Voting Your Faith

                                             Candidates Goldwater 1964 & Willkie 1940


It is my experience in Westchester County, New York, that many Christians do not vote.  Some Christians feel marginalized and distrustful of local politicians.  This blog post is for you!  I came from a family who was engaged in the political process.  I always remember lively debates on life's questions at the dinner table.  Those discussions included the political ramifications of various moral issues.  My family held a variety of opinions and amid them, I felt free to think through ideas and issues and develop my own opinions.  My parents both taught me that it was a right and a privilege to vote.

For the most part, I have memories of teachers educating without prejudice.  Teachers who taught principles of science, economics and history and then stood back to allow students to draw their own
conclusions.  When a homework assignment required an analysis, my classmates and I knew that it did not matter what your political leanings were but, how well you presented your case.

I remember before a presidential election, in elementary school, that one teacher encouraged us to get up and make a presentation for our candidate.  So it was in the midst of learning to make an effective presentation that we were openly discussing our political leanings.  It is interesting to note that no one was insulted nor afraid of expressing their ideas.

   Democratic Candidates over the years

             
Perhaps because of my freedoms or because of my innate nature I have been politically active throughout most of my life.  By the time I was in high school, I was happily going door to door to get signatures for local candidates running for Office.  The reactions to me bringing politics to people's
front doors ran a gamut of  possibilities : 1. People knew who they were voting for and did not wish
to sign my petition.  2. Some people used the opportunity to ask questions about issues. 3. Or, people signed my petition.

College stands out as a time of political awakening and activism in one's life and perhaps more so for me.  There were buses to Washington D.C., town meetings to attend and volunteer work to do.  I continued this into my adulthood in Westchester County, NY.  I wish I could rap about it :  School Board, Trustee, County Exec.  Phone banks, social media and stabs in the back.  Fund raising, vote shaving, where is that check?  Both parties compromising, and promises not kept.  Volunteer burn out, low voter turnout.  Name calling, forestalling, issues addressed.

A lot has changed in New York politics over the years.  For the most part, Westchester now has one political party, which is the Democratic Party.  Elections in some villages need not be held, because
there is only one candidate, a liberal democrat.  Other candidates who dare come forward are shouted down and insulted.  The teachers and professors here require allegience to liberal principles from Kindergarten to University.  Students will be penalized if they do not espouse those views.  Further, it would be inconceivable that any other view could be held, let alone intelligently defended!

 The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas-a trial of spiritual resolve : the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated.

Ronald Reagan

Yes, I have seen both fairness and corruption in the world of politics in all the major and minor parties I have associated with in New York State.  No party however, has the moral high ground.  What a bitter pill for a young idealist to swallow!  What is one to do when one's idealism is destroyed and the truth comes rushing in? The Bible has a thing or two to say about institutions, religious
prejudice and corruption and we should learn to view the world of politics through God's lens.  The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln had this to say about the importance of the Bible, " In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man.  All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book.  But for it we could not know right from wrong.  All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it." ( Sept. 7, 1864 )

The Apostle Paul utilized the benefits of his Roman citizenship to his advantage amid his life as an evangelist.  As we go about our lives and consider how to serve God, let us not forget the advantages that voting can have to advance the precepts of our faith.  If you agree with the above quote by Abraham Lincoln, than consider how important it is to vote with the wisdom that God has imparted to you and how it may help people.  The Second Letter of Paul the Apostle to Timothy, Chapter 3
verses 16-17 (NKJV) says, " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  The Bible equippes us to correct the wrongs not only in our life, but in the countries that we live in.  It thoroughly equippes us to have the wisdom to vote correctly.  Pray, and vote for the candidate who best represents biblical principles.

Valentine's Day Reflections

                                                   Scraps of Fabric =  Homemade Hearts 

One of the deepest desires of the heart is to love and to be loved.  In our earliest childhoods we all have memories of an all abiding deep love for a parent or parent figure who was central to us.  We depended on them for food, clothing and shelter.  They were our protector.  They were the person or person(s) who taught us right from wrong and hugged us when we were hurt, frightened or insecure.

