Tori, speaking of nuts, look at this site!

http://www.nuts.com/chocolatessweets/old-time-candy/candy-corn.html

Read the reviews—-they say it arrives overnight and it’s incredibly fresh! (“Overnight” could teach us patience.) And the prices are reasonable.

Your plans for tomorrow sound like a buttload of fun!!!! Or, a canoe full of fun! Either one! Have a great time! And give your mom a hug for us and a happy birthday!

Can’t resist telling you about tomorrow and the next day. My Gramma turns 90 tomorrow and I turn (muffles voice so unintelligible) on Friday. My Mom, Aunt (here from Oklahoma), cousin (Gramma’s niece that she practically raised), Gramma and I (who Gramma also raised) are staying overnight in the town where Gramma is from–and doing little side trips to places she lived, little shops, etc. Tomorrow, tho’ Gramma doesn’t know this yet, we’re dropping her off for awhile at a classmate’s house–with another classmate joining them. They’re all still in their own homes! We’re leaving them to talk alone for awhile–with cake of course!!! We should have SO MUCH fun!!! I think I told you all a year and a half ago that I wrote a poem about this same group (Mom, Gramma, Aunt, Cousin and me) I called “5 Old Broads”–well the “5 Old Broads” are off for more adventure!!!

LindaB– Kind of an all-purpose insult, isn’t it? Ah, the ever-changing beauty and nuances of the English language!

Tori, I looked up “douchcanoe”………..I wanna be cool and in the know too. And I was laughing my head off. This is one definition:

The Word Explaining Just HOW Big Of A Douche You Are.
Basically, Your Douche-ness Could Fill A Canoe.

http://www.kirkbytimes.co.uk/alaughitems/crack/crack.html

I thanked him sweetly and waited until he left the room before pawing through the Autumn Mix to dig out the few pieces of real candy corn that are hidden in there among all those stupid pumpkins and such.

I’m not going NEAR that store brand foolishness.

I could kick myself—-I saw a display of candy corn at Walmart last week and past it by because I still had some at home. Now I wish I’d grabbed ‘em! What a douchcanoe I am! LOL

Okay, I would love to see this someday——-the president of the United States is speaking at the U.N. General Assembly. His speech writer is you! And he refers to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “that idiot douchecanoe!” Oh yes! Think about it!

Now you’ve got me worried– what if he can’t find it?????

Or, worse– what if he comes home with some store brand version and not BRACHS???

Election, schmelection– I NEED MY CANDY CORN, YA’LL!!

You know, YOU would make a good presidential speech writer! Think about it!

Now, I need to discuss another thorny problem we have in this country. It’s an outrage and I’m tempted to call Fox News and get them onto this story! It’s two weeks after Halloween and tonight I searched Walmart and Meijers for carmel candy corn and there was none to be had!!! Zippo! Nadda! Plenty of Christmas candy, but no Halloween candy. Now I’m really upset! I am so addicted to that whole candy corn and peanut thing. My daughter Candy was over last night and she said she saw one of those food channel cooks make home made candy corn. I might have to try that.

“One moment’s realization that Almighty God is your Father through Jesus Christ, and I defy anything to terrify you again for long. If we realize that nothing can happen without God’s permission, we are kept in peace.”

” …to be completely honest, it makes me want to leave it all behind.

But I don’t.

Why?

Because as Peter once said to Jesus, “Where else would I go?” I have encountered the risen Christ and there is no where I can go to be more fully in his presence than within his own Body.

So I stay. Not out of some sense of righteous delusion that I can be the one to change things. Rather, I stay because I know that imperfection was, is, and always will be what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ until the day he returns to claim his bride. Until then it will remain imperfect because that Body is made up of imperfect people. And that’s ok with me because it speaks to a God who so loves us and has so much faith in us that God was willing to allow us to participate in the renewal of all things. That’s worth sticking around for if you ask me.

And I stay because I have hope, even in those people that get under my skin and spark my anger. I have hope because I know that despite our differences, most of us at least, share the same goal – to change the world around us for the kingdom of God.

I hope and pray that the day comes sooner rather than later when we realize that the things that unite us truly are greater than the things that divide. That’s not a call for conformity. It’s a call for unity. A call to acknowledge that most of those things that divide us are ultimately just silly.

But until that day of unity comes, I will continue to wrestle, debate, converse with, and challenge my brothers and sisters in the faith as I’m sure they will with me because for all of us, this is a faith and a God worth contending for.”

