An Honest Question:

This whole election thing has been wearisome. it's crazy! It seems that so many have become divided in these "united" states. I am amazed, bewildered, baffled at the anger that so many have towards me, my wife, and others who are voting for Obama, and think that a " :) " somehow makes it okay to say hateful things. I am amazed at the profound inability to listen that so many have. I received an email, with attempts at nobility and sincerity, where Obama wouldn't be voted for by a "black" christian just because they were black. Rather, they would vote Christian. Which is great- but the problem is that this reader assumes that this is a"black and white" (no pun intended) clarity. The blogger/ writer continued to suggest that b/c they didn't know Barack they can only go on his voting record. WOW! so Barack is summed up in how he votes? He is only what he votes? Is that partially (if not wholly) what is meant? I know that it is being suggested that this is the only thing to judge by for a vote, but when people use this article to suggest others are wrong b/c o someones opinion of how this boils down= well that is really incomplete information. If we judge people we don't know on their voting record what might we conclude (possibly unfairly, but it employs the exact same logic)- if you vote against "Gay Marriage" then you must hate Homosexuals (which, I believe is probably true for many , not all, who vote that way, but that's besides the point)! If you vote for McCain b/c of his commitment to the Iraqi war, should we conclude you hate Iraqi people and children?? (I am not suggesting that, however, it has been said of me that I don't support troops b/c of my vote for Obama, which seems to be the same judgment others' don't want imposed on them. Perhaps they have not read MT 7:1-5?. And this judgment of others on me and those who vote similarly is insane, since Obama is ALL for the War front in Afghanistan....So Obama is not against the troops, he for the troops, He just isn't for the war in Iraq-which is that so hard to understand when our VP financially gains from it, and that isn't really up for debate is it?? that's not "Anti Christ" propaganda, it's factual knowledge). If we judge some one's character by their vote, are we to conclude that those who vote for McCain are Oligarch's, and believe the rich should rule? Are we to conclude that those who profess Christ and vote republican hate the poor? Which doesn't seem a stretch with the ridiculous amounts of comments I have seen on how "the poor shouldn't get a vote, since they will just vote for Obama" (so the poor shouldn't get a vote now?? who's dis'n freedom now?) (this was said by someone who works with the poor, feels enough for the poor to help them a little, not give them a voice0 Another, pastor, said "the poor shouldn't get food stamps, b/c most of them are lazy, and he works hard for his money. They should get bread and water". Is this really in the Spirit of Christ? Is this what Paul meant when he said "don't work, don't eat". Should we assume all poor, most poor, are lazy? should we simply, bitterly and angrily (b/c they are "stealing" our money through taxes, although last I checked the poor don't tax anyone, governments do, including the Admn of the past 8 years) throw them a piece of bread and bid a "Bonn appetite'? and toss them a hose and say...;You have 30 seconds to drink up, enjoy! If we judge people on their voting record, we are voting on incomplete information at best. And that's not even considering that we don't even know all the details surrounding each vote. It just seems godlessly unfair to be so self=righteous and self-impressed with voting a certain way as if it is "The Way" of Christ. What should be is that we have Christians vote all over the spectrum, because no political party has it all right, or even mostly right. We need Christians voting republican b/c of the abortion issue, we need Christians voting democrat b/c we should care for the poor and the teenage potential mothers, and to preserve our planet, and to care for the sanctity of life after birth around the globe (which if you were keeping score, it does seem clear where we should vote, but let's not go there:) WINK WINK SMILEY face!) In the end, I am tired of the arguing, the self-righteous emails and "didn't know if you knew" etc etc. it's old. I blog so that I don't hate. I have to get it out so I don't b/c bitter. I have to let people know= ENOUGH! I AMEN my Amazing wife, Amazing b/c what she has grown to in the past 15 years as we journey together with and towards Christ to enjoy him. My Honest question is= Are we all being fair? Another Honest Question: When/If the Apocalypse doesn't come in the next 4-8 years, and America doesn't look like what so many have projected, will those Oppose rs admit they may have slightly overreacted? (I will if you are right, but it won't matter b/c we'll all be in jail :) Smiley Face, happy face, nice voice when I say that) Will you really pray for Obama? Or will you pray your agenda? Will you pray for the removal of Obama. Will I pray for McCain? Probably as much as I pray for Bush, which is he gets a few mentions once or twice a week. But I pray for our country all the time. This is it, as far as you know, until someone else sends me another article on Obama, which at this point, is anything new actually being said? peace,

Humbly Hoping to draw Closer to God

