The Election is Not Over Until Certification Day

 

Observing posts on Facebook, I conclude that  many people do not understand how elections are managed. This is understandable for most people who have not served as a poll worker on election day.

I further conclude that many people who should know, take political messaging advantage of this situation to stir up conflict for political gain.

I have served as a poll worker in Elkhart County for many election cycles. I offer the following…

Just a few of the quality control measures we perform before election day and through election day:

Poll workers are required to attend training before election day.

On the day of election, poll workers take an oath regarding many provisions, the first being to support the Constitution of the United States and the Indiana State Constitution.

We run a “zero tape” before the polls open and a before any votes are cast. This tape is a print-out of the record of all votes cast for all races. Before polling begins, it should show zero for each of all races. We then have everyone in the election center sign that they agree that no votes have been cast before the polls open.

All actions throughout the day are done by Republican and Democrat workers working together.

If a voter needs help with navigating their ballot, a form is signed by both and Republican and Democrat workers and then both of those, together, assist the voter.

All of these signed forms are returned at the end of the day to election headquarters.

Many such activities like those are performed with both parties working together.

At the end of the day, the polling center supervisor and a main facilitator of the other party, together in same car, drive all election materials to election headquarters.

I assert, if any shenanigans take place, every poll worker at the election center must be in on it…Republican and Democrat.

You know those early voting ballots? They are saved in a secure location until election day (by law) and then tabulated on election day. There could be tens of thousands of these votes.

Have you ever, on election day, forgotten to bring your ID? You have the option of a “Provisional Ballot”. You may cast a ballot, but it will not be tabulated until you present your ID at the Clerk’s election office before “Certification Day.” Certification day is the final day to tabulate provisional ballots.

Certification day, according to each state law, may happen 30 days or more after election day.

The election is not over until Certification Day.

This is why the vote results may change from those reported on election night.

The following website, provided by National Council of State Legislatures, shows the Certification dates for each state.

Rather than be manipulated by those who know better and just want to stir your sense of political insult, check out this site and other Secretary of State sites of each State and see for yourself how elections are managed by Law.

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

The Declaration Does Not Endorse Ideological Violence

 

Often, I hear that “the people” have a right to bear arms to effect a change in government. Sometimes they say, “It’s in the Constitution.” But there is no provision anywhere in the Constitution for such violence.

I think what they refer to is a statement in the Declaration of Independence, of which the fullness of the sentence follows…

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

That sentence is a philosophical rather than legal statement in what is essentially a Congressional intent press release (significant and elaborate) rather than a legally authoritative document.

Please note that the statement describes a “long line of abuses” including “absolute Despotism.”

It does not authorize or encourage violence against the government merely because a faction of the people disagrees with the ideological landscape in the nation.

The preponderant point of the Declaration was to communicate, to a candid world, the justification of “last resort” action when all good faith negotiations had failed.

The Declaration was never intended to excite future generations to attack the Capitol, or any other hall of government, at any time, even when a Constitutional process is taking place of which some people object.

As we approach our Semi Quincentennial, let’s not only attend a parade and wave a flag, let’s actually read the Declaration.

littera scripta manet

The Christian Faith Does Not Need the Endorsement of Government

 

 

image from churchvisuals.com

 

During all of my life, every Sunday, as well other days of the week, churches have held services in which confession and repentance has been offered, praise has been lifted, a return to God has been observed; In houses of worship which open with a literal or implied Invocation of the Presence of God.

In fact, the predominant religion in the Untied States is, and always has been, Christian.

I have read credible statistics indicating that between 62% and 66% of adults in the United States are Christians.

The idea that this nation has ever drifted away from this religion is inaccurate.

It is true that churches have suffered a decline in attendance over a number of decades but that does not indicate a decline in Christian devotion or sentiment.

It is likely that the 20^th century form of church, with large buildings, structured Sunday/Wednesday meeting times and scripted liturgical conduct, is giving way to in-person and Zoom smaller gatherings of sincere Christinas who Pray, study, and care for each other in much the same way as is described in Acts 2: 42-47.

These new “gathering “structures will not be countable and reportable for number and attendance.

Denominational structures with set and unflexible worship times, which formally gather and report attendance figures, may be transitioning to informal structures which have the flexibility to arrange meeting times for the availability of the participants.

This does not mean that the Christian faith is in decline. It is taking on new expressions.

