Voting On Good And Evil

The laws of the land are designed to protect rights, property, and people. That is a tall order.  I am not a lawyer.  I am a layman when it comes to law.  But  I observe, remember, reflect upon, evaluate and report on things that go on around me.  I emphasize the reality that there is a great deal of imperfection all around me.  I am part of that imperfection.   Nevertheless, we try to do what is right, fair and proper.   We believe in freedom.   Who decides what is right and what is wrong?   I guess......everybody.   And everybody makes mistakes.   If I were to say to you: "God makes no mistakes."   You would probably agree with me.  If you asked me if His Word had mistakes, I would say no.  However, many who interpret His word make mistakes.  Sometimes they take bits and pieces of it and interpret it any way they want to interpret it in order to substantiate or justify some doctrine, teaching, position, idea or persuasion that they hold and want to defend.  The big question is what does something said or written really mean?  At the risk of sounding arbitrary, must everything be voted on in order to be deemed fair, just and proper?   Constitutions, by-laws, laws, guidelines, statutes, agreements, principles, charters and doctrines came about to guide people in their decisions regarding all business in society, be it public, private, and/or personal. 
What about the sacred and the secular?   What if laws are passed that are evil?  What if abortion is encouraged rather than discouraged?   What if the majority of a people, using the democratic process, are instrumental in passing a law making it legal for men to marry men and women to marry women?   The democratic process is faulty.  It always has been.  It will continue to be.  Nevertheless, I will defend the process.   So far, it is generally the best process we can find to suit our needs.
However, during the 1850's, the issue of slavery was a big question/dilemma.  The question was asked:  Should it be allowed in the new states?   Stephen Douglas proposed that the new states just vote.   "Let the people decide."   Douglas had a nemesis.  His name was Abraham Lincoln.  This is how he responded to Douglas:

 “God did not place good and evil before man telling him to make his choice. On the contrary, He did tell him there was one tree, of the fruit of which he should not eat, upon pain of certain death….I should scarcely wish so strong a prohibition against slavery in Nebraska.”   Lincoln was a "man of The Word."

My response is this: The will of the people does not necessarily make a decision right, proper, or God's will. "Popular Sovereignty"?   That is what they called it then.  Today, for our purposes, I will call it "Pop Decisions" or "Trendy Decisions."   Voting on good and evil is different than voting on whether to change the voting age from age 21 to age 18.

A Rape In A High School Gym Restroom

It happened recently in a high school in Tampa, Florida.  A gym restroom? It is possibly the most neglected place in the whole school.  What can be done to prevent such things from happening in a public school? The gym restroom needs to be patroled. It needs to be patroled often. I know there is a stigma attached to being around those places. Nevertheless, having the students know that someone might be around can possibly prevent a rape. An additional preventative step is to teach the young (particularly young men) the importance of self-control. A reasonable amount of time in a jail cell can assist a young man in helping him to curb sexual attacks. The only body that a young man owns is his own. He may not control another person's body. He must not.  At least not in "the land of the free." A rapist is a freedom stealer.

Liberty

 "The process of liberation is continuous."  Eric Schaub

The desire for it is natural.   But people, society and governments must continue to make sure that it exists and that it is available.  Liberty is a two-sided coin.  There is a constant force to want to practice it.  At the same time there is a constant force to deny its practice.   Apparently, it must be this way.  The battle to survive in civilization is connected to the battle to allow liberty.  The irony of those two battles is this:  Freedom has allowed a great deal of creativity, thus enhancing civilization.  Freedom has also allowed a variety of actions, including debauchery, decadence and the breakdown of moral parameters.  This allowance is capable of ushering in the end of civilization as we know it.  The battles must continue.  There is no other way.

"Abuse No One And No Thing"

One of the reasons some people abuse others is because they are jealous of them.  Sometimes the abusers are intelligent people.  Sometimes they are bitter because they were never able to achieve anything truly meaningful in spite of their intelligence.  For a long time, I have felt that some intelligent people who abuse others are only harming themselves and denying themselves opportunities to arrive at  success and many beautiful experiences.  Apparently they never learned how to use their intelligence.  They never learned how to appreciate it.  I suspect that they were guided by a "hurt and hurtful" spirit. They "converted" their intelligence into a tool for abusing others.  They traded their intelligence for a cleverness to insult. What a tragedy.  What a travesty.  What a shame.  Such a waste of talent.  Such foolishness and confusion.  I wonder how many people they harmed besides themselves?

