiah, Jesus Christ.  The one true God that can bring peace and joy.  Not in the empty promise of a false messiah or a government rescue that can not deliver.

The Emperor has no clothes

The presidential race is really heating up.  Last night while discussing the views of various candidates, I was reminded of a childrens’ story, the Emperor has no clothes.  Throughout the story everyone continually remarks at how wonderful or magnificent the emperor’s new clothes look.  Clothing he spent a tailor to make him.  But he was given no clothes.  Anyway it is not until near the end of the story when a small child remarks, “The emperor has no clothes” does the crowd finally realize that he does not.  This comparison can be made of Barrack Obama.  He has no executive experience, and he wants to be the chief executive of America.  He has no executive experience period.  He makes a fine senator for Illinois, but not a President.  The most terrifying part of reality is that Obama does not have a small child to tell us that he “has no clothes” because he is America’s greatest advocate for the killing of infants and babies.  So if there ever was a child to point and tell us the truth.  Obama and the culture of death that he advocates is responsible for his or her death.

My negative view of Obama does not translate into automatic voting for McCain.  He would have my support except he was one of the few Republicans that broke from the leadership of President Bush and decided to vote for federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.  So I have decided to vote for Mr. Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party Candidate.

The Religion of Politics

the Audacity of Hope

It seems that best thing I can think of to use this blog for is to talk Religion and Politics.  I suppose it is because those two subjects are now taboo to speak about with others in our tolerant American civilization.  So this forum provides me (and many others) that opportunity to think out loud about Religion and Politics, and in this season of campaigns when the two mix I can not help but place my two cents into the debate.

Summary

Senator Obama is a community organizer.  Governor Palin is just that a governor.  Now that those two undisputed facts are out there.  The connection comes from another blogger that seems to like to compare Senator Obama to Jesus, who they claim to also be a community organizer and Governor Palin to Pontius Pilate.  Not only do the comparisons fail miserably, but it shows utter contempt [audacity] for the Bible and by proxy those that hold the bible as sacred and God’s message to man.  It also displays complete ignorance of what the Bible says.

Obama: The Organizer

It is a long reach for a man to list being a community organizer as one of his premier qualifications for running for President of the United States.  I am reminded that when I was first looking for jobs after graduating from college how important it seemed for me to list all the “projects” I worked on in the academic word in my resume.  What it showed employers was that I had no experience just a few theories about how things might be done.  It is not that much of a stretch for me to assume that Obama is the same.  He has very little experience with leadership, so he has to fall back to this nebulos job title of “community organizer”.

What does that mean?  Someone that gets a group of people together into a unit for some purpose.  Examples: Samuel Adams was a community organizer for American Independence.  Abraham Lincoln was a community organizer against slavery. Martin Luther King, jr was a comunity organizer for civial rights.  However, not all community organizers made positive change.  Other Examples:  Adolf Hitler was a community organizer for the Nazis.  Lenin was a community organizer for the communists.  Osama Bin Ladin is a community organizer for terrorists.  These examples are men and sometimes women that want to inject a change whether positive or negative in the way things are by organizing a group to help them move society away from something they see as wrong into something better.  Obama sees a lot of things wrong with American Society and wants to make them better, and in the past has worked to change the wrongs he saw in American Society.  He is a community organizer.  So if you want someone to organize and change America society into Obama’s vision then he is your man for President.  That is where I get lost in supporting Obama.  His vision of American Society is not my vision.  His vision is government aid for everyone that has problems.  His vision includes infanticide.  His vision includes surrender.  A vision of America I do not buy into.

Jesus as a community organizer

Was Jesus a community organizer? In the modern sense of the word a community organizer shouts from the roof tops about a great inequality within society and gathers followers to right the wrong.  A grass roots movement of people that demand that the powerful listen to them and change the system to make it fair.  A community organizer now seems to be someone that demands others to stand up and fix a problem for a single group.

Did Jesus ever march on city hall and demand the man in charge to change the system? No.  Jesus moved through the countryside and down the streets personally engaging and helping.  He did organize a small group of men to also do the same.  Yet he never marched down to the Sanhedrin (the ruling council of the Jews) or to the Roman governor and demand they help the people.  Jesus did the helping Himself.  He did not march around demanding others to fix the problem.  He was the physician that fixed the lives.  He did not organize a group to demand justice.  He lived justly and advocated all men live justly.  He did not rebel against the government.  He meekly submitted to them, even until his death.

Let me ask, would Obama die for what he believes in? Has he ever been tested in a life and death situation?  No.  What about McCain?  McCain was tortured and came within an inch of his life for what he believes in: that the freedom of America was worth his life?  Who do you want making that decision of life and death?  A man willing to die for his country or a man that has never faced that reality.

