“Let good men and women who fear You, God, move into leadership roles.”
–T.K. Chapin, author
Even if you’re among the many who’ve opted for a happier life by giving up watching the news, you know the 2024 presidential race is now in full swing. Iowa caucused last week and New Hampshire is holding its primary today.
All evidence would suggest it’s looking like Biden/Trump 2.0, even though polls show over 70 percent of Americans don’t want either of them as candidates. One will likely run his campaign from the basement of a famous abode in D.C., while the other will frequently be parked in courtrooms up and down the East Coast.
All of this begs the oft-quoted question, “In a country of over 330 million people, are these two the best we can do?” For me, the answer is a resounding “NO,” but the two-party system is geared to control who the nominees will be. Yes, we can and should vote in our states’ primary elections, but it’s very hard for the underdogs to gain much traction.
I won’t get into my take on the shortcomings of Messrs. Biden and Trump. Their actions and rhetoric speak for themselves–at least when they do speak. One isn’t even participating in some primaries and the other has refused to debate his challengers. I suspect both fear being called to the carpet for their job performances and behavior.
One won on the promise of what could be, and the other ran on the promise of returning to the way things once were. Neither delivered.
The word grace is defined as getting what you haven’t earned and don’t deserve–an admirable quality we should all strive to grant one another. But it doesn’t apply when you’re considering who should be the leader of the free world. Even good men like Presidents Carter and George H.W. Bush weren’t allowed the grace of a second term.
So why do these two politicians seem destined–perhaps entitled–to be our candidates for the presidency? The answer is the two behemoths in the United States “room”–the Republican and Democratic National Committees.
Both committees manipulate primaries, dole out money to favored candidates, do everything possible to keep non-RNC and non-DNC candidates off ballots, and influence voters with advertising, much of which is nasty and misleading. Yet, they are too powerful for the will of the people to overcome.
They are, by all appearances, in control. So, why shouldn’t we panic? For the simple but profound reason that it’s actually God who’s in control.
Many Americans–perhaps the majority–feel our move away from the concept of a nation founded on the notion of God’s providence is exactly what’s wrong with our country today. And when we turn to a secular version of our country, it naturally follows that those in office and those who usher them into office become absorbed with self-importance, ego, and power, often forgoing the greater good of the nation.
This is not to say that the church and state should not be separated. That is a notion that then-candidate John F. Kennedy addressed when voters questioned his allegiance to the country versus his Catholicism. His answer was simple: he would govern by what was best for the state and would conduct his personal life according to the dictates of his faith.
Notwithstanding that separation, and without judging the faith of our last and current presidents, wouldn’t it be nice to know that our president’s moral fiber was knotted and strengthened by his or her faith in God? That he or she would make decisions based on what’s best for our people, but those decisions would be predicated on an inner compass that pointed not to one’s self-interest, but to a divine being?
Regardless of the winner of this November’s election, I believe most Americans will get up the next morning, perhaps look down and shake their head at the outcome, and then go about their lives just as they would have had the election gone in the other direction. Despite the demagoguery about “threats to democracy” or “careening down the slippery slope toward socialism,” we know the country is strong enough to continue functioning as the democratic republic we value so highly–President Reagan’s vision of “that shining city on a hill.”
May God will it to be so.
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“Let good men and women who fear You, God, move into leadership roles.”
–T.K. Chapin, author
Even if you’re among the many who’ve opted for a happier life by giving up watching the news, you know the 2024 presidential race is now in full swing. Iowa caucused last week and New Hampshire is holding its primary today.
All evidence would suggest it’s looking like Biden/Trump 2.0, even though polls show over 70 percent of Americans don’t want either of them as candidates. One will likely run his campaign from the basement of a famous abode in D.C., while the other will frequently be parked in courtrooms up and down the East Coast.
All of this begs the oft-quoted question, “In a country of over 330 million people, are these two the best we can do?” For me, the answer is a resounding “NO,” but the two-party system is geared to control who the nominees will be. Yes, we can and should vote in our states’ primary elections, but it’s very hard for the underdogs to gain much traction.
I won’t get into my take on the shortcomings of Messrs. Biden and Trump. Their actions and rhetoric speak for themselves–at least when they do speak. One isn’t even participating in some primaries and the other has refused to debate his challengers. I suspect both fear being called to the carpet for their job performances and behavior.
One won on the promise of what could be, and the other ran on the promise of returning to the way things once were. Neither delivered.
The word grace is defined as getting what you haven’t earned and don’t deserve–an admirable quality we should all strive to grant one another. But it doesn’t apply when you’re considering who should be the leader of the free world. Even good men like Presidents Carter and George H.W. Bush weren’t allowed the grace of a second term.
So why do these two politicians seem destined–perhaps entitled–to be our candidates for the presidency? The answer is the two behemoths in the United States “room”–the Republican and Democratic National Committees.
Both committees manipulate primaries, dole out money to favored candidates, do everything possible to keep non-RNC and non-DNC candidates off ballots, and influence voters with advertising, much of which is nasty and misleading. Yet, they are too powerful for the will of the people to overcome.
They are, by all appearances, in control. So, why shouldn’t we panic? For the simple but profound reason that it’s actually God who’s in control.
Many Americans–perhaps the majority–feel our move away from the concept of a nation founded on the notion of God’s providence is exactly what’s wrong with our country today. And when we turn to a secular version of our country, it naturally follows that those in office and those who usher them into office become absorbed with self-importance, ego, and power, often forgoing the greater good of the nation.
