I'm finally back

Greetings again to all.

Well, I haven't posted anything in a while, as you can tell. Several major events have taken place without a single comment from me on this blog. Clearly I am shirking my responsibility to offer my ramblings to the blogging community. All Saints, All Souls, and a successful Presidential election (can you tell who I supported?) have all come and gone, and I didn't even so much as offer a reflection. To those of you who read this blog, I'm sorry. And special thanks to a good friend from Texas, Randall Foster, who politely encouraged me by e-mail to get back in the game. Being as I just recieved the latest issue of Touchstone magazine, I'm sure I'll have a lot to say in the next few days.

Let me begin by paying a compliment to Senator Kerry, with whom I have little in common on most issues: Cheers for conceding the election in such a timely fashion. I realize that there was really no chance that he could have won, but he still could have made a fuss and drawn out this awful campaign for another several weeks or months. But he chose to allow the process to work for itself and he was a gracious loser. His concession speech was actually rather moving and inspirational, as far as political speeches go. So thank you, Senator Kerry, for allowing the will of the people to trump your own will. Best wishes and prayers for your remaining years in the Senate.

I'm not one to believe in the divine right of Presidents, but I really do think that Bush is God's man for our time. I know this could draw vociferous fire from those who hate him, but I just put it out there. For one, I am ardently pro-life, and even though I don't think Bush is the messiah President and the greatest leader of our time, I couldn't vote for someone who would use government money to make it easier to end the life of the unborn. I guess that makes me a single issue voter...oh well. I realize that foreign policy was the hot-button of this campaign, but as a Christian within the Great Tradition I realize that no matter how effectively we fight the war on terror or insurgents in Iraq, we are doomed if we allow the secularist left to win the culture war being fought right here in our own country. If we continue to ignore the sanctity of life from womb to tomb and erode the traditional family and marriage as understood throughout our history, Al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden will be the least of our worries. For then we will destroy our nation from the inside out, without the help of terrorist attacks. So I chose a President who will not only fight the war on terror abroad, but also the war on our foundational moral principles here at home.

Don't misunderstand me. I don't believe that Bush is perfect, infallible, or totally noble in all of his decisions. But his conduct of the Presidency for the past four years has convinced me of several things: He is a godly man. He is sinful and fallible as all men are, but I believe he is godly. He is a man unmoved by popular opinion when his convictions are strong. That's refreshing in politics. He is a man who stands by those around him. He is loyal. He understands the gravity and monumental consequences of his decisions. I believe that the Presidency for him is a duty of solemn obligation and not just his highest step on the ladder of success.

Well, enough gushing on my part. My appeal to all would be this: While it is perfectly reasonable for Christian people to disagree with who should have been elected, it is a divine mandate that we pray for the one who was elected. Paul's command to pray for rulers of course was written in a time when rulers were not chosen by the people, but the principle remains the same. Christians are called to pray for their rulers, whether they like them or not. There is no release from this obligation. If John Kerry had been elected, John Kerry would have been at the top of my prayer list every day. And even if you don't like Bush, I ask you to do the same. Incidentally, it's helpful to know that the rulers Paul was bidding the Church to pray for were the ones who were persecuting the Church.

Speaking of prayer, please pray for Sen. Edwards and his wife Elizabeth. Again, many of us are glad that he lost, but to lose a vice-presidential election, a Senate seat, and have your wife diagnosed with breast cancer is a lot to handle in one week. Jesus mercy, Mary pray.

Peace to you,

RED+