Yes, from a cultural, rather than legally imposed, point of view, the United States is, has always been, and will for the future, be Christian as to religious identity, not by call, force, proclaimation, or prompt of government, but by the movement of the Holy Spirit. 

Encouraging Split Figure by Stephanie Lynn Miller

 

Split Figure is a psychological thriller that compels the reader to turn the page to discover yet another hint or clue as to where the characters may be advancing.

The words, sentences, and paragraphs move lyrically such that the reader can almost hear a sound track accompanying the suspense, developing the plot, and punctuating the resolution.

This book is indeed an edge of the seat, turn the page suspense story sure to keep your interests.

The early pages begin to introduce you to the characters. Before long, around page six, the roller coaster of emotional thrill sets in and takes you for a literary amusement ride.

Split Figure by Stephanie Lynn Miller is available for purchase at amazon.com.

The paperback is $12.99

The Kindle digital download is $5.99

Granger Good Shepher United Methodist Church will be hosting a book-signing on Sunday, May 31^st following the 11:00AM worship service. The book signing will take place about 12:15PM.

Also that day, during the worship service, we will enjoy the incomparable voacal talent of Robert Michael Havard.

So, come on over, hear some great music, meet Stephanie Lynn Miller, author of Split Figure.

My video invitation can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S7A9iFchvE

Granger Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

 11:00 AM Eastern is our regular worship time on Sundays

51521 Elm Rd, Granger, IN 46530

Political Rights are Established by Governments

 

image from nbcnewyork,com

Recent ballot, legislative, and judicial activity among various States disproves the cliché, as some elected and appointed officials have put forward, that “Our rights come from God, not government.”

For sure, I acknowledge that basic human rights, or “unalienable” such as the natural desire to live, the wish for liberty from oppression, and a want to be content or happy are implanted by a Creator.

But political rights, such as free speech, gun ownership, freedom from being compelled to incriminate oneself in court, are not found in the Bible. Nor is the political right to vote.

These political rights are provided by government. This political right to vote is governed and regulated as to who can vote, where we can vote, what age we must attain, and sundry other State determined regulations.

There are many other rights that accrue from government, such as the right to drive, regulated by traffic rules and car insurance requirements.

I find it humorous to irritating that many of our elected and appointed lawmakers and judicial officers claim adherence to God and Bible yet are uninformed as to what that Bible actually does and does not say, particularly about “rights”.

I find it yet more revealing that they obviously are unaware that by holding a lawmaking or judicial position they do in fact provide, regulate, and dictate our various political rights and their parameters by their bill proposals for which they vote and decide.

God has not established these Congressional districts in which voters cast ballots. Governments have.

All of our political rights have been established, not by God, but by the officials we have elected to administer.

Let’s not be giving God a bad reputation by blaming him for our Gerrymandering.

Extraterrestrials, Government Revelation, and Abrahamic Faiths

 

Recent social media memes have alluded to a secret meeting between government officials and “some” pastors warning of a forthcoming release of files regarding aliens.

The story, which I read from a news publication which I shall not present here because I think the whole matter to be exaggerated if not fabricated, warns how the Christian public might respond to the revelatory files.

First, and minimally, I think, if true, these government officials and “some” pastors, in a condescending manner, underestimate the intelligence and faith of well-informed followers of the Abrahamic faiths.

Second, and a bit more weighted in importance, having studied the Bible for decades, I don’t find anything in either New Testament or what we Christians call the Old Testament (much respect to my Jewish friends) to suggest, deny, inform, verify, refute or otherwise address the notion of extraterrestrials or their habitats.

Thirdly, to make a somewhat trinitarian (lower case t) argument, I believe these three Abrahamic faiths accept God (or as I sometimes describe as “the initial cosmic impulse”) as creator of all that is in existence.

It is a shame that my friend Dean is no longer with us. He and I, both enthusiasts of extraterrestrials, time travel, and all things unearthly, would have had great discussions while out at the golf course swinging at aerodynamically designed, usually white, objects to chase if ever we made contact of first, second, or third kind.

 

Inviolable Conscience and King Charles III

 

Recently, King Charles III, speaking before Congress, spoke the following words…

“I am mindful that we are still in the season of Easter, the season that most strengthens my hope. It is why I believe, with all my heart, that the essence of our two Nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value all people, of all faiths, and of none.”

This King of England referred to Congress as “this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms.”