(Well said, don’t ya think?!)

Me, too. And in a way that would be pleasing to Him, and best for the body/His Kingdom. Not that my standards are high or anything, lol = )

And yes, Tori, the President gave a very nice speech; he always does. I just hope his actions back it up.

I have a friend who’s husband spoke at the Democratic National Convention; they were also invited to the victory party in Chicago on election night. I told here to have a fun time at each event, and they did. They even got to meet the President and shake his hand.

Here, in his own words, are some of the things our President said in his election night speech– and cynical or not, I think it would behoove all of us to try to assume the best and lean towards a little bit of hope and away from an endless ocean of despair.

OBAMA: “I want to thank every American who participated in this election…

(APPLAUSE)

… whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time.

(APPLAUSE)

By the way, we have to fix that.

(APPLAUSE)

Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone…

(APPLAUSE)

… whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference.

I just spoke with Governor Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.

(APPLAUSE)

We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service and that is the legacy that we honor and applaud tonight.

(APPLAUSE)

In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward.

…I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics that tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at rallies and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late in a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you’ll discover something else…

…That’s why we do this. That’s what politics can be. That’s why elections matter. It’s not small, it’s big. It’s important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.

That won’t change after tonight, and it shouldn’t. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.

…Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get (where we need to go.). As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It’s not always a straight line. It’s not always a smooth path.

By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin. Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over.

(APPLAUSE)

And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you’ve made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead.

…I have never been more hopeful about America. And I ask you to sustain that hope. I’m not talking about blind optimism, the kind of hope that just ignores the enormity of the tasks ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. I’m not talking about the wishful idealism that allows us to just sit on the sidelines or shirk from a fight.

I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.

…I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

And together with your help and God’s grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States.”

Whew, I’m glad you weren’t calling me all those bad things. That could have started a new cryin’ jag. I don’t have any Kleenex left in the house! I’m down to using toilet paper and old used ones from my coat pockets. (Makes me feel like I’m recycling.)

I am indeed praying for our president! And for all the world leaders too! In the news today—–unrest, riots, and violence across the world! Alanna has a sweet friend (that we all love too) who is on an exchange trip through her college to Irbid, Jordan and she reports today that she is being advised to stay indoors in her host’s home for now and not attend classes at the university because there are riots breaking out everywhere because of cut backs in fuel subsidies by the government that says it can’t afford them anymore! We are all so worried about her safety! So much trouble all over the place! God help us all.

Sweet LindaB: First of all, I am so sorry you have been having such a rough time. The hospital episode sounds like a bad movie– I pray your granddaughter and uncle are doing better, and I pray that this week is better for you…

And honey, let me just say that you couldn’t offend me if you laid awake at night trying to think up ways to insult me! Why? Because I know you– I know how generous, kind, loving, feisty, funny and God-pleasing you are, and I not only trust your heart, I trust you with mine. So please know that YOU were the farthest person from my mind when I wrote this post!

Passionate opinions don’t bother me. Strong beliefs don’t bother me. Honest concern for our country doesn’t bother me. HATE, BITTERNESS and FEAR-MONGERING bother me, a lot, particularly from Christians, and my social media pages have been teeming with it, before the election but most decidedly after.

Has it come from both sides? ABSOLUTELY YES– neither party has taken the high road, here. There has been every bit as much mean-spirited gloating over victory as there has been mean-spirited protesting over loss. The only difference since the election is that the personal attacks on Romney have died down, of course, and the personal attacks on Obama have ramped up– and I have NO doubt that if the election had gone the other way, the same thing would have happened.

Again, it’s not the fact that feelings are running high that shocks or saddens me– it’s that some Christians on both sides have somehow decided it is open season on each other. It’s not enough that they disagree with another’s viewpoint, they feel compelled to turn that disagreement into a holy war that pronounces judgement on people who have differing opinions, attacks their faith and commitment to God, and accuses them of condemning this nation to certain doom because of those opinions. It’s as if somehow this election has given everyone a pass on the most basic tenet of our faith, which is to love and encourage one another as believers– regardless of whether or not we see eye to eye on everything. And nothing gets my back up faster than Christians raining down threats of hell on each other while the rest of the world stands back and says, “See? They’re not only not any better than we are, they’re actually WORSE!”