It has been a tumultuous year with the election. So I want to start this by saying the following: I aspire to "be an afflux of authentic life". Afflux is kin to Affluent, it has to do w/ flowing. It's also a medical term, that has to do with blood flowing from the heart, throughout the body, back to the heart. This is the vision for my life and for our church/community. we/i want to flow, like a river of life (John 4;14, 7:38), the life of Christ through my life to others back to Christ for His Glory and our Joy! I am far from perfect. And sometimes I do and say things that are harsh, mean, insensitive, inconsiderate (and much more). I have no recourse but to seek forgiveness and communal restoration. And sometimes, I say or do things that are something from that list, but they are taken that way, and I have to take the same steps of restoration, apologize and seek peace. That's what this blog is about. It's about making amends for things I have said that have been hurtful b/c they are hurtful words. It's about making amends for things I have said that have been read inaccurately and taken in ways they weren't meant (if we are all honest then we'd see we are all guilty of both). I can truly say that for the most part (i say most part b/c I don't want to be arrogant in saying I know my own heart when scripture tells me I can't...Jer 17:9), but I leave room for my own miscalculations, I have not tried to offend, hurt, exclude anyone from enjoying fellowship with me or anyone else. i was/am wrong for all that I have done in this regard. i plead for forgiveness for this without any equivocations with regard to any harm/hurt and inconsideration done to me. However, I do wish to share some of my journey: A year and half ago I watched a younger black man on t.v speak very eloquently about the state of our country. they things he said resonated within me. He spoke about the disparity between the rich and poor. This is, to me, a clear biblical issue. God mentions the poor over 200 by name, and at least another 50 plus references not by name. Jesus came to preach to the poor (Luke 4:18) and announced that the kingdom of heaven was profoundly for the poor (Luke 6:20). i honestly believed (*and still do) that this is something all Christ Followers are deeply concerned about. I never dreamed this could be a dividing issue between Christians. Never! this young black man spoke about America's degenerating reputation around the world. This is a concern for me b/c I am an American, have served our country in armed forces, gone on mission trips not just as a Christians, but an American Christian believe God had blessed us richly for a purpose. the Young Black man spoke about the increasing division in our country over several issues while Political Parties are doing little to work together. he continued with great articulation about several groups within our country who are being oppressed. These thing resonated with me, like they do with all of us who name the name of Jesus Christ. we mourn for the oppressed, we love the poor (at least we should), we believe in equality. this man, Barack Obama spoke so eloquently I was moved, in tears. I knew very little about him. over the next several months I read anything and everything I could about this man. My wife had a large jump on me by a few months. i struggled with so many things about this man's positions on things that just seemed inconsistent with clear biblical values, but on the other hand he was so profoundly for other things that also are clear biblical values. I wrestled with how do I weigh these things? he's for the right of a woman to choose an abortion: although I am more understanding and careful to listen to this now, I still cannot say that I ever believe (except for where the mother's life is in danger) abortion is the best decision. i believe heaven on earth comes in unexpected ways (like Jesus). Abortion is never the 'best' choice, but even those words seem sound profoundly black and white, and I never want to assume I know a person's story and be able to pronounce such final judgment on them, especially an not yet Follower of Christ (1 Cor 5). on the other hand, He's for helping those who feel trapped and abortion is the only way out is abortion by helping them taste a more financially stable life. He's for teaching sex ed which would diminish the number of unwanted pregnancies. Although this is never the goal, to simply diminish, I am not so clouded as to not take what good we can get. let me say it another way, if a hostage held millions of people hostage with certain death looming, I would not be against the release of some/many b/c i valued all the lives of the hostages. I would rejoice in the release of those who were released, while continue to mourn and fight for the freedom of the rest. This is my logic, and I ask no one else to hold it. For me it was many many things along this same line of thinking that got me to the point where voting for Obama seemed not only acceptable by Faith, it seemed good to me. Samantha and I came to this decision separately. we both, in the typical American sports fashion, decided to show support for our candidate by having some Obama stuff on our Facebook page. Now I want to say this, when it came to issues I was for Ron Paul, but I didn't believe he was electable and I didn't think he'd work to unite (for the record, I don't think voting record tells the whole story, and I don't think that voting with your party says you are not able to work with the others you are called to work with. beyond politics, Obama has shown, in my opinion, to work well in uniting various groups of people) others. We resolved not to say a lot about it, but we did want to post some things in support. first, we never thought this would be divisive. honestly. WE just never believed that people would read into that and accuse us/me of not being a Christian, of hating soldiers, of hating babies (i have 5:)0 of being socialist etc etc. never dreamed anything of the sort. We were resolved to just post this one sign on our facebook pages and that's it. Samantha put a sticker on the van, that she drives, but I purposely chose to not put it on my car so as not to cause controversy (once I realized this was such a sore issue). when Dobson said He wouldn't endorse McCain (that is til his recent letter of a 2012 American which seems to be a McCain endorsement via a anti=endorsement of Obama) and Alan Keyes (whom I like even though I don't agree with lots of his takes on things) said McCain wasn't pro=life. I thought that Christians would be divided on this election. and as I read about the election, the Christ followers I read and network with, well most of them were voting for Obama. I knew My mom wouldn't that's b/c she would never vote for a democrat. but i expected that. over time the emails started to flow in. An email from someone saying= Here's some