As is was stated a few posts back, America is waaaay behind the times militarily (good thing we can still be the jestor for the world's entertainment), dumb enough to build up nations who take our billions of Democracy to build an even better military (check out Russia and China's latest advancements in MIlitary Strike Capability). Our "beloved" Govt. has an underground city (almost the the size of DC) that can store "all the Presidents Men (and all their favorite women) for years and years to come in the event of a nuclear fallout. For those of you who still believe in a system which truly cares about "serving the interests of the country", Are you so sure about what our countries interests really are?? I don't want to spoil it for you…..we still have to Honor God with rendering Ceasar what is Ceasars…..and God what is Gods. I think we've all been held captive by a system that has become far and away from what it was designed to be from the beginning. Does it alarm anyone that we spend more building up a Communist Chinese (along with Russia) Country who murders more children by "law" than any other nation? And we talk about abortion as a "choice" in this nation?? They want us to take a side, pick a popular stand….either way, those reasons are very seldom "actionable" exactly as Tim states.

Paying a tax on income was never a part of a "legal right of Govt"…..it was voluntary….and states so in the constitution on behalf of a choice of a company or corporation…not individuals!! It's all become a lawyer game of loopholes. If you can pay enough to play….(like Wesley Snipes) you can exempt yourself from having to pay…and buy yourself a "get out of jail card"!

I think all Christians need to wise up. As time goes by, I am ever more so resigned to the desire to spend less and less time looking to a Worldly Leader promising no new taxes….or cuts galore, or programs for everyone to bequethe a regime probably owned by a foreign Govt. group of Elitists, as a means for instilling hope in a Godlessly lead nation. Honestly, it's a real shambles…..and Christians have been pawned off and used for votes. But awwwwe…..well get our "way" next time we say. I think our Govt is allot more wicked than anyone really wants to believe. I'd rather turn a blind eye and not believe some of the things we do overseas in the name of "democracy". The 3rd Worlding of America is well on its' way….and if it weren't for the principle of my conscience and desire to "honor the Grand ole system"….I probably wouldn't care to vote anymore at all.

All successful Washington Politicians are liars….even the most honest ones get "bought out" or put to shame for standing up on principle so they don't get re-elected (ie Bill McCollum). It's all about favors and paybacks….everything's negotiable….even God to these folks is just a bargaining chip….don't kid yourself by having read some propaganda biography which outlines their lives like regular people…..it's all about power and personal gain to these poeple….and they find ways to make you to do (and think) exactly that!!

Just my 2 cents…..(it's really all I have left!) I suppose I will vote for…..someone I really and truly believe in (write in) …..since no one is really very actionable on what they campaign on anyway…..I thank you TIm, for bringing this to light…..you had me at "Where McCain's priorities lie"!!! Does not your gut tell you how true this really is??? Funny how a billion dollars gets raised (pooof) just to campaign for all the candidates…..then, the one with the most money (and I thought it was toys) in the end….wins!!! It's morally bankrupt….ooops….The Governor of NY has just been ratted out!! Gotta go.

I'm not saying that abortion is anything less than morally wrong. But what I am saying is that I'm not voting for a new conscience, I'm not voting for a new savior, I'm not voting for a new moral compass. I'm voting for the office of president. I'm voting for a fallen human who will attempt to do something about the positions they are taking. And in making my choice on whom to vote for I have to consider whether or not an issue or position is "actionable" or not.

I think it's pretty clear that abortion is not an "actionable" item.

I also think it's pretty clear where McCain's priorities lie, and they aren't with passing laws banning different types of abortions, or with even making a pro-life message a priority. You have to consider that pro-life shouldn't just be about abortion, it should be about being pro-life in every way, including decisions about war, the environment, health care, etc.

I'm not saying Obama's perfect; he definitely isn't. But equating voting for McCain with doing God's perfect will seems pretty presumptuous to me…and Charles is right, if we are putting our faith in whoever the next president is to fix what ails our world, then we will be sorely disappointed however we vote.

