Lord, Help!

Once again, we seem to be spinning out of control–America at-large that is. I’m guessing, it’s because as a society, we have been far too lenient and tolerant of unacceptable behavior that many have brushed off or under a rug.

No long winded commentary today, just a reminder about where stand in the eyes of the world. Sexual assault, misconduct, harassment are not acceptable by anyone towards anyone else. We are supposed to be civilized human beings and I’m wondering when we’ll demonstrate that to others. No one–NO ONE–should be touched or man-handled by another person unless they are consenting to the act. 14 year-olds do not legally have the right to consent and most don’t. Having stated the obvious, what we are doing in this country when:

Al Franken is never given the opportunity for due process to take its course when he concedes to his party’s requests and resigns.

John Conyers resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations and failing health.

Trent Franks resigns because apparently he doesn’t understand what constitutes sexual misconduct when speaking about surrogacy with employees.

Blake Farenthold is offering to pay back $84 thousand dollars paid to squash allegations of sexual misconduct and to resign.

Both Democrats and Republicans on the surface at least, have demonstrated some sense of decency and responsibility.

But then we have an accused pedophile running for the Senate in Alabama in order to hold a Republican seat in Congress and people are applauding him and claiming his accusers are criminals. I’d like to know where that law is written–if a person accuses someone of a crime–they become the criminal! Sounds like some misogynistic, bigoted premise that only a fool would believe. But then again, let’s look at who’s supporting him. Senate Majority Leader–Mitch McConnell and trump–who has over 12 women accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Neither Roy Moore or TraitorDon plan to step aside or resign. Why? They deny doing anything wrong and claim the women lie. I believe the women, but if the rest of America doesn’t take a stand, the women will never be heard.

Quite frankly, I’m tired of old white and black men thinking they can do whatever they want to do to women and think–the women should be thankful for the attention. It’s time to put a stop to this often overlooked stain on our society and clean it up. We can and we must–by hearing the whole of the matter and not just brushing situations aside.

Until we can put aside tribalistic bonds and see people, we need to create a new environment in Congress, led by women who (hopefully) will not abuse their positions, but do all they can to uphold the constitution and in caring about their constituents. So, in this brief commentary (by my usual standards), I encourage women all over the United States to get involved so we can take care of the business of governing, not fighting accusations of sexual misconduct.

And let’s face one simple fact: none of us is perfect for there are no perfect human beings walking the face of the earth. However, if we wait for a perfect person to elect them, our society will be without government. So, let’s do the best we can to elect the best available for the benefit of all in America!

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Where Is God In All This?

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:1-6 NIV

We are indeed living in perilous times when those who claim to be Christians–followers and imitators of Christ–prefer an accused child molester over a man who defends the rights of vulnerable simply because the man is a Democrat. Oh how the Republican party has demonized Democrats simply because the Democrats tend to live more Christ-like than they do.

How can I say that? Let me count the ways:

Democrats are pro-choice. God is pro-choice. He never demands we worship Him; He gives us choice in all we do, never forcing us to do anything and certainly never forcing His will upon us.

Democrats believe in the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. They believe people have a right to say what they want, but they don’t have to agree with them. Democrats also believe that every person has a right to worship however they want to worship. Democrats do not believe in promoting hatred and bigotry, but in promoting love and respect of all.

Though there are flawed imperfect people in all walks of life, Democrats will not knowingly choose a sexual molester or predator to govern in any aspect of public office.

Democrats will always choose to support policies that undergird and protect the rights of the poor and needy and vulnerable.

So, where is God is the lives of Republicans who have become so repugnant in the eyes of the world? The jury is still out. The party who once claimed to be the party of morality has sunk beneath the scales of demonic influence into the abyss of hatefulness and bigotry, promoting and applauding those who are morally deficient as evidenced by their behavior and rhetoric; their lack of compassion towards the poor and needy and otherwise vulnerable, and their greed in support of all corrupt, wealthy donors.

Their inability to establish policies that benefit the poor over the rich is staggering in light of the fact that Jesus said we are to take care of the poor and needy, feed the hungry, visit those in prisons, clothe and house those who are homeless. We don’t see that trait in any of the policies promoted by Republicans in their attempt to shut out millions from having affordable healthcare, allow the repeal of regulations that protect consumers, and now overtaxing the poor in order to appease their rich donors. That’s not the love of Christ reigning in their hearts, it’s greed for power and money, which will only lead to their downfall.

Did we forget that our bodies are the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells? If Christ lives within us and we allow Him to guide us, how can anyone ignore the suffering of others–in any capacity? How can we say, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives in me,” if we applaud behaviors that are not like Christ?

I guess the real question is not, “Where is God in all this,” but where are we in our walk with Christ that we sit back and say nothing, and some actually approve and applaud, those who are commit acts against children or assault women, indiscriminately? What’s wrong with those who “wear the label” of Christianity? How can we expect anyone to believe we know Christ, when we do the exact opposite of what He would do?

I’m praying for understanding and direction in how to address all the issues that confront us and become a challenge for us to live as Christ would have us live. We are certainly on the wrong path if we think God is going to ignore what we’re doing–in His name!

I readily admit that neither I nor others can control what any individual does, but I can support and promote policies to protect the innocent and deny the perpetrators access to serve in public offices. My stance on public policy will always be, “first do no harm” as I prepare to serve in the White House–governing for all Everyday Americans. God will once again, reign in the Oval Office as befitting the King of Glory, not me.

 

Will He Know You?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:40-46 NIV

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’  “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’  Luke 13:24-27 NIV

There is so much more to being a Christian and entering into heaven than just going to a building to be with other believers and learning to quote scriptures. Sadly, from what we can see today, that’s the extent of some who claim to be Christians which I have determined is simply a label they choose to wear, but not a lifestyle they choose to live.

From The Word–we see that Jesus expects us to take care of the poor and needy, the vulnerable, the defenseless, and the homeless. He expects us to love one another for in another passage of scripture, He tells us we shall be known to each other by our love for one another. If we have not love, can we say we belong to Him or that we follow His ways?

The two commandments that He gave us to encapsulate the ten–Love God with all of our heart and soul and to love one another as we love ourselves–means we have to love unconditionally, as He loves, but we do not have to accept the foolishness exhibited by others. If we love God–we will live according to His Word and principles; if we love one another–we will not harm others in any way.

Today–we are seeing church leaders condone sexual assault committed by others wearing the label, not living the lifestyle by saying we have to forgive them. Franklin Graham, Mark Burns and so many others are enablers–pure and simple–since they won’t condemn the behavior of Roy Moore and others like him in positions of leadership within a church. Unfortunately, those who enable others by overlooking their sins are probably guilty of the same behavior and women and men are afraid to speak up. This should not be so!

Women have to stand up and speak out against ANYONE who has molested them, assaulted them or harassed them in order to humiliate or denigrate them. We are not objects for which man can use and abuse at will and we will not stand by and allow the continued objectification women have suffered for decades. The time has come for all who have committed sexual assault of any kind–to CONFESS, REPENT AND RESIGN from positions of authority and leadership. It’s PAST TIME for women to defend themselves and for the rest of us to stop–re-victimizing women who do speak up.

Is our final destination heaven or hell? Will He know us by our deeds that glorified Him and allow us to enter into heaven or will He shun us the way we shunned living for Him and turn us away? It is up to us as to where we spend eternity and many who are simply wearing the Christian label will be surprised when they hear–“Depart from me–I never knew you.”

Empowering women to stand up and speak out against harassment and other inequalities should be the goal of every person seeking an elected position, now and forevermore. I stand with all the women and men who have been sexually assaulted or harassed and will work to make sure their lives are not further diminished simply because they chose to tell it–no matter how long it took them to tell it.