VOTER GULLIBILITY about RUBIO

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MY VOTER GULLIBILITY CONFESSION

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RUBIO: PREACHING VS.  POLICY

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I really like Rubio and would vote for him in a heartbeat if I had not already been burned.  Sixteen years ago, I voted for a “compassionate conservative” presidential candidate, simply because he was a born again Christian.  I was unpleasantly surprised with what I received for my vote…unnecessary war, a recession, and political blindness in the areas of diversity and environmental concerns.

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I am at heart a compassionate conservative.  Yet, I have come to the realization, if God could not change the human heart by the force of law, neither can we.  The more we try to do what only the Holy Spirit can, the worse our society and we become.  Our only hope is faith in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of God's Son, who alone can to transform individuals and their societies.  Unfortunately, when the church insists on its politically conservative social agenda, as it does, it accentuates the force of law rather than the power of the Redeemer.

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Jesus could have come, insisting on the institutionalization of the moral law.  Instead, He came none violently, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the poor, and did not even resist those who put Him to death.  In so doing, He displayed the character of His Father in Heaven saying, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men, to myself.”  When the church puts its faith in political forces, it automatically diminishes its reliance on God’s power, and the world knows it…even if we don’t.

Rubio Preaching in Iowa, Nov, 30, 2015

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A faithful preacher lifts up the cross of Christ.  Rubio, in front of the Christian Broadcasting Network cameras, preached the gospel as well as a professional preacher.  The problem is Rubio is not running for preacher.  He is running for president.  As a Christian voter, I must judge political candidates according to the policies they promote rather than their faith.  I must look for the effect their policies will have on the outcast, the sick, the needy, as well as the general well-being of the nation and its diverse population.  After voting years ago, for a Christian who preached the right stuff, I cannot in good conscience cast my ballet for the same old “Christian” political agenda that caused an inexcusable war, a massive fiscal collapse, and hastened our planet’s continuing ecological degradation, all done at the expense of the poor, while benefiting the rich.  Saddest of all is our nation’s moral decay, which we love to blame on our national institutions, but is the direct result of our faith-transfer from God’s supernatural power (love) to the power of the political coalition with another agenda of its own.

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In the words of an often misquoted cliché, “Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me,” Nevertheless; if any Republican candidate could reactivate my former gullibility, it would be Rubio.  Who knows, if he plays me, as well as that other Republican right-winger, I might even think about it.  After all, “He preached it real good.”  …Here is the video to prove it:
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www.youtube.com/watch?v   Marco Rubio Presents Gospel to Pastors in Iowa    Nov. 30, 2015 

Revelations 18:2 Misdirected

Revelations 18:2 Misdirected
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God has doubtlessly placed in the heart of this video producer His desire to free His people from falsehood.  However, this approach is a classic example of hearing a spiritual truth and drawing natural conclusions regarding its intent. 
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God's visions and desires are faithful and true, yet when perceived as if the specific physical symbol, type, or shadow represented are the actual institutions, leaders, animals, places, things, and so forth they produces carnal understandings and misguided responses. 
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 "Blessed is the one who reads the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."                Revelation 1:3

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 I am not a Catholic and think a light show on St Peter's Cathedral is in questionable if not outright poor taste.  However, the Revelation 18:4 statement, “Come out of her, my people.” is a spiritual warning, not specifically directed at natural entities of this world.  These words deliver a spiritual warning against yielding to the spirits of this world which are unlike God's Spirit..."God is love."  1John 4:8+16  They demand a spiritual response of a heart yielded by faith to God.  A spiritual response is described in 1John 4:19-21. 
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Read, hear, and take to heart spiritual words and then respond, consistent with the intent and leading of the Spirit of God.  My challenge to you is, ask the Lord if a light show is the fulfillment of the scripture as the online video claims.  Are they hearing a spiritual truth and drawing a natural conclusion?  
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Leave a response by clicking on the pencil icon.

To view the video got to Google and find;
Alert: Revelation 18:2 Just Happened 
www.youyube.com/watch

Centuries of Terrorism Advice, Today

CENTURIES OF TERRORISM ADVICE,

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A 15th century Frenchman, by the name of Montaigne confessed,

"There are many terrible things in my life, but most of them never happened."

Confronted with today's terrors, amplified in our present political climate, we could easily forget that our enemy is, in fact, fear.  In the words of a contemporary author, Rick Yancey,

 "Fear consumes the truth and poisons all the evidence, leading us to false assumptions and irrational conclusions."

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Perhaps the comedian/actor, Mark Williams, describes our natural reaction to the existing environment accurately saying, "The brain's alarm signals start to be triggered not only by the current scare, but by past threats and future worries."  He goes on to explain that when we contemplate, "...other threats and losses, as well as the current scenario, our bodies' flight-or fight systems do not switch off when the danger is past.  Unlike the gazelles," he points out, "we don't stop running."