Governor Palin vs. Governor Pilate

There can be no argument Sarah Palin was elected Governor for the state of Alaska.  Pontius Pilate was appointed the Roman General in charge of Judea.  He was never elected.  He was an occupying foreign leader placed in charge to subdue the Jewish people into bondage under Roman rule.  He was given complete control over the lives everyone within the Roman providence, a proxy for Caesar.  Governor Palin was elected by a majority of the free citizens of Alaska as their chief public servant to a single branch of government.  These few facts clearly separate the two and paints them as opposites.

Misuse of Bible

When I heard the now infamous comparision.  Obama is a community organizer. Jesus was a community organizer.  Sarah Palin is a governor. Pontius Pilate was a governor.  I finally understood what the Audacity of Hope that Senator Obama has been talking about meant.  It is about taking something that gives some hope [the bible with its message of God to man] and is revered by a group you despise and turning it upside down.  In this case a “progessive” blog reached into the bible and pulled the superhero-Jesus and one of the villains-Pontius Pilate.  In essence turning the bible into a comic book and replacing Jesus with his/her personal superhero-Obama and then cleverly trying to find a villian within the story to compare his/her villian to.  Superficial. Ignorant. Are just two words that come to mind.  Obama is the audacity [effrontery or insolence] of hope [the American dream of life, liberty and the persuit of happiness].

Leadership??

It has been nearly 60 days since I last wrote anything.  My last words were an interruption of my review of my elements of faith.  The interruption was to briefly comment about the Presidential race.  I have been debating within my own mind what to use my web log (blog) for.

1. Should I continue to compare and contrast my new found faith in Biblical Christianity to my old faith of Mormonism?
2. Expound and concentrate on writing all my notes for teaching a bible Sunday school class, to teach the world through this blog the bible?
3. Just whatever?

Well I decided on number 3.  The first idea has been done.  It is very difficult to compare two faiths that both use a similar religious vocabulary but with very different definitions.  And I am now over ten years removed from my past beliefs that were taught to me as a child and teenager.  The second idea did not fly either.  I soon realized that my gift of teaching is to be used to build the up church (not the world).  In short, the Holy Spirit is not directing me to write my personal bible commentary to be unofficially published to the world.  That left only number 3, which brings me to today’s topic: Leadership??

There are several points of leadership within my life that have been the focus of much of my energy.

1. My nomination to become an elder for my local church body.
2. The continuing search for a teaching pastor at my local church body.
3. How best to lead my family.
4. Who to elect as President and other representatives.
5. My supervisors and bosses at work.

Elder Nomination

One of the reasons I was exploring my elements of faith was to see if What I believed matched with the congregation I have been attending.  There is no difference in my personal beliefs and that of the congregation I attend on the major issues of Christianity.  I do not know the positions on minor issues so I can not say if they differ from my own.  To be brief, one can do a quick internet search of baptist statement of faith or christian statement of faith.  And from that statement of faith, my personal beliefs can be found in the carefully chosen words of those statements.  In summary, I am an evangelical (Biblical) Christian in my beliefs.

When evaluating myself to continue in the nomination, I considered that given my personality of ordering priorities within my life that I was at place where I could not serve as an elder.  The main point being that for me the priorities should be God, Family, Self, other stuff.  That being said, I would consider my responsibilities as an elder as the highest priority because it would be my service to God which comes first.  Next would be my family,and last myself and then other stuff.  This of course, as God, as been teaching me is not the correct way to see it.  I need to see that my responsibility although it may sound selfish is to: (1) continue in letting God transform me into that new creation which is the image (likeness) of Christ–self. (2) respond to that transformation in becoming the Husband and Father that God wants to make me–Family. (3) respond to that transforming work in becoming the ambassador of Christ to the world whether it be in helping to shepherd a local body or whatever.

It has taken me nearly a month of struggle to reach that conclusion, which I would have never made that small step without the nomination.  But I have still decided against moving forward with the nomination.  I have been trying to use that energy and time to build up my relationships with my wife and children.  There as been more closeness and understanding, but still needs more work.  One side note: It is most interesting to note, that the people I spoke with before I made the decision seemed to mostly be counseling me to wait on becoming and elder.  And most of the people I have spoken with after I made the decision seem to have wanted me to continue down the path and become an elder.  Well maybe next time the nominating process comes around the transforming work that God is doing with me will have me in that place where God can use me according to His perfect will.

