Repost: On Christian Voting, Part 1

The below is not my blog. It is from Steve Deace. I thought that it was interesting and deserved a repost.

Original Blog posted here http://www.whoradio.com/pages/stevedeace.html
The podcast is here:
http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DESMOINES-IA/WHO-AM/emails%20102108%20podcast.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&MARKET=DESMOINES-IA&NG_FORMAT=newstalk&SITE_ID=1165&STATION_ID=WHO-AM&PCAST_AUTHOR=Steve_Deace&PCAST_CAT=Talk_Radio&PCAST_TITLE=Deace_in_the_Afternoon

Deace’s Daily Diary: October 22nd, 2008
Tuesday 10-21-2008 9:11pm CT
I don’t normally post transcripts of shows for two reasons: legal and logistical (so don’t get used to it). However, I am making a special exception here this week and next because lately I have been literally deluged with emails from hundreds of Christians/conservatives in the audience wanting to know answers to these four questions:

1) Why won’t I vote for John McCain?
2) Why won’t I vote for the lesser of two evils?
3) By not voting for one of the major party candidates am I throwing my vote away?
4) How should I vote?

In response, below is the first of a two-part response that was broadcast on Tuesday night (the podcast is available for download if you would like to hear it). The second part will be broadcast next Thursday, October 30th, and posted here accordingly. Part two next week will deal with the lesser of two evils argument, and take a unique look at that pragmatic, subjective standard by applying it to issues that I believe are Biblically important.

Part one below describes the core of my worldview that I try my best to communicate on the show each day, and how I apply it to the election. Please understand this: I am not trying to convince likeminded people not to vote for John McCain (or Barack Obama for that matter).

I am simply sharing my own convictions based on the principles of God’s Word. My goal is not to alter your decision, but to get us to critically think through the proces so that we don’t fall prey and eventually get fooled by the same empty propoganda again. In fact, just today I received an email from a listener who did an excellent job critically thinking through his vote for McCain and offered up several specifics that were well-reasoned, and I was so impressed I applauded him for that.

That’s not to say that in the past I haven’t, nor in the future I again won’t, try to persuade you in one direction or the other. But in those matters, or the ones to come, it will be because I believe on the authority of God’s Word the truth and its application are so crystal clear in those instances that those of us who have a Christian conscience and believe in Biblical virtues must be of one mind.

Part 1 is below. Consider this an answer to the hundreds of emails I’ve received just in the last three weeks, and the hundreds more I will likely receive between now and election day.

Isaiah 61

Dear Listener,

Thank you for listening to the show and for your comments/questions regarding the election. I have allowed these emails pile up the past few weeks, all asking the same questions, because I wasn’t sure if I could come up with a way to answer them that wasn’t explicitly Biblically.

For fear of sounding overtly preachy, I’ve spent the past couple of weeks wondering if I could make my point without delivering what amounts to a sermon. Yet the more I searched for another way, the more it became obvious there wasn’t one.

I’m a Bible guy. It’s the foundation of my worldview. So, if you find this offensive there are other blogs to read. If, however, you’re one of the multitude in my audience asking me questions you wished your church would answer, this is for you.

I am not trying to replace your pastor, but nature abhors a vacuum. I’m simply someone who saw a need, and is attempting to fill it. In doing so I will sort of strip my soul bare and give you an earnest look at not just what I believe, but why I believe it. In that attempt, we will be stretching the boundaries of secular radio, even by my show’s standards.

So, here is my most earnest attempt to communicate a Biblical worldview, as I understand it, as it pertains to this or any election.