info on Obama, so you would know. though that was a little offensive to us to presume we weren't informed, what really bothered us is that it was debunked info by every remotely reliable fact agency. it seemed ludicrous that someone would sincerely send us info citing that Obama very well might be the anti Christ and that he swore in on the Koran even though it was publicly noted he was swore in by the same bible as anyone else. after several of these emails from very sincere but seemingly naive (i am not being mean here, i am saying that it is ridiculous to forward emails about the Koran and the Anti Christ. That's just not fair nor intellectually justifiable and is not only an abuse of scripture, but a profound misunderstanding of scripture) as well as uninformed. the emails continued to flood and we were growing weary. We tried to be sweet and peaceable, but the measure was too much and we started to respond with informing our protesters (many of whom are family) that not only are we informed, but their information is incredibly inaccurate. even when I talk with my dad who could not be more against Obama, he would laugh at the fatality and naivety of these attempts to sound "christian" when they were anything but. we felt we were being patient, but people, family would get highly offended. Now, from where we sit, we were being questioned, as to our ability to make our own decisions (which is ironic since we are so far removed from much of what we were taught from either of our parents, and we have been considerably independent for most of our adult lives) our faith, and love for America. and when we defended ourselves, we were told we were unkind and hurtful. It seems that despite the constant declaration that we are free to have our views, it seems it is precisely our views that have caused loved one's to sever ties and communications w/ us. i have been told I am not a Christian, or that i have abandoned the faith (as well as many of our friends who are with us, they have been attacked) and yet when we answer we are told we are angry. I recently wrote a blog in response to the continued attacks. i realize people can choose to read it how they want, but I am the author, and the heart of my blog (yes it was peppered with back lashes against self-righteous Christians, of whom I often am) was HOPE not FEAR. It was i am HOPEFUL to vote for a candidate, and that those of us who are being attacked, we refuse to give into the fear. none of this was meant to personally attack someone they way people have personally attacked me, often anonymously. It was not meant to be that type of hatred at all. it was meant to voice my Hope in spite of the frustration of have some attack and leave me. it was on my personal blog. i choose to exercise this freedom before I lose it according to those who want to preach fear.:0 these thoughts were meant to encourage the handful of friends that read this, who feel the same way. I have yet to go to one person's blog or page and argue with them about their choosing McCain. And trust me, all that his supporters feel about Obama, i feel about him. I think our country is vulnerable to much if he is elected. but I don't want to criticize other's political choice. but I have criticized how many have been critical and yet hypocritical. you can probe the net but you will not find me commenting negatively or debating w/ anyone on their blog or page. so, whatever anger someone perceives me to have, it comes from months of attacks. That's no excuse for my poor testimony in any of this. But I say this so that for those who only attacked me a few times and then can't figure out why I seem so frustrated, multiply your attacks , or your unsolicited information of poor credibility times 100, and that's what i have been patiently enduring until recent weeks. Once upon a time there was a church. In it were folks who's background was very Judea=Christian. They didn't want anything to do with the wicked pagan practices. They were so passionate about this they would not buy nor eat meat that was used in these rituals even though it was sold at a discounted price. They felt strongly about this. In this same church were folks who worked hard, they did the dirty jobs but they didn't get paid much. so, they decided to buy the discounted meat, citing that God has cleansed it, and it is pure. This enraged the good "biblical" literalist. They felt this was uniting with the wicked. so, the church was on the brink of a split. They fought constantly. the Judeo c's maintained the need for separation. This was a very moral issue to them. As moral as it gets! The other side felt that buying this cleansed by God meat at discounted prices not only fed their families, but enabled them to be hospitable to others. the two sides could not agree, separation seemed inevitable. one day a great church leader wrote a letter to this community. He acknowledge how passionate Jc side felt about this very moral issue. he didn't condemn them for it at all. but He also knew that God had cleansed that pagan meat. in fact he wrote that to a pastor friend and to another church. he realized, even though these two sides felt very passionate about their positions, they both were not only necessary to the church, but they were both right as long as it was by faith they took their side. And this leader said=-God is the God of both! And both sides are right(eous). He wrote: do not destroy the work of God over food" even though this was a deeply moral issue for the one side. He told the two sides to not judge each other nor to cause the other to stumble. When the church lived this, it was beautiful. It was a great testimony to the world that the church really is inviting, inclusive. there really is room for people of various beliefs. (Romans 14). I once again admit my writing have not been completely honorable. to those who read, please forgive and let's seek peace in the world together. To the family members who have been really hurt, I assure you I have never desired that. and I have a sneaking suspicion you'll read this:) I love you (you know who you are) more than you know. Peace and Grace from a contrite heart.