Looking at abortion issue from the standpoint that if we don't outlaw it, it happens legally and if we outlaw it, it still happens, but illegally, misses one important thing…it's morally wrong. The thing about moral questions is that they are true or false, regardless of how things work out by the numbers. I believe it is morally wrong. So, I vote that way. It's a priority for me to vote my conscience. Morality isn't a private matter. To argue it is, makes it public. Whether abortions happen legally or illegally, they're still wrong. The problem, aside the fact we operate with a reduced value for knowledge, is virtue is replaced with rights. Virtue has never been a part of the pro-choice side…..that's because virtue has no place in it. Instead, it has been about rights. Rights have become our absolutes in which everything else revolves. I have the right to ignore my child. But I produce a disfunctional child in the process. And because of that, we are the most depressed generation in our nation's history, with the most suicides….prescribed anti-depressants….looking for a medical solution to it. And it keeps spiralling.

Who do we turn to? The State? The State is a self-preserving machine that operates by force and cohersion. Good luck with that! I don't care how persuasive your candidate sounds or looks (which is all that matters these days), if you put that sort of trust in their hands, you will be on Paxal in no time.

As a homeschooling parent, I can tell you that it isn't because of evolution that we homeschool (in fact, I insist my child learn evolution alongside the alternative)…or that there is no legal way to talk about Jesus unless it is about an unbiblical reference….we homeschool because the State has no idea how to produce a virtuous person. In fact, they have no idea what kind of people they are producing at all. And when there are school shootings, they turn to psychiatrists and bio-chemists to see what's wrong with the brain to cause these things….and we keep on hitting walls in the dark, blaming whoever we can and have no idea what we are talking about, in the process.

The makeup man is more important that the speechwriter, so I have no confidence in the process, even though i still participate. I have no idea where we are headed, but I am sure no one else does either. They fake it. And due to postmodern philo…the fact no meta-narrative universally applies to everyone at all times, everything we are engaging here has nothing to do with knowledge but instead is simply rhetoric and opinion: a bunch of clanging meta-narratives lost in space and time.

It would be great if Jesus came today….if just to avoid political adverts.

I'm not saying that I like abortion, I hate it! But I also hate using that as the only qualifications for a guy to run our country - I think that's irresponsible. Now if you agree with everything else McCain stands for and his stance on abortion is just the icing on the cake, then that's fine, I have no quibble with that. But to rest the entirety of why I should vote for someone on one issue that he really doesn't have control over is something I can't do.

And again, how can you look in the mirror and vote for someone who was pro-life in the Senate at the time when Republicans controlled everything, but then didn't do anything about it? That was the best opportunity that we have ever had to actually do something from a legal standpoint, but it didn't happen. How can you trust that he's not just playing anyone who is a Christian for their vote when he's clearly displayed that it's not a priority to him?

I'm going to just chuckle that you are not only questioning my Christianity but also not addressing any of my points except to say that being "practical" is not Christian enough for you.

And I disagree with Steve about societal law here. To be "even more cynical" as you would put it, I think that this is all just an ego trip on the part of Christians everywhere. To say that "we outlawed abortion" when it doesn't stop abortion is pointless. Why do that? Why insist on it? Isn't it all just a way to placate the fact that we aren't really doing anything to change people's hearts? Instead it's just much easier to vote and claim that fills our quota of how we should be changing society. I think it's the devil's best distraction - get people thinking that politics will bring people to Jesus instead of loving actual human beings into the Kingdom.

And that brings us to the ultimate question here - what is your goal? To make American law reflect what you think Christian society ought to look like? That isn't my goal and isn't what I think Christians should be about. But rest assured we can both disagree on that and still be Christians

Just wanted to point out. The US Navy and US Military for that matter are not the most powerful/largest in the world. According to the National Defense Report, we are third, behind China and Russia. Now… technology wise; we kick some serious booty. I can just see ol' Patrick Henry now: "Give me Quality or give me death!".

Keep up the Good Work Steve and when you are elected President; I'd like to be your Defense Department Advisor. You think about that!

And as for all of the Obama/Hillary Supporters out there…. c'mon, they are both Pro-Choice. Get a backbone will you puuuleease?

I agree that we are lax with border control. I also agree we have made errors in Iraq.

But, having said that, we had a serious choice to make in 2001 and 2003….do we get militarily pro-active in the Middle East or try using diplomacy? Diplomacy is a joke, IMO. Bargaining with people who want you Muslim or dead, is just a way of biding time and passing the buck, rather than solving problems.

We live in a fallen world and until Jesus consumates His Kingdom over all other realms, we will always struggle between chaos and tyranny, tipping one way or the other barring God super naturally maintaining a balance despite us, like He has over the recent past. America is no different than Rome, Carolingian, Merovingian, Spanish or English empires.

George Bush made mistakes and has flaws. But the emotional ferver and lack of grace towards this one man is beyond bizare. The fact is, most critics have no idea what they are talking about and really have no good answers, reflecting a lack of knowledge. In fact, my own understanding is limited, other than what I get from Marines who come back from tours. We like being fed and we are all addicted to adrenaline, without regard to knowledge. I think that is the deeper problem than either the war or the current president.

These are actually a bit higher. Can you imagine the price of aid, medical treatment, rebuilding? I hope America has learned it's lesson. For those of you who maintain that we fight there in Iraq so it doesn't get here…..you've been duped again. Our Mexican borders have been wide open for millions of illegals (and terrorists alike) to enter our country and we actually place our OWN border patrol in prison for trying to keep them out! Next time you think we are "safer"….think again….they just might already be here!

Polls show that America wants to be done with Iraq. McCain sounds as like He thinks we can contain and control the region…for thousands or years it's been this way….at what price is the war on terror worth?? We don't even get most of our Oil from this part of the world….and terrorists??? They've always been around, always will be around….and there are more political regimes now that support terror, (like the Chinese and Soviet weapons sold to our "enemies") seems we will be broke fighting terror before those wars will ever get the chance to be won! Our business in China actually helps them develop more and more weapons to sell to terrorist nations so they can kill American troops….why isn't this being called out??

While I agree with you about George W being incompetent….I'm not so sure about any of the other candidates. I think many out there feel the same way. One way for John McCain to sweep this election though, would be to change his policy on Iraq, and the "what's next in the war on terror" venue Cheney and fellow bureacratic Neocons decided was best… a war which will break us economically trying to fight. Bin laden has yet to be found, or if they ever did, would they dare ever announce it?? This would make millions sense the 9/11 tragedy avenged….and call for an even harder line to stop fighting a misdirected senseless war in a region which will we are much better at "supporting Isreal" rather than fighting it for them.

Alot of this rests on how much you actually trust the Government?? I suppose my issue is that I know that I don't….and wonder how so many can so easily put their faith in the Power of Regime Politics. Sometimes what you think you have….is just another flavor of what's already out there, and the faith of all those founding fathers doesn't really seem to mean that much to those who "serve" (or is it we that serve them?) as our leaders in Govt. God is sovereign. Perhaps, America's grace period has just expired, and now it's time for her to be judged for her wickedness?? here come that Euro Currency!!

The guy has made mistakes and hasn't done enough or much of anything to combat big oil….but then so has all the presidents prior to him.

That isn't popular, but it doesn't matter. I think he's been the most bold, honest and principled president we've had since I can remember.

So far, all the criticism about him has been general or prejorative, without any substance, other than poor speaking abilities, which I agree. I also agree he's made mistakes, and particularly in Iraq. The part the critics won't admit or even consider are the bigger potential mistakes made by Bill, Gore, Kerry or even McCain…or anyone else, had they been OJT during 2001 on.

Not very popular opinion, but then who cares?

And about the Bush Speaking thing. I was watching something about Bush on tv that was before his presidency. The man could actually speak before he became president. I think he is on drugs or something.. maybe crazy meds cause of how badly he botched the Iraq war.

