relaxing with family and friends at their 15 acre summer home...replete with yacht, horses and celebrity friends. a family portrait with 3 generations of family, including 15 grandchildren and possible dog. family members are posing for a picture, dressed in color coordinated outfits (or sometimes even matching) lined up in 3-4 rows in front of the family compound on a patch of sprawling green grass (or maybe the beach, just to shake things up a bit).
i don't write this to be facetious, but to make a point. aren't we used to seeing our president, and presidential canidates (especially more recently) in a very affluent, glamorous, 'almost untouchable' lifestyle? have we come to expect that..and maybe even kind of 'prefer it'??
i realize as a culture, we've been somewhat programmed. .. ingrained in our minds, are the black and white photos and newsreels. pictures of a first family relaxing and frolicking on their yacht... the glamorous dinners the beautiful people, the clothes, the celebrities.
we're used to seeing our presidential hopeful living the 'lifestyle's of the rich and famous' . we're used to seeing them rubbing elbows with celebrities, attending premieres of movies (documentaries on 'global issues' only, of course... unless the celebrity in the movie happens to be a 'personal friend'), and throwing out the first pitch at a major league baseball game. ..they're inaccessible, untouchable...they're a celebrity.
i often wonder, with the way the world changing so quickly...and with the influence of pop culture and the media....has the presidential election become a "virtual popularity contest of the rich and famous?" a "it's who you know, and who -your -friends are race?" it seems as if it's become like the days of high school. people are saying, "i wanna be friends with the popular high school quarterback and cheerleader. i wanna be associated with them because they're cute and cool."
problem is folks....we're not in high school anymore! this is the real world. and this is not a mere high school popularity contest...this is the presidential election at hand.
we need to go back to what the presidential election should be based upon... not personal wealth, celebrity friends, or the big house on the hill. the choosing of the president of the united states needs to be based on the credentials of the canidate, their values, their track record, their ability to communicate, their qualities of leadership, their conviction and commitment to their message..their qualifications for the job...and most importantly, "are they submitted to God?".
it is so important with the presidential 2008 election pending, that we as christians, MUST EDUCATE OURSELVES. we MUST take the time to research, read and pray regarding this upcoming election. we MUST inform ourselves about the canidates. we MUST ask God what He would have us to do. What is our role?
it's not like buying a bottle of ketchup at the grocery store. we can't just buy the one 'everybody buys-because it's the one-we've always bought', or 'it's expensive so it must be good,' no! times have changed. who knows what's in that bottle of ketchup today? it's time to check out the brand, the ingredients, the price, the value...what are you getting for the $2.79?? is it worth it? is there something better out there?? we need to be educated shoppers...educated voters.
the good news is, "YES!", THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER OUT THERE! "YES!", WE DO HAVE OPTIONS!
GOVENOR MIKE HUCKABEE. he embodies the values of the christian. he is qualified and experienced. he can articulate and communicate. he can unify and galvanize. he is committed to representing and serving the american citizen. he truly is the answer to christians' prayers.
let's not buy into the stereotype. let's not just buy the bottle because it has the coolest packaging or the most commercials and billboards. let's take the time to "read the label"....let's find out "what's in the bottle". after all, in the end, when we go to eat those french fries with a big dollop of ketchup...and find it tastes horrible...it'll be too late....we already bought it, and now we've gotta eat it.
come christians, let us look beyond the label....and choose wisely.....
"for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 samuel 16:7b
2 comments:
We are a funny people. We encourage the young with the promise that we live in a country where any kid can work hard, study well and become President. Yet we are still bound by past memories of kings and royalty where only the proper blood lines can gain access to the throne. But there are notably exceptions, the Carter campaign was geared around the plain spoken man from Plains. I am sure we can do it with a Man of Hope from Hope.
Mike
California Grass Roots
yes, there IS HOPE!
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