A Loving Letter to Fools

Proverbs 18:13 says "if one gives an answer before they hears, it is foolish and shameful." I am PRO-Life! I hate Abortion. i believe there is ALWAYS a better option! I am for, and live to fight for the sanctity of life, for those who do not have a voice, including unborn babies and those who have been oppressed by, especially, those who say they are PRO-Life. For those NOT listening- I AM Against Abortion. I think I have made this abundantly clear in anything I have blogged as well as all that I actually live. But, there are some who don't listen. They assume I am unaware that certain presidential candidates are Pro-Choice. I am quite aware. I know that Obama has been very clear on his position. and I do not agree w/ his position on abortion. now, Listen. i am not uninformed on the presidential candidates. i have read more on politics and the candidates over the past two years then most Americans do in a life time. I have prayed much over this election. and because I am pro-life, and I am tired of Pro-life candidates in principle, but do not do enough to combat this, I am voting for someone who has pledged to diminish the number of abortions. if you disagree= that's okay! You don't have to agree w/ that. but, you can't speak dogmatically that you know the future. you can't say that you know I am wrong. you can send me articles and videos that I have already read and or watched. You can send Allan Keyes articles on Obama (but you should read the whole b/c he also says john McCain is NOT pro-Life. you can't quote him against Obama and not Mccain). I believe that while Obama is wrong on his position on Abortion, i believe he is right to care for the poor who feel abortion is the only choice (i don't think it is there only choice, I believe they think so, ) and I believe, after much living out life among poor, researching, biblical study, that abortions will slowly and surely be reduced if we care for the poor. That is My opinion. You certainly have the American right to disagree. but, do not assume that your right=winged media you listen to (i listen to both) is 100 percent correct. And do not assume that I don't know what I am doing, especially since I have made comments expressing clearly my beliefs. i am voting for Obama b/c I am pro-life-= Not b/c i think he is totally pro-life, but b/c I think he wants to care for those who feel trapped into making that decision. However, that is not the primary decision for me. It's doesn't all boil down to life before birth. it's bigger than this. I love the Hispanic people. It's impetuous to send, anonymously, a video of a Hispanic person against abortion, while McCain and his party want to keep them out of our country. McCain wants to do little to help them, so that He can say- i am pro=life, but not actually do much to stop abortion. I AM PR0Life. I don't need anyone else to send me anything about abortion. Now, I have not posted all that I believe concerning politics. I have been clear on every post I am pro life, even though those who are voting for McCain have continued to question that, I presume b/c of my vote. which only exposes the sheer folly of not listening. you don't have to agree w/ me. It's okay. it's the American way to be united through diversity. i am sure our founding fathers never dreamed, let alone assumed we would all agree on everything. If they did, then we'd all be deist, which isn't too far off from how most Christians live anyway. If you disagree, and you want to comment, just say-I disagree, and then share where others can go to read your thoughts. If people wanted to know your thoughts, they'd go to your blog. if you disagree and want your comments posted here, that's fine, but only if you are actually rel event to what I have said. so posting a video against abortion, when I am against abortion only demonstrates once inability to Listen. it shows you hate the bible, for you are quick to speak, and slow to hear. Peace and Grace, especially those who see me as an opponent.

