“…with malice toward none and charity for all.”

On November 5th our nation will elect a new president. Half the people will be happy, and half the people will be angry. There is currently a fear of violence that is fueled by continuing accusations and personal attacks from both sides of the divide. People took to the streets in protest following the elections of 2016 and 2020, with increasing violence. Fear is what lies behind the anger and the subterfuge that is dominating the public discourse.

Things in our nation have been bad before. Our differences once erupted into a civil war that cost the lives of more Americans than all our other wars combined. Brother against brother, ideology against ideology with no room for compromise. But we survived that, and we came back strong. Our nation continued to grow and continued to prosper.

The war in Vietnam also tore at the fabric of our nation, and we survived that and the Watergate scandal that followed. Our nation was attacked on 9/11, an event that brought some political unity that turned out to be short-lived.

Our nation has experienced forty-six peaceful transfers of power. We will do so again. The prophet Isaiah’s vision reminds us that God in in control no matter who is president: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne…” (Isaiah 6:1).

This is an important opportunity for Christians; a time to stand as an example of Jesus’ love. Our Lord was born and served in a world where his nation was subject to a dictatorship, one which many of his countrymen found objectionable. Yet Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God's” (Matthew 22:21). He found a way to minister in His situation by focusing on what was important and teaching us to do the same.

The Apostle Paul taught us to pray for our leaders:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” (I Timothy 2:1-3)

Some Christians voted Democrat, and some Christians voted Republican. No matter who wins, we must remember that Jesus is Lord. Let us not forget “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Jesus said that we're to love our neighbor and our enemy.

Following the Civil War, forty-one days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln spoke of the need for peace and healing in our nation: “with malice toward none and charity for all.”

For God so loved the world, that He gave…

Guest blog by Billy Palmer

I grew up in the Catholic church.  My parents were regular church-goers, and I especially remember the post-service cookies, juice and socializing after worship.  I also distinctly remember my parents reaching into their pockets and leaving a few dollars in the collection plate each week.  They would give me a dollar during collection time and I would add it to the plate with them.  I understood the total amount we were giving was not much.  In fact, I knew it was less than what we paid for breakfast at McDonald's right before church.  However, it was something, and it taught me an important lesson that I continue to this day.

Giving is a fundamental aspect of our Christian journey.  It is our chance to reflect a small amount of gratitude for the incalculable blessings He gives us on a daily basis.  The Bible offers us guidance on the spirit of giving.  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).  This emphasizes that our giving should come from a place of joy and willingness, rather than obligation.

While the Old Testament established a system of tithing, the New Testament focuses more on the attitude behind giving.  Jesus praised the widow who gave all:  "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on" (Mark 12:43-44).  This story illustrates how the value of our giving is not measured by the amount, but by the willingness and love behind it.

A dad and his son were shopping at the grocery store.  The dad gave his little boy some money and told him he could go buy anything he wanted.  The kid’s eyes grew wild with excitement and he immediately ran to the candy isle and picked out 10 candy bars.  They went to checkout and the boy quickly and happily handed over the money.  While they were heading out the dad asked if he could have one of the candy bars.  With a devious grin his son said, “NO, they’re mine,” and he skipped off ahead.

Jokes and short stories offer us fun and easy ways to remember life’s lessons.  Allow just for a moment a bit of a more abrasive perspective:  the clothes you are wearing right now – whether bought or stolen – were provided to you from God-given abilities and skills.  The food you are going to eat today – whether from the garden or from McDonald's – is provided to you through gifts of God-given talent.  Remember that even your ability to give comes from Him.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

“But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:7-9

Every life is a gift from God

Nora and Xavier   

The casket was small and white, adorned with a floral display. This graveside service was my first and there were only a few in attendance: the grandmother, the uncle (a young boy), the eleven-year-old mother of the stillborn infant, and a couple of others.

The mom had been living in a maternity home, intending to give up her child for adoption. Her social worker told me she cried as she packed her belongings which included her coloring book and crayons. I did not know the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy. I only knew that a precious child was dead and there was a lot of pain and suffering.

Not all pregnancies turn out in ways that result in rejoicing, but all children have value. I did not know the family but was blessed to bring dignity and recognition of the child’s value to God at this moment of unfathomable grief.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart…” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

Nora was eighteen, unmarried, and five and a half months pregnant when an ultrasound revealed that her child had limb deformities. Medical professionals encouraged her to get an abortion but, when she felt the baby move, that became out of the question.

The extent of disfigurement was unknown, and the doctors anticipated brain damage and internal deformities. But other than missing the lower part of his arms and legs, Xavier was born strong and healthy and grew up to graduate from college, have a job, drive an adaptive car and own his own home. When Nora saw first him, she said, “I just wanted to protect him.”

Must children be flawless to be wanted and loved? In 1982, a baby was born in Indiana with Down Syndrome and a disconnected esophagus. The parents refused to authorize the surgery and allowed the baby to starve to death. It took him six days to die.

Two young men in our congregation, Angel and Alex have Down Syndrome. They are well loved and give love as well, and they are most definitely wanted. One parent of a down syndrome child, who had four other typically abled children, told me that it was this little girl who taught him what it meant to love a child unconditionally.

I know some mothers who would die for their child and some who would not. Tim Tebow’s mother was experiencing a difficult pregnancy and was encouraged by the doctors to have an abortion because her health was at risk and the baby was expected to be stillborn or severely disabled. She carried that baby and well you know the rest.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing”. Psalm 127:3 (GNT)

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