An Introduction

I am not into New Years resolutions, but this year, one of my goals is to draw in closer to God. It is not a resolution per se, but rather have been drawn into it by a rather unique set of circumstances along with my feeble attempts to understand what is going on around us in an increasingly frightening world.
I have been a born again, Spirit filled, Christian, for several years, and, in my walk with Jesus, have struggled through the dry deserts as well as rejoiced in the high places. I have wrestled with my doubts, anger and disappointment with God after going through a traumatic divorce, never letting go, but wondering at times what was I holding on to. The important thing is that I realized, beneath all my emotional fluff, that Jesus never let ME go.
As I begin this new venture, I want to admit I do not have all the answers ... far from. Nor do I think my opinion is the only one of value ... it is not. I love engaging in intelligent debate or discourse, but quickly withdraw when it degrades to name-calling or foul-mouthed attacks. There is no sense in it. Blogging has never really appealed to me, either, but maybe it was a need to 'vent' a little, or just do some journaling to help me sort out my thoughts, and in this case, share them with you ... in any case, here they are....

Just before the New Year, one of my customers, bless her heart, gave me a copy of a book "The Shack", authored by Wm. Young, which I found myself absorbed in and ended up bringing in the New Year reading in its entirety. The impact of the book was not necessarily earth shattering, but yet, haunting. I will not give away the details, but let it suffice to say that it addresses many questions and deep seated issues we have with God. In some ways, it answers them, but in others, we are left with more questions... at least I was. Even now, almost a month after the read, some parts of what I read come back to visit, and make me wonder ... and smile.

In light of our recent election, which was a cliff hanger for everyone, I have also found myself drawn into a more activist position. I have always loathed politics ... seen it as a very dirty business, and would involve myself to the extent of educating myself to candidates prior to elections, and contacting them if something came up to let them know my views. After receiving several 'form letters', as replies, I began to wonder if this was a waste of time. Maybe lobbyists are the only ones politicians listen to, I don't know, but I do know that, if our country is to survive, that would need to change.

I am a conservative ... therefore, I cannot take credit for the man who currently resides as our President. I have serious concerns about him ... right down to his eligibility to serve as our hallowed leader ... and I can see that there are millions of Americans who share those same concerns.... in some cases, coupled with a lot of anger. Whether that concern and/or anger is justified or not, I think it is important that our leaders, on whatever level of government, do not ignore this. Obama and his cohorts did not get swept into office by a landslide vote ... it was far from a public mandate ... it was a marginal win and that is important for those in power to keep in mind.

On closing ... the idol worship of one man who has promised the moon to the citizens of the U.S. is even more frightening than the man himself. He is only a man. He is not God. Those who have given up on God have given up on the One who truly can give them the hope they are so desperately searching for. It is my hope and prayer for Obama that God will visit him, and give him the wisdom it is going to take to lead this country in the coming days.