Recently, I read a long poem by a well-known Native-American leader.  Just one line inspired me to write what I just wrote.  What he wrote was short, powerful, profound and yet simple.  It definitely rang a bell.

"Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of  its vision."

Tecumseh

Truth Is Serious Business

Truth is serious business.  Sometimes the problem with it is that it must not be told because it could damage the reputation of someone.  It could anger someone.  It could injure someone.  Sometimes it is not our responsibility to share truths that are injurious.  But sometimes it is our responsibility, if it is for the greater good.  Truth is very important.  It is a double edged sword that can cut both ways.  Politicians sometimes play with it.  Husbands and wives seek it.  Close friends sometimes hide it.  Acquaintances sometimes fish for it.  Unfortunately, sometimes truth is slanderous.  Sometimes it is gossip.  If it is gossip, is it true?  If it is gossip, should it be repeated?  No.  If it is going to get out there, do not let it be through you.  Please remember that there are people out there that are scandal mongers.  Sometimes they are called "busybodies."  The irony about them is that the very thing that they need is the truth.   But they are not seeking the truth.  They are seeking "a truth."  They are seeking information to manipulate in order to judge someone.  However, the truth eventually comes out about them.  The truth is good.  "A truth" is not necessarily bad or evil.  But for my purposes, in this discourse, I differentiate between the two.  The truth is fair.  The truth is kind.  It is complete.   A truth is not.  It is incomplete.  It can be misunderstood, therefore people often add the "missing parts."  Yes, I know, sometimes "the truth hurts."  But it also helps.  It breaks down barriers.  It helps in the pursuit of understanding and enlightenment.  The truth is.  It just is.  Elvis Presley once made a quote about the endurance of the truth.  "Truth is like the sun.  You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away."  Truth is precious.  Some say that it is the only thing worth having.  I am convinced that at the root of broken relationships, divorce, ended friendships and the like, was that people were not truthful with each other.  Why?  Because the greatest test, the greatest bond between people is the truth between them.  You might say no..... it is love.  I understand what you mean.  How can I disagree?  I will disagree this way:  Where there is no truth, there is no love.  Truth is the forerunner of love.  Truth is serious business.

Tomorrow I Turn 70

If God permits, tomorrow I will turn 70 years of age.  I feel a sense of relief.  It is a landmark.  It is less than 4 hours away.  I am so grateful to God.  This would not have happened without Him. I am grateful to my wife and children for all the work and preparation to make my 70th birthday party possible.  God bless them all.  The party will be really special.   I am grateful for all my friends and relatives who will be attending.  Thank you all.  There won't be any liquor served at my party.  But there will be a good time to be had.  Jesus will be there.  He is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the best "wine" I have ever had the privilege of drinking.  I have been serving God for 37 years.  I have not had a bad day in 37 years.  Oh, please do not misunderstand.  I have had some unpleasant moments.  I have had some serious challenges.  But a bad day?  No way.  And I do not expect any bad days in the future.  One day, at work, some guy called me "Pollyanna."  It was a perfect opportunity to quote scripture to him.  The Word of God is not just ink and paper.  The Word of God is alive.  It is "Spirit and truth."  The Word of God is God.  "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."   His promises are real.  God cannot lie.  He is holy.  He said to me: (and to all who believe) "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He said much, much more.  As I said before: God cannot lie.  He is holy.  Not only that:  Absolutely nothing is impossible for Him. Jesus is the best. The best to all of you.

I Vote Because I Can (Pt. 2)

I vote because I can.  I voted because I could.  The election is over.  We must move on.   Please read II Chronicles 7:14, it is applicable to us.  Our land, our nation needs healing.  The Word of God is clear.  1 Peter 2:17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-3 are clear about this.  If someone has a better solution, I sure would like to hear it.  The opinions of men are not superior to the eternal Word of God.  I am not talking religion, denominations, or organizations.  I am talking about the importance of the Word of God and the application of it for the ills of society.  The good news..........the Gospel is powerful.  It is powerful enough to transform a nation.  Pray for this nation.  I am not proposing a theocracy.  The Vatican, in Rome is a theocracy.  This is the United States of America.  It is the land of the free.  It is the land of the free because the truth has been preached here.   "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."  (John 8:32)    "If you shall ask anything in my name I will do it."   (John 14:14)  Yes, I vote because I can.  The campaign has ended.  Prayer has not ended.  It is our lifeline. "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17)