instead of fighting

so, i've seen a lot since the election has been over. I've also heard a lot. I've read of leaders- faith leaders in particular- who are really upset over the outcome. Given the publicity, the polls and everything else, i'm not sure how we were expecting much differently, unless we were deluding ourselves.

But i've gone so far as to read people saying that America is now turning away from God. Or that we're going to be outside His blessing now. News flash, folks- America has had a democrat president before. And those of faith are not necessarily republicans only.

that notwithstanding, i thought i'd share something i came across. Rather than bashing the president-elect, or the american people- rather than spewing hate & discord, why can't we come together around something like this:

http://the-moose-pond.blogspot.com/2008/11/prayer-for-president-elect-obama-and.html

division will hurt us even more at this critical time a a country. Instead of lamenting and complaining, let's be people who react positively, even if some are unhappy with the way things have gone. If all we do is complain because the person we wanted didn't win, how does that make us any different from non-believers?

Please take a moment and just read the link i've posted- it was, i thought, a very good sentiment that all can rally around- especially considering it was written by one who voted for the McCain/Palin ticket.

random political thought

I was thinking today about this idea that seems to permeate the thinking of many Christians I come into contact with. That is the idea that we need to get the "right" person into office, or else God will remove His hand from our country. Or remove his blessing. Basically, the idea that voting the "wrong" guy into office is a sign of sort of walking away from God.

as if our country hasn't already done that collectively.

But let me present a thought that occurred to me today. 8 years ago, the most disputed election in history ended with us electing an admittedly, unabashedly Christian man into office. Regardless of feeling I've heard (and personally wondered about) the genuineness of his faith- and ultimately the compromise that i believe being Christian and President of the US would entail, he admits to being a man of faith, and man guided by prayer and a man who trusts in God.

In the last 8 years, however, our country has suffered some of its most horrific experiences. Our own soil, mainland soil, was attacked by terrorists. We have involved ourselves in a war that seems to have no end, nor does there seem to be any way of measuring it. The housing market has dropped out- and it did NOT just start recently- this has been going on for years now. The stock market has dropped, and dropped, and... you get the point. Major banks, insurance firms and other financial institutions would have gone belly-up- and some may still- without government intervention- which, surprisingly made even more people uneasy. The value of our money has dropped- both against European money and against Canadian currency!

Perhaps it's not a matter of voting for the Christian to keep God' hand on America- because how much it seems the opposite in our current circumstances...

just a random thought...

Our Hope

Came across this quote the other day- it's well over 10 years old, and yet... i encourage each to ponder it many times as I have.

"Where is the hope? I meet millions who say they feel demoralized by the decay around us. where is the hope? the hope that each of us has is not in who governs us, or what laws are passed, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that’s where our hope is in this country, that’s where our hope is in life"

- a few Christians I know seem to have forgotten this. And it makes me think some of the Christian leaders out there trying to manipulate the election have forgotten as well. I myself post this because I needed to be reminded.

ps- props to the person who can post via reply to this the origins of this quote.

finding the truth...

I want to look at a popular way of thinking I’ve run into, and it becomes more prevalent during election times. People want to believe what they believe- because it supports what they want to do. They will believe what they believe and not actively search out the truth regarding that subject because what they believe perpetuates their course of action. In the case of politics, it’s so often this case. This time around, I STILL hear that Barrack Obama is a Muslim terrorist who’s an extremist. Why do people believe this? Because they want to vote republican. So, despite the overwhelming lack of support for their belief, they will believe what someone else has told them (as a flat lie, in this case) because it perpetuates their desire to vote Republican.

I read an article last night that quoted a woman as saying that she heard Obama is a Muslim terrorist. She could easily find dozens of places to dispel that rumor, but she WANTS to vote for a republican, and, especially now as the gap widens in the polls, people will cling to what they can to support what they want to do.

Doesn’t this permeate our Christian thinking, too? We want to pursue our course of action- living for ourselves, living in our affluence, going to church on Sunday. So we take the Bible to say that God wants us to be healthy & wealthy- that we are responsible to no one- and that God helps those who help themselves. If only those people who are in need would help themselves, God would help. So many honestly believe these things without doing the small amount of research in the Bible to show this is all false. And they believe it because? It perpetuates the lifestyle we live, alleviates our guilt of selfishness and gives us a warm fuzzy instead.

the TRUE spirit of America

I will be cynical for a moment- i think i'm allowed. two weekend ago, Rachel & I went to New York City. It was a great weekend, and she loves New York a LOT! so it was worth our time and money for me to use that a part of her birthday present this year. We did a lot of walking, went to Central Park, but our main objective and idea of spending our day on saturday was to hit up the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. It was a GREAT time- beautiful day (check out of my flickr photos) and an excellent history lesson. One of the things I love about where I live now is that we are so close to so many cities and places where history comes alive! I've always enjoyed history, but it is so much more enjoyable when you get to experience it firsthand.

I also was quite humbled when we went to Ellis Island. Just learning how much people gave up to try and come here, to listen to some people's stories of how much they worked when they arrived just to feed their family, but saying it is a better life by far than the one they left. One guy who said he came home from a 14 hour evening shift working for the railroad and his kids were having a tutor there to teach English- and they wanted him to stay so he could learn to sign his name. He said he wanted to go to sleep, but he would stay most of the time because he was just so proud to be here, and when he learned to speak and write, he was so proud to be an American. And we have no idea what that feeling is, but it makes me hurt to hear it because we have been so blessed to not have to experience it. and because we have not, i think we may be missing out on the true spirit of our country. The Spirit of feeling blessed or privileged- not entitled- to be here. The feeling of being lucky enough- not supposed to- go to college and get a good job. The feeling of joy and delight- not hum drum, ho-hum- to have a family to love and provide for.

What i saw during the weekend, and what i heard in those stories were two completely different things. What I mean is that i heard the stories of imigrants and it touched my heart. Then my eyes saw what all too often seems to be the true spirit of America- consumerism. People lining up, sometimes pushing, to pay too much for little trinkets- being more obsessed with getting those than with just being there. It made me cynical of the way we are, and a longing for people to embrace the old. I know i'm a pretty sensitive guy to a lot of that stuff, anyway, but after hearing the stories of imigrants, and seeing what they had to go through just to live in a place where they were free, the last thing i wanted to do was go buy lots of stuff with my excess of money.

Independence Day (weekend)

a restful, relaxing weekend around the Walsh household (minus going to the church and working some more- unplanned as it was). But I wanted to share a little from my head this weekend. I've always been rather patriotic- comes from where I grew up, probably, as well as being a Boy Scout. And I don't see any conflict in my religion with patriotism- being thankful for the country I live in, thankful for my freedoms, proud of the good things (mixed with ashamed of some of our less than proud moments, too). Nationalism- feeling my country is better than others- I do see as a conflict, but not patriotism. With that in mind, I'd like to share a couple tidbits out of American ideologies these days:

"Celebrate the birth of your country by blowing up a small piece of it."

we went to see fireworks with some of Rachel's family.

and they were quite nice.

Fireworks are generally one of the most patriotic symbols of our country, especially around the 4th of July.


And just like most of the other stuff we buy these days in America, about 95% of all fireworks purchased in America- are made in China (along with 92% of the American flags that are purchased by consumers).

Must be what makes us so great as a country. Happy birthday, America.

Reading the news early in the AM

THIS article made me laugh a bit and nod in agreement. wanted to share it. enjoy.