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General elections are always interesting, especially when a Presidential election is included. As everyone knows the choice this year is historical because, for the first time in American politics, either a black/Arab-descent man will be President or a white woman will be Vice-President. Although historical, I cannot vote for someone simply because it is historical.

The Democrats are fronting Junior Illinois Senator Barack Hussein Obama as their Presidential pick and veteran Delaware Senator Joe Biden as the Vice-President pick. Republicans are putting up veteran Arizona Senator John McCain as their Presidential pick and new to politics Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. Candidate Obama’s mantra has been change and no more of the same. McCain is billed as a maverick who will change Washington. None of these, relatively meaningless to me, labels encourage me to vote for a candidate or not vote for a candidate. I disagree with Senator McCain on several items, but my primary reason for choosing John McCain is my overall disagreement with Obama on most, if not all issues. For example:

I disagree with Obama’s views on abortion including his opposition to ‘Born Alive’ legislation and his support of abortion which would include the horrendous procedure known as partial birth abortion.

I disagree with Obama’s support of homosexuals and the idea of homosexual marriage or civil unions.

I disagree with Obama’s stance (read opposition to) on the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

I disagree with Obama’s views on wealth redistribution as this is socialism at best and communism at worst. In other words I am not “patriotic” as his running mate, Biden, suggests and I oppose their plan to raise taxes. Raising taxes on one segment of society for the benefit of the rest affects all of society. If people, including Obama and Biden, wish to pay more taxes, they are free to do so.

I disagree with Obama’s opposition to the U.S.A. utilizing its own natural resources (off-shore drilling, ANWAR, etc.).

I disagree with Obama’s foreign policy position which would have the U.S.A. not facing and fighting those who would destroy us (Islamic fascists).

I disagree with Obama’s Universalist position on salvation. He does NOT believe that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.

I do not really agree with the Junior Senator, Obama, from Illinois on anything of substance. I do agree with the earlier statements of his running mate and others in their party when they said that Obama was NOT ready to be President of the U.S.A.

As a Christian, the primary determining factor for choosing a candidate should NOT be my wallet, my comfort, my leisure, or my job. The primary determining factor for choosing a candidate should be how that candidate squares with God’s word. In my opinion, the Obama/Biden ticket is diametrically opposed to God’s word. How can a Christian vote for someone so opposed to God’s word? This Christian can’t.

Jesse

Christian Life, Politics

Just couldn’t help posting this picture of Julian, it’s my favorite so far.

Family, Missions

Ever wonder why the doctor always looks in your eyes, ears, nose, and throat every time you have an appointment?  You can see the doctor for a painful ingrown toenail and what does the doctor do before he or she ever looks at your foot? Looks in your eyes, ears, nose, and throat. The doc will feel your neck, listen to you breath, and thump your chest and back.  Hey doc, I’m here about my foot!

The doctor is looking for signs; signs of other ailments and diseases that often manifest themselves by signs. The color of your skin, lumps, and strange sounds in your chest may point to a serious problem - possibly life threatening.

Pastors should also look for signs in people, signs that may indicate that a person is not just dying, but already dead in his/her sins and trespasses. Some may think of this as being judgmental, but it isn’t. As pastors we have many jobs, some of which include caring for the spiritual health of the people in our churches and sharing the gospel with the lost.

If a tree is known by its fruit, do you call a tree bearing thorns an apple tree? If a person does not like to hear the gospel, avoids worship and other Christians, and generally lives a life of absolute disobedience to God’s word, do you call that person a Christian? If that person claims to be a Christian, do shrug our spiritual shoulders and ignore them?

As a pastor I often meet with family members for various reasons. Depending upon the situation, there are varied amounts and types of “spiritual” lingo thrown about by family members. This is done either to impress the preacher or to further some other agenda.

What should a Pastor think when someone claiming to be a Christian does NOT want to hear any discussion about salvation or being saved? What should a Pastor conclude when a person claiming to be a Christian is more than willing to talk about ills, pills, and high bills, but is adamant that Christian salvation is off-topic?  Perhaps this is spiritual rabies where the person has an extreme aversion to the Water of Life. Physical rabies is incurable once the signs have begun. I wonder what the prognosis is for a person who has spiritual rabies?

Ministry