Bob,
YOu upset some folks on the CB&Q list but I agree with your message. I
know the Q list is not for that purpose but I see a clear choice this year
between a man of proven character and one who outright lies on many of his
campaign ads.
Pat
Homan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Grenier" <cinnamonjunction@yahoo.com>
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Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 5:22 PM
Subject: [CBQ] A matter of Character
Dear Family, Friends, and Acquaintances
If you have received this e-mail, your e-mail address has somehow worked its
way into my list of e-mail contacts. Admittedly, some of you have received
this e-mail because the server I use for e-mailing has decided that you are
important enough that you should be included on that list. Whatever the
case, I hope you will give me the honor of taking a few moments to read what
I have to say. If when you have read it, you find you don't agree, I will
respect that decision. Follow that by simply pushing the "delete" key.
I recently received a letter from my older son that was sent to several on
his e-mail list making the case for our judgement of the candidates in this
up-coming Presidential election to be based on not just what we perceive to
be their position on various issues, but instead that our judgement should
be based on their "character." He even got into specifics as it related to
Senator McCain based on a previous relationship. His letter has prompted me
to follow through with what I have thought about for some time, and I am
proud of him for taking a stand on the issue.
As indicated, I have thought about "character" for some time, and there is
no doubt in my mind that the only way we can successfully pick a leader is
by coming to firm conclusions about their "character." On January 20,
2009, a new President and Vice President will undertake the oath of office.
Whoever we the people have elected will begin that afternoon to try to carry
out the promises they made to us. And no one denies the fact that tasks
ahead for them are enormous. If we the people have chosen correctly, four
years down the road we will be very pleased with the results and will be
eager to sign them up for another four years. But what if we make a
mistake? What if we have made the wrong choice? Each of them have
positions on and ways they believe they can bring solutions to the problems.
And, no doubt, each of them will be quick to tell you what they do not like
about the opposition. So how should we decide? Four years is a long
time if we did it wrong. Well maybe, just maybe, we should consider
"character."
A dictionary I referred to has defined "character" as "the mental and moral
qualities distinctive to an individual." In a favorite motion picture of
mine, "An American President," the lead character in a speech to a gathered
group of journalists at a White House press conference declares "being
President of this Country is entirely about character." So what are we to
do? How do we identify each candidate's "character?"
Well, I think we have one possible avenue to "character" available. We have
all heard and read how our Nation's forefathers leaned on their faith as
they formulated the documents that formed our Nation. And I thought, maybe
that's the answer. After all, my wife and I are persons of faith. For us,
being two who have accepted God's gift of salvation, our relationship with
the Lord gives us some guidelines to find individuals whose "character"
aligns with God. So using God's Word I asked, "What can I find about the
candidates that would align them with the Lord?" For us, that certainly
would say a lot about their "character." And then it hit me. I distinctly
remember all four of the President/Vice President candidates being asked the
same very direct question. When does life begin? For God's answer I looked
in the Word (Psalm 139: 13-15 and Psalm 51: 5) and found that life begins at
conception. The two presidential candidates were
asked directly by Pastor Rick Warren during his recent forums, "When does
life begin?" Without hesitation, and using great conviction, Senator John
McCain answered, "At conception." Senator Barack Obama wasn't sure and
seemed to indicate that he was not sure what that means. The two vice
presidential candidates were asked at different times by different members
of the media, "When does life began?" Governor Sarah Palin was not only
very prompt with her answer, "At conception," she eagerly indicated that she
will do everything she can to protect human life. Senator Joe Biden when
asked said, "I am prepared to accept my church's view. I think it's a tough
one." I don't think he sounds very sure.
What a simple solution. If a brief study of the position of Senator John
McCain and Governor Sarah Palin on the issue of "When does life begin"
aligns with God's position, for me and my house that fact alone tells me a
great deal about their "character." For the past several years there has
been a movement in this Country that highlighted four letters - WWJD - What
would Jesus do? People, particularly young people, began wearing bracelets
with the letters embossed on them - WWJD. It was more than just a state of
mind - it suggested and instilled action. It seems to me that one way to
align a person by their "character" would be to follow His lead. What would
Jesus do?
As people of faith we have watched, and sometimes just stood by and have
witnessed change for the worse in our Nation. And it has always been what
we do - we give the downside the benefit of the doubt and say to ourselves,
well maybe next time. I find myself wondering if we really are a Nation of
people of faith, or not. I would ask you to do me a favor. If any of this
makes any sense to you at all or if the suggestion of considering a person's
"character" has played a string in your heart, click "forward" on your
e-mail server, add your list of contacts by clicking them onto the "To" line
(even if it takes a few moments), and click send.
Again, I thank my son for inspiring me to do this, and my sincere
appreciation to each of you for honoring me by reading what I had to say. I
hope you will forward it on. And I hope you will go to the polling places
on November 4th, remembering to ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" And
again remember that input by that lead character in one of my favorite
movies, "Being President of this Country is entirely about character."
Bob Grenier
Branson, Missouri
417-230-0246
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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