LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION

Rev. Wright's letter to the NYT about Obama

"For two hours, I talked with you about how idealistic he was. For two hours I shared with you what a genuine human being he was. I told you how incredible he was as a man who was an African American in public service..."

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Rev. Wright Must Not Be All Bad...Just Ask Bill Clinton

A picture tells the story of a thousand words.  What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Click here for Ben Smith's Blog - Politico.com

Sidebar:  Guess who came to dinner.

2008 Presidential Candidates and Christmas

I don't like the Moral Majority, the Religious Right or the politics of the so-called Social Conservatives.  I think these organizations and their advocates are sometimes hypocritical and self-serving much in the same manner as the Pharisees and Publicans when they prayed in public places and extolled their virtues as not being as other men. But the attribute that I do like is their willingness to say "Merry Christmas".

We have become too politically correct when we can't say Merry Christmas for fear of offending someone.  The last time I checked, December 25 is listed as Christmas Day, not Happy Holidays Day. Democrats who like to play the field and sometimes be everything to everyone are especially timid when it comes to standing up for Christian traditions.  We are oh so quick to defend every religion on Planet Earth, however it's not cool to be a Christian.

If you say Merry Christmas, you can even come under attack by your political rivals.  Just ask Mike Huckabee.  Mike might be playing politics too, but I do like his willing to say, "Merry Christmas".  For President, I favor either of the Democratic big three, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, in that order.  On the Republican side, it's only Mike Huckabee.  A large reason for that is his religious background.   My hope would be that Huckabee would have the conviction to practice Christian values that would serve to benefit mankind.

Will Democratic candidates allow Christianity to be staked out as being mutually exclusive to the GOP? Will Democrats defense Christian principles and reject the notion that Christianity can be watered down or cherry-picked to justify pet situations? The Bible recognizes sin as being sin without degrees.  We are further called upon to repent of our sins in lieu of succumbing to our sins.  So will Democratic candidates be bold enough to stand up when placed in a situation where the world expects them to waffle on Christian principles?  It remains to be seen.

Sidebar:   During this season as we celebrate the birth of a Savior whose name is Jesus, it's Merry Christmas! 

Religious Conviction and the 2008 Elections

Religion and politics are strange bedfellows.  Mitt Romney is a Mormon.  Mike Huckabee is Southern Baptist.  Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are Protestants.  Everybody is something, but it seems that the most important thing that the candidates want voters to know is that their religious beliefs will not factor into their decision making.

Okay let's rewind.  If we pick and choose when our religious beliefs come into play in order to avoid conflict or offending someone who serves an opposing god, isn't that being a bit hypocritical.  I know that the God of Christians is a jealous God.  And while we may not hold animosity towards another's person-hood, we cannot serve or worship another God.

Now that is not to say that a non-Christian can't make social policy that benefits mankind.  The truth be known, sometimes confessing Christians make policy decisions that don't benefit mankind.  Take for instance the case of abortion.  Abortion is a terrible action.  To me life begins at the point of conception at the instant that the male sperm fertilizes the female egg.  While many Christians adamantly oppose abortion, some of these same Christians are candidates or back candidates that turn a blind eye to the babies that actually are blessed enough to make it into the world. Go figure.

Some Christians fall ridiculously short when it comes to social policy. As a matter of fact, they can be the worst enemies of Christian values. I never understood the Moral Majority that supported and promoted immoral social policy. Doesn't every child deserve to have health care and shouldn't we be concerned with the plight of starving children. And we don't have to leave our shores to find starving children.  They are right here in the United States.

In the end, Christians are left to decide the weight that should be given to the religious beliefs held by their candidate of choice.  I think it's a very important decision.

Sidebar:  Does the concept, separation of church and state really exist, given that ".. as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he". Proverbs 23:7 KJV