When we CLANG!

As this tumultuous 2020 Election season grinds along into late November I share the timeless truths found in the words of Apostle Paul.

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. .  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing... ​1 Corinthians 13:1-3  

and may I add.. If I vote for the 'correct' candidates based on issues of the day but do not  have  love.. well..  ​I CLANG!

More derisive and farther from love than a bitter Hollywood marriage/divorce/reality TV show is the 2020 election season. Our American election process is a model of the 1 Corinthians 13:1 CYMBAL. 

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Now, over two weeks since election night.. the stories of election fraud are growing.  I am not even saying who are the winners but only to declare election fraud is real and it is HUGE. 

In our America weeks after the election bags of uncounted votes continue to be found in various  and sundry nooks and cranny locations including in Florida a bag of ballots the stomach of a  large gator. Ok, I made the gator one up.  In Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Nevada just to name a few stories of corruption and fraud clang loudly their 1 Corinthians 13:1 Cymbals.  Votes were even discovered with the body of  Jimmy Hoffa (and Jimmy voted!) in an undisclosed location.  Ok, surprise I made the Hoffa one up too.

Don't get me wrong, elections are important, and so is my vote,  and there are many good candidates, but the process often strays far from issues of substance  and  is reduced  to demonizing your opponent.  It  is not that we disagree (even strongly) but instead our opponent is Hitler, Stalin, Darth Vader, The Joker, and Hanibal Lector all rolled into one... and they tease cats!

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Then we go to church on Sunday for a reprieve from this bad old election vibe with all the good  people  of  God.  But if I read the 'Christian press' 'the church is also divided by political, and  racial lines.  I hear the terms 'white evangelicals' , and 'Christian 'conservatives' placed on us that are.. white and/or conservative. CLANG, CLANG.  Hey.. I resemble those remarks! I'm a White Evangelical Christian that is conservative.  

But it is not just about race, it is abortion, the border, gay marriage where we don't just disagree with are divided, and oh do we ever CLANG.

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The good  news is  there is  only God's Truth and it goes well beyond race and/or political issue or persuasion.  We are all  God's children red and yellow, black and  white, or politically red or blue are precious  in his  sight.  But .. without love, and a willingness to obey His word.. our God blessed differences become divisions implied and/or real.

God's two greatest commandments are to  love  God with all our heart soul and mind  and  love others as ourselves.  Love does not CLANG. Oh we will see differently on issues  on solutions and methods  for society to live  by but let's pray for God's Truth (his word) to be our guide. I pray I am and we all are sensitive to others who are different than we  are and that race and our God blessed unique wirings (differences) all are first and foremost God honoring.

In Christ we are the same.. one body many different parts, and viva  la difference.

May God bless and use each of you in the ways we are uniquely wired serve Him and  others.

​Jeff