Politics!

I almost couldn't believe my ears.  I heard a Democrat say that the national unemployment rate was coming down.  A Republican followed the point with the claim that the number was inaccurate because it didn't account for those who have given up on finding a job.  The Republicans said the Democrats hid the real numbers.

Two days later.  The Republican Governor of Michigan shared the news that the unemployment rate of the State was coming down.  The news story was followed by a Democrat saying that the numbers aren't accurate because they didn't account for those who have given up on finding a job.  They said they hid the real numbers.

I remember conversations a lot like that when I was in Mrs. Black's 3rd grade classroom.  The issue wasn't unemployment but the basic tone was the same (for the record it was my friend Spike's fault - I remember).

Is anyone getting tired of this?  My trust-o-meter is running low.  Talk shows, editorials, blogs, debates, comments on blogs, and even conversations are including more visceral anger and insults to having a differing view.

At the risk of sounding arrogant as a pastor I would like to proclaim that there is hope for our Nation and it is not in the election of a Congressman, Senator, or President.  The answer is not in adding another law or reforming an existing one.  We will not fix this Nation by choosing the right side and defeating the wrong side.  And it will not be found in hunting down and killing every enemy we can find.

God has woven the answer for the nations into the fabric of the churches of the nations.  When they stop being self centered and self seeking, when they find the heart of priorities that are eternal, when they throw programs aside and minister to souls, when they hold the call of Christ higher than the traditions of man, when they let the Spirit of God empower them to be the men and women of God in work places and schools, when they quit fighting with each other and carry the cross they've been given, when they quit shopping for the perfect church and give themselves to servanthood, when they spend their life being the Church rather than going to church - then we will be in a healthy condition to help elect leaders to direct a nation.

Until then, I'm afraid we're just adding to the noise,

Praying For the Church,

Pastor Dave