In our childish way, our parents or grandparents, seemed like superheroes to us.  If I just ran behind my mother's shirt it was as if I was hidden by an invisible cloak and safe from all danger.  How many of you would miss your mother so much that you would not even wish to go to summer camp or a sleepover?  Some of you went your whole childhoods just longing for more time and fun experiences with your parents.  Fishing, swimming, or simply one-on-one quality time with your parent was the
biggest desire of your heart.

As we grow we begin to see that maybe dad never had any time for us, and mother was not the most affectionate person in the world.  Or worse, dad hits mom and mom drinks too much.  What about my grandparents have custody of me because my dad is a drug dealer and mom is schizophrenic!  At the very least we must come to terms with the truth that the panoply of adults in our life were not perfect. They failed to protect, and to love just when we needed it most.

Origami from Vintage Magazine

The childhoods that we had, including what we were taught about God have a big influence upon the
direction and choices that we make in our love life.  To make the most of our love life, we need to
assess what we learned about relationships in our home and what God desires relationships to be.

Deuteronomy 5:9-10 (ESV) says, "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of 
the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands [of generations, see 7:9], to those who love Me and keep My commandments."   

The above passage from Deuteronomy describes the consequences of our actions as having far-reaching implications for future generations.  It is critically important that we realize how much our 
words and actions effect our children, grandchildren, and foster children.  We role model through our behavior every moment of the day.  So, if your mother and father screamed and yelled or gave each other the silent treatment every time they had a disagreement, then you learned incorrect conflict 
resolution.  What if your parents were always one step away from bankruptcy, how might that affect the way you approach finances in your own marriage? What if your boyfriend or girlfriend  came from a family of alcoholics?  

So often, we don't ask ourselves the right questions when we are dating.  Instead relying on our feelings, we sometimes run right back and recreate our own dysfunctional childhood family!   Romans 7:15 (NIV) states "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."  The Apostle Paul quite effectively describes our attempts and failures to change.  We tell ourselves I am going to have a better marriage than my parents did and find ourselves married to the same type of moocher that our grandfather, father and brother 
were.  

This origami heart can be slipped over a lollipop.  

Where was God through your whole dating process? Did you just call on Him when your relationship started to fail?  If so, it is time to make some changes in your life.  You need to begin to pray to find the relationship that God wants you to be in.  If you are married, it is time to change habits that you have so that your behavior is more closely aligned with Biblical principles of virtue.  One of the themes in the Bible is love.  The Bible explains what love is, what actions constitute real love, and it  

gets you in touch with the source of that love, which is God.  God desires to be the center of your  

family.  In Ecclesiastes, God is described as a third cord in the rope of your marriage.  There is an expression that, "two heads are better than one." Well, a cord made of three strands is stronger than a cord made of two, especially if one of those cords is God.  Nothing can harm your relationship if both of you keep God in your midst.   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 shows that “Two are better than one, because they have a good 

return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  Resolve to make God the center of your life and your relationships will get better.

Putting God first is the beginning of a positive new direction.  God is holy and good.  His plans for you are even better than the plans that you have for yourself.  You have tried it on your own, how well has that worked out for you?  How well is it working for those around you?  Practically everyone that I know is divorced or bitter about some break-up. Why not give God a chance?  God knows what we need and in Psalm 37:4 (KJV) it says, "  Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."   Make a determination to study the Bible today because unless our hearts are changed by God, we will continue to make some of the same mistakes that our families made.  We will continue to pick " bad boys" or choose people who use and abuse us.  I wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day.  A day of growth and change.

                                               Look what a friend gave me!

WHEN WERE YOU BORN?

 

Detail of a ceiling at Grand Central Station in NYC depicting the Zodiac

                      

It has been on my mind for quite some time to talk about horoscopes.  Many people follow astrology or their daily horoscopes.  Just in the past two months, it has started to bother me because so many people have asked me, "when is your birthday?"  Just in case you are wondering, it is not so that they may purchase a gift for me. No, it was to ascertain who I am based on what sign of the zodiac that I am.  

