I do not like to think like others think just because most everyone thinks a certain way. As an example, I have always seen churches that are looking for a pastor bring in a fellow (or lady) and talk to this person for a bit, then have him preach and then judge him on that one or two times in the pulpit. They are looking for a Pastor and they have called a Preacher. "Pastor Larry, it is all the same!" No, it is not. A church needs a pastor. The word means shepherd. Preacher means speaking of the divine. You might have a great pastor who stumbles in the pulpit. But he is a great pastor. You might have an amazing preacher who simply is not a shepherd. "Pastor Larry, we will just look for someone with both callings!" Good luck with that. You might find a pastor who has worked really hard to put a few sentences together that make sense. Maybe. On the other hand, you rarely find a preacher who makes an effort to be a pastor of sorts. This is why so many churches are unhappy with their pastors. They called a preacher. It is two different Spiritual gifts.

    I think differently about politics, as well. I started out as a liberal democrat. My son asked me how I went from a liberal to a conservative. I told him that I got to thinking. That is the problem with most people. They decide early on which side they are on and then they never think of it again. However, things and people change and you have to think things through.

    With the election just days away, I have been thinking. It was interesting being in Ohio and hearing the flood of commercials for this candidate or that candidate. A proven leader. An energetic leader. A consummate leader. A leader with a vision. A leader who will represent his (her) people faithfully in DC or Columbus or in your city or as dog catcher. The closer we get to the election, the more frenzied it all gets!

    On Saturday as I drove home, it hit me. I do not like election ads. But I realized that it isn't so much the ad itself. It is the whole Pastor/Preacher thing. These people are running for leadership positions, but that is not what anyone, liberal or conservative, really wants. We do not want leaders. We actually want servants.

    In the US Constitution, the word 'leader' never appears. Most people do not know this because the Constitution is not read by most. Way too long! In truth, though, it isn't much more than a pamphlet. But if you read it, you would see that 'leader' never appears. The original way of doing things was that a person would run, serve a couple of terms and then go back to their farm or business. Nowadays, a politician never stops campaigning. They try to convince folks that they are leading, when in fact they are begging for our votes. They spend decades in office. It would be one thing if they did their jobs, but since they have never had real jobs, they don't know how to do the job they were voted in to do. 

    So, what should we elect? 

    We need to look for that man or woman who has a servant's heart. Someone who cares more for you than they care for themselves. Do not vote a straight ticket. Examine what they think. Look at their motivation. "Oh, for heaven's sake! That is so time consuming!" Is it worth a couple hours of TV on a Tuesday night to track down the person you want to represent you? 

    Election Day. Finally! Go vote and vote wisely.  

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