chasing the sun

I watched a special on PBS last night about the two presidential candidates and their respective rises to power. And I realized how ridiculous it is to believe that either of these two geniuses could be the answer to our country's woes. What is it we are hoping to get out of this election?? Security? Peace? Vindication for the past three years of terror alerts and military action? What difference does it make which jackass gets elected? Neither of them have been completely honest about who they are and what their motives are and, unlike my evangelical friends, I tend to think that power, not philanthropy is the driving force behind each of these monstrous political campaigns.

Have you ever seen the rock-opera "Rent" or heard any of the music? Its absolutely fabulous and powerful in a way that I've never known any other musical to be. It touches a deep place in your heart because the emotions expressed in the lyrics are raw and real. The song "Santa Fe" from "Rent" has been running through my head all morning long. And maybe it was the song or the rainy day or the quiet bus ride, but I wanted to run away. I wanted to have the life that is sung about in that song...one of peace and quiet community in a place where I can do what I love to do (whatever that is). I don't want to do the right thing according to mainstream thought...I want to do what Jesus did and taught and commanded. I want it to be more simple than it has been to live a meaningful life before God and I don't want to try and change the system by voting one day out of the year and sitting on my butt in some office doing absolutely nothing to help change the world for the other 364 days!!

Its not enough to just vote, contrary to popular belief. The biggest difference I can make is by loving people actively and intentionally. Political leaders may run the world, but God rules it. He wants so much more for us and yet we ignore His pleas to give up everything we think we need to live good lives and follow Him with reckless abandon. Where is our faith and our courage? Love so that others may be loved and feel loved and so that your heart will not be hardened. And do not be deceived into believing that war can bring peace!!! War at best only brings suppression.

And a challenge to Christians everywhere...God cannot and will not be put in a box, formed in a list, or explained away in any systematic theology. Stop trying to simplify the God of the universe! Stop using His name in vain to promote your political ideologies and personal agendas. I can tell you that a generation is mobilizing to challenge fake complacent Christianity. They accept the Bible as true, Jesus as the only way, the Spirit as living and active, and God as mysterious. "Support Your Local Revolution"