dear friend, how are you?
i'm making my way up this thread, and i felt stirred to respond to you.
Even though we sometimes disagree on policy, i like your mind. (and i guarantee too, if we ever had the opportunity to face to face converse, we'd have a vibrant conversation, with laughs, and bon hommie)
two things you wrote touched me:
"Of course, there are some good and nice people here on SermonIndex who spent quite a bit of effort doing the same thing with President Bush -- even to the point of packaging harsh criticism in form of "words" from God that even openly questioned the sincerity of his claim to be a Christian (and ironically, right or wrong, remain silent during this current administration). "
i felt you might have been referencing my vocal opposition to Iraq 2003. as we know each other, i was raised up in the military, my background in intel, i thought then, as i do now it was a strategic blunder of the first rank, but thats another conversation. i only bring it up, beacsue i had a change of heart, regarding President Bush in 2007, and it was my then 12 year old son that engendered it.
He's a very unusually precocious brilliant young man, and that's not just father bragging, its fact. And the way i raise him, is that i encourage him to OWN his worldview, to be free to express this worldview, and our discussions sometimes last from 2 to 6 hours, these discussions are one of my pure joys.
But his brilliance is a two edge sword, because teachers don't get him, and they can be cruel, and he has suffered greatly at the hand of them. He will take orthodoxy head on, and dispute with them and for that he is sanctioned. (which makes my anger know no bounds, as i feel they want to stifle a fine mind)
and one day, late 2007, he said to me, "I like President Bush". I didnt counter him with wrath...oh no, i wanted to explore his thesis, and asked, "please tell me why", and this lad said, "everybodies saying how evil and bad he is, but he lets it all roll of his back, and just smiles"
and at that moment, i began to love George Bush. because i felt my son identified with the President, meaning that every teacher was hammering this dear sweet precocious young man, and he just always let it roll off his back, he kept smiling and let it roll, and so was President Bush.
i told my son, "I see your point, and you speak wise, its time to examine my own heart on him." President Bush loves his ranch, i love ranches and farms. President Bush loves baseball, i love baseball. I'm sure the President loves a nice steak on the grill, i do too. AT THAT MOMENT, i began to see him as a MAN, another brother in Christ, and the Lord spoke into my heart, "neil, stop speaking against the President, he's doing the best he can, with the hand he's been dealt"....and i said, "YES LORD"..and never spoke or wrote an ill word against President Bush.
in fact, i would love to be able to go to Crawford, Texas, share a steak, and then go watch the Rangers play, that would be joy. I know he's famous, but i'm "famous" too, believe it or not. i do love President Bush, and it was my son that led me there.
as far as President Obama, forgive me for saying this, but i have great affection for him, because i knew him as Senator. In 2006, i knew the democratic machine was going to push him to run, because in 2005, i spoke with david Axelrod, and said to him, i felt the Senator would make an excellent candidate in the 08 election cycle, he just smiled enigmatically and said, "that might be", but as time went byin 2006, i felt otherwise, i began to fear for him, that it was TOO EARLY and the Clinton machine would just tear him apart. a journalist friend knew my stance, and invited me to a book signing, that Senator Obama was going to be at, so i could say what i had to say.
Friends that know me, know i always run15 minutes late. and i did that day. as i pulled up in front of the BillyGoat (cheezeborga cheezborga!) i saw the Senator exiting, alone, rolled down the window, and said "Senator, how are you?"...walked over, said "fine neil, how are you"..plesantries, and it wasnt the setting, in the street to say what i had to say, so i said, "well God bless you Senator"...."God bless you too neil". last time i saw him. Now i doubt my pitiful entreaty would have made a difference, but i can say this, i believe with my whole heart, that in HIS secret heart, the place where only we and the Lord go, he's regretting ever having run and won.
Saints, believe me when i tell you, he's not evil, he's not a "muslim", he's not a "socialist". He isjust a man seduced with the lure of the Presidency, and that lure is very very hard to resist.
I'm disappointed in him, because though i am no left wing dove, we should NOT be involved in any war we cannot win, nor a war that is NOT directly tied to the security of this nation. One may argue that, but many empires have crashed upon the shoals of Afghanistan. other policy issues i have no stomach to debate, so allow me to leave it at that.
the other thing you wrote brings me to tears: "Before I was born, there was an unsaved man and woman who believe abortion was wrong...and urged my mother to not have an abortion (which my biological father was insisting upon). They convinced my mother -- and I am alive today."
Chris, i'm so GLAD you are alive too. Abortion is horrible terrible sin, but i thank God you're alive.
and as i've said to a few saints around here, i would love the day, we can actually meet face to face, break bread, speak about Jesus, have fellowship and have a few laughs.
that would be joy.
i love you dear brother, neil
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