Point being is that Bush is incompetent and spends worse than a drunk liberal. He has sent this country on the road to bankruptcy, and generations will have to pay the huge cost for his stupid decisions.

And another thing, why are people so mad at McCain? ok, he is a tad old and may tip over at any second, but I don't think he would be a bad choice for president.

In summary, George Bush = bad and incompetent. John McCain = pretty good choice for president, so John McCain gets my vote! Go McCain!

PS: Britney Spears ROCKS!!!

Great point to bring up Christov….in a society which blames everything and everyone else for their own problems….like no other culture which has existed before. We're illiminating the working class jobs in America in exchange for the sweatshops overseas to feed the greed of the elitists (who probably control our nation economically anyway), the FDIC is bracing up with bilions in reserve as if to bail out some very large banks, the Fed is printing more money that it ever has in the history of our country to fill the broke banks for a seemingly last breath of lending before the Euro get's adopted as the nations top currency!! (already accepted in some parts) which will continue to cause inflation at rates never before seen in America!! We're heading into uncharted territory, much in the way the Roman Empire did during it's last decade…..the moral climate was very similar in the last few years leading to it's demise. I think we're in for some real big event changes over the next 5 years!!….whoever becomes president, they will most likely have deal with an economy that never really had a chance handed to them to fix…..and will get blamed for it in our victim oriented society. We may not be getting more mercy, it may be time for some justice from God….and actually, it's been a long time coming.

Now, I'm opposed to abortion, it's the ritual slaughter of the innocents - almost a religious rite of human sacrifice the spilling of which blood has horrific spiritual and creation-box consequences.

But I've seen enough abused and neglected infants and toddlers to know that birth alone is not sufficient.

Steve Brown already spoke about this on an earlier blog where He correctly states,

"However: Because the laws against murder haven't stopped murder we should have no laws respecting murder. Right? Or in fact, if a law is broken – any law – we should take it off the books. Right?
Law has several functions and one of them is revelatory, to wit, our laws (even if they aren't enforced) reflect what we as a nation think is right or wrong. Laws change to reflect a cultural decision on a lot of issues and abortion is one of them. If hearts do change (and there is some indication that Americans are rethinking that issue) the laws will change and Roe v. Wade will be overturned. That probably won't stop abortion but will reflect an important shift in our culture and that shift will lower the abortion rate".

Steve "gets" the purpose of "societal" law…..amazingly hasn't deposed it as many posting here have done and continue to do. This really isn't about Rov vs Wade or something circumstantial, it's about respecting principle truth, for Christians, it has everything to do with God…. for the non believer, everything is about self and what glorifies self….ie… one less baby to some is more "inconvenience" and it is this issue which is at the root of the problem. I liken it to what David did to Bathsheba's Husband…"playing God" so that she no longer would have a husband so he can have his way with her. That sin cost him the kingdom. One cannot rely on those who leave this issue to a "choice" without consequences….I don't expect a non Christian to obey God, but they can and do obey laws….or face the consequences of choosing not to. As long as you hide behind the position of "govt regulating morality" (while it takes the "liberty" to legislate "Immorality"), and appeal to human circumstancial burdens associated such as the taxes, inconveniences, a loveless child, etc. as reasons for why this type of morality should not be regulated, face the facts that civil law already does so in the courtrooms of America everyday. Outcomes dealing with child abductions, child pornography, child abuse, childrens education as well as certain types of abortion are morally regulated and ought to be. Just flip on "dateline" or your local news to watch the filth rising to the top of consciousness in America today. Primetime TV shows basically "pornographic" and content dealing purely of illicit sex. We have become desensitized by a blood thirsty evil culture hanging on to what little resembles those of it's founders….even if many of them were deists…they feared as well as respected God more so than many of the cynics posting on this blog!! So called christians arguing from a point of view which has nothing to do with God…"that" is what is really asinine. I wonder what God thinks about your "ungodly" conclusions??

