The various issues you cite are vitally important and the next president has opportunity to address them. As a nation we must do all we can do to move forward wisely. Our nation and the world are poised to have significant change. The leadership we pick will do much to determine both the attitudes and actions (changes) that will occur for several years.

I believe there is one more important area to consider. The earliest recorded history clearly shows why nations rise and fall. As we live in this great democracy where people are concerned about being free and having rights, we also live under a greater ruling entity. The supreme entity is a Kingdom where all outcomes are determined by the Ultimate King. If we claim to be a Christian, our Christianity exits because we have placed ourselves under the rule of the King of Kings.

From the first earthly family through the nation of Israel and throughout our present history you see how prosperity and peace are tied very closely with the Faith and Obedience of those who are in the Kingdom. What is interesting is we tend to blame the evil world for our current conditions. A look at history and almost exclusively our bumps are tied to the attitude and actions of the believers. It is not government but those in the Kingdom who have the most influence on what is happening in this world. Those with faith and obedience not only have a powerful General but the weapons and armor needed to do battle with the powers of darkness who want to move in and engulf and destroy. Light will illuminate darkness and Salt will influence and/or season where it’s present.

Throughout time when the King’s Kids, the believers, were under the rule of the King, it often perplexed and sometimes petrified those living for the world. The USA is one example who for nearly 200 years confounded the world with its immense greatness and blessings. What is amazing is the past 30 or so years, as Christians have compromised and lost their salt, we are being led to the possibility of becoming another washed up country. So what is the answer for believers so that our land can once again move toward peace and respect? It is found in Jesus’ prayer in which most of our present churches choose to ignore. Looking at the last third of John 17, as Jesus is about to be arrested, He is praying earnestly for us. He desires for us is to fulfill His Prayer. If we choose to do so we can, like the early church, turn the world right side up again. His promise if we live out His prayer, we will point people back to the Father. His prayer has three important aspects: (1) for us to be in Unity with Him as He is in Unity with His Father; (2) for us to love one another, and (3) for God’s Glory to be seen through us.

At first, this sounds simple but each of the 3 go against the grain of selfish man. History has shown no type of government has the power or ability to change hearts. If we desire to fulfill Jesus prayer it will only come about as we the church allow Him to arise in us and ultimately throughout our land. The good news is the King has provided all we need. We simply must be willing to exercise faith and obedience. He is in the Heart changing business and with a changed heart we can fulfill Jesus prayer and connect those around us back to the Father. The real change needed lies in the heart and minds of the Kings Kids.

What is happening today is people (denominations) want us to be unified around their world view, cause and organization. Instead of love they promote antipathy to those who are not in their walls. They are also concerned whether I or my church group is getting the Glory. What’s interesting is that parallels with the religious leaders of Jesus time. At that time the religious leaders were so set in their worldly view they choose to kill anyone who might have a different view. What is even more unsettling is when the people took a very important vote at that time, their thinking was so skewed they called out for Barabbas to be released and Jesus, the one who created our world, to be crucified. It is even thinkable the people of today could be just as absurd (lost) including Christians.

Thank God we have an Ultimate King on the throne who loves us enough to intervene even when we do not deserve His righteousness or His love and mercy. We have a King who even though we are totally confused and lost in our thoughts and actions He is willing to guide and illuminate the way to those who want truth and light.

Back to voting. In His manual, it is clear the real King will determine and appoint who our future leadership will be. Though our democracy allows each of us to cast our vote, our vote will reflect our value system. In the end, the King will give us over to what we value. He will give us the desires of our heart and the leadership to carry out our desires.

Today we are sitting on the edge of change. Though the woes of the world seem intimidating, I know the King of Kings still rules, and can use the bumps we bring on ourselves to accomplish His purpose. The bottom line is much change is needed for our nation. There is a clear choice of candidates who will encourage one type of change or another. All throughout history when “His Church” gets it right, it is the starting point for peace and blessings which originate from the Higher Kingdom. Today we have a strong revolution brewing somewhat like Cuba and Nicaragua faced. With those 2 countries there was a leader with charisma who was conveying he had the wisdom and power to fix things so the government would rescue, protect and even finance everyone.

