40 years of Voting

This year I am experiencing my 40th year of voting. I should say my 40th year of voter eligibility. I did not vote in the first year that I could have. (1972) It was only after I became aChristian in 1975 that I felt the need to cast a ballot. So I have voted in 10 presidential elections all of which were controlled by my desire to vote as Jesus would have voted. While I have found this difficult it is my mandate.

I first began voting in 1976 presidential election as a young and admittedly naive Christian yet desiring to be a voice for Jesus in one of the avenues that God has given American Christians to influence our culture. I have voted in years when it appeared that neither of the candidates were devout Christians. I learned that historically that has very often been the case. From the beginning of our Republic all of our candidates have espoused some form or degree of Christianity but many of them were not what we would consider Evangelical by an means. Thus I had to learn that I had to examine their professed views in light of my desire to vote with my faith as my guide. Most if not all (can't remember some) of the candidates that I have had to choose from professed a faith in Christ yet many of them held to views that contradicted their statements. My job as a Christian voter was to dig through the chatter and clutter of their rhetoric and make a biblical decision that I could stand before God with.

This year I again have the responsibility  to vote Jesus. Some people will vote their party affiliation, others will vote their pocketbooks, others still will engage in the political debate only as a game. Christians are called to a higher calling. We must decide who will lead our country with policy agendas that exalt righteousness. Proverbs 14:34 says: "righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any nation" We thus must vote on that principal. We must consider the policies of the candidates not their professed Christian affiliation. Neither of this years two main candidates espouse a form of Christianity that I could agree with thus I must look deeper. I must determine if their philosophies are those that would incur God's blessings or God's curse. Do they honor what God honors and hate what God hates?

I am very grateful for the privilege that is mine in America to vote for my leaders. In much of the world and throughout history that has not been the norm. I believe that I am biblically responsible for participating under the command of Christ to "give unto Caesar the things which are Caesars". Too many Christians choose not to vote at great cost to our country. I still believe that there are enough Christians in America to drastically change our culture but the sad fact is that we too often allow the culture to change us. Just like so much of our society we don't vote in the numbers that we could and our country suffers.

When this year's election is over I will try to obey the command of scripture and pray for and obey the leaders that God has allowed to be over me but before that I will exercise my biblical responsibility to vote to choose that leader. One hundred years from now the individual that I voted for may not matter but 100 years from now the principals I vote for will. In my 40 years of voting I have tried to vote for Jesus. I challenge you to do the same.

Folk Theology

A few weeks ago I started a series in Sunday School on the subject of "Folk Theology". Folk theology is doctrinal beliefs that are built not on biblical truth but on tradition and or Religious Folk-lore. This theology has been passed down through the ages and many defend it quite vehemently. Such things as the belief in Ghosts, what Jesus looked like, and what the devil looks like are some of the more benign beliefs. Yet Folk theology has an extreme detrimental effect when it comes to important things like how we view God, Salvation and Heaven. In this short blog I challenge you to make sure that what you believe gets its foundation in biblical truth and not in your traditional folk-lore.

Farewell to Bobby Cox

On Monday night the Atlanta Braves lost to the San Fransisco Giants and were eliminated from the Playoffs for 2010. It marked the end of the career of Bobby Cox as their manager. Baseball is a game that not everyone can be a fan of. It is slow and methodical much like a chess match. For some people it is like watching paint dry. I am not one of those people. I love the strategy and the drama of the game. I love the simpleness yet complexity of the game. It is a great game and a humbling game. It could never be considered a fair game. For example a guy might hit the ball as hard as a ball could be hit and yet it is hit on the line to short or to the deepest part of the park and is just an out. Another guy can break his bat and hit a blooper over the shortstops head and win the World Series (ie Arizona 2001). Regardless of how it happens teams fire the manager when the bloops don't go their way. Not in Atlanta. The Braves were Loyal to Bobby Cox and for 25 years he was Loyal to the braves. Tomorrow the braves will announce a new manager who will be blest by the work of Bobby. We fans wish him well and to one of the greatest managers in baseball history, we bid a fond farewell.

Civility

What every happened to civility? It seems to me that today our politicians are yealling louder, and saying less than at an earlier more civil time. If 2 people disagree on 1 small thing then they must of necessity become enemies in totality. One of my favorite quotes was told to me by a mentor of days gone by when he said: "We agreed to disagree without becoming disagreeable". I understand the hunger for power in our political leaders is the cause of much of this ranker but we ought to be asking the question why do so many people not get involved in the Political process? Is it that they just don't care or is it that they reject the world of dog eat dog politics with the only goal being winning the next election. I came across this joke that shares the sentiment of many non-voters.

"A powerful senator died after a prolonged illness. His soul arrived in heaven and was met by St. Peter at the entrance. "Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you." "No problem, just let me in," says the senator."Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity." "Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven." "I'm sorry but we have our rules," replies St. Peter.And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. Nearby are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is in evening attire and very happy to see him. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy and who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that the time flies, before he realizes it, the senator has to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit Heaven." The next 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity." The senator reflects for a minute, then answers, "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell." So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to him and lays his arm on his neck. "I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a beautiful club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now there is only a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!"

Once our nation was filled with "Patriots" who sacrificed their own ambitions for the good of the country. Today they are hard to find. Is there not a way that political campaigns could be run with ideas instead of attacks? Is there any room left for Civility?

Joe Gibbs, "A man above men"

In our day of Self-Exhaltation, it is refreshing to watch the leadership of Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins. According to Rich Tandler: "reports on ESPN.com and elsewhere, Joe Gibbs will hand the play calling duties over to new offensive coordinator Al Saunders next season." In an era of pride and arrogance Joe Gibbs is "a man above men". I believe he is a true Redskin and not just the Coach of the Redskins. In other words he is a Redskin fan and wants to help rebuild this team so that when he retires in a few years (and he will) he can watch the team, pull for them, and enjoy the team that he helped bring back from the depths of mediocrity. He is not doing it for self-exhaltation, money, or some other selfish motivation. He is doing it for the love of the Team. This kind of self-defacing loyality is rare, rare indeed. I hope it becomes a "communicable disease".

Ramblings from a Newbie

Hello my name is Rick, I am very new at blogging but have a lot of Opinions. I am Christian, a Political conservative, an Atlanta Braves fan, and a Washington Redskins fan. So if you want to talk Religion, Politic's, Baseball or Football here is a good place to come and Ramble with me on these subjects. Join me for some "Sprited" debate.