My interpretation of jonny’s story was not that ‘unity above all and at any cost’ is the message– it is that in something as seemingly mundane as the correct way to position a canteen cup, perhaps it would have been less important for one of them to be right and more important for both of them to be on the same page. Obviously there are times when taking a stand and refusing to go along is the godly thing to do, as in the case of Hitler’s reign of terror– but there are also times when finding ways to stick together is the better choice. And I think that even in an election when people are so polarized, there IS a way to vote your conscience, speak your mind and be true to your beliefs, but REFUSE to let the fact that other people are doing the same thing but have a different viewpoint cause you to lose your stinking mind– and your manners! (Again, I am NOT referring to you, Linda– though you obviously stated your strong opinions on your own page, I never saw a single instance where you crammed your views down other people’s throats, or attacked them for their beliefs. Not once.)

So please, dearest readers– don’t interpret my strongly worded post as a personal attack on any one individual, because it honestly was not. Please see it for what it was intended to be: MY personal opinion on the ugly ways we Christians have behaved towards one another, and a call for all of us to straighten up and show some of the Christ-like behavior we preach about. Let’s worry less about convincing others to change their minds and worry more about ETERNAL things. Because even though our political differences are looming large right now, in the scheme of things, who we voted for in 2012 and why is NOT the most important thing in the annals of the Christian religion.

This election and the next four years under Obama will all too soon be relegated to the history books. I would hate to think that the history books would also record 2012 as the beginning of a splintering of the body of Christ that could never really be repaired. And at the risk of sounding like all of the self-appointed prophets of doom out there, I honestly DO think that we will most definitely answer to God for whatever part we personally played in causing that split.

The only action I am calling for is for us to try to find common ground that we can stand on together, and stand united in our commitment to pray for this nation and those that govern it. To be respectful of one another. To reach towards one another, instead of shoving each other to the ground.

Basically, to quit acting like douchecanoes!

Amen.

As for you and I going out for a beer, that would be an excellent way for you to cheer up. In fact, you would be part of the entertainment when you fell out of your chair laughing at me dancing on the table. The really hysterical part would be watching me trying to climb up there. I could even give my Russ a plug and sing “Here Comes Jesus,” but Linda you have to promise that if Jesus did happen to show up you would grab me as quickly as possible and pull me down into a kneeling position. I could always say I was leading in prayer at a sinner’s table. Sorry Linda, desperate times demand desperate measures.

And sweet Gramma Jac, I am settling nicely into that hug that just can’t last too long!!! I guess that’s what I needed most! Someone to say it’s gonna be alright….. and not telling me to snap out of it …..and you lost, get over it! My family has been worried about me, I think. And they all tried to cheer me up in ways I now can laugh at. My hubby wanted me to go get a massage. My oldest daughter bought me two lottery tickets—-that were losers! LOL And my 10 year old granddaughter emptied the dishwasher without being asked even! Gotta love ‘em! My dear mother, who wanted Romney to be president as much as I did, just tells me, “You gotta get a grip, Linda! What’s wrong with you!” But she’s 85 and I give her a pass. Thank you again for your kindness! Love ya!

Barb, I know what you mean! The most contentious race I can remember is when Kennedy was elected. People were afraid, because he was Catholic, he would take direct orders from the Pope and try to make us all Catholics! I thought that was silly, but no one listened to me. LOL And though I didn’t want him to win, when he did, he actually tried to comfort those of us who didn’t vote for him and assure us he was going to be everyone’s president. That was classy. I don’t see that from our present president. His attitude is tough! I won and I’ll do what I want! And another difference I see is——not only are candidates demeaned, insulted, and demonized, but their supporters are also!! And back in the day, people would argue issues and criticize a candidates stand on them, but now slick political ads have changed the dialogue to that candidate wants to throw your gramma off a cliff, or killed a man’s wife by denying her health care, or wants to deny young women birth control, etc. And the pundants have told us that conservative Christians are racist, Bible quoting fools trying to force our beliefs on everyone else. I long for those long ago days too. I know, Barb! Let’s you and me go out for dinner and have a beer! That might help us both!

I just heard on the news this morning some really scary things that are already starting concerning Obama Care. I want to stop the world from moving right now and put it all in reverse. I want the America I grew up in….for my children, my grand and great-grands, and for all those bright and shiny little faces being born in the future. We didn’t even lock our doors when we left home, I walked over a mile from the library at night alone and after dark with no thought of anything bad happening. And our congress would argue across the aisle during the day, then go out afterwards and have a beer together with dinner. For the most part, they liked and respected one another. Maybe this is what filtered down to the people, because I’m almost 82 and I can’t ever remember an election so mean-spirited, full of out-and-out lies, and just plain ugly before this one. I want my old America back.

