Saying, "Goodbye" to My Political Career...

And He (Jesus) said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and Prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

I'm not a politician. There. I've said it. And, I will continue to remind myself of that daily. I will start with an apology to those I have bulldozed with my ceaseless debating and rambling rants. I apologize for any disparaging remarks or reposts about the leadership of our country. (I could post an entirely separate blog of repentance but I will leave it at that.)

Recently, I've read a few blogs and posts and had a few conversations that have brought me to this revelation. There are many "issues" that I have strong opinions about or I am truly passionate about and that is going to continue to be true. However, I now am coming to believe the internet is not the place to air those ideas.

The blog I recently read that has spurred this change of heart, helped me to realize that my assessments of current issues, politics, legislation, etc. are better expressed in a setting with friends, in person with people, or in some cases, not at all. Its difficult to come across loving or to even be loving when conversing with the "internet" and its just not how Jesus would have done it. He dealt with people on a personal basis and ALWAYS from an overflow of compassion.

Bottom line, I truly do love people and have a heart to see lasting, impacting change in our world today towards God and His purposes in our lives. However, that change isn't going to happen because I let you know my opinion and you aren't going to feel my love because I let you know what I think of your opinion. I want you to see Jesus' love coming from my posts, not my emotional reaction to something that has recently come up or that has been bugging me.

I want you to know that I love you even if we don't agree. I want you to see in my life that while I stand for the truth of God's Word, it is because I know God is loving and therefore His Words bring peace, security, blessing, love, truth, light, purpose, identity, joy, and all manner of true GOODNESS into your life. I want you to feel like you can talk to me and know that I'm for you because Jesus is for you. No matter what mess you are in I will cry with you and stand with you. No matter what mountain top you are on I will rejoice with you, I will not envy.

Living the two greatest commandments, the summation of the Bible, that is what I wish to be known for. I want to love God with everything in me and truly love others and put them first. My "political career" is over. No more debating "issues" on social media, no more ranting about political problems, no more bashing of opposing views. I may still feel the same and face-to-face you might get to hear all about it, if we are friends, but the world wide web is safe from future tirades. It is more important to me that you know WHO I believe in and how He operates, than my mood in any given moment.

I'm committing to show God's love and character more in my social correspondence. I will continue to stand for God's Word and the truth in it, but I will seek to do it from a positive stand point and by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and not in an agitated whiplash. Political agenda aside and Godly love at center stage from this point. I am convinced His Word holds absolute truth and I am not shying away from that, but I will no longer use it as a tool for something as trivial as personal politics, but instead as a way to bring healing and hope to a world that is in need.

I am not perfect, I will not be perfect but He IS perfection; He who is beginning this good work in me is faithful and just to complete it.