This is not to say that the church and state should not be separated. That is a notion that then-candidate John F. Kennedy addressed when voters questioned his allegiance to the country versus his Catholicism. His answer was simple: he would govern by what was best for the state and would conduct his personal life according to the dictates of his faith.
Notwithstanding that separation, and without judging the faith of our last and current presidents, wouldn’t it be nice to know that our president’s moral fiber was knotted and strengthened by his or her faith in God? That he or she would make decisions based on what’s best for our people, but those decisions would be predicated on an inner compass that pointed not to one’s self-interest, but to a divine being?
Regardless of the winner of this November’s election, I believe most Americans will get up the next morning, perhaps look down and shake their head at the outcome, and then go about their lives just as they would have had the election gone in the other direction. Despite the demagoguery about “threats to democracy” or “careening down the slippery slope toward socialism,” we know the country is strong enough to continue functioning as the democratic republic we value so highly–President Reagan’s vision of “that shining city on a hill.”
May God will it to be so.
16 Comments
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Thanks Tim well said. It’s always good to hear common sense and reason among the chaos. I try to remember in Jesus’s day the challenges of his political climate. “Render unto Ceasar the things that are his, and to God, the things that are God’s.”
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Thanks for your thoughts. I couldn’t help but think about Jimmy Carter who is a good man. However, he “gave away” the highly strategic Panama Canal that our tax dollars paid for, and many of our citizens gave their lives to build. Now it’s controlled by the Chinese and we do not yet know the extent of the damage that may lead to for our country. While I voted for both Bush’s, I came to regret it due to their stance on war and immigration. We need strong leadership willing to drain the entire swamp, so we do not replicate the mistakes of the past. Vote Trump. Like King David in the Old Testament, he is an imperfect man, called by God for His purposes.
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Time reveals truth. Count me among the 70% who think both these two old codgers should retire. A good third party candidate is a possibility or the second coming…
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A dear friend, who is in heaven now, once said she wished Jesus would come on back and clean up this mess! Sounds like a good idea. But until then, “the Lord is our shepherd.” Thank you, Tim. Good thoughts, as always.
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I immediately think of a passage I underlined in David Copperfield just last night: ‘”Satan finds some mischief still, for busy hands to do.” The busy people achieve their full share of mischief in the world, you may rely upon it. What have the people been about, who have been the busiest in getting money, and in getting power, this century or two? No mischief?’ Seems just as true now as in 1850.
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You have helped keep this “mess” in perspective, however I may disagree with your final sentence. I’m unsure if the democratic republic is safe from the threats I perceive.
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Well said, Tim. While I worry for our country, I do always come back to the fact God is, indeed, in charge and is at work in this mess. I’m ok with that.
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Great message, Tim! Being in the thick of this political uproar of voting in our upcoming leadership, it’s impossible for us to see the whole “big picture” right now. I am so thankful that God is in control! I’m praying daily for God to protect our country through this crazy journey, and that our democracy will survive it all!
Peace and blessings to all!
Thanks Tim well said. It’s always good to hear common sense and reason among the chaos. I try to remember in Jesus’s day the challenges of his political climate. “Render unto Ceasar the things that are his, and to God, the things that are God’s.”
Randy, I actually almost used that scripture in the post. Glad you mentioned it! Thanks.
Thanks for your thoughts. I couldn’t help but think about Jimmy Carter who is a good man. However, he “gave away” the highly strategic Panama Canal that our tax dollars paid for, and many of our citizens gave their lives to build. Now it’s controlled by the Chinese and we do not yet know the extent of the damage that may lead to for our country. While I voted for both Bush’s, I came to regret it due to their stance on war and immigration. We need strong leadership willing to drain the entire swamp, so we do not replicate the mistakes of the past. Vote Trump. Like King David in the Old Testament, he is an imperfect man, called by God for His purposes.
You’re right, Rock. We’ve always had flawed men who have led our country, as all humans are flawed. Hopefully, the next president will recognize his or her personal limitations rather than think one person or one party has all the answers.
Time reveals truth. Count me among the 70% who think both these two old codgers should retire. A good third party candidate is a possibility or the second coming…
Right. I didn’t get into alternative options, like No Labels, other than to say in essence they’re swimming upstream against the two main parties.
A dear friend, who is in heaven now, once said she wished Jesus would come on back and clean up this mess! Sounds like a good idea. But until then, “the Lord is our shepherd.” Thank you, Tim. Good thoughts, as always.
Some day, Jan, but we know not when, right?
I immediately think of a passage I underlined in David Copperfield just last night: ‘”Satan finds some mischief still, for busy hands to do.” The busy people achieve their full share of mischief in the world, you may rely upon it. What have the people been about, who have been the busiest in getting money, and in getting power, this century or two? No mischief?’ Seems just as true now as in 1850.
You’re right, Stephanie … and I love the literary reference!
You have helped keep this “mess” in perspective, however I may disagree with your final sentence. I’m unsure if the democratic republic is safe from the threats I perceive.
Isn’t that sad, John? Once, we would have never thought our republic was at risk, but no longer.
Well said, Tim. While I worry for our country, I do always come back to the fact God is, indeed, in charge and is at work in this mess. I’m ok with that.
Agreed!
Great message, Tim! Being in the thick of this political uproar of voting in our upcoming leadership, it’s impossible for us to see the whole “big picture” right now. I am so thankful that God is in control! I’m praying daily for God to protect our country through this crazy journey, and that our democracy will survive it all!
Peace and blessings to all!
That needs to be everyone’s prayer!