At Odds With Myself

I have some core political beliefs that guide me but at times I am at odds with myself over their application. Some times two of my beliefs are at odds with each other and I need to work out my thoughts on the greater good between them. It is an ongoing struggle with life and living in this republic where there are a lot of differing opinions challenging our choices.

I believe that all levels of government should provide the best possible governance for the least possible tax. All government budgets must balance spending and revenue. Debt should only be incurred in war or great national emergency and then only with a prescribed pay off time. Elected officials should serve their office as an act of service and not as a career. Term limits should be imposed by voters but we often re-elect the same people over and over. As a small city mayor I struggle with all of this as I enjoy being mayor and think about serving another term and argue with my self about my term limit.

No matter which government level is in action we are all here to serve our people in a responsible way. We would like to do everything all but we can not do everything for everyone. We will please some and displease others when we weigh taxes and service to our continuances in office. To provide more service we must raise more revenue and to reduce revenue we must reduce services. Our government is by the people, for the people and sometimes in spite of the people.

National, state and local governments affect people’s lives in a variety of ways and it is not easy to balance our ways and means but we must. I pray every day for all of our elected officials even the ones with whom disagree. Join me in prayer.

Celebrating In these trying times

In over 40 years of ministry I have noticed that when people’s lives are under stress from work or other uncontrollable events that they look for places where they can have some control and vent their frustrations. Today we are under a lot of economic stress across the strata of our society. Even people who have jobs are worried about loosing them. The rich are getting a lot richer and the poor are growing in number. The gap between rich and poor is widening.

There are two places where people under stress vent their frustrations. The first is often in the family where more abuse of spouse, children and elderly are on the increase. Passing your hurt on to the defenseless is a coward’s way out and really gets you no where. It is really sad when children become the target of a parent’s wrath at society.

The second is in volunteer organizations like clubs and church. I have often watched as someone disrupts a church board or committee meeting seemingly without cause. It is all about exerting some control some where. Many church pastors have been attacked simply because some one was venting frustrations in the only place they can and get away with it.

Here we are celebrating Independence Day in a time of radical changes in our society. Many people are angry at on thing or another with no place to vent except perhaps social media. Many will still vent their anger at those who can not defend themselves and cause pain. Some how we need to instill self-control and a path to personal inner peace in all our children before they become adults in this crazy world.

On Faith and Religion

Many people speak about their faith and religion as though they are the same thing and they are not.

Faith is a very personal spiritual relationship with God and the experience varies with each person. Each person might define his or her understanding of the term god in a unique way and so may differ from one person to another. We often assume that everyone else has the same experience we do. There are also people who do not have any faith of any kind.

Religion is the organization of people with like minded expressions of their faith. We have a great many "religions" in this world. I like to believe that my church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is the correct religion. That is my opinion based on my faith in God. There are other opinions. Because of our differing points of view there are over 350 "Christion" religions and many non-christian religions.

The United States is blessed with freedom of religion. That means the government can not tell the individual what to believe, what faith group to belong to or how to pray. While we have been a predominantly Christian population there have always been other religious groups in the country and that include those with no religion at all.

Celebrate your faith and your freedom to express it as you choose.

MY Katherine Ann

This past month has been one of the most difficult times in my life. Just over a month ago both of my darling daughters called me on my birthday and sang happy birthday to me. I did not know at the time that it would be the last time I would hear my Katherine Ann speak to me and now that conversation haunts my mind and my heart.

Katherine was borne on July 24, 1969 at one minute after midnight. She came into this world wailing at the top of her little lungs. A very healthy baby but they could not get her quiet. The nurse cleaned her up and placed her in my arms saying daddy you try to comfort your daughter. I held her and looked into her eyes and said, "Katherine your daddy loves you." Her eyes locked on mine and she became quiet and imprinted on me. She was daddy's girl from then on.

Almost two years ago Katherine developed a lesion on her spinal cord along her neck. It caused horrible pain in many ways. We were told that it was a possible life threatening condition. I sat beside her hospital bed and prayed for her. Her pain was only just controlled by powerful medicine that put her on the edge of overdose all the time.

When she called to wish me happy birthday she was having a "good day" and I was happy for her. As I always did I ended our talk with "Katherine your daddy loves you." Sometime after that conversation she went to sleep and never woke up. Her pain is over and she is at peace. That is my only consolation for my heart is heavy and tears fill my eyes when ever I think of her. I have heard that the loss of a child is the hardest thing a parent can feel and now I know how true it is.

Katherine your daddy loves you.

Positives to Negatives

In 1970 there was smog creeping across almost every landscape and cities like Louisville had a blanket. The water ways were also badly polluted and some rivers even caught fire. If you could find fish in the river they were too toxic to eat.

In 1970 the clean air act was passed and was a very positive thing so that now our air is safe to breathe. Then in 1972 the clean water act was passed and our rivers are now safe to use. Both of these acts were and are positive actions by our government for the general good of the country.

Today we have a senator running for re-election who refers to these two very positive laws passed in the 1970's as Obama's War on Clean Coal. He has taken a positive action and rephrased to as a negative for purely political reasons. I am not buying it at all. Clean air and clean water are important for all of us. No matter how much the coal industry contributes to his coffers it doesn’t change the facts.

The coal companies have saturated the media with the term “Clean Coal” which is a contradiction in terms. Coal is not clean by any stretch of the term. The best coal is still dirty and pollutes our air and water. Coal may be an economic giant in Kentucky and is loosing ground to natural gas for electric production but it is not more important than clean air and water.

Loving Liberty

I do love my country and on this past Independence Day I rejoiced in celebrating our freedom. Loving our country is a lot like loving our family; it is something that we grew up with. I know people who chose to come here from other countries and become citizens but I did not choose my country in the same way that I did not choose my parents. I have chosen to remain a loyal citizen because I truly love the idea of the "United States of America." Our many freedoms have fostered in me a spirit of personal growth and optimism.

My love of country like my love for my family is not blind. I know that we as a nation have many problems to be solved. I believe that we are one of the best able to solve them. I love the idea of the "USA" so much that I wish the whole world lived under the same concept. Since I was a High School student working on a paper about the United Nations, I have thought that a "United States of the World" would be a very good thing. I know that the idea of a one-world government drives some people crazy, but a world at peace with justice is a wonderful idea.

Contrary Opinions

Now and then I encounter someone who holds very strong opinions that are different than mine. That is OK with me but sometimes it is not OK with the other person. If an opinion is contrary to their opinion then it is all wrong and a barrier goes up. One must be able to listen to contrary opinions and carefully compare the facts with ones own opinion. A change may be in order.

My eldest darling daughter wrote a note expressing her opinion in response to one of my puns and then added “In point of fact, the combination of my mother and father could only lead to children not afraid to voice any opinion, on anything.”

I am very pleased that both of my darling daughters have excellent logical minds that are able to form opinions and then defend their positions. They are both loquacious and competent communicators. Their father is very proud of their abilities.

As one who loves a good turn of words, including puns, I am not surprised that they also enjoy reading and exploring ideas. I firmly believe that learning is a life long occupation in an effort to expand our minds.

Our own opinions are important but we need to be able to examine new information and if it warrants a change of opinion be willing to make the change. It has been said that where three are gathered there are four opinions. There is the opinion of each person and the group opinion. I always believe that my opinion is correct or I would not hold it. I have always been willing to reflect on new information and reconsider my position. I have to admit that it is not always an easy process.