November 13, 2008

• A Lot on My Mind…

   

   

  Greetings friends. I know that I have been out of sight for a while, and I have been very quiet about all the political mess that’s been going on, but no more.

  Today, I’m gonna say what’s been on my mind for a while now. Let’s start with the elections and the reactions.

  First of all, after the votes came in, and it was official that Barack had won, the reaction of republicans has been disgusting to say the least. Let me just say that I am neither republican nor democrat. I changed my status this year; something I’ve been meaning to do for a while, because my father signed me up as democrat when I first signed up to vote.

  However, I have long been in the middle on things; my vote depending on the qualities I see in the candidates in question, which is why I changed my status to independant.

  So in watching this whole scenario play out, I found several things quite interesting. Long before the final vote, while the campaign trails were heating up, the “church” was busy attempting to “influence” the vote.

  The first example I saw of this came from an alleged pastor from a church called Morning Star. I happened to be at a meeting per an invitation from a former friend, and this pastor allegedly prophesied that Romney was God’s choice to lead the nation, and that if he was elected, we’d experience 7 years of peace. This “pastor” did not try to “influence” us; he outright told us this in his “alleged” message. Btw, he was supposed to be a prophet…but I personally cannot attest to his being one of God’s.

  The next thing I witnessed was more attempts by the “church” including my church, to influence the vote. I notice that when elections are coming up, suddenly all the “revelations” teachings and end times teachings come out of the closet, and we are told how close we are to the time of the second coming. It’s a fear tactic, and it bothers me that ministers don’t just trust God and let it be.

  So in my church, the Wednesday service after the elections, everyone was strangely quiet. After all the subtle and not so subtle solicitations going on during services for months, which has caused a rift in the congregation and upset and disgusted many people; suddenly all that is said is, “Well, God is still in control.”

  Well excuse me, but He was in control all along!!! He was in control long before any comments and sermons and other attempts to influence the vote were done! He was in control long before Barack or McCain were confirmed! He was in control long before all the debates, and the alleged tightening of the race! What on earth made any of these churches and pastors think that God wasn’t in control all along!

  See this is the consolation card they pull out when they don’t get their way, and the guy they want or the referendum they seek does not pass. Suddenly, when they can no longer influence opinion, then “God is in control.” Well, give God a little credit why don’t you! Thanks for acknowledging His supreme authority!

  What irks me even more is the disgraceful display by both the party and the people who claim this party represents God. I sat back for months watching and waiting, because I was undecided, and I didn’t know enough about either candidate. I don’t vote just because a church or pastor claims that one person represents God more than another. No. I look at both people and watch their character, because usually, we haven’t much else to go on.

  In the case of this race, we had more to go on because only one candidate actually told us his plans, while the other simply postulated about how he could “do it,” and that he was the more skilled candidate; but never once until almost the end, did he lay out any solid plan. At the end, he simply threw in some ideas trying to appear on top of things.

  Worse still though, was the manner in which the alleged “representative of God” candidate ran his campaign. The smear tactics and the dirt digging and slinging was the same ole crap we’ve seen every election, but it’s ok as long as it’s the guy representing God, right?

  It’s apparently ok to get into office by hook or by crook…to do whatever it takes, as long as the one who’s alleged to represent God is the one who gets in. Well, I’m sorry, but I take issue with that. Bad behavior is bad behavior, and does not represent God.

  Mike Huckabee is the only person I saw running that actually seemed to represent God in how he conducted his primary campaign, because from what I saw it was clean. Even his appearances on the late night shows were above reproach.

  Now, since Obama won, republicans are angry?!?! What the hay? Apparently, you didn’t trust God, and still don’t trust the outcome now. People are, once again, in the name of God, taking violent actions and making threats. This is not what God is about people. It’s just ridiculous the things we are hearing on the news about racial attacks as a result of this election.

  People like Elizabeth on the View, who I generally am ok with, wouldn’t let anyone get a word in edgewise if they disagreed with McCain as the choice for president. Her arguments…trying to out-talk everyone was pretty disgraceful imo, and she only succeeded in making people angry.

  If the republicans really are the party that represents the church, they need to tell these people to sit down and shut up. Take a chill pill, because none of this behavior makes you or God look good. It is not a reflection of Him. Actually, the Republican Party shouldn’t have to tell the people to stop this affront. Besides, the republicans are too busy playing the pity party card. The church should step up. There is nothing God-like about this sort of behavior or reaction, and it should be addressed.

  On a slightly different track, for those who don’t know it, the name Barack does appear in scripture in the book of judges. I want to do a study on it when I have time, as I know the general story in that section.

  That section is, in part, about someone I previously mentioned in a different post, in which I talked about women. However, in this section, a woman led the call or charge and this man, Barack became victorious and defeated the enemies. There was also a song of praise which mentions that Barack would arise.

  It’s an interesting parallel, I think, to what the democrats did with this election. Certainly, Hillary lead the charge, rallying the party to get prepared, and get people registered, but she didn’t win the battle.

  I also find it interesting that the number 40 has resurfaced in this scenario. Being the number of the Spirit (and I know some of you may not agree, but check the link, as I came to this conclusion through study), it’s interesting that Barack is the 44^th president, coming into power 40 years after Martin Luther King’s dream. A lot of 4’s there. There’s more, but I just can’t remember them all at the moment. I’m just noting some things that I’ve noticed.

  Also, I happened to be working for the supervisor of elections when all this was transpiring, and the vote was in progress. Basically, there was a serious party in there, and some people cried, thanking God for not forgetting them.

  I personally teared up when I saw that 102 year old woman, who had lived through slavery, in a wheelchair casting her vote for Obama. Just that fact that she lived to see a day such as this was enough for me.

  Remember, God is the God of us all, including those of us forgotten or disregarded by society (the rich and powerful). For anyone who calls themselves a believer not to understand that…is not to know the God you claim to serve.

  This is why I say to republicans, be more gracious. Show some dignity in defeat, and recognize that you cannot expect to always have your way. If God is truly in control in your eyes, you should not be angry and you should not have any bad feelings. This is not about your expectations, but about your faith. Peace.

  • 1:57 pm
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