Oh no, it's never been this bad before!!! Not true, actually, it has been this bad before.

 

Should Christians vote? Well…

 

Voting. Being a good steward and promoting the greater good.

 

George Washington: “…religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

 

What happens politically is not what is most important in our lives

Two Christian brothers... politics and prayer

While walking along the Riverwalk pathway in Punta Gorda, this morning, I coincidentally happened upon a voter registration drive/rally. The relatively small rally (maybe 100 people, along with some local media) involved one of the most divisive hot button issues in our country.

Just before the event got underway I spotted a man setting up a banner nearby to establish a prayer area. The fellow who set up the “Prayer Stop” is Al, the person in the photo with me.

I approached Al and said to him, “I just texted my wife to tell her about this rally and she told me she was praying. And then I saw your prayer area here. Would it be possible for me to pray with you?”

Al very enthusiastically replied, “Yes, of course. Praise God!”

So, we put our arms around each other’s shoulders and prayed that the event would be peaceful and that God’s love, grace, patience and kindness would prevail in spite of the strong feelings that would surely be stirred.

I do not know Al’s political leanings. I did not ask him and I do not care. That’s not what is most important to me. And he did not ask mine. We were two brothers in Christ praying for a peaceful, respectful, non-violent event to transpire.

About 20 seconds after I walked away from my discussion and prayer time with Al someone walked past him and hurled the “F” word at him.

I guess this is how people who are short on substantive ideas exercise freedom of speech.

I stayed, watched and talked with some folks for a while but left before the event completely wrapped up. While I was there some very minor agitation occurred but, thankfully, no violence.

P.S. I am not interested in divisive political commentary on this post. That’s not why I am sharing it. I’m telling this story because of the Christian camaraderie and brotherhood that was experienced. Politically divisive comments will be deleted.

Hatred, Violence, Racial Tension, Heart Change and God's Love

Like many of you, my heart is deeply grieved at the violence which is occurring in our country. In particular I am saddened by the racial tension which is a part of the most recent national stories.

This post is likely to bother and perhaps even anger some of the people with whom I am connected on various social media platforms and I am sorry for that because it is my sincere intention to bring words of love, encouragement and comfort. However, I feel compelled to express these thoughts, nevertheless.

I honestly do not believe there is a political solution to the issues of hatred, violence and racial discord. It is not that political action is of no value or that it is completely inconsequential. I am simply suggesting that political solutions are, ultimately, inadequate because these issues originate in the heart.

This truth regarding the heart is a concept which Jesus expressed very clearly. (See Matthew 15:19)

Where there is genuine hatred; where there is a desire to inflict pain and violence on others; where there is discord or feelings of mistrust and animosity toward people who are in some way different than us there are hearts that need to change. Again, laws and political action are not without value but these responses do not, for the most part, change human hearts.

Heart-change is God’s area.

So I realize that responding with talk of God and prayer seems weak, ineffective and bothersome to some but I genuinely pray for heart change. I pray for God’s love to prevail. I pray for God’s people to be models of His love, patience, mercy, reconciliation and grace.

I have not always been the agent of God’s truth and love that I should be. I haven’t always expressed the presence of Jesus in me to the disagreeable situations of my life. Therefore, I begin by praying for His authentic and tangible work in me.

And I pray for His love in us.

God’s love is extraordinary. God’s love is profound. God’s love is perfect, complete and comprehensive. God’s love will ultimately prevail.

I pray for His love to prevail in my heart today. I pray for His love to prevail in His people today. I pray for His love to prevail in our country today.

Taking Responsibility Reminds Us That Real Leadership Is Challenging

When we encounter a leader who makes it known in the organization he or she leads that his people need to take the fall so he [the leader] will not have to be responsible for his own actions/mistakes, what we are observing is a terrible leader. As a matter of fact, this is actually the opposite of true leadership.

Not surprisingly this method of operating is probably somewhat normal in the world of political leadership. I’m not taking sides here. This tactic of having low-level staffers or other underlings take the fall on behalf of the person at the high level occurs with both republican and democrat politicians.

A number of these people—on both sides of the aisle—are ego-driven, seekers of power who have very little interest in serving others. Their primary motivation for seeking office is an almost pure form of selfishness. They are not leaders, in the true sense of the word, they are professionally postured and polished narcissists.

I know this is just one, sad, lonely post that will make no difference in the big scheme of things but I felt like expressing this thought, anyhow. The reality I describe above is a reminder that authentic leadership is tremendously challenging.

P.S. By the way, I wrote this thought a couple of years ago regarding something I had seen on a political TV show and chose not to post it for a while. So, this is not specifically directed at any current political person or event. Although I am sure it applies to plenty of current political figures.

P.P.S.  Some of the people who read this might be thinking, “Oh yeah Dan, what you’re describing about people in the world of politics happens in the realm of religious leadership, too. So there, Buster!!!” My response to that is: Sadly, you are correct. It does. But that still doesn’t make it right. It just reveals to us that some of these people have no business being in leadership positions, as well.

I repeat: Authentic leadership is tremendously challenging.

“Pray…for kings and all who are in authority…” 1 Timothy 2:2

Six Surefire Ways To Know Whether Someone Is Lying To You

It’s not always easy to determine if someone is telling the truth, or not. These carefully tested clues can help.

You can be reasonably certain a person is lying to you if…

1)    During a 5 minute conversation he says the phrase, “I’m not going to lie to you...” more than 7 times.

2)    She tries to assure you several times saying, “Don’t worry, what you’ve told me is going to stay between you and me.” But she can never complete the phrase because she is laughing too hard.

3)    He says, “During my 40 years in politics…”

4)    For some unexplainable reason his pants actually catch fire while he’s talking.