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For Christians to allow this instinct to rule our thoughts and actions is inexcusable.  As the Psalmist of nearly three thousand years ago said, "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me."  The real danger is that we will react “naturally” to our present situation, with fear, instead of compassion and yes, love as the Spirit of Jesus Christ directs…even toward those who may be potential enemies. 

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Like Franklin D. Roosevelt, over 64 years ago proclaimed in English, what the 15th century French philosopher originally voiced, in his language five centuries earlier, "The thing I fear most is fear."  Montaigne's warning is still as applicable  today.  To drive home his point he insisted,

 "He who fears he will suffer,  already suffers what he fears."

Solving Mass-Murder Epid.

SOLVING MASS-MURDER EPIDEMIC

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All of us will benefit from a united approach to our mass-murder epidemic.  At present, there is no single universally acceptable solution, though many offer hope. 

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I believe our united concerns, goals, interests, and needs when focused on a situation, hold the answer.  Together, let us attempt to re-frame the problem to achieve and present a synthesized solution to our political leaders.

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Please take a moment to indicate your opinion, concerning mass-murders in the United States, by answering the four questions below.  If you have no thoughts on the topic, indicate that as well.  Otherwise, answer as many of them as you can.  

 THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS OR OPINIONS:

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A) What is the major cause (or causes) of mass-murder in the USA?

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B) What is your preferred solution to the problem? 

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C) What makes it your favorite remedy? 

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D) What are the most important issues shaping your preference?

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If you chose, responses may be left on my blog. Click on the pencil icon.  I will not respond or keep your addresses, unless you specifically request that I do so. 

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 Those answering from outside the USA, please note that fact. 

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Thank you for your participation.  

IMMIGRANT ASSIMALATIO IMPOSSIBLE

         IMMIGRANT  ASSIMILATION 
                      IMPOSSIBLE
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 I agree with Teddy's 1907 sentiment and prefer assimilation in principle myself.  Nevertheless, pluralism has already reshaped our population over the last one hundred eight years, turning our melting pot into a cultural stew.  

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         Teddy's idea is a couple of generations too late.

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 Simply welcoming immigrants is not assimilation.  If assimilation occurs, it does so as a generational process, learned through positive enculturating experiences.  Like it or not, the USA is NOT the homogeneous country Teddy hoped it would be.  Today we would have to strain out the dissimilar ingredients through the creation of reservations, forced deportations, legalized exterminations, or by accommodation. The first three have been implemented in various ways and times all over the world.  Accommodation is the last and only ethically practical approach left.  It is our only humane and peace engendering way forward.

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National unification must rest on something other than a shared religious, ethnic, or social cultural identity. This prospect is repugnant to those already comfortably served by the idea that one of these actually forms the foundation of our culture. However, that belief is a fantasy.  I personally do not like admitting it but the truest American cultural unifier is legal capitalism.  That is why, it is unthinkable, in the USA, that our national identity could ever rest on our common humanity.  It sounds too much like humanism or social communism.  Nevertheless, it is possible that legal capitalism could incorporate our immigrants, as it has our masses, under one common social and cultural value system. 

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Besides, this is the only one of today's most talked about issues directly addressed by Jesus Christ.  It has always been and will always be risky and dangerous to help a Samaritian beaten and dying on the side of the road.  Heck, I know firsthand, there is a danger and a personal price, you will pay, taking even someone you know into your home when they are in distress. However, that is what we are called to do. It is never wrong to do the right thing.

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Face it America, we are a pluralistic society and for that reason total assimilation of immigrants is not now or ever has been a reasonable goal.  However, we can and we must make room for those of other cultural who do not endanger or harm the rest of us.  It seems reasonable, if we believe international coexistence is possible among nations of various cultures, that national unification is possible despite our cultural differences.  Unfortunately, it will take generations of accommodation if there is ever to be assimilation. 

The Gettysburg Challenge

The Gettysburg Challenge

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From

19^th of November

Seven Score and Fourteen years ago   

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Abraham Lincoln spoke of the USA’s great remaining task in his “Gettysburg Address.”  The unfinished work is governing the people, by the people, and for the people under God.  The question is; can, a nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” survive when the liberties of equals oppose each other?
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Keeping this form of government from “perishing from the earth” will take more than fearless optimism because accommodating the liberty of others as equals is inconsistent with human nature.  Our great remaining task demands a prayer that this nation of equals will unit as “the people.”  I believe, even this impossible task is still possible, with God…so join me and pray.
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN, “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” (19 NOVEMBER 1863)
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[1] Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
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[2] Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
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[3] But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth