Anne and Kim,

Do you think that there are any Christian leaders in governmental positions today? I understand that many politicians are CINO (Christian in name only) but still do you not think there might be a handful of politicians who are closely following the same steps as Jesus? BTW- I am really impressed with Palin who seems to be an authentic Christian...not a pretend Christian but one who is in the Body of Christ. Someone that has a place and purpose in the BODY.

Kim, I have been reading...thank-you. Am not knowlegable on the links you posted so I need to keep researching the topics you brought to my attention. Thank-you and God Bless.

Love,

Al

Quote: Number One: There is no such thing as a two-party system. It is a facade to manipulate and confuse the public, a.k.a. "sheeple". :end Annie quote

I'd like to reflect on this thought you brought up...but first I'd like to say this...although I agree that 9/11 was "likely" an inside job...I won't delve into that in this discussion (and feel for the most part that it's been hashed quite enough for people to make up their minds about, in sincerity...either peeps are gonna believe it or no, etc.) (also, concerning conspiracy theories...I have some concern for people whose primary focus is upon certain groups of people, such as Jesuits or Bildabergers or the Masons or the CFR or Skull and Bones etc...reason being there is not enough bonafide proof for the theories...it is just too much mystery and speculation in order to form a firm opinion about those who are with them and/or their agendas. I simply prefer to stick to accredited facts because it is facts which will dispel myth. The simplest terms are these: follow the bread/money trail. Who stands to gain the most from any given conflict? EXACTLY, who are the players involved? Regardless of group affiliation; what exactly are they doing? People want direct facts and not mere speculation. In sincerity).

Back to your original comment...

I somewhat agree with you about there not being two parties. Much like a pie, you have certain pieces missing on one side for four yrs to eight yrs, then the other side for the subsequent terms...but overall, it's the same pie. It's also an interesting thought to consider that one group has special interests which they wholeheartedly pursue for awhile, then as if throwing the dog a bone, the other group gets to pursue theirs. In affect, it's like an anesthesia effect....one side does the numbing, the other side does the surgery...but the same outcome will be the result.

God bless you,
Kim

All of you have me re-thinking my positions. Can our Christian leaders force their opinions on the ungodly? No, our Lord gives us free will so he will not force anyone to believe or even to love him. Christianity is built on Grace and not by legality. Thanks for the thoughts. Now, I have not been at my best today and am really tired. So a good night to all and for all a good night.

Gods Blessings,

Al

Hi Al,
I'm glad you brought that question forward because I meant to address it but forgot that...thanks.

In sincerity, I cannot speak for every single politician of course...but I will say that I have witnessed that the majority of politicians are also very wealthy....and we know what our Lord had to say to those who were rich. I'm not seeking to paint every wealthy person with a broad brush of evil either, but how many wealthy people are genuinely follwing Christ? I'd say it's a bare minimum. For it's harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. And consider the times which the Apostle Paul lived in...ours in comparison have even mightier men of power than his time did: (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

The question begs to be asked...(according to worldly standards)...how many mighty has God called? how many wise? how many noble? etc.

I'm concerned as well that the issue over abortion and gay rights are the main reasons why christians choose to vote for those who uphold those ideals. I'm not saying the ideals themselves are wrong, in fact they are noble ideals. But there are also many other issues which I feel should be treated with as much concern as well. Especially in light of the fact that those issues (abortion etc) I mentioned have not been changed (even when Republicans were in full power). Not only this...but I also see that many evil's within the Republican party are being overlooked in favor of those two platforms I mentioned(abortion/gay rights etc). The evil's I'm speaking of are the over expenditures for the war/killing machine while neglecting to use those funds (which were taken from the American tax payer) to benefit the common people to begin with. There is nothing wrong with social programs. I'm tired of seeing compassion towards the poor being villified by Republicans as evil...for that is evil in and of itself!

And Al, I don't mind sharing with you what those doctrines are which I disagreed with on the Antipas website, just let me know if you are curious. I'm glad you are investigating...I like to do that too from time to time.

God bless you,
Kim

And Al...not wanting to skirt your direct question...I would say it is possible that there are mis-guided christians involved in politics. Christians whom I would consider un-seasoned or un-discerning. Just as our Lord spoke to the Laodiceans in Revelation...and later in the chapters which deals with Mystery Babylon; there are un-discerning christians who (devote themselves) to worldly affairs (which I personally do not believe christians are called to that...like I said, it's one thing to vote our conscience, but it's quite another thing to join in the mud pit!)

I really cannot say much about Palin...other than, as a christian, I would not accept views on abortion and gay rights as the SOLE reason for believing she is righteous. Even the Pharisees of Christ's time could outwardly uphold a degree of morality. (And they too were good at trumpeting their own *good* deeds).

God bless you,
Kim

Al,
When Bush first ran for president, my Aunt and Uncle were major republican supporters... in fact, my Uncle ran for state senate...and based upon this reason alone, I became briefly involved and voted for the first time in my life (I'm 40 now). My Aunt was very domineering in her beliefs that the republican agenda was the only christian agenda for politics and tried to force my husband and I to become involved in an even greater degree than what we were involved already. I knew that things were not right with this and watched her and another lady take over the republican committe in our area to promote quote/unquote, *christian ideals*. I saw a bona-fide hyprocrisy with it all and grew increasingly sick over it. What I speak of, I've genuinely experienced. Politics is a nasty business of mass-mud slinging and christian morals are many times used as a mere tool to persuade voters into a certain camp, rather than christianity or a born again experience being the main goal. And of course, I'm glad you recognize these things as well..that we cannot (in a legalistic) sense, force people to submit to Godly values...it just will not happen until Christ Himself returns with the rod of iron...that is when forcing will occur...that is when every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all to the glory of God the Father.

God bless!
Kim