Scripture says the following:

· That God is sovereign over all creation, including the choice of our leaders. (Daniel 2:21 & Romans 13:1)

· That we are to occupy until He returns. (Luke 19)

· That we are saved to produce fruit but can only produce fruit when we’re in Christ. (John 15)

· That we are not to be conformed to the thoughts and patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2)

· That we should fear God more than men. (Psalm 76, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 10:28, & Acts 4)

· That one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Christ alone is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)

· That God has determined the exact places where men will live and for how long. (Acts 17:24-28)

· That each of us, believer and unbeliever alike, will one day give account for himself before almighty God. (Romans 14:10)

· That there is a way that seems right to us, but leads only to death. That the best way is God’s way, but His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Proverbs 14:12 & Isaiah 55:8-11)

· That we should practice prudent judgment in our moral assessments. In other words, be careful not to judge ourselves or our side by a different standard than we judge others, for it is by that uneven standard we will also be judged. (Matthew 7:1-2)

· That Christ is the Amen (final word), the faithful and true witness (of who God is), and the ruler of God’s creation. (Revelation 3:14)

· That the Bible tells us to “fear not” 365 times, or one encouragement to have no fear for every day of the year.

· That all things, both good and tragic, work together for the glory of God. (Romans 8:28-39)

I believe that I, as a Christian, am called to live my life as a testimony to the truths cited above from God’s Word, or the Bible. That may come off as self-righteous to some, but it’s not. Obviously I acknowledge freely up front and understand that I am a sinner in need of grace, but it’s not living the way God has called me to live by my own strength — which I can’t — that provides me grace. That would be my own striving, herein lies self-righteousness.

Instead, it is God’s grace that mercifully provides me the ability and means to live the way God has called me to live because it is now no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Founding Father John Adams was a devout believer. He summed up the teachings in the Scriptures cited above with these words: “Duty is ours, outcomes belong to God.”

Our duty as THE CHURCH, in all things here on Earth until Christ returns, is quite simple. It can be summed up in these three simple words: Soli Deo Gloria!

Therefore, if we are to live for the glory of God alone, and if God alone is sovereign over the outcome, that means our duty is not in wondering who, what, when, where, or how. Those are questions God Himself answers and reveals to us as He sees fit.

In the meantime, our duty is to constantly ask ourselves why. Why are we doing what we’re doing? Why do we believe what we believe? Why do I worship God and Him only? Why should I stay faithful to my spouse? Why do I love and discipline my children? Why do I not steal and lie? Why do I not murder or rape? Why do I spend my money the way I do? And, in the case of so many emails I have received the past few months, why do I vote the way I vote?

The answer should be the same for all of those questions: for the glory of God.

Many believers act as if they’re sovereign over the outcome and they are the ones who choose their leaders, even going so far as to say they must choose the lesser of two evils. That’s not what I believe the Bible says.

Many believers act as if God has given them the free will to do what they think is right in their own eyes. If that’s true, the Bible says that’s a curse, not a blessing. It is when we trade the singular truth of who God is and His Word for a lie that God then gives us over to our own depraved minds. God giving us over to our free will is not a good place for any culture to be.

Many believers act as if God is just waiting around to see what candidate they will choose, like in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-Book, and then He’ll clean up any mess we’ve made for us afterwards. That’s not what I believe the Bible says.

Many believers act as if America is somehow special and that God bless America is in the Bible. The Bible says God is no respecter of persons or nations, and doesn’t mention us at all.

Many believers act as if this nation is owed something because of its past good deeds, might makes right, and/or prosperity. The Bible says other nations have also had similar haughty thoughts, and they were all struck down.

Besides, how much longer can a just, holy, and righteous God bless a nation that:

· Kills 4,000 babies a day.

· Allows homosexuals to adopt children and marry one another.

· Institutes no-fault easy divorce that destroys families.

· Rewards materialism by letting the swindlers not only steal more money from those they’re oppressing, but also to continue to print a fiat currency that drives down the value of the money the oppressed are actually able to hold onto. So much for honest weights and measures.

· Indoctrinates its children with anti-God and anti-Christian propaganda in its schools and colleges.

· All too infrequently holds neither its criminals nor its judges to the rule of law and balanced scales of justice.

· Not only won’t protect the unborn child, but also frequently doesn’t do enough to protect the child already born from being harmed.

