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 “I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father can be glorified in the Son. When you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.”                John 14:12-14 CEB


My Vote

9/11/2020

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​When it comes time to vote, I trust and affirm those who love country, state, city, neighborhood.
Here’s a list of the qualities of love from one of the most quoted Christian texts.  (1. Cor.13)
Love is:
Patient
Kind
Not envious
Not boastful
Not proud
Not dishonoring others
Not self-seeking
Not easily angered
No record-keeper of wrongs
Not delighting in evil
Rejoicing with the truth
Always protecting
Always trusting
Always hoping
Always persevering
Never failing . . . in the end, . . . love . . . prevails.
This isn’t all that complicated but people who cannot love themselves would tell you and me otherwise. 

Ignorance is easy to maintain.  Selfishness – takes no sweat.  Living in fear? Anyone can pull that off.  Smear campaigns? In the third grade that seemed funny until we hurt someone we cared about.

The real problem as I see it is that not enough voters have known enough love to love themselves or anyone else.  At least not love in the way described above.
Conservatives can love.  So can Liberals.  Love does not discount having a different take on how best to govern and lead, but it does influence how we get beyond playing King of the Hill with each other to collaborating for the common good.

This country is in real danger of transforming from a democratic republic to authoritarian rule by people who are so wounded and loveless that they will tell any lie, pull any trick, bend any rule to buy a little false certainty, comfort and control and let taxpayers like you and me pay for all that.  It will cost us all much more than money if we let them succeed.  It may well cost our freedom.
​
Sadly, if only they knew that there is a God who loves them more than their family and friends did or do, a God who does not write them off or vote them off the planet but instead longs to help them find and free the lovable and loving person buried underneath years of accumulated hurt, neglect and mistreatment.

Most of the people living with little love may roll their eyes in disgust at what I have written. I get it.  They are not ready to ready to trust anyone who is not living and believing as they do.  I remember when I was unable to risk facing my own internal discomfort and restlessness and sought solace in hiding in a group. 

Some are, however, waking up to the possibility that there really is more for them than the garbage they are being fed, that they are smarter than the idiots their handlers think them to be.  I pray that they hold on to that hope and begin tracing that glimmer of light back to its source where welcome and love awaits.

For me this election is not just about who wins an office, or which political party holds a majority.  Oh, our vote matters.  And for me it’s about a choice between loving or loathing ourselves, our neighbors, and this country.

For that reason, I will pay more careful attention to each candidate’s documented behavior and speech (in context) than to the party to which they belong. 

People who love can be trusted to work well with others to find and promote the common good.  I learned that from a Jewish carpenter’s kid who let even me into a work crew that still labors, still hopes, still loves almost 2,000 years later.

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    Blog Author

    Rev. William (Bill) Rose-Heim serves as Regional Minister and President for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Greater Kansas City

    View my profile on LinkedIn

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Location

9401 Johnson Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66203
913-432-1414
office@kcdisciples.org

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  • Home
  • About
    • Our Region & More >
      • Regional Staff
      • Personal Growth as a Disciple of Jesus Christ
      • Ministries and Missions We Share >
        • Bylaws
        • Church Administration and Planning
        • Cross-Cultural and Anti-Racism Experience
        • Ecumenism
        • Education and Leadership Development
        • Evangelism
        • Mission of the Church in the World
        • Pastoral Care
        • Proclamation
        • Spiritual Development
        • Stewardship
        • Theology
        • Biblical Knowledge
        • Ministry Innovation
        • Understanding of Heritage
        • Worship
  • INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
    • Updates
    • MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES >
      • Revised Ministry Opportunities within The Greater Kansas City Region
      • Ministry Opportunities Neighboring Regions
    • Links to COVID 19 DOC General Resources
    • Reopening Resources
    • Resources for immigrants
    • Financial Information
    • Worship Resources
    • Pastoral Care
    • Communications
    • Opportunities to Serve
    • Guideline Updates Unique to KC Metro
    • Developing a Plan for Operating During a Disaster
    • Cleaning Regimens
  • Calendar
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Groups
    • Regional Board
    • Staff Resources
    • Commissioned Ministers
    • Congregational Board Officers
    • Clergy & More >
      • 2022 ARPR & BOUNDARIES
      • Workshops and Retreats
      • O&S Application & Information Packet
      • Becoming Beloved Community
      • ARPR
      • GKC YOUTH PROGRAMS & CAMP
      • Disciples Men
      • Women
      • MOKAN
      • DMA
      • Convencion >
        • SomosUnoKC
      • Opportunities to Serve
      • Missions
      • Disciples Peace Fellowship
      • Poor Peoples Campaign
      • Families and Children
      • TriRegionalPartnershipInitiative
      • Voter Support
  • Donate
    • Greater KC Giving Campaign
    • Tall Oaks Donations
  • Zoom Meeting Info
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  • Search Teams
  • Sharing Resources
  • BIBLE STUDY/BOOK STUDY/CLASS
  • RESOURCES REQUESTED
  • Facilities
  • MUSIC
  • Elder Resources
  • RMP Blog & More
    • Blogs and Podcasts
  • Tall Oaks Future: Resources for Discnerment