Important Election News

We are now twenty days from the most important election in my life time.  According to most of the polls the election is too close to call at this moment.  One final debate on foreign policy next Monday evening will prepare the way for the final two weeks of campaigning.  The President's track record on foreign policy has been less than stellar the past four years.  Is the world a safer place now than it was four years ago?  The answer is an obvious "no."  We have seen the increased boldness of al-Qaeda and its affiliates, even after the death of their leader Osama bin Laden.  We have witnessed the Arab Spring - a moment of hopefulness - become a time of increased hostilities toward anything Western with the exception being money from the American taxpayers.  We have watched as Iran continues its pathway toward becoming the newest nuclear member - the sanctions put in place against Iran have done little to detour it from its intended goal, causing only hardships upon the common people.  We have seen China grow in power and come to the brink of war with neighboring Japan.  And there was the tragedy of Benghazi and the murder of our ambassador there.  And, finally, and close to my own heart, is our coolness toward our only ally in the Middle East - Israel.  While we may not have thrown Israel under the bus, we have opened the door of the bus and have our foot on their back ready to do so.

Friendship with America was once held to be a high honor.  Those who had been our enemies soon became our friends.  Look what happened after World War II.  Our friendships with Britain and France gained strength during the war years, and after the war, we held out the hand of friendship to both Germany and Japan - both of whom became strong allies.  We were there to help the German people following the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain.  And, in 1948, we were among the first nations to recognize the independence of the State of Israel.  Yet today something has happened.  Those solid friendships have developed cracks in their fascade.  Questions of "can we count on America?" are echoed around the world.  It is time to ponder the fact that we no longer are that friend we used to be.  So, it is that with interest I will be listening to the debate on Monday night.

Finally, especially for those readers of my blog who live in Minnesota, just a reminder of the crucially important constitutional amendment that we are voting on November 6.  It is that amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.  I know there has been lots of confusion because of the television ads against this amendment.  The focus of those ads has been upon emotion and love and tolerance and acceptance of alternative relationships.  But the heart of this amendment has absolutely nothing to do with emotions.  This amendment is not anti-love nor anti-commitment.  And this amendment has absolutely nothing to do with gender relationships.  This amendment does not prohibit those who wish to enter into a same-sex union.  What this amendment does is to clearly define what marriage is.  And this definition was not created by some religious zealot in the Minnesota State Legislature or any governmental body.  Nor was this definition a creation of Western civilization and culture.  Friends, this definition of marriage - between a man and a woman - is as old as the Garden of Eden.  We read these words in Genesis 2:24 - "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."  There, the definition of marriage was given by God Himself.  And what is interesting is that down through the millenniums since, no matter the culture, no matter the civilization, that definition of marriage has remained.  Even among the pagans, marriage was between a man and a woman.  But suddenly, here in the 21st century, we think we know better than God what a marriage should be and so we shake our fist in His face and are urged to vote "no" on this amendment.  I have been asked, "what will happen if the amendment is not passed?  Will anything change?"  The answer is that nothing will change immediately, but that the definition of marriage will now be determined either by state statute or judicial declaration, thus opening the door to a variety of relationships that could be defined as marriage - not just between two men or two women, but between a man and three women, between a brother and a sister, between a man and his dog.  Now you are saying, "Don't be ridiculous, Max, that will not happen!"  Honestly, twenty years ago if you asked me if the definition of marriage would be called into question, I would have unhesitatingly said, "absolutely not!"  So, my Minnesota friends, and those who live in other states where this will be on the ballot, I urge you to vote "yes" and declare with your vote that you believe in the sanctity of marriage as defined by God.

Let me close on a somewhat lighter note with my thought for the week: The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.