· Creates a safer environment for black males in prison then they find on the streets of its major urban population centers.

· Sends its moms and young women off to war.

· Frequently and repeatedly rewards those in its popular/entertainment culture who do their best to thumb their noses at Him, suppress His truth, and blaspheme His name.

· Repeatedly demand that He stay out of its business as opposed to — as the song says –letting His grace shine on thee.

God is not an intergalactic ATM there for our needs, nor is He a cosmic Santa Claus making a list and checking it twice while trying to find out whose been naughty or nice. Those popular notions of today mock God and God will not be mocked. And we have been mocking Him openly as a people for a generation now.

The time for mocking will one day come to an end, and the time will come when His mercy will turn to wrath. I know that’s an unpopular sentiment nowadays, and I sound like the freak of the industry or a jacked-up wing nut for expressing it aloud, but that’s always been so. No civilization wants to hear about God’s judgment. That’s the human condition.

We are living in a time when every institution we once thought was sacred (family, church, money, real estate, retirement, banks, political parties, movement leaders, schools, colleges, military) has betrayed us on one level or another.

That’s not a coincidence. We are seeing our false gods, or idols, stripped naked right before our very eyes. These are the things we had more faith in and fear of than God, and I believe that God is using these times as a means of desperately trying to get our attention.

Yet continually I get emails from Christians who aren’t critically-thinking, or doing things out of fear. One is a defiance of a commandment from God, the other is a defiance of having faith in Him.

We get the very leaders we deserve. That’s the principle of sowing and reaping in action. And while it’s true that all creation groans with sin, and that we are strangers in a strange land until Christ returns to make all things new, the reality is the two men running for president perfectly represent America’s civil theology of the day.

One man is his own messiah, running because the world needs saving and he thinks he’s just the man for the job. The other man is a portrait of self-righteous resume building, all the while rationalizing it under the banner of words like duty and honor. One man is a relativist that says there isn’t just one way to God. The other man is a moralist who’s determined to make his own way.

They are the total and perfect manifestation of what’s become of us as a people. Neither of them humble themselves before the one, true God. Neither of them earnestly seek truth. But they are both idolaters.

They’re just like us.

By now you’re probably wondering if I’m going to tell you who you should vote for. The answer is no. But I will encourage you how you should vote by sharing with you how I do it.

I would encourage you to ask yourself why are you doing what you’re doing. Don’t accept propaganda from either side, especially your own because the easiest deception of all is self-deception. Hold all the kingdoms of men accountable to the Kingdom of God. Don’t just read the Word, but be the Word. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that He could dwell in us.

Therefore, stop asking me, or anyone else for that matter, what you should do. If you’re a Christian you now have an intimate relationship with the King of Kings so I would suggest you start asking Him.

When checking your motives pray that the answer is Soli Deo Gloria! When it’s not don’t do it, and remember that you will have to look your Lord in the eye one day and give an account. Will we be able to look Him in the eye when the talk comes to elections, or will we have to ashamedly look away?

Lest you think that I am advocating retreat from the public process, nothing could be further from the truth. Mind you, we should take part in the process, if not saturate it with salt and light, but we should realize that unless there is earnest revival in this country we are going to face even worse choices in the future than the ones we have now.

And I think that’s because God really wants us to choose Him. All other things pale in comparison.

Road Rage for Patience

I’ve purposely titled this backwards because this is how I feel. I prayed for patience about 1-2 years ago. I knew and still know that I too often want things to change now. So patience I thought was a good thing to pray for.

I have the weirdest travel to work stories from this time. I only live 5-10 minutes from work and it was during this time of prayer for patience that I began to experience an unusually high number of people running red lights, four way stops, or just plain cutting me off. This was happening no less than once per trip to work up to 3 times during a single trip and then no less than once on the way back home. I was downright mad and angry about how careless these drivers were.

Finally I took it to God and asked, “WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!!”

In my heart I heard, “You’re the one that was praying for patience.”