Hope, Not Fear: Last week I waited for my bride in Target as she tried to find a cheap shirt to wear to a church assc. meeting. We could barely afford it. While waiting I overheard 2 ladies saturated in their "chics for Palin" shirts, sweat pants, and jackets, talking. "Times are tough" one said to the other (not tough enough to keep them from "free Marketing" their candidate") Their carts were chuck full of clothes, shoes, and household furnishings as they continued their dialogue on the financial woes they were suffering. All the time I couldn't help but think of my brother Tony (a Ugandan Pastor serving the village of Musese 40 Kilometers from Mbale), David, Isaac, Morris, Vincent (also dear brothers from Uganda) who really are suffering hard times. I thought of the children of Haiti who are burying their feces in the dirt, and waiting for the nutrients to go into the dirt so they can eat mud pies. As these two ladies continued, they spoke of the "fear" they shared w/ millions of the great "what if?". What if Obama wins? "He's a communist/socialist". "He's a terrorist". "He's pro-abortion"..........................FEAR! "Be afraid" she said, was the message of Mrs. Palin when she spoke to the Moral Right public in Pensacola earlier this month. Yesterday was a different feeling though. Our family went to hear Michelle Obama speak in the same Civic center. Fear was not the message. Fear was not the feeling. This day was about HOPE! People suffering hard times. People who have lost their jobs. People who either have/are serving our country or have loved ones who have/are. The message wasn't = FEAR! The message was Hope! HOW DARE THEY.................How dare they have the "audacity" to hope.? It seems that not only the message of the Political/Moral Right, but the Gospel of America/The Western Free World has become: "Be Afraid, be very Afraid". This weekend, an Atheist in London Launched an ad campaign on the public transportation: "God doesn't exist, so go ahead and live your life." Although I couldn't disagree more with the message of God- (God does indeed Exist, and is living Freely and Sovereignly)=it's sad that the church feels the message it must send to the world is= FEAR! No wonder the world hates us! And when Jesus said the world would hate us, I am sure he didn't mean that any hate they have for us is b/c of him and is something to rejoice. If they hate us cuz we are jackasses, that can't be good! It's sad that in the world today, the message of Hope should ever come from an Atheist. There was a time when "sinners in the hands of an angry God" was a fitting message. But that message was one of Hope more than fear (Don't let the title fool you) and the author lived..........check that- the audience lived lives WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more "conservative" than those who promote the fear mongering anti-gospel of today who call themselves "conservative". During this Presidential Campaign, people like me have been bombarded with careless attacks from not so well-meaning brothers and sisters in Christ. The Torrid of questions flow like hurricanic waves with blows of anger-filled hate and fear. Yesterday my tag line on facebook was "Going to see Michelle Obama!" One ultra-conservative, one whose life hardly is conservative, wrote questions about socialism, "spreading the wealth", "jeremiah wright" etc etc. It seems the Religious Right (synonymous w/ Political Right often) pick and choose the parts of the bible they like. James is clear that we are to be "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger"(no thanks if anyone wants to give me the context here, I got it! You probably don't) for the wrath of man does not bring about the righteousness that pleases God". What's so incredulous about all of this,is the that Moral Right thinks they own the "Market" (Free Market no doubt:) )on "the Righteousness that pleases God" all the while missing it in great measures. (I am not against Free Market, but come on! the republicans are no more free market than the democrats. And what does "Free" mean? If it means "free" to disregard the poor, then maybe SOMEONE should step in and defend the defenseless! If not the church, which means the church is failing, then who? But don't act like being "Republican brand of Free market is CHRISTIAN, it is anything but) So for those who will actually listen (few if any) from the Moral/Political/Religious Right: Can Pro-Life Christ Followers vote for a Pro-Choice Candidate? It's really not that hard to figure this one out. I imagine a modern version of the story of the good Samaritan being- "and the deacon and good Republican voting Christian, coming from the voting booth having voted for the logical Pro-Life Candidate, pass by on the other side from the dying person as they travel to picket the abortion clinic". It seems that being Pro=Life, which I am Profoundly, is deeper than being against abortion. Isn't it a Sanctity of Life issue to be also concerned with the mom and dad of those who consider abortion? Let's ignore the obvious fact that more abortions stem from poverty and consider those who have abortions b/c they simply find the baby to be an inconvenience. Let's consider those who discard life b/c they want to pursue the American dream.....is that really all that inconsistent with the message of the same Political/Religious/Moral Right? The Pro-life candidate said clearly what His presidency would be about: "Freedom! Freedom to Live the American Dream! Freedom to spend our wealth the way we want" (look it up, that's exactly what he said on Rich Warren's interview). How can we get angry