Pastor Search

Our local church body is going on 20 Months without a teaching pastor.  But the seeking process has moved to another stage.  The stage of inviting an actually candidate to come and meet the entire congregation.  I have reviewed all the materials available to me about the candidate and his family and am anticipating personally meeting them.  One gift that God has given me with my change in faith from the religion driven Mormon faith to my new relational faith with God is discernment–recognition of truth over fantasy, deception, and lies.  I have been praying that God would clearly speak to me if this candidate is the right fit for our congregation (I have little doubt about his God-gifted ability to serve as a pastor, but is he the right pastor for us?) Only God knows, and I am relying on Him in the end.  I don’t know if that is the correct way to judge what God is saying by using personal experience, but it seems to me that if what I have studied about the man and the “vibe” that he gives off are compatible then It is authentic.  The “vibe” may feel good but the rest of the story might not fit, or the other way around.  That to me would be evidence against him.  There has to be a component of personal experience, but it must be hedged in by the boundaries established from God’s words–of which I consider the Bible to be the authoritative source.

Family

This is the most rewarding and the most difficult leadership (shepherding) I do.  No matter how well the previous day may have gone.  Today is a new day.  I find myself once again falling into my old trappings of either being too authoritative or too passive.  I can never seem to find the right balance between the two.  Right now I am definitely leaning way over to the passive and am getting to the end of that pendulum swing and have started back the other way.  My hope is that when the pendulum stops swinging back and forth, that I am in the balance of being the Authoritative Father my children need but also having an affection (love) that is easily seem by my children.  Only by God’s grace and His continuing transformation of me will that be possible.  I can easily speak about my relationship toward my children.  The relationship I have with my lovely wife, is hard to talk about; it is great and wonderful, but really is one that I keep close to my heart and don’t want to share with the world.

President?

Having spent much more time than I should have listening and watching the various candidates spout their philosophies of government, I have yet to reach a conclusion other than–I am definitely not going to vote for Obama to be president.  The only thing that I have in common with him, is that we are both Human beings and that is about it.  As for other candidates, I was considering rebelling and voting for the Constitution party like I did in 2006, but have not completely decided upon it.  Primarily because McCain has thrown me for a loop by selecting Governor Palin as his running mate.  I don’t know enough about her to make a judgment yet.  And the truth maybe to hard to find–either she is a great champion for reforming corrupt systems or she is the greatest hypocrite of all time.  It just depends on who you listen to.  It is more likely that she falls somewhere in the middle, the real question is which way does she lean.  My personal reaction to her speech is to believe that she is more a champion for reform (assume the best in people, unless give clear and convincing evidence otherwise).  But I am reminded that she is not running for President and McCain is.  Could I support his maverick ways?  That is the real question.  The issues surrounding Governor Palin are secondary.  I have yet to answer it.

Work

I am still adjusting to my new position.  Some days, I think everything is going great and I am getting a lot of work finished and the projects I am working on are making great advancements toward completion.  Then other days, I have no clue where to begin.  So the learning continues.  Mostly, I think everything is going well (not perfect), but well.

Conclusion

These are just a few of my random thoughts (partially organized into a single topic) to give anyone that finds this a little more insight into my life.  I do struggle with the most fundamental question of leadership that anyone faces, that original decision-Who am I going to let be in charge of my life…Me or God.  The fallen angel of ages past and even my fallen nature have chosen to be in command, but that new life God has given me knows that God is the Sovereign of the Universe and He is in command (whether I admit it or not) and I need to let Him reign and rule over my life.  God that can do a much better job of leading my life, than I could ever do–I need to seek His will and submit to it, and from time to time, I need to stop myself [wrong thinking again, let God's strength flow through me to stop me] from being a backseat driver or reaching for the reigns that guide my life [again wrong thinking, admit I am powerless to stop myself and let God do it] That is a difficult thing to do [completely surrender to my need for Him in everything]–one that I still struggle with.

A Pause in my elements of faith–Presidential update

I am taking a short pause in writing my essays of about my elements of faith for a Presidential update.  My America has come a long way in six months of campaigns.  Rather than what seemed to be a New York race of Hillary versus Rudy.  And the small surge from Mitt, It now looks like Obama and McCain are the two leading contenders.

I have no confidence in electing Obama to be President.  I do not know that much about him, and what I do know is troubling.  There is no position he takes that I agree with.  So I will be voting McCain;  If the country is going to be making a turn toward the left, I would not like it turn much further than McCain;  Change is not always better.  Sometimes it can make things worse.  Cautious examination is in order, before recklessly abandoning the past.  Somethings in government may need to be changed, but the kind of change that Obama is going to make, in my opinion, is going to over correct problems and lead to different ones that are even larger than ones he is trying to fix.  Well, that is enough about earthly politics and concerns.  Even if Obama is elected; God is the Sovereign of the Universe.

Now back to my essays about my elements of faith, Next…Who is Jesus?