Then I laughed and realized how foolish I’d been. In my quest for patience I’d expected God to just make me patient. But if God does that then what kind of person am I? I’m like a robot awaiting programing. God instead was giving me a chance to practice patience.

I’m glad God is more patient than me, because some time later, I found myself praying once again in frustration, “Ok, God, I understand that I need patience but can I have a break from all these close calls with these vehicles?”

Then I heard in my heart, “You can if you stop praying for patience.”

Yes, I was still praying for patience but for some reason I thought that God would give me a break or change methods, but apparently this was one of those prayers that God was very willing to answer for me. And He knew just where to coach me. In a place I very much needed it. I will pray for patience again someday … maybe, but for now I need a break. Occasionally I still have those close calls, and they still serve as a reminder to be patient.

James 1:2-4 says this regarding my encounter:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

So its like going to the gym. Working out is tough and grueling but it eventually helps you lose weight, look and feel better, and be healthier overall.

Lately I’ve been praying for “Unity” in the church. I wonder how will our unity be tested so that we may practice it. I’ve prayed that we would love one another and wonder will we love one another even when it appears that we ourselves are not loved.

I believe our perceptions may be played against us. When I prayed for patience and those cars tested mine, the people in the other cars showed no knowledge of doing wrong. As far as I know, they thought they were driving perfectly fine and never knew that I was insulted by them.

If our unity and love is tested the same way my patience was, there may be those that wrong me, and not know it. Will I love them even if they don’t show me love? Or maybe I’m the guy in the other car, cutting someone off and not knowing it. Will they love me if I fail to show them love?

Or maybe we both did fine, but took offense anyway. Will we give each other the benefit of the doubt?

When given the opportunity to practice loving our neighbor as ourselves will we take advantage to practice loving? Or will we simply complain, and say that it isn’t our fault, so don’t give us no blame.

I must urge all my brothers and sisters to love one another even in the face of adversity. We must love those most, who we perceive to love us least. Because those who have so little need it the most, and that I believe will allow us to shine the light of Christ and grow stronger in our Unity and our Love.

And who knows. Maybe we will find that we were the ones that needed their love all along. That they never stopped loving us despite our perceptions.

And if we’ve already fallen short, we have Christ’s forgiveness to lift us up and we should show them love now, before it’s too late.

No one said it was easy for a tiny seed to die and become something it never was before. A large tree. In this way I perceive our faith as a seed and when we are finished growing, our faith will be as a large tree. The growing, however, is not easy.

“We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage” – John Newton

Sexy ads annoy me.

Category: MySpace

The sexy singles ads on myspace are annoying me. Isn’t there anything else anyone could sell on this site?

I mean it was different when I had my status set to single, I expected the dating service ads to be in full swing. Since I’ve set my status to engaged I don’t want any singles ads and now the women in these ads are more then ever trying to draw my attention to them. Most of the ads try to get you to focus right on the breasts. Maybe the butt but mostly the breasts.

It’s obvious that’s what they want you to look at to think if you go to that site all the women may just open up their shirts to tease you a bit. It’s attractive, cheap, and a low blow against both sexes at the same time.

At least for the most part they’re not touting “love” when it is “lust” they are promoting, but dang it. Lust is a weakness of mine. I want to look, I don’t want to look. I hate the ads and I hate the lust that keeps trying to steal my eyes and heart.

Does this bug anyone else? When I set my status to married are they going to continue promoting me finding a mate?

Have we really sunk this low where we’ll settle for anything and anyone touting a bit of skin, when it is true love most of us are really longing for?

It’s the internet and it’s hard enough to keep a pure relationship. Instead of promoting infidelity couldn’t they look at my status as “Engaged” and be recommending movies like Fireproof, or books on staying with the one you marry? Oh heck forget selling relationships altogether and just sell video games, movies, books, anime, bicycles, cars, homes, manga or just about anything else.