And Linda, with all the other stuff going on in your life (you could almost describe it with the name of a nonexistant Harvard sport!!!), I just wanna give you a giant hug, the kind you either get a little uncomfortable with how long it’s lasting or decide to just settle into and take comfort!

Since I can’t do that, I’m just gonna send you a big ol’ prayer!!

Jac

I read and reread your post, trying to figure out if you’re talking about me!!! Well, I don’t expect you to walk lockstep with me and my beliefs——-sometimes I don’t even walk lockstep with my own beliefs! And I think we all have some areas in life that we would be considered by some to be liberal, and other areas some would peg us as conservatives. I have both liberal and conservative friends, and I’m totally ok with that too. I’m not a birther. I don’t think I’m “mean”………at least I’ve never called anyone a “douchecanoe”. (Never heard of that one before, but I have a feeling it doesn’t have anything to do with water sports. Like there’s probably not a Harvard Douchecanoe Team.) I don’t want to destroy Barak Obama and his family, but I would like to replace him in the White House so my family isn’t destroyed. Give another guy a chance to turn things around! I don’t do vile name calling and the whole hope-you-die-and-go-to-the-bad-place-with-all-the-other-Muslim-lovers stuff. Did I??? In fact, I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him and his wife and girls. I just wish I knew for certain that he felt the same about me and my family because since he took office, it’s been downhill in more ways than one. We are not better off! The future is bleak looking. Mass layoffs have already started. The CIA is a sleazy mess. Obama care is looming. The Congress is deadlocked and the financial cliff is getting closer. The middle east is a powder keg. Europe is chaos. I’m scared.

And as for his faith, I don’t know if he’s a Christian, Muslim, or Hindu ‘cause I don’t know his heart. Anyone can SAY they’re Christian…..or a pineapple for that matter! God will judge that one. And I’m happy to leave it to God ‘cause B.O. is confusing me. (So, I guess I’m not an ignorant fool. This time anyway.) It’s not about his religion or lack of religion for me, it’s a long list of other things you probably don’t want me to bring up on your post! And you didn’t have to remind me that he won the election!!! Every Democrat and liberal in the land has been doing that every day and every time I turn on the TV. So much for bringing the country together and healing! And I assure you that I DO NOT THINK ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR OBAMA CANNOT CALL THEMSELVES A CHRISTIAN! Just a bad Christian. (Ha ha! Gotcha! Couldn’t resist!) My dearest friend and neighbor and wonderful Christian is a Democrat and votes that way and we are close as 11:59! We have some political discussions every four years, but then we go out to eat and do what friends do! But we never resort to personal attacks, but stick to issues. And that’s the key.

You might have me on this one——I did share a lot of political articles on MY OWN Facebook wall that I thought were interesting or enlightening. No one had to read them. We can still do that, can’t we? If people can’t bear to even look at them, they can block them, can’t they? I certainly didn’t want to offend anyone! I’m sorry if I did.

And Tori, my sweet peace loving friend, I have to disagree with you on this point: you think most of the intensely personal attacks were mostly by Christians who supported Romney. And I think it’s the other way around! (Hiding behind a tree with my Bible frantically trying to find a verse to support me!) And I’m saying that with the appropriate amount of humility and fear because as good as you are at writing, given all the words you know, you could plough me under with a few well chosen words. And it would take me a couple days to realize it! Not that you WOULD, but you COULD! I just feel like conservative Christians are the new target for everyone in politics anymore. If you don’t believe me, watch MSNBC for a day! We’ve been called racists, bigots, narrow minded, rich heartless B-word, (I think they even made a TV series along that line), callous,ignorant, Bible quoting idiots misrepresenting Christianity, “clinging to our guns and religion”, (that last one contributed by our current Christian president), and a whole lot more! Oh, I forgot the worst charge of all——we’re WHITE! The party that hates racism hates white people now. And the people doing the hating are white? What is that—-some kind of twisted masochistic delusion? It’s vicious. It’s dehumanizing. It’s escalating. And it’s unfair. And liberal Christians do it too.