that people would not count life as precious when it is the "Dream" that so many pursue- to be wealthy and live as they please w/o any regard to the suffering in our own back yard (hard to see w/ our privacy fences blocking our sight in the suburbs) let alone the world. For those of us Christ Followers who will vote for the Pro-Choice candidate it isn't because we don't consider the life of the unborn precious, it's because we are tired of the empty principles of Pro-Life candidates while our country continues to discard the unwanted unborn. We have come to have the audacity to hope, rather than fear, that a Pro-Choice President will fight to diminish the number of abortions drastically. Can ProLife CF's vote for a Pro-Choice President? YES WE CAN! Can Progressive Christ Followers Hope while others FEAR? 2 Timothy 1 :11 "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of Power, of Love, of a self-control". Power to live well, not be pissed and shout at others. Love, which apparently may mean love those who "think" like you. And of Self-Control, which apparently means SPEND lots of money on yourself in the Free Market and demand that we get to "give": our money to whom we want, even though every statistic out there suggest most people DON'T GIVE. By the way, I know it's verse 7, but I wanted to expose the closed-ear jackassery of those who won't listen to the BIG PICTURE b/c of small details. GOOOOOOOOOO FUNDIES! Fear of God is not the same as fear of socialism, fear of terrorism, and fear of anything! For our Moral Right siblings, God did not abdicate His Throne! He is still seated Lofty and Exalted appointing Kings and Presidents. He still does Good! HIs return is not predicated on who wins this election! How arrogant for us to think that in God's world, everything is centered in on what happens here! Can We CF's have the Audacity to Hope rather than Fear? YES WE CAN! Can We Progressive Christ Followers partner with Government to provide Social Justice? When the church has failed to live out the realities of The Kingdom, the Emerging Church of a new Generation must be an example to the professing church, and to the Empire in which it exists- for the highest good of the world! We can no longer be satisfied with Churches building auditoriums that seat 1875 while only being several hundred (6-700) people in average attendance and spending money on itself while the world around us is suffering. We will no longer be content to package the gospel in contrived presentations that amount to "be afraid, very afraid", standing on street corners yelling at cars, and living lives that are blinded to the injustice in our own country let alone the world. We, like Paul, will partner with any who desire to care for the marginalized, the oppressed, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the dying. Can We CF's partner w/ Gov't for social Justice? YES WE CAN! CAN WE Progressive Christ Followers Be friends (like Jesus said to) with those who are trapped in the same darkness we are traveling away from, while not being a friend of darkness itself? It seems that for those who wish to "separate" themselves from others, while only coming in contact for a brief moment to speak, and not listen (Again James 1:19) to those who are beat down by the weight of the world-may have missed the clear heart of Jesus' message. This breaks our hearts. In choosing to live apart from the world for the majority of life, does not produce what we hope it does, but in fact sling us into the very self-absorbed darkness we preach against. If we, the church, are to be what Christ has called us to, we must live well with, among, those who Christ has left us to love. We must be aspire for the pure religion that pleases God, to love and care for the fatherless and the widows and to remain unstained by this world (which in the context seems to have more to do with how we love the poor, than in not going to certain movies, or voting for Pro-Life-in principle- Candidates ,as important as that may be- Read James 2). So, Can we Progressive Christ Followers be friends with those who not only have had abortions but possibly seek them now, friends to the GLBT in society, and those of all races, friends to those who have a middle name given to them 47 years ago, long b4 Saddam Hussein was thought of as a terrorist in the world-? YES WE CAN! Can we live in Harmony with each other as the Church even if our politics aren't all exactly in line with one another? YES WE CAN! Can we find more unification in Christ Himself than in political strategies/philosophies, even political issues that have clear arguments (even ones we may disagree with) in being rooted in loving Christ? YES WE CAN! I am thankful that I am part of a community that has folks that fit from the far left to the far right and everywhere in between. It's great that at the end of the day, we are not enemies, we all hope and live to be an afflux of authentic life! As for me, let me make this clear: My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.I dare not trust the sweetest frame,But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand,All other ground is sinking sand;All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face,I rest on His unchanging grace.In every high and stormy gale,My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood,Support me in the whelming flood.When all around my soul gives way,He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound,Oh may I then in Him be found.Dressed in His righteousness alone,Faultless to stand before the throne. ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND! Peace, sam