Maybe if there are any Myspace programmers that come across this you could help me out here. But for now I’ll do my best to advert my eyes.

Oh be careful little eyes, what you see.

To Vote – Personal thoughts

Yes, I have a purpose for these politically based blogs lately.

I’m not trying to tell you who to vote for. Republican, Democrat, or 3rd Party. What I want to do is inform everyone, where I see some truth being left out. I also want to work this out for myself in the process.

I’ve heard that we’ve got to vote for McCain to make sure Obama doesn’t win.

I’ve heard that we’ve got to vote for Obama to make sure McCain doesn’t win.

But both of these have the attitude of voting out of fear. But as a Christian, and I’m sure non-Christians want this too, I want to vote with faith not fear.

I supplied the list of candidates for those of you wanting options. I don’t think a 3rd party vote is a waste. I think a vote for someone you don’t want to be President is a waste. I also believe the media does a poor job of covering our possibilities. 30 second spot on the news for “fairness” doesn’t count because there is no repeat or updated coverage. These guys are left out of the debates and well, now you can check out a few alternatives if you want. If you don’t want and already picked a candidate, good. Now be sure to vote.

I’ll digress just a bit. Regulation is needed, but not Wall Street by Washington. Washington needs to be regulated by us. Us as in the Citizens. And if they do wrong whether they be Republican, Democrat or others, we need to hold them accountable. If they do right, then we give them credit. But all the while we let them know what we think and call them on more things than something like the Bailout to let them know we mean business. And if they don’t mean business with us, they’ll need a new line of work after the next election.

What it boils down to is this:
“Duty is ours; results are God’s”- John Quincy Adams

List of as many Candidates running I can find.

Ok, so since major media outlets don’t seem to realize that more than two people are running I thought I’d list them here with their websites so you can check out all the options before hand instead of getting a surprise list at the election. Bear with me while I link the names. Also I’m including my brief, possibly sarcastic comment on each one to make it more enjoyable … er informative at a glance kind of thing. Truth is I don’t know much about some of the 3rd party candidates even looking at their site so I hope either way I give you something funnily quick and accurate. I still recommend looking at their sites since I probably won’t do anyone justice here with a one-liner.

Most of this info is here http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G08/IA.phtml – I added a few more at the bottom. Let me know if you know of anyone else running and I’ll add them too.

=======================================
Candidate Democratic Senator Barack Hussein Obama – You know him and he’s for change and he’s against keeping the troops in Iraq
• Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette “Joe” Biden, Jr.
• FEC P80003338: $468,841,833
http://www.barackobama.com/
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Candidate Republican Senator John Sidney McCain, III – You know him and he’s also for change. However he wants to keep the troops in Iraq to finish the job.
• Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin
• FEC P80002801: $470,976,820
http://www.johnmccain.com/
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Candidate Green former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney – I believe they are environmentally friendly and for human rights.
• Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente
• FEC P80004930: $132,856
http://votetruth08.com/
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Candidate Libertarian former Congressman Bob Barr – formerly with the CIA …. of course he’d say that even if he was still with the CIA so I’m really not sure…
• Vice President: Wayne Allyn Root
• FEC P80005580: $859,423
http://www.bobbarr2008.com/
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Candidate Constitution Charles Obadiah “Chuck” Baldwin – If you want a candidate who knows his history and goes for the Constitution he’s your guy.
• Vice President: Darrell L. Castle
• FEC P80005499: $131,456
http://www.baldwin08.com/
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Candidate Socialism and Liberation Gloria Estela La Riva – The Congress made a very socialist move with the bailout. That was both Republicans and Democrats so she shouldn’t have any problems working with the other parties. – yes i’m being snarky.
• Vice President: Robert Moses
• FEC P80005572: $9,471
http://www.pslweb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=votepsl_home
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Candidate Peace And Freedom Ralph Nader – He would’ve had the Trigun fan in me if he’d only gone with the Peace and Love party…
• Vice President: Matt Gonzalez
• FEC P20000527: $3,090,538
http://www.votenader.org/
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Candidate Socialist Party USA Brian Patrick Moore – Another Socialist Party? Thought we were for Capitalism. Glad we each have a right to believe differently.
• Vice President: Stewart A. Alexander
• FEC P80005275: $9,516
http://www.votesocialist2008.org/
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Candidate Socialist Workers Party James E. Harris – another one? Wouldn’t it be better for all the socialists to team up and not split their votes?
• Vice President: Alyson Kennedy. The Party’s Presidential nominee, Róger Calero, having been born in Nicaragua, does not meet the Constitutional requirements for President.
http://www.themilitant.com/campaign/
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Candidate Write-in Frank Moore – Okay, I’m not making this up, but it says on his site, that if you love party and weed then this is your guy.
• Vice President: Susan Block
http://www.frankmooreforpresident08.com/
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Candidate Independent Party Alan Keyes – this guy like Baldwin has a good grasp on the history of our country and the Constitution as well. – I also think he’s got the best website for actually being able to tell what he is for.
http://www.americasrevival.com/
=======================================
Candidate Write-In Ben Stein – I don’t know if he’s running or if people just threw this site up in support of him. I believe other than Baldwin or Keyes, Stein also has a good grasp on the Constitution. Anyone got any info as to whether he is really running or not?
http://www.benstein4president.com/
=======================================