Today if the King’s Kids and our nation is experiencing bumps, what should be our reaction. What do we do when we see darkness enveloping us. Do we seek and depend on a worldly governing body to straighten things out. If there is a higher ruling Kingdom do we need to figure out what has gone wrong with the Kings Kids and then be open to conviction and correction? If this is true and important, which Presidential team can best encourage the above? History shows Godly leaders can bring about good change?

May God have His way and will, especially in the hearts and minds of the Christians. May we as Christians take a deep look into the mirror provided by our King and check out the reflection we see and then have the courage and wisdom to make the necessary adjustments. Help us to realize the importance of fulfilling that very important prayer He prayed for us and be able to realize all power and blessings only come from Him and His Kingdom. May we understand how, especially in a democracy, the grass roots level has much opportunity to influence our destiny and value system. Help us understand how our King loves us and wants to give us the desires of our heart. GaryS

Tangent: What’s the difference between wanting to insure everyone and insurance for everyone being a right?

On topic…?: I’ll agree to a moral imperative to provide care for the sick…to a certain point. Care can be just ministering to them with a cold sponge bath and chicken soup. It doesn’t have to be the latest and most expensive medical treatments. I think the level of care is probably where we differ.

On the talk about the insurance industry, I’m not sure I can disagree. One thing to keep in mind, and I don’t really know the answer to, is insurance industries are indeed paying out a lot of money for the sick people they cover. It seems to me that an honest insurance company should be as little for-profit as they can be to survive. Maybe legislation needs to hit there instead of country-wide socialized health care. That is what I’m truly against: healthcare like Canada. And that whole “right” think that gets me in a tizzy.

I believe we have, and always have had, a moral imperative to provide care for the sick. As technology has increased and the available quality (and quantity) of health care has gone up, it only becomes less excusable for people in our country to go without the care that they need.

As a practical matter, it seems to me that the health care and insurance industry has exploded in size over the past 50 years, and our growing recognition that the current insurance system is highly flawed (if not broken entirely) is a driving factor in the current debate.

At what point did healthcare become a right? It wasn’t always that way, so what changed recently?

I could say a lot more, but I think my point of view is falling on deaf ears

Roger, I don’t think your arguments are falling on deaf ears so much as that you haven’t really developed any arguments. Give us something to wrestle with and respond to!

Dad, I thought about mentioning Samaritan Ministries when I wrote the post, but ended up omitting it. Certainly they’re a good start… but, as you noted, still insufficient.

I could say a lot more, but I think my point of view is falling on deaf ears.

However, even that program leaves a lot of needs unmet and we sometimes went without treatment we really should have had.

I agree with most of your reasoning. I do think universal health care is a moral imperative, but we may not have the funds to even think about adding it if this meltdown continues.

At some point politicians are going to have to tax us sufficiently to put our economy back on a sound footing. But it may be too late even for that. These last few weeks before the election should at least be humbling for both candidates, as they find out that there are economic forces well beyond their control. I don’t suppose we should expect to hear any less confident bluster from any of them, though.

The jury is still out for me, but I know Palin isn’t ready and I think Obama would make some good, measured changes.

As far as the church is concerned, the church is already directly or indirectly involved in providing a great deal of the care in this country – a huge number of hospitals are not-for-profit, faith-based organizations who give away a huge amount of charity care. The financing of healthcare, though, necessitates a large pool of individuals to share the risk. Should the church – of all denominations – band together, it would have the size and financial scope to effectively share risk. I would be interested in seeing churches offer their own healthcare plans and see how that worked out.

However, the idea that healthcare is simply a commodity like any other is one i simply can’t subscribe to. We treat education like a right in this country, and no, much of it isn’t great, but we recognize that it something that people have to have access to irrespective of their ability to pay. Healthcare is even more essential to people’s lives than education, yet many seem happy to say that you only deserve to get it if you can afford the increasingly high cost. From a Christian standpoint, i think you have to back the idea that healthcare is a necessity rather than a commodity whose accessibility is contingent on your ability to cough up the money.