Whoever said you can't mix religion and politics already did by putting them together in the same sentence yet didn't know much about the religious connections of America's early founders, some who placed their religious convictions into law!! What limitations should be placed on that?? If what God says is true why would any Christian want to make concessions for selfish convenience as an excuse for not doing what he says to do (or not do) or take comfort in a Govt. who says it's ok to kill a child….remember, it's a child, not a choice. Without speaking from both sides of your mouth, explain why you wouldn't want to obey God when it comes to destroying a living soul HE created??

Antiseptic positions against anything that sounds off color on the one side ("God needs our help!") ….or the nutty absolute proclomation that there are no absolutes, on the other ("no one can know reality"), sort of has both ends of the spetrum sort of paralyzed or fighting each other, like on Life of Brian.

We'll probably have a representation in DC that reflects either of those value systems, as a result….and we'll blame everyone else for it.

The buck stops with the voter or the pre-programmed voting cartridges .

Speaking of voting cartridges, the good part about GW Bush's reign was that the liberal media actually uncovered alot of questionable issues concerning electronic voting (awsome HBO documentary regarding this). But that was only because of concern the Republicans were behind it in 2004. Let's see if they are real concerned about it this year if Dems win.

I know I ramble in streams…..bear with me.

I always enjoy your blog. You have a perspective that I love and that King Jesus uses to balance out my anger and frustration.

When I read "As I understand it, there is a limit of only one Messiah per universe. We already have ours. He’s the King that nobody elected and nobody will depose.

As I understand it, he’s still in charge of this mess.

When I think of that, I feel better about both Obama and McCain."

That makes me feel better and puts my mind back on Christ. I can then at least calm down and take some deep breaths (even if it is for only 2 minutes)

Thanks Steve!

Well said, Tim. That should be on a t-shirt.

Fantastic post.

It comes down to the verse that talks about "blessed are those who suffer for my (Jesus') name." I think far too many Christians claim they are being persecuted for standing up for Jesus when in reality they are being persecuted for acting like complete buttholes. It's not Jesus that most people have a problem with, it's pushy, condescending arrogance that non-Christians can't stand. Jesus always spoke with compassion first when he was talking to the "sinners" that surrounded him. Sure he didn't shy away from speaking clearly, but undergirding everything was deep love and compassion. I don't get that from a lot of church leaders today.

And I've said this before, but I think abortion is a total non-issue. Whether legal or illegal, women will still have the available choice to have an abortion. If we really don't like abortion so much, we need to focus our efforts on actually helping people make a better choice. I mean honestly, we are basing voting for president on an issue that he has absolutely no direct control over, with the hope that he can appoint a sc judge who must claim impartiality to even get approved by congress, who then must gain a majority to overturn an old law, and then by overturning it won't really have an effect on actual people having actual abortions? Seems like a monumental waste of time to me. On top of all that, Tony Campolo is right on - for at least 2 years we had a pro-life president, house and senate, and they could have at any point passed a bill banning post-1st trimester abortions (what roe vs wade does not cover) and they did not. The people that we Christians helped elect partly on the basis that they would do something about abortion did not do so when they had an opportunity. So to me voting for someone on that basis seems utterly pointless.

Re: the gay marriage thing, again I find myself agreeing with Campolo. Let the gov't only handle a legal domestic partnership arrangement that anyone who's a taxpaying citizen can be a part of, and leave marriage to the churches. None of the candidates are taking that position, which is unfortunate. But if taxpaying homosexual citizens are being denied rights that taxpaying heterosexual citizens are granted, then I'm all for leveling that playing field.

I agree about your views on abortion and homosexuality. I am also against corporate greed, white collar crime, corruption, lack of compassion for the weak and helpless. It's hard to see how many folks make it paying $3.25 per gallon, oil companies making $300 billion and watching Dubai climb to the sky….while we could do so much more to provide alternative fuel sources right now. It's about money. Somehow, we aren't usually all that fired up about those as we are abortion and homosexuality. But like I said, I am pretty sure I can't handle anger and retribution as well as Jesus did.

I don't think John McCain is fired up about much than John McCain. Same goes for Hillary. Obama may have us all fooled, but at least he hides it better