The advanced editor for myspace doesn’t work with a Mac so I’ll have to do these links manually. Please forgive the formatting, it looks real ugly during my edit. I’ll do my best. I may even get my previous posts’ links to work.

Update: Some of these people scare me. Some of them have good points.

Questions to God about evil.

How long, Lord, must I call for help
and You do not listen,
or cry out to You about violence
and You do not save?

Why do You force me to look at injustice?
Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.

This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.

Questions from the prophet Habakkuk.

Free will vs. God’s will this election.

This is primarily for Christians and Conservatives. Others are welcome to read it too, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

One thing that I’ve struggled with is the election. Ultimately I believe God is in charge and whoever is elected He will guide and influence depending not on the man that is elected but according to the hearts of the voters when they voted. How did I come to this? Well, that’s what I’m about to try and explain. My struggle is how I should respond to the people voting for them.

As a Christian, I believe I should stand up against lies. In this case there seems to be a lot of lies and misunderstandings and so I’m writing this in hopes of revealing the truth and my struggle.

I’m not trying to tell you who to vote for. I just want to provide my thoughts on this and the info I have and you can decide what you want.

I won’t vote for Obama because I disagree with him on too many issues that I won’t give on. I currently have more respect for him than McCain however, since Obama doesn’t claim to be a conservative.

McCain however is a liberal claiming to be conservative and claiming to be Pro-Life and Pro-Family when he is not. Or at least his campaign and some sources are claiming these things. The only thing I think I agree on with him is his position on the war. But I won’t give in on the other two to vote for him.

=====================================
Here are some links to back this up.

McCain Opposes a Human Life Amendment and wants states to decide abortion, which means he’s pro-choice on murder on some level:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2008/Jun/03/where_they_stand__obama__mccain_on_the_issues.html

Cindy McCain doesn’t want Roe v. Wade overturned

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/cindy_mccain_wants_roe_in_plac.php

McCain’s pro-life convictions murky according to respected pro-life activist/blogger Jill Stanek:

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64177

McCain bucks party platform, for federally-funding the destruction of human embryos depsite saying he believes life begins at conception:

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/as-president-jo.html

McCain sends RINO Arlen Specter out to defend him on destroying human embryos:

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=36356

Right after Sarah Palin tells Charlie Gibson “you don’t create life to destroy life” John McCain releases an ad touting how he favors destroying human embryos:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mccain-launches-pro-stem-cells-ad-2008-09-12.html

McCain calls Constitutional Amendment protecting marriage “Un-Republican”:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/mccain.marriage/