Let me relate some of those encounters and conversations.  

1. I was at a concert talking to a woman who teaches in a local reformed Jewish Temple's kindergarten program here in Westchester New York.  As we had a robust debate, she casually asked me, " when were you born?"  After I related my birthday, she concluded that we debated like the animal zodiac symbols that supposedly represented us.  Wow, I knew she went to a reform synagogue, but how reformed are they? So reformed that they have reformed the Word of God?

Deuteronomy 4:19 (NIV)- “And when you look up to the sky 
and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly 
array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 

2. I really seemed to connect to this woman Cheryl ( not her name ) that I met at a party which I attended in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  We enjoyed talking about crafts, we laughed at the same jokes and my husband even thought that we looked a little bit alike!  Don't you know midway through the party, she asked me,"when was I born?" People at the party marveled how similar we were and when they found out our birthdays were a few days apart there was definitely some oohs and aahs. Business people, chefs, two NYC school teachers didn't believe in God but were willing to believe that a configuration of stars were responsibility for who and what we are.  Ready to be lead of the stars rather than God himself ✝. 

Isaiah 47:13-14 (CEV)
You have worn yourself out, asking for advice from those
who study the stars and tell the future month after month. Go ask them how to be saved from what will happen. People who trust the stars are as helpless as straw in a flaming fire. No one can even keep warm, sitting by a fire that feeds only on straw.

Detail of a ceiling in Grand Central Station in NYC depicting Pegasus

3. A man who I attend Church with has been a baptized Christian for several years but has only recently realized that his speech and some possessions that he has in his home may not be pleasing to God. The Bible instructs us to not neglect fellowship with other Christians because time spent together encourages us to be our very best.  I think that is what occurred when Brother Ron ( not his real name ) and I spent some time together.  After several get togethers I realized that Brother Ron often assessed people with a little help from zodiac signs.  

I don't even think he realized he was doing this.  Habits both good and bad become second nature to us.  So ingrained are these behaviors that unless we make it a priority to change them, they will remain.  I had prayed about this and now the time had finally come when I knew that I must speak up and challenge him.  It seems Ron had been a New Age believer before he came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior and had numerous books at home on the topic.  

Deuteronomy 17:2-3 ( CEV)
The Lord your God is giving you towns to live in. But later, a man or a woman in your town may start worshiping other gods, or even the sun, moon, or stars. I have warned you not to worship other gods, because whoever worships them is disobeying the Lord and breaking the agreement he made with you. 

Many people think that the daily perusal of a horoscope is innocent fun, probably members in good standing at your Church or Synagogue believe this.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In the Holy Scriptures, God explains the reason why he created the stars, the moon and the planets and it is not to direct our lives.  One of the themes in the Bible, is to beware of idolatry and following other gods.  We are, according to the Ten Commandments to, " have no other God before Him." Exodus 20:3.

We desire to understand and find a purpose and direction for our lives.  We need to know how to interact with one another and where we will go when we die.  How do we fit in with the universe?  Astrology and Christianity have very different ways of answering the questions of life.  The stars are inanimate created objects.   What about us?  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" - Genesis 1:27 KJV.  What about the stars?  "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands" - Hebrew 2:7 KJV.  Did you catch that?  The stars are the works or creation of God and we have been set above them.  Meaning do not look to the stars for guidance.  We are lower than the Angels, who are messengers of God and finally God is at the top of all creation.  Our God who always was and always will be.  A living God who loved us so much that He sent us salvation through His Son.  Let us entrust Him with the questions of our life and not the stars.

It is so important that we get this straight lest we misled others.  Christians and Jews have a responsibility to hold onto and teach the truth which God has entrusted to us.  1 Timothy 4:1 ( KJV) - "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."  As this verse from first Timothy shows, the stakes are high.  Please pray and study the Bible.  God bless you.