This British fellow seems to understand what many leaders, elected, podcasted, or substackted in the United States seem to have forgotten or never understood to begin with; that these “sacred rights and freedoms” are for all people, of all faiths, and of none.”

I again invoke a preeminent right embedded in the Constitution before even the Bill of Rights amended that Constitution…

Article VI clause 3....

but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

As a Christian, as a preacher, as a pursuer of Jesus teaching in action, I believe that we should always foster compassion, promote peace, deepen mutual understanding and  value all people whatever religion to which they subscribe or none. I am convinced that the most basic notion of the Unted States as envisioned by the framers is that each person is entitled to their inviolable conscience.

 

 

Sermon "To Be or Not to Be a Christ Follower

 

To Be or Not to Be A Christ Follower

Inspired by John 10:14-21

April 26, 2026

While we are focused on chapter ten of John this morning, it is useful to set the stage with the stuff of chapter nine…

Jesus healed a man born blind.

The Pharisees interrogate the healed man.

And then Jesus makes this statement to the Pharisees…

“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Now, there’s a sermon. Not today’s sermon though.

Today’s sermon is about hearing. The stuff in chapter nine was about seeing, being healed of blindness, from birth.

And chapter ten is about recognizing the voice of Jesus.

I am sure the other senses, taste, smell, and touch can have their sermon points too.

But let’s get tone for how to follow the voice of Jesus.

First, Jesus tells this abbreviated parable.

The other gospels are loaded with parables while John is focused much more on signs, miracles, and such.

So, when Jesus speaks figuratively in John, it gets my attention.

So, in this chapter ten, Jesus declares himself to be the gate.

And before I go further, allow me to situate ourselves.

In Jesus parables it is tempting to think of “The Kingdom of God” or even being “saved” as the right to enter the Heaven after we die.

I think Jesus, in his parables, and in this teaching we read today, is saying that the sheep who know the voice follow, now, and in the present, and now, in the present enjoy good pasture.

About right now I suspect you are thinking “Mike, you are speaking in figurative, parable-like words”

And so, just like Jesus explained his parable, I will try to explain my evasive idea.

Jesus makes this statement…

 I came that you may have life and have it abundantly."

So, that word “abundantly”…let’s anchor that to a couple of other Jesus situations in John…

Chapter two…the wedding at Cana. The wine runs low. Jesus, reluctantly, turns water into wine, abundantly. And, the best, as was stated…

 “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Yet another idea of abundance of Jesus comes from John 6… Jesus feeds five thousand…

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

So, I offer those two miracles as description of abundant life…the best wine later and more than enough left over after everyone is filled.

But, how do we recognize that in our own lives, in the present, when we see all of this disaster taking place in the world?

Please note, things were not hunky dory at the time of Jesus. As I mentioned last week, food was scarce. Rome wielded a heavy sword all around, tax collectors taking advantage of people. The people Jesus was talking to probably had more problems than we do today.

So, this abbreviated parable about sheep that hear and recognize the voice of the shepherd is somewhat of an insult to the Pharisees, the religious establishment.

Just like in chapter nine Jesus was calling the Pharisees blind. Here he is making the case that they were the thieves.

My, that must have felt insulting to the religious establishment.

The voice of Jesus, in John, is the accumulation of witnessed signs, miracles.

The wedding at Cana, The clearing of the money-changers at the Temple. Those were people who were takig advantage of people coming to the Temple to be right with God.

Jesus healed a man at a pool.

He feeds those five thousand.

He healed the man born blind.

Word gets around.

These signs and miracles are the voice of the shepherd…leaving the people to think “the Pharisees, the religious establishment did not provide for us. They took from us.”

So, who did they then choose to follow…the voice of care…in the here and now.

Yes, there is a lot of Jesus teaching about how to behave toward neighbors, enemies, and such. But also, and especially in the Gospel of John, we have much comfort from Jesus.

Just as I mentioned some signs and miracles witnessed in the day of Jesus and recorded in this Gospel, you too, if you take time to think about it, have had similar signs and miracles in your own personal lives.

Answered prayer.

Anticipated healings.

Unanticipated blessings such as babies.

Things that get reported here in this room when asked for “happy things”.

There are many voices clamoring about in our heads.

You are not good enough. You are not wealthy enough. You are not pretty or smart enough.

