The vote for McCain

Yes, I've taken time off of my blog. After watching the political blunders of the Republican party it's hard to standby without commenting on McCain's coming trainwreck. His problem is that the core constituency of his party is disinterested, dissatisfied and disinherited by his vision.

Successful Charities

The thing that makes religious organizations and charities so successful in responding to disasters is the rapidity with which they are free to do so. Unencumbered by multiple levels of bureaucracy to the same extent as characterizing government agencies, religious organizations are more capable of quickly directing resources to those that need them as they are not distracted by weightier matters such as getting out the word that Heather has two mommies.

However, should religious groups be seduced by the dark side of government money, it won’t be long before their noted efficiency in crisis situations will disappear faster than fried chicken at a revival picnic since they will be shackled with the same regulations and oversight that plague government agencies. Yet, once these churches and charities make their pact with the devil, it won’t be long until government officials dictate doctrinal content and hand down homiletical directives as well.

All Research will be Contradicted

There is increasing concern that in modern research, false findings may be the majority or even the vast majority of published research claims.

 

Ten Principles

Our faith motivates us to reach out to others through the view of our relationship to God and to one another. We enhance conversation by examing principles, principals which we can agree on. To begin with, we propose the following:

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to conflict.

2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation. We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.

3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well-being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.

4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.

5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and equal opportunity for everyone.

6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation.

7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out against xenophobia.

8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health care for all.

9. Because of the transforming power of God’s grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal justice system and the individuals within it.

10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God’s children is a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who will advocate for equal educational opportunity and abundant funding for children’s services.

There, of course, are from the National Council of Churches