Moving On

I am proud to admit that I voted for McCain and Palin when I sent in my absentee ballot. I know, you are all shocked by this revelation!!! Well, get over the shock! =-)

For all of us that consider ourselves at least somewhat conservative there is a lot to think about right now. How will we respond to the election of a man that is so far to left he makes Ted Kennedy look conservative? President-elect Obama is farther to the left than Nancy Pelosi! America wanted change, and apparently it is coming.

I consider myself a bit of centrist, but on the conservative side. I disagree with the GOP on many issues, including education (NCLB anyone) and the environment (I think we need to do more to protect the environment, while at the same time I say "drill baby, drill" & no those 2 are not mutually exclusive). But I also disagree with the idea of "sharing the wealth", gay marriage, and abortion.

I have been told that because I'm a Christian I have no experience with these issues, how can I say that women shouldn't be allowed to get rid of the fetus, in certain circumstances. I can say it, because I know what the Lord says, and that it is more than a fetus, it is a human life. And, yes I know there are some tragic cases. The one that is brought up the most is the issue of rape. What if a woman that gets raped finds herself pregnant, shouldn't abortion be allowed then?

I say NO! And I say this from 1st hand experience. I've been THAT woman, scared, alone (seemingly), raped and pregnant and not knowing what to do. Even then, even as I prayed that God would do something, I never considered going to an abortion clinic. Though I do consider myself pro-choice. Each parent has the choice to raise the child, or to let another family raise the child. That is the true, life honoring choice. It makes me made that the leftists care about the welfare of animals (creatures without a soul) than they do of other humans.

When I hear the term "share the wealth" I immediately think of socialism and Karl Mark. There is no way around it, this is a Marist ideal, and I'm pretty sure (as an astute history scholar) that Marxism is antithetical to capitalism and the ideals of our Founding Fathers.

We all the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but no where in the Constitution does it say that I'm required to give what I have to the collective. That is what sharing the wealth is. It is taking from all, for all, for the collective. I understand that people fall on hard times, and that being without a job is not always the fault of the jobless. There are many instances where people try their darndest to get a job and they just can't secure any employment. That is when churches and other charities should step in, not the government.

With this bail out, the government has been given control of financial institutions, if we give them all this power to control our money, what will they want next? Even more control of our farms. Farmers already get paid for NOT growing certain things, and growing others. I can see a future where we have x number of corn farms, x number of wheat farms, x number of cotton farms, etc. The government telling people what they can and can't grow, and from there, then what? It is a slipper slope we walk, once we give in just a little. Where do you draw the line?

With all this going on, and grim scenarios possible, maybe not probable yet, but possible, what is a conservative Christian to do? How do we respond to the current events that we are living in? There is a simple answer, though putting it into action is anything but simple. We need to pray. PRAY for all the elected officials, from the local school board all the way to the White House and Congress. God is amazing and with HIM all things are possible. It is possible that President-elect Obama will be the greatest president since Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington. It is possible that there will be revival in among our elected officials and among the citizenry. All is possible, but it begins with prayer.

Alongside of prayer comes action. The Bible requires faith and deeds, prayer and action. We need to stay abreast of what our officials are doing, know what votes are coming up, and let them know what you think: call, write, e-mail, go. How can we expect them to make the choice we would, if we don't inform (politely and with love) them what we believe? We also need to get involved! Serve on the PTA, City Council, etc. We can't wait for godly people to do it, we have to BE those godly people that are storming government!

But it all comes down to prayer. Ask God for wisdom, patience, knowledge, and His leading. Seek God's will for how HE wants you to respond, and then OBEY!!!

Dear Lord,
I ask You to please be with President-elect Obama, VP-elect Biden, and the rest of the elected and appointed officials that will be coming to Washington to begin their jobs soon. Give them wisdom to see the whole of what is going on in the world. Open their eyes to the true needs of our country, and guide them to make decisions that will honor You and bring glory to Your name and not their names. Be with our state and local officials as they make decisions that impact us as well.
I also pray that You would infuse within Your kingdom an group of us that will earnestly seek to DO Your will, to speak up and act and do all that is necessary to increase the kingdom. Nothing is more important that all the souls that need to come to know You. Help this Presidential term to be a time of great revival in our land, so that America can actually be the "Christian" nation that people think it is.
Thank You for Your unending love, provision, and guidance. Thank You for your gift of salvation and the knowledge that each of us Christians have, that one day we will be with You in a perfect kingdom.

In the name of Christ and His blood I humbly pray,

-JLK-