Odds and Ends

 Twenty-third Wednesday after Pentecost

The nation appears to be in an odd mood. Normally on the day after an election more than half the nation is happy that their candidate won. The other half; sad that their candidate lost. The exception was the year 2000. This year is the second exception. The national mood, if indeed we can claim that there is a national mood, is exhaustion. 

Although I'm a political junkie, I don't do partisan politics in the blog. I will note a couple of things today. I think they will be non-partisan. First, I think I'm the only person who has noticed this: President Donald Trump did not have a speaking appearance in any of his TV campaign ads (I think I saw them all)--only his voice at the end of an ad saying, "I'm Donald Trump, and I approved this message." Did anyone else notice this? Second, we appear to be in for several days of vote counting and possibly several weeks of court challenges to the results. It will be a difficult time for our country. Pray for peace. Third, and on a somewhat lighter note, the one thing I think just about all of us can agree on is that we will be glad not to see political commercials on TV for another couple of years. 

 

Now on a much lighter note. I'm sitting here with a big gap in my front teeth after my unexpected tooth extraction yesterday. My wife took one look at me and laughed. I took one look at me and laughed. I felt like Jed Clampett. I was calling myself the Chapel Hillbilly. Then late yesterday afternoon I decided to transform that persona. I decided to buy an eye-patch, a Jolly Roger hat, and strap on a sword. I could then become Captain Christian, the Curse of the Caribbean. 

 

Wednesday is theology day on the blog. I have just a couple of comments on church and state. I am proud to be an American. I am grateful to be living in a free country. I am not in any way anti-government. I am also well aware of the dark side of American history, especially slavery and racism, and the displacement and what is essentially the genocide of Native American peoples. I love the American flag. I despise the Confederate flag. I love my country. But my country is not my first allegiance. 

When I was in Methodist Youth Fellowship during my youth, the MYF slogan was "Christ Above All."

Jesus is my Lord. God is my Sovereign. 

Faithfully,

Christian