McCain again opposes Marriage Amendment in 2006:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/06/same.sex.marriage/index.html

Homosexual activists believe they can work with McCain:

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid61284.asp

Senior McCain advisor campaigns for Log Cabin (Gay) Republican endorsement, tells them “your day is going to come”:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122091977807312715.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

http://www.thehollywoodliberal.com/2008/09/05/video-top-mccain-aide-tells-gay-republicans-you-are-an-important-part-of-our-party/

links found on http://www.whoradio.com/pages/stevedeace.html?page=2

I had some links of my own, but these were conveniently located and these were enough.
=====================================

You see my issue is not Obama or his supporters. My issue is with McCain’s supporters. A lot of conservatives and Christians are supporting McCain, and some of the arguments are that McCain is Pro-Life and Pro-Family. But according to these links he is not, and if we vote for McCain, we seem to be voting for someone who doesn’t hold the same convictions as us.

I’ve talked and listened to a few people that think that with Palin as VP this makes voting for McCain ok. Maybe…

I don’t want to vote for McCain simply because he has Palin running with him. My biggest problem with this is she claims to hold the same positions I do, but she lacks the conviction to act on them. She borrows terms from McCain that she feels personally one way but will act on the policies set forth by McCain. How does someone believe one way and act another? This is split-minded if you ask me. I don’t want to vote for her either based on this.

Here’s the deal though. I’m only human. I don’t know what God has planned and I don’t know what is in each person’s heart. If you are convinced in the Spirit who you should vote for then do it. God used Nebuchadnezzar and ole’ Neb was an evil king. If God can use him then God can use one of these two. God also worked David in to replace Saul. Maybe McCain will win, then die and we’ll get what I consider a much more conservative person… ok I hope McCain doesn’t die, but still… Anyway, My job is only to post my thoughts and information to support my thoughts as best I can.

But why don’t more people consider a 3rd party candidate? I mean voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil. If we ought to stand for what is good shouldn’t we hold our ground and vote for someone who is better? Or write someone in.

I am planning to vote for a 3rd Party Candidate.

But do I vote thinking my guy will win? Won’t my vote be wasted? No and No. That won’t stop me from voting for the way I best see God leading me to. Because as I said before, this election depends on the hearts of the people voting more than the people running. If I can’t reconcile with God to vote for Obama and McCain as a just thing to do then I ought not to do it, no matter the consequences because the consequences are also in God’s hand.

I believe that God is sovereign and I believe that people have free will.

The best example I can think of to back this up is the story of Jonah.

Basically God tells Jonah to tell the people of Ninevah to repent and turn from their wicked ways or they will be destroyed.

It feels like to me when most people talk of God’s will that it is unchanging no matter the circumstance, that God must’ve planned it that way all along sort of thing. (Sometimes this may apply, but I don’t think always.)

Others think that we are running around on our own and all of these problems belong to us to work out on our own.

I think that these are two too extreme views. In the story of Jonah, God says to repent. Then says if they do, He will forgive them. If they don’t then He will destroy them.

And that’s it. We get the choice to seek God’s way or not, and I think God will do with us according to what we do in order to bring us back to Him.

So my thought is this, if we try to control the outcome of the election by voting for who we think is best, then God will deal with us accordingly. If we vote our best seeking God’s will then no matter who wins the election then God will use that man regardless of that man’s personal stance.

It would be great if the winner’s personal stance and convictions fell in line with God’s. Our government was setup to be run by God fearing people. In this case, we may get someone who is not God fearing and whoever gets in, may well serve their own needs … If we let them.

You see no matter who wins, they are our president. We should watch them like a hawk and put pressure on them to do what is right. McCain after all, did finally concede that he needs the Christians to win. He did that when he got Palin. Obama also seems to want our votes too. So our opinions and our views do hold some power of influence thru prayer, our voice, and petition.

I hope this makes sense. I started writing this a couple of weeks ago and recompiled it. If I missed something, got something wrong, or you got a question, please let me know.