There is the voice of the devil speaking to us in our emotional and spiritual deserts; tempting us with power, glory, and all things if only we surrender to him.

And for sure, those voices, that devil, they want to deny you abundant life in the present, the here and now.

Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn “Jesus is Calling”

1 Jesus is tenderly calling you home,
calling today, calling today.
Why from the sunshine of love will you roam
farther and farther away?

Refrain:
Calling today,
calling today,
Jesus is calling,
is tenderly calling today.

The voice of the devil is about power, wealth, vengeance, self-serving conditions but only so long as you surrender to the devil. And, those conditions will only deplete over time.

It’s much like some people who live on a credit card, making only minimum payments each month while interest builds upon outstanding balance. Their actual living conditions deplete over time.

The voice of Jesus is about having life and having it abundantly, in the here and now, present life.

I am not a prosperity preacher. I do not mean to say that if you have faith God will make you financially successful.

But I do believe that Jesus intends to make you joyful, even in the midst of your enemies, be they spiritual, emotional, or cultural.

Listen to the voice of Jesus, enter his gate.

 

Reconciling Faith and Science

Einstein with Georges Lemaître 

 

In a science classroom in Detroit, 1964, I listened to the teacher explain about the Big Bang Theory of how the universe came into existence. As a person of reason and intellect, I was intrigued of this scientific idea.

At the same time, age nine, I was taking seriously the Bible and particularly the Book of Genesis in which the first couple of chapters describe the creation of all things.

Being a person of intellect and religious conviction, I found no conflict between the science and the religion.

I sat in that classroom as the teacher continued to explain and I thought to myself “So, that’s how God did it!”

I know, there are many people who will feel more comfortable choosing either the science or the Bible as their landing of belief. But I claimed both, eagerly and excitedly.

I saw the Genesis account as a larger, macro-level description of the fundamental aspects while the science provided the “nuts and bolts” of the cosmic operation.

To offer a somewhat inelegant metaphor, imagine looking on Mapquest for a particular address, in this particular case 1621 E 3rd St Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Our first big-picture view shows most of North America and some other areas.

But it does not show details such as individual State names and national roads.

A next level in provided state names along with a few city names and locations.

Those two map pictures situate us in the “Genesis, big picture view”. We will now move toward the science, micro-level view of things.

We see more detail. More city names and some roads begin to appear like a hard boiled egg cracked.

The next picture shows yet more detail, just as science would provide.

Well, now let’s jump to a closer view of things where we see very definable local streest and even some businesses in the area.

Through these map pictures we have traveled from the big picture, Genesis style overview to the scientific “nuts and bolts” street names and business locations to describe our identified address.

Just to further reconcile the religious and scientific approaches to creation, I offer the following information…

Georges Lemaître (born July 17, 1894, Belgium—died June 20, 1966) was a Belgian astronomer and cosmologist who formulated the modern big-bang theory, which holds that the universe began in a cataclysmic explosion of a small, primeval “super-atom.” (from Encyclopedia Britannica).

Mr. Lemaître was also a Catholic Priest.

The Big Bang Theory was not contrived by earth-bound misfits detached from spiritual influence; contrarily, it was postulated by a well-educated priest nurtured in God-focused faith.

Genesis provides the overall narrative.

Science reveals the specifics as to how God “knit it all together”.

The Faithful are Still in the Pews

 

image from Masterbundles.com

I have been reading the Bible diligently since I was nine years old, thanks to my grandmother, Nell Leach, my stepfather, George Eckenrode, and my pastor at the Alliance Baptist Church in Detroit with whom I argued much after each of his sermons.

My grandmother, Baptist, insisted I go to church.

My stepfather, Catholic, introduced me to Bible Commentaries which were available at the Monteith Public Library in Detroit.

My pastor, with whom I argued, seemed to have an emotionally manipulative approach to preaching while I was looking for a “reasoned out” approach in keeping with Apostle Paul’s approach found in Acts 18: 4 “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”

Over these last sixty-one years of paying attention to preachers, church attendance, faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus, and “Christian culture” in general, I have not seen a decline in authentic Christian belief.

          Contrarily, I have noticed those who had attended church from a sense of peer pressure, family expectation, or some other less than spiritual conviction, to finally release themselves from the burden and discontinue attendance.

   I have noticed a decline in attendance of salespeople seeking out prospects, politicians laundering their reputations, and lonely people looking for romantic dates.

Church was never intended by Jesus or the apostles to be a place of commerce, political campaigning, or romantic conquest.

Unfortunately, without all of those people of self-serving motivations, our congregations seem much smaller than they did in the nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies.

But I assert that the decline in attendance is much, much less a result of people losing faith and more the result of church no longer serving wealth and power seekers.

The faithful are still there; in the pews, serving the poor, feeding the hungry, and not even expecting a trophy for doing so.

Earth Day, April 22, 2026

 

Earth set from Artimis II
NASA image

Greetings inhabitants of Earth…

 Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day.

You can view my video here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jasaw33Gh7o

Job 12:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.

That is poetic language for sure. But it speaks a truth. Just as the native or original Americans believed, just as the following Native American Proverb teaches…

‘Treat the Earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.’

And also from the world of Confucius…

“If the foundations of living are strengthened and are economically used, then Nature cannot bring impoverishment. But if the foundations of living are neglected and used extravagantly, then Nature cannot make the country rich.” Xunzi, a student of Confucius.

Most, if not all ancient civilizations recognize the sacredness of nature.

On this Earth Day, may we also recognize the sacred aspect of nature, created by God, in some way. Even if it is merely taking a walk and enjoying the birds as they chirp.

Congress is the Principal Aspect of a Non-Monarchical Constitution

 

 

 

As I am an enthusiast of American history and founding documents, my wife is always diligent about discovery of items that relate to such interests.

Here I picture a coffee mug upon which is printed the first ten amendments to the Constitution, also known collectively as “The Bill of Rights”.

According to the National Archives the first ten amendments to the Constitution were ratified and became effective on December 15, 1791.

It is worth noting that the U.S. Constitution was originally ratified June 21, 1788.

More than three years earlier than the Bill of Rights.

I do not suggest that the Bill of Rights to be a mere afterthought.

But, given a recent sharing of a meme on Facebook indicating “The Constitution does not give you rights. It precludes the government from taking them from you.”

That is true but so seriously simplistic as to diminish the truer sense of the Constitution.

Faithful to the Declaration’s promise of a non-monarchical form of government, the Constitution provides for a means of government equitably distributed between legislative, executive, and judicial aspects.

While the Preamble describes the scope and purpose of the Constitution, its various Articles, sections, and clauses jointly construct a means by which the States, and therefore, people can engage with certain predictable circumstances.

The Constitution provides Congress with much legislative authority. I believe Congress to be the primary source of the will and consent of the governed while the Executive is an agent of Congress (see foot note in italics regarding Neil Gorsuch) to see to it that the laws are faithfully executed.

The Judiciary being the final authority, short of further amendment or legislation, when there is argument to resolve.

I fear that many voters and others are under the erroneous understanding that every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November that we elect a quadrennial monarch to govern, not according to consent of the governed, but according to whim of a faction of the governed that won the election.

I fear that Congress, the framer’s primary Constitutional provision, is thereby set aside as an incidental aspect to be kept in a closet along with the Constitution and brought out only for ceremonial occasions, such as The State of the Union.

I advocate for a return of primacy of Congress, an agency of the Executive, and a prudent expansion of the Judiciary to a sufficient number of Justices such that personality and celebrity of those Justices is well subordinated to published opinions. Perhaps majority and dissenting opinions remain anonymous.

 

Gorsuch quote…

Article I of the Constitution vests all federal legislative power in Congress, and Article II charges the executive branch with seeing that Congress’s laws are faithfully executed. In a very real sense, then, when it comes to legislative power, Congress is the principal and executive officials are the agents

Found on page 14 of the Gorsuch concurrence of the Supreme Court Opinion…

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_new_3135.pdf

1969, Detroit, Boblo Isalnd, and Miss Bombardier: A Micro Memoir

 

 

Twiggy

Miss Bombardier (pronounced Bomb-bar-dee-yaa), the girl recently from Quebec, and expected to return, sat next to me in seventh grade art class at Carsten’s Elementary school in Detroit, 1969.

That's me...1969

Both of us enviously mature at the age of thirteen. Well, at least she seemed so mature. Her natural height exceded mine and then she also wore heels, most usual, and also she was accompanied by peerless self-confidence and vocabulary that could intimidate a classical novelist.

I respectfully addressed her as Miss Bombardier taking care to not presume familiarity with which to even speak her first name, as it seemed a gentlemanly manner to observe. She donned hair style similar of the famed model Twiggy, though brunette rather than blond, and clothing style, also similar, yet more elegant than Twiggy’s, and yet more impressive was her intellectual capacity; all of this left me perplexed as to why she seemed so infatuated with me. But I was smart enough to not ask questions.

Boblo Island Boat

As we approached completion of seventh grade we discussed attending the class-trip to Boblo Island, an amusement park on the Ontario side of the Detroit River. It was our agreement that we would attend together, as an adventurous duo, me, originally from the State of Tennessee, and she, from Quebec. We both giggled when she described it as an international diplomacy summit, and then quickly caught our serious selves and regained our studious composures.

My grandmother, by whom I was raised, provided me with spending cash for our rides and other amusements and sufficient money with which an aspiring gentleman could entertain a date with an impressive meal and a proper tip.

It turned out that, like me, Miss Bombardier was not amused with rides and games of the popular amusement park, though we did appreciate the zoo. But what impelled her emotional interest was the dance pavilion.

We danced together many tunes played by a Dixie band, she, waving her arms and bouncing off the floor with enlivened grace, her bulbous earrings swaying pendulum-like with each landing and succeeding jump, smiling at me the whole time, her giggles interrupted only briefly to babble something in Quebec French, which I did not understand, nor did I ask questions regarding. If she was happy and entertained, I felt accomplished.

The dance pavilion

Later, after dinner, sitting on a bench awaiting the boat for the return home, Miss Bombardier, wearing t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, thrust her left leg over my right leg and, lifting my ever-present ink pen from my shirt pocket and wagging it back and forth before me, enthusiastically instructed me to “Draw a flower on my knee, Charles”. I immediately and with great care obliged with a daisy.

The ride back on the boat, evening to night, found us on the top deck looking at a navy-blue night sky bespeckled with stars and a cool breeze to evaporate the heat of the day. We listened to the lapping of waves against the hull of the boat while the bands played on a deck below us.

Miss Bombardier, full of smile and quite impulsively, kissed me affectionately on my right cheek and then whispered something in Quebec French, which I did not understand, except, of course, my name “Charles” which she spoke with such a fetching accent.

But I did not wish to ruin an ephemeral seventh-grade affectionate moment under such majestic conditions by asking questions.

I’m sure her memory of the event had evaporated as quickly as steam from the surface of coffee by the time she and her family had returned to Quebec.

But still, I wonder how long she allowed that flower to reside on her knee.

My Fatigue with Religious Leaders Enabling Civilian Leaders toward UnChristian Conduct

 

image from https://www.montroselutheranchurch.org/

Esther, of the Old Testament book “Esther”, was never a Christian…a Christ follower.

Heroic as was Esther (Hadassah being her “birth certificate” name) we continue to speak of her by her oppressor’s name given to her.

But my immediate point is heroic as she was, in her historical context, she never claimed to be a Christ follower. Of course, I acknowledge that she lived hundreds of years before Jesus and thus never had opportunity to hear his teachings.

But those of us who claim Jesus have much opportunity to know the teachings of Jesus.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide the attitudes, the teachings, and the sacrificial conduct of Jesus.

For sure the writings of the Old Testament are inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

But when there is a conflict of moral discernment, those that profess Jesus should land with the Jesus teaching rather than try to find some Old Testament words that will provide faux justification for them to behave in ways undistinguishable from the world.

Moses said that there should be no work on the sabbath. He said that anyone who worked on the sabbath would die. And he lived up to that notion when a fellow caught picking firewood on the sabbath was put to death (Numbers 15:32-36).

Jesus did some of his best work on the sabbath, in the synagogue, healing people.

As a Christ follower, where do you choose to land?

Moses said to not eat gentile food. Jesus often had dinner with gentiles.

As a Christ follower, which teaching is to be followed.

Moses said to throw a stone at a woman caught in adultery. Jesus saved that woman.

As Christians, do we subscribe to Jesus’ teachings or a “pick and choose” selectivity of Scripture to excuse our self-centered goals and pursuits?

I continue to become increasingly fatigued of religious leaders who pick and choose words from the Bible to enable and excuse civilian leaders to behave in ways that are indistinguishable from those that they denounce.

A true revival of religion among Christians will be achieved when Christians actually open the gospels and read for themselves the attitudes, teachings and conduct of Jesus. And then seek to follow that model in all that we do.