But, I agree with most of what you’ve said. And your points are well taken. I will be careful when I post political things on Facebook. I’m not that worried about it though——you have to be because you have thousands of “friends” on Facebook with widely varying belief systems, and you don’t want to offend any of them——you’re so nice! But my circle of influence is small. I could pick my friends out of a line up easily——-IF I had enough to form a line! I think I’m up to four now. This election season has been one of the worst that I can ever remember—–with so many lies, personal attacks and insults…….and even the liberal media had to admit that the worst and most frequent personal attacks were from the Obama camp against Mitt Romney!

If I have crossed the line and offended you or others, I am sorry. I don’t want to be one of those Christians who hinder others from coming to Christ. Not a good place to be!! Likewise, I will be careful not to judge those who think the Devil’s in the White House, or America is in a downward spiral, or Obama is a secret Muslim, ……because, as you said, there is a very slight chance they could be right too. None of us have a monopoly on the truth. And I promise to tone down the rhetoric if you’ll stop calling people that “canoe” thing. You’re scaring me.

I have been in a funk ever since the election. I cry every time I think of it. (Ya know, that ugly drippy kind of cry. Laugh if you must.) I was so sure Romney would win and turn around our failing economy and everything would be alright. And all the people out of a job will get one. And all the people who’ve lost their homes can get on their feet again and get a new one. (Two more neighbors lost their homes in our neighborhood recently that we knew. So sad.) And everyone would buy more Russ Taff CDs. But I can’t seem to shake this bad feeling. All I see is gloom. And if one more person tells me to snap out of it, (including my own mother), I will scream………but it will be a quiet dignified scream befitting my age. I know all the things Christians say at times like these——-God is in control, He must have a plan, He can use anyone, including B.O. to achieve His purposes, we need to just forget our disappointment and be all united and lovey and everything, but I just can’t seem to do it yet. For once, my faith is taking a back seat to my feelings. I don’t like it, but it is what it is. And I can’t just put a big old smiley Obama button on because people tell me to so we’ll all be unified….. or half the country voted that way so I’m outnumbered—get over it! I think I just need some time. Some wallowing time. Is that too much to ask? Some time to recoup and regroup. This election meant a lot to me. If it was just about me and my hubby, we’re older now and aren’t that worried about us. But we have two daughters and four grandchildren now and we fear for the world we’re leaving them to live, and work, and worship in. And you can be sure I will be praying for our president to make wise decisions, to chose wise and competent advisors, and humble himself before God and ask for His help too……..and become a successful president for all our sakes. I would MUCH RATHER say I was wrong than I told you so!!!

You KNOW I love you, don’t ya, Tori?

MostlySunny: Ha! No way, sweetie– we don’t yell at each other around here (though we DO say BS on occasion!) I also agree with you that the hateful talk has been swirling around from BOTH camps– which is equally inexcusable.

Momma Lloyd: You figure out how to bottle up that gentle, humble spirit of YOURS and I’ll drive up to Washington and deliver it myself!

small j: I really, really love this story– and you told it well! It IS the lack of unity that is so upsetting to me. Of course the entire country is not going to see eye to eye on candidates and issues, but it just seems as Christians we ought to be able to find SOME little piece of common ground to stand on. Even if it’s just that we all love our country, and we all love God and we all want things to get better. That seems like enough to pray together about to me!

Reminds me of one of my last days in the US Army. There was a MAJOR inspection coming up with someone HUGE at the time. We spent a month or two, at least, getting ready for it. The night before the inspection me and one other guy were given a room that had been dreadfully neglected and abused by a couple guys who were being kicked out of the Army and spent their last days there. Hot pink painted walls, mud and other stains on the walls and other places. It was also the largest room in the barracks. Well, we had one night to get it and our stuff ready for inspection the following morning.

We repainted the whole thing and added some special touches to it as well. Thoroughly scrubbed, waxed and buffed the massive floor. Got a large plant from somewhere and stuck it in there, too. We then got all of our personal Army things ready for inspection and everything was in place, literally, moments before the big guy came to our room. One thing on my roomy’s bed wasn’t laid out, displayed the way it should have been according to the papers we were given on how to do such things. I kept bugging him about it, he ignored me because he thought he was right. When the Sgt. and a lesser officer from our company came in with the Big Guy their mouths just dropped to the floor, truly speechless for awhile. They could not believe it was the same room assigned to us the night before. They eventually explained to the Big Guy what an incredible, mind blowing job we did. Big guy said that was all fine, dandy and very much admirable, BUT, there was something not right with our bed displays. I immediately explained that I did my best to let my roomy know that was not how the canteen cup was to be displayed. Big Guy said that wasn’t the problem, although true. The problem was we were not the same, connected in that one area. It would have been better for me to do the same has him than to be right and not united. That even surprised the Sgt. and lesser officer as well.