5)    She says, “If you don’t believe me just ask so-and-so.” But when you say, “Maybe I will double-check that with so-and-so. Do you have her number?” She excuses herself to go to the restroom and then sneaks out the window.

6)    When you say, “Wow, that’s hard to believe.” He gets a surprised expression on his face and points behind you saying, “Oh my goodness. Look!!!” You turn to look but don’t see anything. When you turn back around again, he is gone.

Dan Marler

Oak Lawn, IL

No Answer From A Politician

A couple of hours ago I watched a politician respond to two back-to-back “yes or no” questions with long, rambling, meaningless statements. In fact, about 25 seconds into each comment my eyes began to glaze over and I could no longer tell what the heck she was talking about nor could I remember the question.

The response to each of the inquiries probably went on for close to a minute and yet despite all the talking she never actually answered either of the simple questions.

By the way, this politician is not one of the people running for president in either party. This person was merely giving her opinion about some softball political questions. There was absolutely no reason to hide anything or be evasive. She could have answered either question with yes or no and it would not have been a big deal. They were not “gotcha” questions meant to trap or embarrass her.

In a way this is fairly amusing. In fact, I laughed and yelled at the television when it was happening. But this is also part of the problem.

Most long-time politicians (like this person) have been so overly coached by advisors to be evasive, indirect and obscure when it comes to statements to the press that they have lost the ability to communicate in plain, simple, understandable ways.

It went something like this… Question: Do you like ice cream?

Answer: Well you know, ice cream is something we’ve been thinking about and studying carefully and we’re excited about the possibilities that are evolving in the field of ice cream these days. Of course, ice cream can be eaten in a cone or without a cone but there is no conclusive research available, at this point in time, about either method. Both have a reputation for being quite tasty. I’m out and about listening to the people and we are getting ready to present some findings one of these days. This will be far into the future when people have completely forgotten what this issue is all about, most people on earth have become comatose and frozen yogurt has become the topic of the day. However, we remain firmly committed to the good, ice cream eating people of this country…  blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

[Deep sigh…]

Since people in both political parties do this I do not consider it to be a Republican problem or a Democrat problem. I think it is, to some extent, inherent in politics. It is known and understood that this is how you play the game.

NOTE:  Wow, I just took a moment to re-read this piece before posting it. LOL! We are this early in a long election cycle and the politicians are already getting me irritated. I’m going to need to take some deep breaths, count to ten and relax, huh?

Media Spin And Invented Reality

If people create their own “reality” and then that invented “reality” gets repeated often enough by sources with some perceived credibility, that concept is likely to become accepted by many as factual reality even if there is clear evidence to the contrary or compelling reasons for doubt.

This is well-known by those who manipulate information and it frequently happens in the world of media spin.  This is particularly true in the field of politics but it certainly happens in other fields, as well.

What bothers me is how often I still get fooled by this manipulation even though I’m aware that it occurs.  Those who do this are very effective at it.

Challenge:  Be wise, aware and discerning consumers of information.

I Might Just Vote For The Dad

Our church is a polling place.  (This means I do not have a good excuse for not voting.  I mean,

come on!  The voting booths are only about 60 feet, or so, from the door of my office.)

As I was walking across the parking lot into the building, a few moments ago, several people representing various candidates and political parties swarmed to hand me literature pertaining to today’s local election.

One of the guys who approached me looked sort of menacing—particularly since several key teeth were missing.  But that type of influencer doesn’t seem like an effective form of persuasion when it comes to a voting process in which he will not be able to find out who I vote for.

Another person, a young lady—an older teen, perhaps—handed me a card and said, “Please vote for my dad.”

I took the card from her and looked at the picture of the candidate.  “This is your dad, huh?” I asked.

With a big smile, she said, “Yes!”

I said, “Is he a pretty good man?”

And for a second she had a puzzled look on her face as if she hadn’t been expecting a question like that.  Then she quickly recovered—you have to be fast on your feet in the world of politics—and she said, “Yes he is.”

I teased her and said, “That pause will cost you points later on when he’s running for president.”

She laughed.  Which was nice because sometimes my antics produce uglier reactions and certain types of hand gestures.  But she could see that I was joking.

I’ve read the card and you know what?  I might just vote for her dad.

(He’s got a nice looking set of teeth.)

Getting Tired of Hearing The "Experts"

I was watching a panel of distinguished experts who all wore very nice neckties on an all-news channel and they were talking with confidence and authority about what “could happen” and what “could not happen” regarding some of the current political stories.

As I listened carefully, their discussion became even more earnest and then I noticed that suddenly, their voices began to sound, to me, like the strange honking-type noise that was used when any adults spoke on the old Charlie Brown animated specials.  The “experts” were still speaking normally, but they sounded, to my hearing, like empty, vacuous noise.

“Wah, wah wah, waaah, wah wah waaaaah!”

For a moment I was puzzled about what to do next.  But then it hit me and I flipped through the channels and found a “Road Runner” cartoon.  

I smiled and said, “Ahhh, yes. Indeed!” 

The intellectual brilliance that I encountered there was much more profound.

(And, frankly, there’s great practical value in knowing how to make a giant slingshot that can launch yourself out over a cliff.)

Rachel Tells Me About Sharing

Rachel just told me that when I use my money to buy her a CD that’s what it means for her and I to “share.” I asked, “At what point in our sharing agreement will you use your money?” And she ignored me. Is it possible that she could be a politician someday?

When Faith And Politics Meet

I’m often amused when I hear politicians try to talk about their faith in God and it comes out sounding like someone repeating a poorly memorized answer to an oral quiz.  …But that’s probably just me.  I’m easily amused.

Media Fear Tactics And God

               Click here for video!

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