A Couple of Post Election Thoughts

Now that some of the dust has settled and the pundits have all had their say, or have at least started their say. I have a three questions that have nagged me for years regarding both sides. No comments are necessary. Everyone knows the answers. I am an equal opportunity offender here.

Why is it that when the Republicans want to characterize someone is a negative light, they paint them "weak or un-American?" I first noticed this with George McGovern in 1972, the first election I voted in, and I will say that I did not vote for McGovern and to this day think I made the right decision, but he was painted and anything but a patriot. It was the case for Jimmy Carter, many 1980 elections, local and national and continues on today. As you know, it was a mainstay in this past presidential election.

Why is it that when the Democrats want to characterize someone is a negative light, they paint them as stupid or dumb? This has been a mainstay since Gerald Ford. It was used for Ronald Regan (who was dumb like a fox!!!), hit full stride with Dan Quayle and George Bush (dad and son) and was one of the primary attacks at Sarah Palin? It is still used in reference to Richard Nixon, whom I think may have been the most intelligent person to ever sit in the White House. He certainly lacked some common sense when dealing with the Watergate mess, but he was far more intelligent than almost everyone who paints him as stupid to this day.

Why does anyone really care what the actors in Hollywood think when it comes to an election? Other than the fact that they bring a lot of money to the table, they are no more informed than anyone else and show it with their character assassinations. Yet they get far more than their share of air time. They are entertainers, nothing more and nothing less. They are a diversion from reality, or at least a selected view of reality, not reality itself. I love all forms of theater. I have acted, directed, and written so I fully understand the value. But if we are after the views of entertainers, why are we not asking athletes (from football players to ice skaters to race car drivers) at great length for their views?

Podcasts

This past summer one of the gifts I had given to me was an iPod. It really is as good as people say.

I have started to get into several Podcasts that speak to me for different reasons. I do not agree with everything these folks say, but I love to hear them say it . . . more or less. Heck, I do not even agree with myself for long! Here is a list of some Podcasts I regularly listen to with some comments on each.

Basketball and Beyond with Coach K - This is a weekly (or so) podcast of an XM radio show hosted by Duke Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. He has had as guest Tony Kornheiser, Carl Weathers, Terrell Owens, and a host of basketball writers and sports figures. He has great quotes on leadership, some are found on his web site http://www.coachk.com/. Here are some quotes I really like that need little or no explanation.

"The will to win is good. Here is one better, "the will to prepare to win."
"In leadership, there are no words more important than trust. In any organization, trust must be developed among every member of the team if success is going to be achieved."
"Two are better than one if two act as one."
"A leader may be the most knowledgeable person in the world, but if the players on his team cannot translate that knowledge into action, it means nothing."
"Erect no artificial walls that might limit potential, stifle creativity, or shackle innovation."
"Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated."
"A leader has to be positive about all things that happen to his team. Look at nothing in the past as failure."

Erwin McManus and Mosaic - Los Angeles - I cannot get enough of listening to this guy. This is updated weekly or so. I must admit however, that as with the others below, I do not listen to anyone else on his staff. He pastors an incredibly diverse and creative community in LA. I had the privilege of attending his conference about 2-1/2 years ago. It was one of the best I have EVER been too.

Rob Bell and Mars Hill Bible Church - Grand Rapid, MI - An incredible communicator and a young guy (35?) who has a wonderful understanding of Scripture and its application to today.

John Ortberg and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church - Menlo Park, CA - Formerly the teaching pastor at Willow Creek, John is almost always worth the time of day.

Andy Stanley and North Point Community Church - Atlanta - Another terrific speaker. He can be a bit rigid . . . but he has a great way with Scripture.

Chuck Swindoll and Insight for Living - Here is my Classic. He has been one of my favorite "unpackers" of Scripture since . . . forever.

Thoughts on an Election

Tomorrow we go to the polls to vote for, among other things, the next President of the United States. I am always amazed at just how involved and passionate people can get over politics. If only they were that passionate over their relationship with God. But, that is not what I am writing about. Or is it?

600 years before Jesus walked on the planet, a king named Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon. He was perhaps one of the greatest monarchs in the history of the world. Some would argue the greatest monarch. The city he built is almost difficult for us to understand. It was so great, that its hanging gardens, hanging hundreds of feet in the air, were one of the seven wonders of the world.

In Daniel chapter 4, he has a dream that rocked his world. The long and the short of it, is that he had become so prideful in his kingdom and his accomplishments, that God decided to humble him. Actually, I believe King Nebuchadnezzar came to believe in the one true God, and this event played significantly into that. I will not write the content of the dream, you can read it, but here is what the prophet Daniel told him when he was finally asked what was to take place.

"This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."

Uh, yeah. God grants power to whomever he wishes. Tuesday evening, when the votes are tallied, I will remind myself that God gives power to whomever he wishes.

Sunday evening I heard a Scottish preacher say, we should remember that Jesus is indeed king. He is not elected. He does not bow to the United States, or Scotland, or Britain, or any other nation. He did not attend the Republican convention. He did not attend the Democratic one either. He is not on the side or Obama, or McCain, or Palin, or Biden. We do not vote for His power. We do not decide if He is in charge. We do not tell Him who He will allow into his kingdom. We do not tell him who He can forgive or accept or love or support. We simply are invited to join Him.

I do not know how this election will turn out. I will go vote tomorrow morning. I will be thrilled to do so. It is my privilege. It is my right. But I WILL NOT be so invested in this that I will be taken back, or bothered, or concerned, no matter who wins. And this is from a guy, who at the age of eighteen, had a ten step plan to BE president of the United States.

On the eve of an election that will determine the leader of what is arguably the most powerful nation on earth, would it not be good to be reminded that "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes?"