Maybe yell is too strong of a word (but you did you BS).

I haven’t uttered a word since the election, but I’ve heard it swirl all around me! From both sides. I have a few people I might pass this on to. They need a good yellin’ at…

GrammaJac: I kinda have a feeling I could pick you out of a lineup– your spirit would give you away! Yeah, I’ve seen plenty of hatespeak coming from both sides of the aisle for sure. It’s been more slanted after the election, but I’d have to say overall the ugliness has been pretty equally divided.

blondie: I’m cyber-kissing your face right back.

bettyrwoodward: Unfortunately, that’s a very accurate quote– and I don’t really know which is worse, but I’d probably take apathy over vindictiveness for sure!

Stuart Woodward: I love it when we “provoke” you to speak! Yes, seems like my Bible does have some pesky verses in there about loving your enemies… and turning the other cheek… and bless those who spitefully use you… and a soft answer turneth away wrath…

karen48: Thanks for reading.

rachelbaker: YES, that is absolutely the point! And unity is exactly what has been missing on every front during this election. Not unity of opinions– but unity in our common belief system in something GREATER than political party lines.

Eckaterrina: WELCOME! So glad you’ve joined us here at ‘Bloomr Nation– please come back often! And yes, I long for the days when Christianity was defined by believing in Christ and not how you voted, too– well said.

Thanks Tori. I shall follow your blog with interest.

You say what you have read ‘has been startling, sobering and just… sad.’ Yes, sad, incredibly, depressingly sad.

As a foreigner looking on, the election campaign seemed at best an expensive waste of time, and at worst a hate-filled, dishonest and nasty argument. Much of the reaction to the result – on both sides – has been totally void of grace. America has not looked good.

That’s why its sad. If America hasn’t looked good to foreigners, Christians have looked even worse – at home and abroad. Here’s the main issue – the Bible is clear that there is one thing, above all others, that singles us out, and reveals Christ to people. It’s not preaching the gospel, its not helping the destitute (although both these things are good and necessary). Look at Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17. We are to be marked out by our unity, and this will show the world who Christ is. Elsewhere we are told that the world will know that we are His disciples because we love one another. Whatever our social background, nationality or political beliefs we are supposed to be united by our relationship with God through the saving work of Jesus.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but I’m pretty sure the devil is laughing right now.

And KellyBurton –love the name Kelly by the way– I’m with Gramma Jac, “You have my vote as long as you PROMISE no repetitive, finger-pointing ads!!!” I’d add to that as long as you don’t wink at the camera when you are talking to ‘America’ as well = )

Tori: Thank you. Last Sunday, I went to a GVB concert in MN. Sometimes Mark’s old jokes just hit home. They went through the “How many Lutherans are here tonight? Catholics?” etc. etc. then Mark said in a sing-songy voice “Somebody’s wrong!” Heard it before, but your comments made me think of it! (Doesn’t he have the ability to say a lot in a few–often funny–words?)

I have seen a lot on FB and stayed out of it. The day before the election a non-Christian made a comment about how, if Romney was elected, we should buy stock in wire-hangers, a low blow to Pro-Lifers. That did it–I didn’t comment, but I was disgusted with her! Then, after the elections I heard a little of the nastiness from Christians–and I was humbled! I realized SHE wasn’t the one who should have known better–and did I even PRAY for her? Ouch!

I have to say that the Red Letter movement has a lot of truth. Read the red-letters! I really don’t see Jesus getting too nasty with the “sinners”–except for the Pharisees who sure look like a lot of the Christians I’ve been hearing lately!

You said it well.

Signed: Gramma Jac, one of your friends you couldn’t pick out in a line-up!!!!

Bobbi

small j: That’s a good word, jonny.

pj: Appreciate that.

tcmiller59: Not a good feeling, is it?!

KellyBurton: Gurrrrl, I hear you! The Obama-supporting Christians are every bit as capable of passing judgement on people who don’t agree with them as the Romney-supporting Christians. I have heard ALL Republicans characterized as heartless racists as often as I have heard ALL Democrats portrayed as abortion-loving freeloaders. Unfortunately there has been more than enough hatespeak to go around. Also? I would totally vote for you for President. In a heartbeat.

1 Corinthians 8

8 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.